January 17, 2017
Turn your ideas into action to have a great year
Everyone wants to have a great year, and many start with a flurry. Problem is that many can’t keep up the momentum or maintain the dedication to make “great” a reality. The health clubs and gyms are already less crowded. I posted my list of 21.5 things to do so that you can have a […]
City turns to sensors for data
A new technology in Grand Rapids launched last weekend could help the city become more efficient. Grand Rapids joined cities across the globe attempting to become a smart city, using data collected from sensors to make more informed decisions on how to use resources. The process starts with an antenna purchased by Steelcase and placed […]
Law school supports entrepreneurial, poverty-relief initiatives
A local law school wants to offer more business and economic resources for minority populations in West Michigan. Western Michigan University Cooley Law School already has a clinic to help ex-offenders get expungements from their records and assistance with registry and employment issues. And it offers pro bono legal services at the West Michigan Hispanic […]
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Inside Track: A long, winding road
Bill Pink believes one of the biggest favors you can do for yourself in life is to grab hold of the thing you love and chase after it. So, it’s no surprise to the 10th president of Grand Rapids Community College life has led him to this point. The Abilene, Texas, native, the youngest of […]
Following flat finish, expect modest growth for first quarter
December often is a slow month for many industrial firms, and December 2016 was no exception. According to the latest survey conducted during the last two weeks of December, New Orders, our closely watched index of business improvement, came in at minus-5, considerably below the index of plus-23 posted as recently as September, but comparable […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds POKORZYNSKI, Ryan et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Serenity Shores, $394,000 NESSET, Angela et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Plainfield Twp., 3-8-11, $284,000 CAMERON, Matt D. et al, Huntington National Bank, Condo-Hagen Gorge Site Condominiums, $297,000 VISSER, Jerry W. et al, Huntington National Bank, Condo-Crawford […]
Street Talk: Politics don’t matter
After Donald Trump assumes the office of the presidency Jan. 20, the course for the United States over the next four years will begin to take shape. But according to economist Alan Beaulieu, who spoke before the Economic Club of Grand Rapids last week, a Trump presidency will have little impact on the nation’s economy, […]
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Change Ups: Sytsema acquires funeral homes in Spring Lake, Grand Haven
Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services acquired the VanZantwick, Bartels and Kammeraad Funeral Homes in Spring Lake and Grand Haven, following the decision of VBK Funeral Homes owners, Dale VanZantwick, Si Workman and Dean Meyering, to retire. The Sytsema and VBK teams have solidified their partnership by adjusting the nomenclature of VBK’s Tri-Cities area funeral homes. […]
Keep that resolution; create your best year ever
More than 200 million Americans made New Year’s resolutions this month and, yet, only 8 percent will keep them. Most people make the same resolution 10 times without success. That used to be me — but not anymore. I recently attended a two-day conference on goal setting in Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by my favorite author/podcaster/blogger/online […]
Today’s schooling techniques ‘frozen in time’
I recently had a chance to visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum School. Quite impressive. Clearly, the folks at the XQ: The Super School Project thought so, too. They chose the school as one on ten winners of $10 million from more than 700 national applicants. XQ’s mission is “to remake America’s high schools for […]
Letter: City headed in right direction
Editor: I was the chief of police in Grand Rapids for 16 years — 1981 to 1998. I truly enjoyed your publication during my time in this beautiful community. At times, it was a difficult period — the increasing number of shootings, crack cocaine, the growth of violent gangs, etc. But we were convinced that […]
Retail opportunity arises in West Michigan
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Area realtors are looking at the closure of the Woodland Mall Sears as an opportunity for the region. The thought led the 2016 Market Review by the Commercial Alliance of Realtors, which noted the closing of the one-time retail giant as a blip on the region’s retail market. According […]
Market-rate housing saturation compels a new plan
One year ago, public discussion in Grand Rapids seemed to have enough momentum to portend promise of affordable housing problem solving, but as the new year begins, developers, lenders and brokers told the Business Journal they’re treading lightly into future — with market rate developments. Mercantile Bank commercial lender Justin Karl notes in the Business […]
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Mixed reality presents opportunities for manufacturers
Open Systems Technologies (OST) has a giant rocket ship and a purring orange cat sitting in its lobby. These 3-D objects hover in the air and can be relocated around the room thanks to Microsoft’s HoloLens, a mixed reality headset OST has been testing for the past couple of months. Mixed reality takes virtual reality […]
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Michigan wineries diversify to stay fresh
Big and small winemakers in the region have something in common: The need to stay relevant as Michigan’s beverage industry grows. In West Michigan, Cascade Winery co-owner Bob Bonga sees his business boosted by the growth in popularity of ciders, fruit wines of all kinds and meads, as well as the proliferation of breweries. More […]
Survey says businesses see rosy 2017
Small business owners in West Michigan are of two minds: It will be a good year, but it will have some challenges. In a recent survey, 93 percent of Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce members, two-thirds of which are small- and mid-sized businesses, reported a favorable or very favorable perception of West Michigan’s business […]
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New ownership leads company to best sales year
For Interphase Interiors, 2016 has been a terrific year. The company, which changed hands in 2015, said it logged its best sales year and was one of 30 Haworth dealerships to be awarded the 2016 Best In Class distinction. This is the fifth year Interphase has earned the Best In Class distinction, and the company […]
American Seating says goodbye to the ballpark
American Seating announced its intentions to exit the fixed seating market, which includes seating for outdoor sports stadiums, auditorium and lecture halls, and performing arts theaters, earlier this month. The company said it signed a letter of intent to sell its architectural fixed seating business to one of its competitors in the industry, Irwin Seating. […]
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Developers are stuck in the middle
While not quite yet a wet blanket, there’s at least a damp towel on optimism for future development of market rate housing in downtown Grand Rapids. Absorption of apartment units coming online has slowed, with hundreds of units still under construction or planned, resulting in a more diligent and hesitant process in considering new projects. […]
