February 21, 2017
GR nonprofit adds psychoeducational assessment
Children and teens facing challenges at school can turn to a new testing service for help understanding why and for recommendations to overcome their struggles. Wedgwood Christian Services, a Grand Rapids nonprofit focused on providing social services to children and their families, now is offering basic assessment and extended assessment of psychoeducational testing at its […]
Change Ups: Abed joins Grand Rapids Women’s Health
Dr. Husam Abed joined Grand Rapids Women’s Health practice. Abed’s expertise includes advanced laparoscopic surgery, cystoscopy, hysteroscopy and comprehensive treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, urogenital fistula, and interstitial cystitis. He is board certified in obstetrics, gynecology and urogynecology, and received his medical degree with honors at Al-Mustansiriya Medical College, Baghdad, Iraq. Abed performed his […]
Expect modestly positive growth for West Michigan economy
The holidays are over, and we are now into the back-to-work mode of 2017. According to the latest survey conducted during the last two weeks of January, New Orders, our index of business improvement, has returned to a normal pace of plus-8, up nicely from December’s minus-5. Most of our other key indexes also were […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds WINDCHILL PRODUCTS LLC, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Riverview Park No. 1, Lot 94, $450,411 MILLER, Alisha et al, Mortgage 1, Cascade Acres, Lot 16, $288,000 MORSE, Susan et al, Quicken Loans, Condo-Enclave Of Grand Rapids, $233,500 WOODS, Marjorie L. et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, […]
Street Talk: Parking suggestions welcome
With all the hubbub surrounding parking this past week, maybe it’s time for Grand Rapids to tear a page from Seattle’s book. There are two distinct lines of thought with the Grand Rapids parking situation: one, let’s add more, and two, let’s find another way to get to work. Neither are right and the truth […]
Two tax areas to watch if considering transfer of business
Thinking about transferring your family business interests or other assets this year? There are two major issues lurking on the tax landscape that you need to keep in mind: the future of section 2704 regulations of the internal revenue code and possible changes to the estate tax. Prior to the presidential election, the IRS proposed […]
Letter: Thank you, GR reps, for supporting clean energy
Editor: In December, Gov. Rick Snyder signed bipartisan legislation that will increase Michigan’s use of clean, renewable energy and save Michigan families and businesses money on their electricity bills. On behalf of Brewery Vivant, I thank representatives Chris Afendoulis, Winnie Brinks and David LaGrand for voting “yes” on this important legislation. In recent years, the […]
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Inside Track: Changing the status quo
Growing up, even if she never actually said she wanted to be an entrepreneur, the signs were always there Kristian Grant had big ideas that needed to get out. Even as a kid, Grant always was devising some grand idea to change the status quo. If she and her friends were bored in the summertime, […]
It takes a village
Early in 2016, I had that sinking feeling you get as an entrepreneur when you realize you completely underestimated your growing organization’s needs. You know, the one where your grand utopian vision may be a little off. Rewind to late 2015: Our tribe had a powerful vision, a pure mission and all 12 of us […]
Educational achievement key in talent shortage problem
Grand Rapids employers universally are impacted by the talent shortage and identify the issue as the top concern in moving their businesses forward or expanding. The comparatively low wage levels paid in the greater Grand Rapids area do not salve the wound of job openings in the nationally competitive fight for talent and recruitment or […]
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Food distributor keeps rolling for 90 years
S. Abraham & Sons weathered a depression and several recessions on the strength of a simple idea: Each generation has its own product demands, but people always need good service. Founded in 1927 by Lebanese immigrant Sleyman Abraham, the third-generation, family-owned wholesale food distributor started out as a retail store in downtown Grand Rapids selling […]
Fast-growing investment firm looks to the future
For Ryan Wenk, watching FormulaFolio Investment’s year-over-year growth has been like witnessing a car traveling at full speed. The firm’s growth rate has been “extremely fast,” said Wenk, the firm’s operations manager and brother of Jason Wenk, the founder and chief investment strategist. “We want to keep the pedal to the metal, but we have […]
What will you be making at age 34?
Lou Glazer said a common refrain he hears from employers, parents and politicians is high school graduates would make higher wages by pursuing two-year degrees or occupational certificates instead of a traditional four-year education. But Glazer, president of nonprofit think tank Michigan Future Inc., points to a study released last month that shows four-year institutions […]
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Bazzani Group takes inclusive action
Bazzani Building Group is taking a deliberate — but natural — step toward inclusion in Grand Rapids. Last month, the construction and development firm announced a strategic partnership with Skot and Barbara Welch that will make the Grand Rapids entrepreneurs the company’s director and assistant director of business development, respectively. The partnership has some projects […]
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Downtown Market says it’s on ‘solid footing’
Despite having twice requested extensions on its $3-million loan with the state of Michigan, Mimi Fritz of the Grand Rapids Downtown Market said the Grand Action and Downtown Development Authority-backed venture is financially sustainable and doing well. Fritz has served as the market’s president and CEO since it opened over Labor Day weekend 2013. She […]
