June 15, 2015
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Street Talk: Road to nowhere
Never let it be said that Michigan residents are ambivalent about the condition of the state’s roads. Legislation championed by Speaker Kevin Cotter passed through the Michigan House last week, and the responses ranged from angry to downright vitriolic. Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc., expressed dismay that politicians think it’s […]
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Holland awaits SmartZone decision
Holland is one step closer to creating a new satellite SmartZone. A new bill recently approved by the Michigan House of Representatives that amends the number of communities able to apply for satellite SmartZone designation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development and International Investment. House Bill No. 4226 seeks to amend […]
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VARI and the Netherlands strengthen Parkinson’s collaboration
The research division of the Van Andel Institute and Netherlands-based ParkinsonNet will bring an innovative health care concept to Grand Rapids. During the Dutch royal couple’s tour of VAI earlier this month, representatives of the Van Andel Research Institute and ParkinsonNet signed a letter of understanding to establish a ParkinsonNet in the West Michigan area […]
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Group forms Vision 2020 for Muskegon Lake
As large-scale restoration projects continue along the roughly 4,100-acre shoreline of Muskegon Lake, a West Michigan-based development organization is seeking community feedback for its Vision 2020 project. The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, a state and federally designated planning and development organization, is hosting four public forums during the month of June at 200 […]
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Berlin Fair completes its 160th year
The Berlin Fair in Marne, an annual event since 1855, survived a near name change in World War I and, more recently, moved to June because Julys were getting too hot — perhaps a sign of global warming. And this year, for the first time ever, there was no live poultry on display in the […]
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Guiding Light Mission launches The Job Post
A Grand Rapids nonprofit providing individuals with shelter, resources and re-engagement into the community has launched a new initiative to reduce barriers for those seeking employment. Guiding Light Mission launched an employment agency initiative known as The Job Post in April to further its mission to help individuals re-engage in society. The new employment agency […]
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Change Ups: Rooks named Outstanding Entrepreneur
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce has named Jon Rooks, owner of Parkland Properties of Michigan, Muskegon’s Outstanding Entrepreneur. Rooks has purchased and invested in nine businesses in downtown Muskegon, including Highpoint Flats Apartments, The Shoreline Inn and Conference Center, Lakehouse Waterfront Grill, Lake Effect Bistro, Downtown Muskegon Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Firehouse Professional Office […]
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Exporters suffer poor quarter but better times ahead
Modest gains in worldwide merchandise trade last year marks the third consecutive year of trade growth of less than 3 percent. “Trade growth has been disappointing in recent years, due largely to prolonged sluggish growth in GDP following the financial crisis,” said Roberto Azevedo, director-general of the World Trade Organization, presenting the agency’s annual Trade […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds HOPMAN, Karin et al, MB Financial Bank, Condo-Cannon Hills Condominiums, $239,000 TUNGL, Tobi G. III et al, Huntington National Bank, Paris Park, Lot 55, $218,000 LOBO, John et al, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Ada Twp., 6-7-10, $406,400 MCKANNA, Brian et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, […]
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Want to be a sales master? Study other sales masters!
The book “America’s Twelve Master Salesmen” was written and published by B.C. Forbes & Sons in 1953. Yes, there were women mentioned in the book, but in those days, “men” was the universal gender. Today, it’s quite the opposite. The book was based on the fact that each one of these master salespeople had one […]
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Earmarks coming back
I read with interest the op-ed by Steve Carey in the May 26 Business Journal (Guest Column: “Restore Congressional control over direct spending”) bemoaning the loss of federal earmarks, blaming the Tea Party for their demise. The last year for earmarks was 2011 when they did over 12,000 of them to the tune of $16 […]
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ACA exchanges face Supreme Court scrutiny
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the Affordable Care Act and the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision in King v. Burwell. While some headlines have us believing the legality of the ACA rests in the hands of the Supreme Court, that’s not the case. Rather, the justices are only evaluating the legality of a piece […]
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Kids and money: once a millionaire, always a millionaire?
Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal once spoke at an NCAA convention, where he discussed how he spent his first million dollars within 30 minutes of joining the league. His explanation? He was only 20 at the time and, having left college early to go pro, he was uneducated. O'Neal decided to become educated in money […]
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Ranir brings production line back from China
Ranir, a Kentwood-based manufacturer of store-brand consumer oral and personal health care products, is hosting a major event here Tuesday that reflects its new investment — one that was strongly encouraged by Walmart. The event will include Walmart and Ranir executives at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and factory tour of Ranir’s expanded manufacturing line. The investment […]
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Muskegon aligns for economic sustainability
Muskegon has endured a decade of fits and starts, especially the havoc wreaked during the Great Recession when promising projects abruptly were halted, and manufacturing losses left the city and county hard hit. The final implosion of the Sappi paper mill in early 2014 was perhaps emblematic of the finality of old “structures” and thinking, […]
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Right Place: MEDC funding cut would ‘disarm’ Michigan
Economic developers and Business Leaders for Michigan are sounding the alarm in response to legislation that passed the Michigan House that will divert almost half of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. budget next year to restore Michigan’s dilapidated roads. Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc. economic development agency based in Grand […]
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Lack of diversity costs billions
Anyone who thinks the lack of racial diversity in Michigan’s workforce doesn’t negatively impact the state’s economy may be billions of dollars off the mark. By now, practically everyone has heard about the Forbes article ranking Michigan as the second-worst state in the nation for African-Americans economically, but few may understand how that impacts Michigan’s […]
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Inside Track: Don’t say ‘temp’ at Fettig
Mike Fettig said there’s a BHAG at the Fettig employment agency in Grand Rapids — as well as a new home with windows overlooking the Grand River. BHAG stands for “big hairy audacious goal,” and the BHAG at Fettig is “to make staffing a positive word in West Michigan by 2020,” Fettig said. The firm […]
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New rules of the road
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Anyone who’s been living or working near downtown Grand Rapids for the last five years has noticed a cultural shift in modes of transportation. Cars and trucks still rumble along the S-curve and drivers still scramble to find free parking downtown, but a popular double-wheeled, pedal-driven vehicle seems to […]
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Downtown living connections
Imagine you’re a young professional who’s recently moved to downtown Grand Rapids to start a new job. You have no family or friends here, and the only people you know are co-workers. How do you start making social connections? One Grand Rapids-based real estate developer seeks to answer that question through a little-known role called […]
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West-side beer garden aims to protect green space
Having lived in Chicago, Rick Muschiana understands the importance of retaining some semblance of nature in a concrete jungle. Incorporating green space in an urban setting would be showcased in Muschina’s proposed beer garden and kitchen, The Sovengard. The plan was tabled at the Grand Rapids Planning Commission in May because of residents’ concerns and […]
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Innovation leads to a home run
For seven years the lights remained off at one of Magna International’s Holland facilities due to declining sales and stagnant innovation, but in 2014, a new product helped the company reopen the facility with more than 100 new employees manning the production lines. Magna’s Engineered Glass Division, which is part of the company’s Closures Group, […]
