December 3, 2012
Snyder signs legislation establishing 17 business courts
Only eight months into a business court pilot program, Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation that cuts the program short and establishes 17 business courts across the state beginning Jan. 1. The pilot program was launched at the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County and was expected to last three years. The purpose was to […]
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Sixth Circuit strikes down affirmative action
It’s fairly certain that officials at Michigan’s 15 public universities and colleges were pleased with a recent ruling handed down by a federal appellate court. But it’s also fairly certain officials like Grand Valley State University’s Jeanne Arnold aren’t making party reservations — at least, not yet. “We have obtained a copy of the recently […]
Intentional actions bring intended results
Intended actions often result in unintentional consequences. We often set wheels in motion that eventually stop in places we had not considered, planned for or anticipated when we chose not to act. Intentional actions, however, typically create intended consequences. Should we wish to change the direction and/or course of our lives, we must do more […]
Nonprofits target âpayday loanâ rates
Ron Leeball said he learned an expensive lesson when he took out a $2,400 payday loan in 2010 that went toward traveling and legal expenses to get his 17-year-old son extricated from a mental institution in Alabama. Thirteen months later, the Grand Rapids resident paid off the loan — but at 375 percent APR interest. […]
Michigan Chamber backs Snyderâs BCBSM plan
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has announced its support for Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposal to change Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan into a nonprofit mutual insurance company that is regulated like all other health insurers in the state, as proposed in Senate Bills 1293 and 1294. Meanwhile, opponents of the proposal fear the change […]
Prosecutor credits special subpoenas with convictions
Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth told members of the county’s Legislative Committee last week that his office did something a “little out of the norm” this year but that had a good result. Forsyth said the criminal division of his office used investigative subpoenas that led to the arrest of 20 individuals on a wide […]
Salespeople have questions; Jeffrey has the answers
I get a ton of emails from people seeking insight or asking me to solve sales dilemmas. Here are a few that may relate to your job, your life and, most importantly, your sales thought process right now.⨠Jeffrey, I sell capital equipment to the meat and food industry. The sales process can be long, […]
Diverse society results in many different needs, desires
Perhaps we can all breathe a little sigh of relief — not because of who won or lost the presidential election, but because we don’t have to be bombarded with ads, phone calls and news anchors giving us the blow-by-blow account of the same speech as yesterday. Of course, there is speculation on who did […]
Public Record
Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SLUITER, Emily et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Plainfield Twp., 16-8-11, $205,000 DEACON, Scott et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, Cascade Twp., 11-6-10, $273,000 MOODY, Jacqueline et al, Wells Fargo Bank, Beckwith Hills No. 7, Lot 200, $269,802 28TH STREET PROPERTY LLC, Grand River Bank, Grand Rapids, […]
Change Ups: Pine Rest VP inducted into WMU Alumni Academy
Carleen Crawford, vice president of marketing and communications for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, was inducted into the Western Michigan University School of Communications Alumni Academy. She also was honored with a College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award. Crawford’s career spans more than 25 years in public relations and corporate communications and […]
Street Talk: Lake Winds generating, but how much is hush-hush?
West Michigan’s first commercial wind farm, the Lake Winds Energy Park built this year near Ludington by Consumers Energy, officially went on line Thanksgiving Day, but just how much electricity it is producing is a trade secret. The Business Journal wanted to know precisely how it was doing since they flipped the switch. “As a […]
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New AAML committee to address marriage inequality issues
November’s election brought more than just a second term for President Obama; it also marked the first time that gay marriage was backed by a popular vote. In fact, three states — Maine, Maryland and Washington — voted at the ballot box to allow same-sex marriage. Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia allow […]
Roane becomes an unexpected activist
With more than 25 years as a marriage and divorce attorney, Richard Roane said he has always tried to make a difference one person at a time, but recently an ACLU dinner has him rethinking that approach. “I went to the annual ACLU Michigan dinner and heard Dustin Lance Black, who is a national in-your-face […]
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GR Brewing Co. to begin pouring this week
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) While Lansing is their next business frontier, Mark and Michele Sellers are opening their latest creation right here in downtown and they’re doing all they can to honor the city and possibly some of its famous citizens. They have revived the Grand Rapids Brewing Co. and will swing open […]
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County likely to extend hotel-motel tax soon
The Kent County Finance and Legislative committees both agreed to a new ordinance that will extend the county’s 5 percent Lodging Excise Tax for another decade, and recommended that the full board of commissioners do the same next week. If the board agrees, the new ordinance will go into effect March 1 and be on […]
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Inside Track: Second tour of duty offers new challenges
Jim Haveman, the Grand Rapids native who was appointed director of the Michigan Department of Community Health in September by Gov. Rick Snyder, won’t be learning the job from scratch. “This is my second tour of duty,” quipped Haveman. It’s possible this tour will be more exciting than the first, which was under the Engler […]
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Southwest might land at airport next year
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Executive Director Brian Ryks expects that Southwest Airlines will begin operating at the Kent County-owned airport sometime in 2013, most likely in the second half of next year. Ryks made his comment last week before members of the county’s Legislative Committee. He added that the upcoming service from Southwest Airlines, […]
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A Target or JCP for downtown retail core?
Editor's note: This is the second in a series looking at retail potential in downtown Grand Rapids. When the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority recently released a report from the Gibbs Planning Group of Birmingham, Mich., the consulting firm said there was room for 120 to 150 new retail shops and restaurants in an additional […]
