February 13, 2017
Construction employment sees early growth in 2017
National construction employment started 2017 on a high note, adding 36,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Associated Builders and Contractors. The 0.5 percent increase represents the best month for construction employment growth since March 2016. The nonresidential construction […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds VANBLOIS, Rebecca L. Trust et al, Fifth Third Mortgage Co., Wyoming Ranches No. 1, Lot 54, $213,000 PRENIQI, Erona et al, Allen Edwin Home Builders, Condo-Stonegate Of Byron Center, $274,625 HOP, Ryan A. et al, Huntington National Bank, Gaines Twp., 31-5-11, $564,000 ROGERS, Richard R. […]
Street Talk: Retail guessing game
Now that Woodland Mall has its first official replacement for when Sears closes in March, speculation by consumers and real estate agents alike can continue for the seemingly endless amount of space the vacancy will leave. Von Maur, an Iowa-based department store, officially was announced last week by the mall’s owner, Philadelphia-based PREIT, but the […]
Right Place looks ahead next 3 years
The Right Place Inc. is shooting to bring $500 million in capital investment to the region over the next three years. The Grand Rapids-based economic development organization unveiled its three-year strategic plan last week, sharing its goals of bringing and retaining 4,200 jobs and $150 million in payroll between now and the end of 2019. […]
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Change Ups: Thrash among those who received LocalMotion Awards
Aleka C. Thrash of ACTPhotoMedia and Naturally ACT is one of nine recipients who recently received LocalFirst’s LocalMotion Awards for helping to build sustainable communities. Thrash’s photography is known for building confidence and self-care by capturing special moments in photographs and promoting natural hair care. Other LocalMotion recipients include Romence Gardens & Green Houses, C2C […]
Repeal of harmful price controls necessary
When comparing life today to 1934, it’s not likely you’ll find many similarities. Back then, a gallon of gas cost 10 cents, the Great Depression was in full swing, television had yet to become mainstream and the U.S. population was about one-third of what it is now. Yet, for all of these differences, there have […]
Ten easy steps to avoid big headaches later
On both a business and individual level, there are 10 easy steps you can take to avoid big trouble later. If you address just five of these items this month, you will be halfway there. Get a shareholders’ agreement in place: If you own a business and have co-owners, put a shareholders’ agreement in place. […]
Professional cleaners flourish by word of mouth
Two local cleaning services companies are seeing steady growth without advertising. Elaine Meyers, president of Meyers Cleaning Service in Jenison, said her company’s services were in such high demand last year, they had to turn customers away. “We had a lot of companies that actually called us,” she said. “We weren’t out beating anyone’s doors […]
City can’t fix the parking problem it created
Grand Rapids Business Journal has been reporting on and opining about the eventuality of an employer parking crisis downtown since 2012. At that time, the Business Journal reported the city response: “The people who want to be downtown are going to be downtown.” In 2014, Advantage Sales moved 300 employees to a suburban office park. […]
Company expands 3-D printing services
Scarlett Inc. launched a new website, 3DPrintedParts.com, at the end of last year to support its expanded focus on 3-D printing applications. 3DPrintedParts.com provides quotes on parts, machine details, applications consulting and blog posts on innovations in industrial applications of 3-D printing. Mike McLean, general manager of Scarlett’s 3-D-printing business, said 3-D printing primarily has […]
Parking at 95 percent capacity
Grand Rapids may not have the solution to the city’s parking crunch just yet, but officials are willing to listen to questions. Following the results from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership survey, which revealed lack of parking was a primary concern for many local business owners, last week the chamber hosted […]
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United Way celebrates 100 years of service
The Heart of West Michigan United Way collected its first dollars 100 years ago, when contagious diseases and food shortages prompted members of the Grand Rapids community to create a unifying way to provide relief to their neighbors. Michelle Van Dyke, president and CEO of Heart of West Michigan United Way, said the original organizers […]
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West Michigan’s cows attract coffee producers
An abundance of milk is the main reason Philadelphia-based La Colombe Coffee Roasters picked Norton Shores as the site for producing its canned Draft Latte for nationwide distribution. The company’s co-founder and CEO Todd Carmichael said along with the milk-producing bovine, West Michigan also offered up the perfect mix of people and facility. “The first […]
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Inside Track: Driving force fuels Ross
Darel Ross II, the new co-director of Start Garden, is a man on a mission. Since his earliest days as a youth on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, Ross knew poverty, and he knew he wanted to work toward making his community a better place — a place of opportunity regardless of one’s ZIP […]
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Restaurant grants customers’ request
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) For Slows Bar BQ, the customer is always right. The Downtown Market restaurant said it has converted half of its dining space to accommodate full service dining after several of its customers made the request. Slows opened in the Downtown Market in August 2015 as a market style restaurant […]
