March 18, 2019
State treasury waives estimated tax penalty for farmers, anglers
The Michigan Department of Treasury is following suit after the Internal Revenue Service announced its decision to waive the estimated tax penalty for some farmers and anglers who file their 2018 federal income tax return and pay any tax due by April 15. Normally, the deadline for farmers and fishermen to file and pay their […]
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MPSC annual report highlights changes to utility oversight
The Michigan Public Service Commission issued its 2018 annual report last week, highlighting achievements in implementing the state’s energy laws, helping customers with heating bills and utility complaints, infrastructure renewal, tax cut refunds for ratepayers and technical assistance to expand broadband across the state. In the first full year of enactment of the state’s energy […]
Nursing homes in training for a ‘culture change’
Several area nursing homes are part of an initiative focused on person-centered care. Entitled “Accelerating Quality Improvement for Long-Stay Residents in Michigan Nursing Homes Using Culture Change,” the project aims to improve staff skills and operations when caring for elders and clients with disabilities, advocating for a "culture change" from institutional methods to those that […]
Important changes coming to Michigan Trust Code
When the Michigan Trust Code was adopted in 2010, it provided a comprehensive, modern body of law governing how trusts are created and administered. In the nine years since I chaired the committee that wrote the Michigan Trust Code, relatively few changes have been made to the laws governing trusts. At the end of March, […]
Options for dental practice partners considering a sale
It’s early days in 2019 and, as a partner of your dental practice, perhaps you are considering selling your practice. If so, you may be one of the 70 million baby boomers running one of the 12 million owner-operated businesses in the United States, including health care services. The California Association of Business Brokers expects […]
Street Talk: Employers may be feeling March sadness
A new report says the NCAA March Madness tournament could cost employers $13.3 billion this year in lost productivity. Chicago-based global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas estimates each hour spent researching teams, filling out brackets and secretly streaming the games at work will cost employers $2.1 billion, for a grand total […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-00344 – TURNER, Kristen A., 4151 Holyoke SE, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7) 19-00346 – REYNOLDS, Mark S. & Kimberly R., 6670 Eastern SE, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7) 19-00364 – TARACHANOWICZ, Lawrence & Veronica M., 4665 Aldun Ridge NW, Comstock Park, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 7) 19-00365 – CURTIS, Nikki L., 96 Brookmeadow SW, […]
Change Ups: Cutler Martin joins firm grandfather founded
Cutler Martin joined the firm his grandfather, William G. Martin, founded in 1962. Cutler’s primary focus with Martin Commercial Properties will be investment services and business development. He studied political science at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Martin Commercial Properties has offices […]
Small business lobby opposes state tax plan
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presented her 2020 fiscal year state budget proposal on March 5, small business groups immediately objected to her plan to offset a pension tax repeal by increasing taxes on small businesses, or “pass-through” entities. Whitmer campaigned on a platform to fix Michigan’s infrastructure, as well […]
Podcast helps marketers remain in the know
The world of marketing has swiftly changed over the last decade. Especially the mediums individuals and businesses use to market their brand, whether it is through traditional, digital or social media outlets. Because of those rapid changes in the marketing industry, the American Marketing Association West Michigan, an organization that provides resources to marketers, implemented […]
Partners envision park plan
The Right Place and the Kent County Department of Public Works are partnering on planning and development of the future sustainable business park. Under the three-year business development agreement, The Right Place will allocate more resources toward the project than it normally would, according to Tim Mroz, The Right Place’s vice president of strategic initiatives […]
Survey: Commuter project in high demand
Based on the results of an employee interest survey, the West Michigan Express, a pilot commuter service project connecting Holland to Grand Rapids along the Chicago Drive Corridor, is closer to reality. Hope College’s Frost Research Center recently completed an employee interest survey regarding a proposed commuter service along Chicago Drive Corridor. Originally, only 50 […]
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Inside Track: Investor invests in ag industry
Tim Parker is the president of Grand Angels venture group, which provides financial investment, mentorship opportunities and network resources to startup companies to help them grow. He has been serving in that capacity for over two years, but recently, he was tapped to take on an additional title. Parker was elected chairperson for the ACRE […]
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Ex-professor donates to GVSU’s advertising and PR program
Advertising and public relations students at Grand Valley State University soon will be able to utilize a recent donation. An endowment of $15,000 was given by retired professor Frank Blossom in January to the school’s program so students can attend and participate in advertising and public relations events throughout the country. Faculty members at GVSU […]
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Owner marks one year of board game deliveries
Those who came of age in the 1990s recall the hallmarks of many a Friday night: delivery pizza and VHS movie rentals. Jared Leatzow is channeling those days with his new board game delivery company, Lakeshore Game Night. Leatzow runs the door-to-door tabletop game delivery service out of his Montague home. He transports games to […]
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Nonprofit staffing program makes $20.3M impact
A nonprofit staffing program placed 813 people in full-time employment in 2018, creating a potential annual impact of nearly $20.3 million. A social enterprise of the nonprofit Guiding Light, The Job Post is a hiring and recruitment firm open to all adults looking for temporary or permanent work at local businesses in West Michigan. In […]
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POWERHOME Solar launches commercial division
A national solar panel company is making waves in West Michigan after moving to Grand Rapids last summer and is hoping to expand its commercial client portfolio in the area. POWERHOME Solar, a Mooresville, North Carolina-based company specializing in residential solar, recently announced the launch of its new commercial division. Since inception, the company’s primary focus has been on residential solar panel […]
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Millennials’ values may come back to haunt them
“Experiences over things” is a mantra many millennials embrace, but a local wealth manager sees it as a liability to their futures. Tom DeMeester is managing director of the Grand Rapids office of Kalamazoo-based wealth management firm Greenleaf Trust. He spoke about the obstacles to financial security for the generation born between 1981 and 1996, […]
