January 27, 2020
Street Talk: Rosy outlook for retail
Retailers in Michigan reported higher sales in December and predict stronger winter sales than a year ago, according to the Michigan Retail Index. The December Retail Index survey came in at 60, an increase from December 2018’s 38, and up from November 2019’s 52.2. The seasonally adjusted performance index is conducted by the Michigan Retailers […]
Ambulance company planning expansion
American Medical Response is entering 2020 with plans to strengthen its presence in the region. The medical transportation company plans to purchase an additional eight ambulances this year and hire up to 100 new employees locally, according to John Robben, who was hired in July as the company’s Grand Rapids-based regional director overseeing Michigan, Ohio […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-05162– RUTLEDGE, Deborah S., 6422 Bella Vista Drive, Rockford, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 13) 19-05163 – VOS, Samantha A., 2467 Vista Point Court NW, Rebecca L. Johnson-Ellis (Ch. 7) 19-05172 – PENLAND, Dia C., 387 10 Mile NW, Sparta, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 7) 19-05175 – RAMIL, Gusman, 3320 Pheasant Ridge SE, Eliot A. Sasson […]
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Lakeshore Advantage fuels SURGE’s growing offerings
Lakeshore Advantage kicked off this year’s entrepreneur program with new offerings. SURGE is the Zeeland-based economic development organization’s program that caters to startups and more developed entrepreneurial endeavors, focused primarily on high-tech, high-growth and product-based companies. In 2019, SURGE worked with 59 startups, including 31 high-tech companies and 28 offering a product or service. Those […]
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Change-Ups: Breed joins DYS Media
Tim Breed recently was hired as director of public relations for the Holland-based public and media relations firm DYS Media. Breed offers decades of experience in the industry, including 11 years with Hackley Hospital (now Mercy Health Muskegon) and 14 years as the top PR communicator for Holland Community Hospital. DYS president Dave Yonkman said […]
New Community Transformation Fund supports people of color in business
On Jan. 20, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy, including the iconic 1963 speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in which he urged America to “make real the promises of democracy.” Unfortunately, the dream King articulated so vividly remains deferred for too many in the U.S., including West Michigan. People […]
GEAR UP for tomorrow’s workforce
“Who let the students in? And those teachers, what are they doing here?” Think about where your workforce will come from in the next two, five or 10 years. You and your company can affect K-12 education in your county. Would you open your workplace to students and teachers to share with them how you […]
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Inside Track: Saying ‘yes’ to people work
Jamon Alexander said he chose the path he is on to help individuals whose stories contain echoes of his own. Growing up in a mostly Black neighborhood in southeast Grand Rapids, Alexander said he didn’t realize Grand Rapids was not a predominantly Black metro area until he moved to rural Allendale to attend Grand Valley […]
Ottawa Kent employees give back to community projects
Clients are not the only focus for one West Michigan agency. While employees at Ottawa Kent spend much of their workweek helping people and businesses assess risks and offer insurance solutions that may be applicable to them, the agency has carved out time for its employees to support their local community. Ottawa Kent founded Ottawa […]
Online platform helps nonprofits
Kennari Consulting has experienced major growth in its nonprofit client base over the past decade, but to manage that growth while still delivering to its clients, it has partnered with Well Design Studio to build an online video series for clients to learn on their own, as well. Kennari Consulting approached Well Design Studio at […]
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Despite farms closing, milk production remains on track
(Watch for this story Monday morning on WZZM TV 13) Milk production remains uninterrupted as more and more farmers are going out of business in Michigan. Some dairy farmers are forced to leave the industry because it is no longer financially beneficial, but nonetheless, dairy production is increasing, keeping the No. 1 sector of the agricultural […]
CPA advises careful review of deductions for 2019
Most of the provisions of the 2017 federal tax overhaul went into effect in 2018, but the mass scale of the changes mean extra careful review will be required during the 2019 federal tax filing season, according to a local accountant. Erik Schumacher, CPA and principal at the Kentwood office of Rehmann, 2330 East Paris […]
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Consumers OKs rebates for EV charging stations
Consumers Energy recently announced it approved nearly 400 rebates for electric vehicle charging stations at homes and in public locations across Michigan since launching the rebate program less than a year ago. Consumers Energy started PowerMIDrive in May 2019 to promote electric vehicle ownership for the good of Michigan’s environment and economy. The utility has […]
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$7.5M mixed-use building planned for Creston
A Grand Rapids native has come home after leaving the 2008 market crash and plans to bring his development experience to a new project in Creston. North End Lofts is a new $7.5 million mixed-use development proposed for the vacant lot on the southeastern corner of Plainfield Avenue and Quimby Street NW across from Creston […]
Partners launching venture fund
When The Right Place was conducting interviews for its next three-year strategic plan at the end of 2019, the resounding feedback from over 100 business leaders was fostering a diverse economy needs to be a bigger priority in West Michigan. The Grand Rapids-based regional economic development agency took the advice seriously and, on Jan. 23, […]
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Wheeler proposes $55M, 24-story building downtown
The Wedge on the corner of Ottawa Avenue and Fulton Street in downtown Grand Rapids may be the site of a new collaboration between the city and local developers. The city of Grand Rapids recently entered a one-year agreement with Wheeler Development Group to conduct due diligence and negotiate a development agreement for a portion […]
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CEO applauds DOL joint-employer ruling
The franchise industry is doing a happy dance this month, according to one of its CEOs. Jania Bailey — CEO of Louisville, Kentucky-based FranNet, a franchise ownership consulting business with 48 North American franchisees, including some in greater Grand Rapids — spoke to the Business Journal this month about the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) […]
Kent OKs funding for three new buildings
Kent County set aside $18.7 million to construct three new government buildings. The $12.5 million North County Campus will be on 14 acres of property on 17 Mile Road NE near U.S. 131. The 30,000-square-foot facility will house police operations and contain a health clinic. Another $2.7 million will go toward a new 8,000-square-foot, $3.3 […]
