December 31, 2018
What you might not know about passing on your cottage
For many Michiganders — and Midwesterners in general — getting away to a cottage “up north” is a time-honored tradition. Families create wonderful memories at their cottages as children grow up. But what happens when it’s time to pass the cottage down to the next generation? Too often, families forget to think about how the […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 18-04751 – STONE, Casy L., 6509 Fricke Court NE, Rockford, Ralph M. Reisinger (Ch. 7) 18-04757 – GRUBER, David C., 4645 Aldun Ridge NW, Comstock Park, A.T. Almassian (Ch. 7) 18-04758 – QUAM, Thomas L., 531 Harlan NE, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 13) 18-04760 – WARD, Arthor L., 817 Alexander SE, pro se (Ch. 13) […]
Street Talk: Table talk welcome
Grand Rapids Downtown Market is partnering with Start Garden, Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women and the MSU Extension on a new endeavor meant to strengthen the region’s food system. On Jan. 15, the Grand Rapids Downtown Market will launch “Culinary Conversations,” a peer-to-peer collaboration and networking group for West Michigan’s food industry professionals, including growers, […]
Bills aim to encourage solar installations
The Michigan Senate recently passed a pair of bills to help spur solar installations among private residents. House Bills 5143 and 5680, introduced by State Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, will make investments in residential and small-scale solar energy equitable under the tax code, treating the addition of solar panels on residential and small business property […]
Change Ups: Redick joins Greater Ottawa County United Way
Alexa Redick is Greater Ottawa County United Way’s new development associate. Her responsibilities include the growth of planned giving and major donor giving, as well as annual campaign support. Grand Haven is Redick’s hometown, where she attended Grand Haven High School. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2015 with a bachelor of arts in […]
Tips to keep work and family separate in a family-owned business
Often, a family business can be a 24-7 undertaking. However, in order to maintain a professional business environment, as well as family harmony, it is important to set boundaries. Below are a few tips for maintaining separation in your two worlds. 1. Only talk business with family while at work — save all talk about […]
2017 tax cuts have run their course for many firms
For the West Michigan industrial economy, September was strong, October was stronger and November was our best month of the year. According to the data collected in the last two weeks of November 2018, New Orders, our closely watched index of business improvement, edged higher to 38 from 36. In a similar move, the Production […]
Business leaders are pessimistic
A recent survey shows nearly all the state’s top business leaders expect the economy to stay the same or worsen in the next six to 12 months. Only 3.7 percent of leaders expect Michigan’s economy to get better next year, a decrease from 74 percent at the start of 2018, according to surveys by Business […]
Marijuana changes spill into 2019
Michigan lawmakers and their constituents have a lot to look forward to in 2019. One of the issues that will dominate headlines next year, like it did this year, will be marijuana. This year revealed where the majority of Michigan residents stood on the use of recreational marijuana, and it was the year when Grand […]
HR firms ramp up training after #MeToo movement
Human resources firms always have full plates helping clients with Title VII compliance — but demand has reached a new peak in the wake of the #MeToo movement. As women and men have mobilized globally since October 2017 to speak out about their experiences with sexual harassment and assault, and in some cases bring legal […]
-
Inside Track: Heeringa was ‘built to be a manufacturer’
Don Heeringa has a passion for industry that hasn’t waned over his more than 50 years in the business. As majority owner, chair and CEO of Holland-based Trendway, a maker of movable walls and office furniture, Heeringa has been with the industry so long he remembers when NeoCon — the premier trade show for the […]
-
Distillers making name for themselves in Beer City
Even though Grand Rapids is unquestionably Beer City, USA, the emerging craft spirits industry in town has had a productive 2018, and local distillers plan to hit the ground running in 2019. Long Road Distillers made the move to Imperial Beverage in late April, and as 2018 comes to a close, the partnership has opened […]
-
Regional franchise market ripe for growth
Service-to-home franchises have been on the rise in 2018, and industry experts say the interest, from both franchisees and customers, will continue into 2019, even with predictions of a shallow recession. Brigitte Betser, consultant for FranNet, a franchising consulting agency with offices in Michigan, said the West Michigan market is ripe for growth, particularly in […]
-
Muskegon industrial park adding 60 acres
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Plans are underway to expand Muskegon’s Port City Industrial Park by 60 acres, expected to leverage tens of millions of dollars in investment. The 70-acre property, at 2500 S. Sheridan Drive, is the former home of a portion of the West Shoreline Correctional Facility, which the city of Muskegon […]
-
Manufacturers to unveil innovations at CES
West Michigan manufacturers are getting ready to present their latest product advances at the Consumer Electronics Show. The annual international trade show hosted by the Consumer Technology Association is Jan. 8-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Zeeland-based Gentex and Grand Haven-based GHSP, a subsidiary of JSJ Corporation, each have new and emerging products to […]
