December 22, 2014
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Aging workforce increases costs for manufacturers
The average age of the manufacturing industry workforce is increasing. According to a white paper produced by AonRisk Solutions, “Responding to the Needs of an Aging Workforce,” 50 percent of the manufacturing workforce is 45 or older, with a median age of 44.7. That median age is likely to increase during the next decade for […]
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Kent County Animal Shelter is a people business
On the surface, the Kent County Animal Shelter seems to be mainly about dogs and cats, but it is really a business that revolves around people and their relationship with animals. It is largely funded by the taxpayers of Kent County. About $1.25 million or more of its annual budget of $1.9 million comes from […]
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Kent eyes farmland PDR
Kent County commissioners will decide Jan. 6 whether to add another 64 acres to the 3,000 acres of farmland already protected from future development. The acreage, at 13637 Five Mile Road, Belding, in Grattan Township, is owned by Denny and Dawn Hall, who are willing to sell the development rights in perpetuity to the county […]
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Richard Lacks Jr. steps down as company president
Richard Lacks Jr., president and CEO of Lacks Enterprises, announced earlier this month he would step down as president of the company Jan. 1. Nick Hrnyak, who has 12 years of experience at Lacks and 28 years of experience in the plastics and composites industry, will replace Lacks as president. Hrnyak first joined Lacks Enterprises, […]
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Change Ups: Volunteer inspires Dégagé patrons
Longtime Dégagé Ministries volunteer Nancy Ruch was recognized with the ministry’s 2014 Marge Palmerlee Outstanding Community Service Award for volunteering in the kitchen the past 17 years. Ruch is known to be an inspiration to patrons, volunteers and staff with her friendly and hardworking attitude. Each year, an award recipient is announced, and $1,000 is […]
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State’s exports slip amid growing worldwide turmoil
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based think tank, presented its latest economic projections for the global economy early last month, which formed the analysis and outlook for the G20 Leaders’ Summit Nov. 15-16 in Brisbane, Australia. Presenting the global outlook, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría pointed out that “global growth is projected to […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds WRIGHT, David et al, Wells Fargo Bank, Condo-Clements Mill, $217,000 NSI INCOME FUND I-CENTER TOWN MALL LP, Winston, Grandville, 17-6-12, $240,000 BRADFORD, Tab M. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Sparta Twp., 33-9-12, $292,000 CROOKS, Barry et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, Plainfield Twp., 18-8-11, $255,143 […]
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’Tis the season to be jolly? Jolly should be all the time
Let's see, there's summer, fall, winter, spring, and uh, jolly. For the uninformed, the jolly season started around Thanksgiving and goes all the way until Christmas. Or what used to be called Christmas. Now it’s called “the holiday season” to make certain no one is offended. The jolly season or the holiday season is supposed […]
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Street Talk: You want to keep them? Pay them
The Business Journal this week is filled with forecasts, featuring comments from The Right Place, Upjohn Institute, Answers Corp., Colliers International and more. You will notice a common theme — and subtheme — running through these reports: The recession is over. The economy is not only recovering, but growing. The future looks bright. And lots […]
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Connections make difference for minority firms
There remains a dearth of minority-owned-businesses in West Michigan. Jim Roberts is one of the few minority business owners in the region: Jim Roberts Enterprises is a financial services firm. He said becoming a certified minority business enterprise was an important step — one other minority business owners should consider. “I got certified in 2004 […]
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How do you go about getting a copyright?
"FBI Anti-Piracy Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000." We have all seen this warning, transposed over a stark blue or […]
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Study examines employee satisfaction
A new study looks at why a large portion of employees in the U.S. are only somewhat engaged and satisfied with their work environment. Answers Corp., a platform leveraging answers.com and its cloud-based solutions to help businesses improve and improve customer experience, has announced key findings from its comprehensive study identifying factors that drive employee […]
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Construction Lien Act can offer protection for all parties
As an owner, if the contractor on your construction project goes out of business or simply walks off the job, will your company have to pay twice for the same work? As a subcontractor, if your general contractor goes out of business, will you get paid? The answer to both is “perhaps” — depending on […]
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Economic outlook rosy for West Michigan
With collaboration and a diversified economy fueling West Michigan’s growth, the future of the region looks bright amid familiar challenges. The Right Place Inc. hosted the 18th annual West Michigan Economic Outlook in partnership with the W.E. Upjohn Institute last week to present a comprehensive economic analysis and preliminary forecast at the regional, state and […]
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Improve Michigan’s education outcomes and systems
Year-end statistical analysis and 2015 projections certainly provide good news for merrymaking, but it may be short-lived rather than a “new era” of prosperity. Gov. Rick Snyder was quick to herald the November employment report late last week, showing Michigan’s unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, the lowest in the state since 2006. More than a […]
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Grant fuels The Geek Group’s CNC programming
A Grand Rapids-based makerspace is adding to its educational programming with the launch of a new CNC training course in January. The Geek Group, a STEAM educational institution based in Grand Rapids, announced this month it has received a $50,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation, a private organization dedicated to manufacturing education based in […]
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Good cider is pretty simple
Jim, Becky and Bridget Engelsma’s recipe for award-winning fresh apple cider is pretty simple as far as the ingredients go: several varieties of apples, period. No preservatives, either. The magic in the production process at their Walker cider mill is pretty simple, too: total cleanliness, starting with the apples. They don’t use “drops” — the […]
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Auto suppliers expecting another good year
West Michigan auto suppliers can look forward to another good year. “The auto industry is pretty steady right now and the auto suppliers are booming,” said Bill Small, vice president of technical services for The Right Place and regional manager for the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center-West. Bob Pekrul, partner with Plante Moran and member of […]
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Downtown Grand Rapids is booming
It’s official. Downtown Grand Rapids is almost full. That’s according to a new report from Colliers International West Michigan, which released the findings as part of its third-quarter market research and forecast report. The report, which highlighted the office, industrial and retail sectors of the market, found that “repurposed buildings and revitalization of downtown drive […]
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Founders deal will not change brand
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) With a $40 million expansion already in the works, Founders Brewing Co. made another play to solidify its position in the global beer industry last week. The brewery announced it brought on Spanish brewery Mahou San Miguel as a minority partner. When the deal closes, likely in January, Mahou […]
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Inside Track: Scripps is energized by politics
For a guy who isn’t 40 yet, the president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council seems to already have been there and done that. Dan Scripps, 38, is a lawyer who has worked in Washington, D.C., been a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, a bartender in Northport, and a political activist who […]
