February 19, 2019

  • Street Talk: Building pipelines remain packed

    Today’s front page carries a story highlighting $187 million in new private investment coming to Grand Rapids in 2019. But the city isn’t the only place with lofty economic development expectations. Only a month into the new year, Holland-based general contractor Elzinga & Volkers is slated to execute over $125 million worth of new construction […]

  • Auto insurance premiums also burdensome in rural areas

    During a seemingly endless legislative battle over how to rein in the nation’s highest auto insurance premiums, some experts worry about rural Michiganders fleeing the state for cheaper rates. Premiums in urban centers like Detroit are disproportionately high due to nondriving factors, said Wayne Miller, an adjunct professor with the Wayne State University Law School […]

  • Hospital admissions cost more

    Hospital admission costs in Grand Rapids are continuing to climb and still are higher than in neighboring areas. Total hospital expenses per admission climbed about $2,000 to nearly $30,000 in 2016, according to the latest Health Check report by Grand Valley State University and Tulane University, which analyzes data from Blue Cross Blue Shield of […]

  • Proposal to add school counselors comes without money

    Legislation that would require school districts to employ one academic counselor for every 450 students has been introduced in the House, but some educators say the unfunded mandate would pressure districts into making drastic and expensive changes. Districts statewide are “woefully understaffed” with counselors, said Jennifer Smith, the director of government relations for the Michigan […]

  • Changing climate challenges potato growers, chipmakers

    Michigan is the nation’s largest grower of potatoes for chips — about one in four bags sold in the U.S. is made from Michigan potatoes. Can climate change jeopardize the state’s dominance? Maybe, a new study warns. That’s because warming temperatures will require more ventilation and refrigeration — and thus higher energy bills — to […]

  • Investing in intensive behavioral intervention reduces future burden

    Mental health does not receive adequate funding to provide sufficient care for kids with autism. It is vital the state and providers recognize that the costs and risks of not investing in intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are significantly higher. Assuring access and adequacy of ABA-based therapy […]

  • Change Ups: Weinrich named food, beverage director

    Suburban Inns named Michael Weinrich its food and beverage director for its latest hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton at 710 Monroe Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Weinrich is responsible for all food and beverage operations, including the Whitewater Lounge, Whitewater Café, banquet events and the Embassy Suites’ signature complimentary breakfast space. Weinrich has […]

  • A personal finance lesson from the federal government shutdown

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    As we write this article, the federal government shutdown just ended. The shutdown lasted 35 days with nearly 800,000 federal workers not being paid. Federal workers weren’t paid on Jan. 11 and then missed another paycheck Jan. 25, the day President Donald Trump signed a bill to temporarily end the shutdown. As if this weren’t […]

  • Public Record

    BANKRUPTCY 19-00108 – LATHAM, Andrew L. & Nancy C., 704 Griggs SE, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7) 19-00116 – RIVERA, Casper J., 3124 Byron Center SW, Wyoming, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 7) 19-00117 – HOLLIS, Fennath R., 235 Lyon, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. 7) 19-00118 – STRIKWERDA, Kathi J., 444 Delaware SE, Jacob T. Tighe […]

  • Marketing firm helps nonprofits with websites

    A local digital marketing agency is rolling out a new initiative to help West Michigan nonprofits. Grand Rapids-based LaFleur Marketing announced its first nonprofit website initiative that offers professional web development services to nonprofit organizations free of charge. The initiative was birthed from a culture founder Chip LaFleur established to help the community by allowing […]

  • 123Net’s partnership with Telia Carrier expands network capacity

    Southfield-based 123Net announced it has tapped Telia Carrier's 100G-enabled, global IP backbone to provide scalable capacity and connectivity to the Michigan market. “We continue to see a high demand from regional, national and international carriers to establish a point of presence at our Tier 3 facility,” said Bob Evenson, carrier relations manager at 123Net. “Being […]

  • Medical device investors offer startup advice

    The culture of funding medical device development and getting them on the market is changing. Startups and investors would do well to take note or risk joining the vast majority of failed medical device ventures. That was one of the messages shared by investors in the medical device industry. Startups need to make sure there […]

  • Inside Track: High-risk move pays off

    When Rebecca LeClaire became a parent, she took unconventional steps to support her family. Undeterred by the negative stereotypes that sometimes surround entrepreneurship, she decided to venture out into the business world and hasn’t looked back since. That was about 14 years ago. Four years later, her startup became incorporated and it has now grown […]

  • Riverside Park lands $150K DNR grant

    More community members will be able to enjoy paddling activities at Riverside Park thanks to a Michigan Department of Natural Resources recreation passport grant. The Michigan DNR recently awarded the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department a $150,000 grant to help fund accessibility enhancements, including a universal-access canoe and kayak launch. The city’s parks millage […]

  • Cleaning businesses offering more green alternatives

    With a plethora of research done on the positive effects of going “green,” companies in Grand Rapids are following suit. Cleaning companies are continuing to offer more green alternatives. Karin Wysocki, president of Grand Rapids-based GRBS, said one of the reasons going green has become more popular is the products have become more cost-efficient. She […]

  • City reports $187M in new private investment

    The city of Grand Rapids’ Economic Development Department on Feb. 12 reported to the city’s Economic Development Project Team on the commitments from businesses that received approval for various city incentive programs during calendar year 2018. The commitments included $187.5 million in new private investment across 15 projects, 217 new jobs with an average wage […]

  • Hudsonville opens its first ‘high rise’

    (As seen on WZZM TV 13) Zeeland-based Geerlings Development completed the first “high rise” building in Hudsonville's new developing downtown.  Restaurants and businesses in the new $4.5-million, 25,000-square-foot Hudson Center building, 3424 Chicago Drive, are drawing people to Hudsonville’s developing downtown area. The mixed-use building includes three floors of retail, business offices and upper-level residential apartments. […]

  • City exploring lack of Silver Line development

    When highway traffic was rerouted away from South Division Avenue in the 1950s, Grand Rapids city leaders attempted to solve the resulting economic downturn by wiping the slate clean and trying something else. Starting in the late 1960s, South Division was designated by the city as a C4 heavy commercial zone, allowing business such as […]

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