June 13, 2016
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Slow grow: Business leaders’ predictions reflect doubts
Some of Michigan’s top business leaders forecast slow economic growth over the next year and a half for the state and nation. Data from the most recent quarterly survey by Business Leaders for Michigan revealed that the majority of the state’s senior executives believe the Michigan economy will stay about the same over the next […]
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Utilities say energy bills will keep the lights on
Utility companies say a pair of energy bills that have garnered widespread criticism from the business, environmental, education and health communities is necessary to keep the lights on in Michigan. Daniel Bishop, director of media relations for Jackson-headquartered Consumers Energy, said reliability is at the heart of Consumers Energy’s support of Senate Bills 437 and […]
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Change Ups: O-A-K marks 125th anniversary
Construction firm Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. recently marked its 125th anniversary in West Michigan. The company was founded in Grand Rapids in 1891, when the city limits included less than 10 square miles and the majority of streets were dirt. Today, O-A-K employs 160 people and operates full-service offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Fort Myers, Florida. Its most […]
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Industrial economy ebbs toward negative territory
Flat. That’s the latest word on the West Michigan economy, according to data from the last two weeks of May. New orders, our index of business improvement, backtracked to 0, down from +7 in April. The production index retreated to +4 from +20. The index of purchases gave back most of its previous gain to […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds JAMES, Michael A. et al, Dort Federal Credit Union, Rockford Hills Village No. 2, Lot 28, $250,000 MARTIN, Holly et al, Nations Direct Mortgage, Byron Twp., 21-5-12, $260,482 FIELDS, Dan et al, Educational Community Credit Union, Apple Hills No. 2, Lot 50, $241,000 GODA, Brian […]
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It’s not what you say that makes the sale. It’s what they ask.
Here is a sales action for you to take: Become question aware. Here is another: Listen with the intent to understand. Every time you are asked a question, ask yourself this question before you answer it: Is the prospect telling me that he or she is ready to buy? That requires thinking way beyond your […]
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Street Talk: Pride’s progress
The Grand Rapids Pride Center will show the city the meaning of LGBTQ pride this week. The 501(c)3 nonprofit LGBTQ resource center at 343 Atlas Ave. SE is preparing to host its 28th Annual Grand Rapids Pride Festival. This year’s festival will be its “largest in history,” featuring nationally recognized talent, said Mike Hemmingsen, president of […]
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Fair pay today goes far beyond supply and demand
“Pay me fairly!” Who can be against that? Well, of course it’s that person in the corner office wringing out every ounce of value from the sweat of others, maximizing the money flowing into his or her own pocket. Perhaps this is a bit of a simplistic view of the boss-employee relationship, although there may […]
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Reaching for the Switch
Kent County commissioners are a step closer to finalizing the deal to bring Switch Ltd. to West Michigan. The county Finance and Physical Resources Committee recommended submitting a Renaissance Zone application to the Michigan Strategic Fund at its meeting Tuesday. County commissioners will vote on the application June 23, and the Gaines Charter Township Board […]
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Without more state revenue, cities can’t thrive, talent won’t stay
For more than two decades, Michigan has made lower taxes and smaller government its primary recipe for improving economic outcomes. As lower taxes produced less state revenue, that meant big cuts in higher education and support for local government, and smaller and smaller investments in infrastructure. In an economy that is increasingly rewarding states and […]
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Furniture industry not sitting still
Furniture makers from across the country are in Chicago this week to show off their newest products for the workplace, classroom, health care and other commercial environments. NeoCon, the largest commercial interiors trade show in North America, takes place Monday through Wednesday at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Michael Dunlap is a veteran of the […]
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Regional business reports serve as a call to action
Brian Long, director of supply management research at Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, has used the same adjective each month this year to describe the regional economy: flat. Long’s measures are specific to manufacturing orders and purchases, but recent and current Business Journal reporting note a similar estimation among all Michigan businesses […]
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Big design ideas fill smaller homes
The increase in downtown living might be an indication, but an area architect said downsizing is up-trending in standalone homes as well. Wayne Visbeen, principal of Grand Rapids-based Visbeen Architects Inc., said his top two trends in home design are storage solutions and downsizing — or as he calls it, “rightsizing” — which go hand-in-hand. […]
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616 housing plans in Creston, downtown add up
With several developments finishing up, expect another 616 Development underway this summer. As 616 Lofts on Michigan and 616 Lofts on Monroe fill up with tenants and 616 Lofts on Alabama finishes construction, the Grand Rapids company expects to begin construction on 616 Lofts on Plainfield in August. All that remains in the Michigan and […]
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Inside Track: Answering service owner finds her calling in family business
There was a time Sue Cunningham-Milito didn’t want to follow in her father’s footsteps. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at Aquinas College, Cunningham-Milito worked in the call center at Grand Rapids-based Cunningham Communications, an answering service her father, Dick Cunningham, founded in 1989. But after she graduated, Cunningham-Milito decided she […]
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Downtown developments: Please pre-lease me
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) It’s no secret that the market for housing in downtown Grand Rapids is competitive. Demand has driven the development of apartment complexes and condominiums cropping up all over downtown. In some cases, units are being filled before they’re even built. Pre-leasing, or signing a lease before construction or completion […]
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Owner looks beyond second Kingma’s
A changing consumer profile is driving the expansion of locally focused Kingma’s Market. Alan Hartline took ownership of Kingma’s in 2014 and helped reinvigorate the building it’s occupied since 1994 at 2225 Plainfield Ave. NE. He has decided to open a second store as part of the Ada Village redevelopment on the southeast corner of […]
