March 16, 2015
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Street Talk: Why you do what you do
There are many awards ceremonies that occur throughout West Michigan each year. Some are put on by nonprofits, some are affiliated with associations, some are hosted by governmental units — and all are sponsored by businesses. And by “sponsored,” what is really meant is financially supported. Why do West Michigan’s businesses underwrite these events with […]
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Notes of caution seeping into the economic forecast
The West Michigan economy continues on a path of modest growth, although there is a hint of caution in the air. New Orders, our index of business improvement, came in at +13, the same as the previous two months. The Employment index also remained unchanged at +19. Despite weather challenges, the Production index edged up […]
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Better days ahead for middle class
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) In 2015, the economic recovery might finally reach the middle and lower class, according to a Federal Reserve Bank economist who visited Grand Rapids recently. Rick Mattoon, who is a senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank, addressed supply chain professionals during the 12th annual Midwest Supply Chain Management […]
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Ottawa planners contemplate tapping into crowdfunding tool
The Ottawa County Planning Commission is considering leveraging a crowdfunding platform launched by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. as an additional fundraising tool to engage community members in supporting public improvement projects and to earn matching funds from the state. During an Ottawa County Planning Commission meeting earlier this month, economic development consultant Chris Byrnes […]
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Consumers grant fuels ag-tech incubator
Great Lakes Ag-Tech Business Incubator, the new statewide incubator launched in December in Ottawa County, has received a $25,000 contribution from Consumers Energy to support new businesses that have an invention or technology idea involving agriculture. “Consumers Energy is pleased to be a part of this first-of-its-kind business incubator that focuses solely on commercializing ag-technology […]
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City approves police body camera funding
Grand Rapids city commissioners approved $674,124 to fund the implementation of body cameras for the Grand Rapids Police Department last week. The funding, which comes from the city’s Transformation Fund, will cover the costs of the body cameras for two years, after which the GRPD will take over the cost through its operations budget. The […]
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Small businesses help state
LANSING — Michigan’s small businesses are expecting to hire more employees and increase wages in the upcoming months, according to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Almost 30 percent of the 600 small businesses surveyed by the association in January said they hired more workers in the past six months, and 33 percent intend to […]
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Change Ups: Heys selected for diverse communities scholarship
San Juan Diego Academy has been awarded one of 20 scholarships to the Association of Fundraising Professionals Conference later this month. Development and donor relations director Elizabeth Heys competed for the Diverse Communities Scholarship and was selected for sponsorship by Koya Leadership Partners, a Boston area firm specializing in human capital for the nonprofit sector. […]
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The questions that matter most in a sales presentation
When you’re giving your sales presentation, do you really know what the customer is thinking or what they’re asking themselves as you’re presenting? I doubt it. You’re too busy trying to sell. Shake the hand. Smile the smile. Show the slides. Talk the talk. Do the demo. Ask the superficial questions. Try the close. Try […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SOUTHKENT CO., Chemical Bank, Belden's Add. To Byron Center, Lot 1, $333,072 SAMRICK, Elizabeth et al, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Cascade Twp., 10-6-10, $269,000 CHAFFER, Brett et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Manchester Hills Condominiums, $601,000 HAYANGA, Jeremiah W. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, […]
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Juice up your title insurance coverage
You're buying real estate. Before closing you're given a commitment to issue a title insurance policy. At closing, a premium is paid to the title company to issue the policy. You're all set, right? You have title insurance so you should have no worries about whether someone else owns or has a claim on your […]
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Ignoring long-held, proven beliefs can be financially fatal
In 1559, King Henry II of France was mortally wounded in a jousting match outside of Paris. In “The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons,” author Sam Kean tells how two surgeons attained permission over the protests of the Catholic Church to do an autopsy when the king died 10 days later. The two doctors were […]
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ArtPrize eyes evening events this year
ArtPrize leaders reviewed 2014 financial reports and looked ahead to 2015 at its annual breakfast, revealing an emerging curator fellowship, expanded ArtPrize evening programming and increased grants for artists and venues. The annual report on March 12 reviewed the numbers and newsworthy notes from last year’s event while announcing those new aspects for ArtPrize 2015, […]
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Mindscape sets sights on becoming a $10M company
In January, digital marketing firm Mindscape announced it had split from branding firm Do More Good, formerly Hanon McKendry, ending a seven-year relationship between the two companies. The firms were combined via an equity partnership and Mindscape operated during that time as Mindscape at Hanon McKendry. Mindscape, which was founded in Muskegon in 2001, had […]
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State film incentives must be maintained
ArtPrize leaders last week announced the inclusion this year of what has been named the third best film festival in the country as part of the 10-day, wildly successful art extravaganza. ArtPrize On Screen will present films, videos and interactive works through screenings at various venues, curated by Waterfront Film Festival. The alarming contrast by […]
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Inside Track: Working from the ground up
The first time Michael Verhulst realized he was part of a racial minority group was in sixth grade. Verhulst, Wolverine Building Group’s vice president of business development, had just moved to Grand Rapids from out west. His parents, who were natives of Grand Rapids, had adopted him when he was a baby. They had spent […]
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Navigating a PR crisis in a social media landscape
What do the following people and brands have in common? Home Depot, Target, Bill Cosby, Justin Bieber, New York Police Department, Facebook, American Apparel, Washington Redskins, Sea World, Under Armour, DiGiorno Pizza, Urban Outfitters, DHL, Dr. Oz and Hot Pockets. Answer: They all weathered a public relations crisis in 2014 — some of them better […]
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Thinkbox Creative thrives in west side environment
Website design and development studio Thinkbox Creative has been around for nearly 20 years, but in the last four years the company has redefined itself and grown tremendously. Partners Ben Eggers, Travis Fahlen, Brian Dokter and Michael Probst run the firm, which was founded in 1996 in Big Rapids by Eggers, who had just graduated […]
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House in Austin is home to Michigan products, music
Michigan is taking Texas by storm. During the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conference and Festival — or SXSW, as it’s known — a collection of Michigan organizations, businesses and artists will set up house in Austin, Texas, March 16-19. The Creative Many Michigan House is led by Creative Many Michigan, an economic […]
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Land bank gets a toxic surprise
The Kent County Land Bank Authority owns an old plating factory in southeast Grand Rapids that it is sure it can sell — but only after the vats and drums full of toxic chemicals have been removed and the property cleaned. Just the cost of disposal of the hundreds or possibly thousands of gallons of […]
