June 10, 2013
Construction jobs go up in half of the country
The Associated General Contractors of America recently revealed construction jobs rose in about half of the nation’s metro markets, with the biggest share of those gains occurring in the South and on the West Coast where demand from the private sector for building projects went up. Markets in Mississippi, Louisiana, California and Texas all saw […]
Fair Housing Center set to take on a new task
The settlement money the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan will receive will allow the organization to enter a new chapter in its 33-year history, as it will become a major player in helping to restore and stabilize a residential section of Grand Rapids. Executive Director Nancy Haynes revealed last week the organization has reached […]
Online video advertising becoming effective tool for brands
Television advertising is starting to see some serious competition from online video advertising in terms of effectiveness. Market research company eMarketer reported a recent survey of U.S. advertising agency executives found that 75 percent think online video ads are equally or more effective than traditional TV advertising. “I think, overall, online video is a very […]
Grand Rapids street goes on vacation
A request from Rockford Construction Co. to vacate a block of Lexington Avenue between First and Second streets on the city’s northwest side was recently approved by city commissioners. Rockford plans to develop that stretch of the street. The vacate order will cost the firm $99,400 for various fees such as amending the plat with […]
Health clinic consolidation decision coming soon
Kent County should know relatively soon whether it can merge the two health department clinics in Wyoming and Kentwood into a single one located in Kentwood, an endeavor the county has been working on since last September. Kent County Assistant Administrator Wayman Britt has served as the point man on the project and told the […]
Video: Whirlpool turns to storytelling to break through the clutter
Whirlpool launched a new television spot last month titled “teen jeans,” which portrays a teenager aghast that her mother has washed her favorite pair of jeans, because she is worried that the trip through the washing machine will ruin the new look. The 30-second commercial captures a common concern for many who have a coveted […]
Change Ups: Librarian to serve as MLA president
Asante Cain, reference and adult services coordinator at Grand Rapids Public Library, has been elected 2014-15 president of the Michigan Library Association. He becomes president-elect in July 2013 and assumes the MLA presidency in July 2014. A graduate of the MLA Leadership Academy, Cain’s service to the association includes participation on committees and presentations at […]
Public Record
June 7 — MORTGAGES LEONARD, Reynols W. et al, Bank Of America, Meadows North Estates, Lot 2, $221,500 WOODMAN, Craig A. et al, Amerisave Mortgage Corp., Bowne Twp., 10-5-9, $280,000 CUMINGS, Kevin D. et al, Independent Bank, Condo-Trail West, $417,000 956 MICHIGAN LLC, Wolverine Bank, Grand Rapids, 29-7-11, $167,500 ERDMAN, Daniel P. et al, Quicken […]
Street Talk: Shelby fruit business makes Financial Times
A reader in Oceana County mentioned a couple of months ago that Chinese investors were rumored to be buying Peterson Farms in Shelby. When Earl Peterson began farming with his father back in the early 1970s, they grew a lot of fruit. Today the business still includes orchards, but most of the focus of the […]
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Haworth Inc. continues to advance its commitment of sustainability
Haworth Inc. recently released its eighth annual sustainability report, and the Holland-based, global office furniture manufacturer is continuing to make progress on its zero-waste-to-landfill mission. The company’s two manufacturing sites in Portugal reached zero-waste status last year. When the plants in Queluz and Aqueda made that mark, Haworth completed its zero-waste-to-landfill goal at its sites […]
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Inside Track: Getting there fast is half the fun for Zaagman
The license plate on the back of Richard Zaagman’s red Audi station wagon reads “ZIGZAAG.” “Just like the way he drives,” his wife, Joyce, said, looking at the back of the car. Richard Zaagman has loved cars since he was a youngster pushing toy cars around and saying, “Vrooooom,” and that interest helped form his […]
Twitter thoughts and Twitter thinking: tweet and retweet
Most people reading this have never tweeted. (You included?) On the off chance that you have tweeted, my guess is you have fewer than 5,000 Twitter followers — maybe less than 500. Whatever your situation is, there’s no denying that Twitter is a major force in business social media. The next few paragraphs will challenge […]
American Seating displays higher end furniture at NeoCon
American Seating, a well-known producer of contract seating in Grand Rapids for more than 100 years, will introduce a freestanding table line, a wood base chair, a stackable table and Us Chair accessories at this year’s NeoCon. Under the theme “Designs for Learning,” all of the new American Seating products are intended for the changing […]
Health Care Tax without heartburn, an easy-to-digest overview
It’s no fun to be sick. Illness often requires spending time in a pharmacy, doctor’s office, or hospital, all of which can be very expensive. Congress intended the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to increase the rate of health insurance coverage and reduce health care costs, but it comes at a price. One way […]
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One proposed hotel receives extension
A local lodging operator that first proposed a $28 million hotel for the North Monroe Business District in 2007, and then upgraded the project just a few months ago, has asked for an extension. The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority gave Suburban Inns of Rockford, owned by father-and-son team Peter and Brian Beukema, three more […]
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NeoCon buzz: accommodating digital technology
New office chairs and electronic communications technology is behind much of the buzz at NeoCon this year, ranging from an office chair designed for personal mobile device users to built-in electronics in tables and wall panels. Just in time for North America’s biggest office furniture trade show, taking place June 10-12 in Chicago, Haworth announced […]
West Michigan economy continues three-month surge
Considerably stronger. That’s the latest word on the West Michigan economy, according to data collected in the last two weeks of May. As you may recall, February was fairly flat, but March and April posted considerable improvement. May has turned out even better. New Orders, our index of business improvement, rose to +35 from +31, […]
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Leaseback deal makes its mark in real estate
The sale-and-leaseback deal is becoming the new best thing in commercial real estate because market conditions and the lending situation are making these transactions good for the buyer and for the seller, both nationally and in West Michigan. The Easy Leaseback division of Sperry Van Ness recently completed a sale-and-leaseback of a large manufacturing facility […]
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Saint Mary’s Health Care now Mercy Health Saint Mary’s
A new sign has been unveiled on the second largest hospital in Greater Grand Rapids: Saint Mary’s Health Care is now Mercy Health Saint Mary’s. Unveiling of the new sign was followed by executive speeches last week and is in concert with a major advertising campaign now underway. The organization described it as a brand […]
West Michigan’s furniture makers offer reason to celebrate economic impact
It’s show time for West Michigan’s Big 3 and more than 20 of its smaller area brethren. The full effect of the office furniture manufacturing sector on the local economy can be visibly measured on the roads and flight paths to Chicago this week, as industry and supplier-base executives (and invited guests) make the long-honored […]
