January 18, 2016
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Caribbean artist strives to bring representation to community
Erick Picardo is both a successful and struggling artist in Grand Rapids. Picardo, who’s originally from the Dominican Republic and has been in Grand Rapids since 2001, is a creative professional striving to plant Caribbean art roots in the city. That’s the struggling part. As an artist, Picardo has participated in a number of local […]
City approves unique parcel agreement for repair shop
Four parcels, three business districts, two corridor improvement districts and one alley — all tied to one business — presented quite the story problem for city officials. Due to a location technicality and a public alley, RJZ Land Holdings LLC sought approval to encumber all four properties at 846 E. Fulton St. as part of […]
New Holland enjoys resurgence
As established breweries across the country are seeing growth slow down — in some cases, rather dramatically — New Holland Brewing Co. is heating up. Some major brands, such as Dogfish Head Brewery, have seen growth slow to single-digits or even decline for the first time in more than a decade, either due to increased […]
Production is numbers game
Grand Rapids has proudly touted its Beer City moniker for several years now, and in that time, the craft brewing market has continued to rapidly expand. But with craft brewing exploding and new breweries popping up all around the country, the question has become whether the market can handle the boom, or if it will […]
Street Talk: A lasting legacy
A lot of memories can be packed into a century of living. Ralph Hauenstein, who passed away last week at the age of 103, will be remembered by members of the Grand Rapids community as a WWII veteran, visionary entrepreneur, leader and philanthropist. Hauenstein began his career in journalism as the city editor of the […]
Michigan’s exports increased while world’s declined
According to the latest numbers on international trade released by the World Trade Organization, in the first 10 months of 2015 the value of world merchandise exports plunged $1.6 trillion, or 11.2 percent, to $12.7 trillion from the same period in 2014. WTO’s trade statistics on exports from January-October 2015 show the United States ranked […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SCOTT, Sarah Lynn et al, Shore Mortgage, Courtland Twp., 25-9-10, $321,772 MEYER, Nicholas T. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Springs Estates, Lot 4, $254,915 RILEY, Mattie et al, Huntington National Bank, Gaines Twp., 21-5-11, $250,000 WIERINGA, Jon et al, AmeriFirst Financial Corp., Meyering […]
Change Ups: Foundation elects chair, vice chair, trustee
Grand Rapids Community Foundation is starting 2016 with a new board chair and vice chair and a new trustee. Laurie Finney Beard, region president of Old National Bank, was elected to the position of board chair for a one-year term. Carlos Sanchez, director of the Latino Business and Economic Development Center at Ferris State University, […]
Parking panel mulls priorities
The city’s parking commissioners have nearly 40 goals they want to accomplish by the end of next year. Members of the Grand Rapids Parking Commission last week reviewed and discussed a priority plan outlining key policy and action items designed to meet current and future needs of downtown parking customers. The plan prioritizes a number […]
Developer secures brownfield funds
City of Grand Rapids officials launched 2016 by supporting the establishment of the 601 Bond Neighborhood Enterprise Zone for the 16-story redevelopment project planned at 601 Bond Ave. NW, and approved a tax increment financing plan to reimburse the developer for up to $4.3 million in eligible brownfield activities. Kara Wood, economic development director for […]
Market volatility expected to continue this year
Markets around the globe felt the aftershocks of China’s shortest trading day of 2016 when new circuit-breaker measures were triggered Jan. 7 for the second time during the first full week of the New Year. Although some market volatility is expected to continue as the year progresses, local financial management professionals don’t anticipate significant impacts […]
Health care leaders focus on healthy lifestyles in 2016 forecast
Decreasing chronic illness will be one of the most important avenues to decreasing future health care costs, according to health care leaders who participated in Grand Valley State University’s ninth annual West Michigan Healthcare Economic Forecast. The event, which was held at GVSU’s Eberhard Center earlier this month, brought together two panels to talk about […]
A $2B health care tax increase? Let’s find a better solution
Health care costs will rise for employers and individual purchasers if the Michigan Legislature passes a proposed $2 billion health care tax increase later this year. The Michigan House of Representatives voted in favor of an eight-year extension of the job-killing Health Insurance Claims Act tax in December, prolonging the life of the Michigan-only tax […]
Employers complying with ACA mandate
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) A survey of local employers revealed they are not choosing fines over providing health care to employees under the Affordable Care Act, but whether that continues remains to be seen. Leslie Muller, professor of economics at Grand Valley State University, said a survey of 200 area businesses was conducted […]
All Michigan taxpayers now shoulder responsibility for Flint and Detroit
West Michigan has long been especially prideful of regional economic successes prompting growth in what is still Michigan’s second largest city. The region as a whole has been equally prideful of its conservative values and fiscal restraint. But blind, fierce advocacy and one-issue politics comes up “penny wise, pound foolish” — and the very hard […]
Real estate industry looks promising on all fronts
A strong end to last year year has NAI Wisinski of West Michigan looking forward to 2016. The firm released its 2015 end-of-year report last week, and most signs point to strong segments across the real estate board. The report was put together using information from CoStar Realty, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census […]
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Comfort food for everyone
When Sandi Hillis was diagnosed with a gluten allergy more than 30 years ago, she learned how to make gluten-free foods for family functions. Now that experience is paying off in the form of a new business. Live Gluten Free Bakery & Café is a dedicated gluten-free facility with breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options […]
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Making mead isn’t quite like nuclear engineering
Maciej Halaczkiewicz has a one-man operation at Arktos Meadery. He makes the mead, sits behind the bar and pours mead for customers, and delivers his mead across the state. But it wasn’t planned that way. In 2012, Halaczkiewicz asked his brother Marcin to start the company with him. The day after that conversation, Marcin died […]
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It’s no secret hard work pays off for building manager
Tom Van Kampen has spent a career guarding a building of secrets. Now, after almost 43 years of serving as building manager of the Grand Rapids Masonic Center, he’s retiring. Van Kampen, who runs the downtown building that’s home to West Michigan’s fraternity of Masons, said the group isn’t as mysterious as myth and conspiracy […]
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Inside Track: Non-beer drinker Schaafsma is happy to build breweries
Mark Schaafsma was having drinks at Bar Divani one day nearly a decade ago and started up a chance conversation with a fellow patron. The new acquaintance was talking about a bar he was planning to open at the former Sierra Room location a few doors down on Ionia Avenue and asked Schaafsma what he […]
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Distillers grapple with truth in advertising
The story behind a bottle of spirits sitting on the shelf might be murkier than its contents. Look closely at that bottle and the label can be confusing — and misleading. There are a variety of descriptions that can be slapped on a label, including, “Distilled in,” “Bottled In,” “Manufactured In,” “Produced In,” “Aged In” […]
