March 2, 2020

  • Inside Track: Jacobs lays out path to prosperity for all

    In the latest role of his diverse fundraising career, Todd Jacobs has come full circle. When he received a college scholarship from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, he had no idea he would become its president and CEO more than 30 years later.  “That idea that somebody was willing to help me be successful […]

  • Change-Ups: Olsen appointed MLCC chair

    Steve Olsen, president of Muskegon-based Northern Machine Tool, has been appointed board chair of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce. Olsen will provide the board with leadership and guidance, while promoting the chamber’s theme of Taking It Outdoors. The board of directors is tasked with establishing policy and direction that ensure the chamber’s mission and […]

  • Street Talk: The immigration situation

    A coalition of business and industry leaders last week launched the Michigan Compact on Immigration, a set of principles outlining the need for smart immigration policies at the federal and state levels that recognize the role immigrants play in helping drive Michigan’s economy forward. The compact, whose signatories represent more than 20,000 companies and more […]

  • Public Record

    MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds MEIER, Lynn A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Plainfield Twp., $420,000 MISSMAN, Robert, Huntington National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $332,910 LAMBERT, Doreen et al, BMO Harris Bank, Cascade Twp., $752,400 HOBGOOD, Westley D. Jr., Plus Relocation Mortgage, Plainfield Twp., $314,415 SWANSON, Ivan et al, […]

  • State Police welcomes 73 recruits, wants more diversity

    LANSING — The Michigan State Police has made it a goal this year to recruit more women and people of color.  “We are trying to recruit diversity and that’s a challenge right now,” said Director Joseph Gasper. “We have to have positive engagement with communities to combat perceptions.” And the department also is grappling with […]

  • Consumers Energy aims for net zero carbon emissions

    Consumers Energy recently announced a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, the next step in the utility’s Clean Energy Plan. “Consumers Energy is proud to take a stand for Michigan and for the planet. We are committed to take actions that eliminate our carbon footprint and do our part to combat climate […]

  • Staffing firms feeling demand for skilled trades

    As the baby boomer generation retires, more skilled workers are in demand. Amy Marshall, managing partner for Management Business Solutions, a direct-hire firm that focuses on skilled trade workers, said there are millions of baby boomers retiring each year in the U.S. She said there are more than 76 million baby boomers between 55 and […]

  • Insurer incentivizing prenatal care model

    Priority Health is now providing incentives for health care providers that adopt a care model designed to improve mother and baby outcomes. The Grand Rapids-based statewide health plan said last month it is now piloting incentives for providers that adopt the Boston-based Centering Healthcare Institute’s (CHI) CenteringPregnancy care model. An evidence-based approach, CenteringPregnancy brings eight […]

  • City plows ahead with marijuana

    Grand Rapids officials recently struck down a proposed moratorium on recreational marijuana licensing. The city commission placed two separate motions on the table related to the moratorium proposal and one to establish a date for the public hearing on the proposed zoning text amendments. All motions failed by vote, with Mayor Rosalynn Bliss absent. The […]

  • DTE’s investment with Michigan firms spurs 9,800 jobs

    DTE Energy recently announced it spent $2.1 billion with Michigan businesses in 2019, creating and sustaining more than 9,800 jobs across the state and exceeding the commitment it made last spring by $600 million. “Over the past nine years, we’ve more than quadrupled our investment with in-state businesses,” said DTE Chief Procurement Officer Tony Tomczak. […]

  • Behavioral health solutions in the workplace

    Mental health is an important aspect of work and life, and mental health disorders are among the most burdensome concerns in the United States, with high rates of poor clinical outcome and treatment costs upwards of $186 billion annually. With 71% of adults in the U.S. reporting at least one symptom of stress or anxiety […]

  • How much ‘social revenue’ did your company accrue in 2019?

    My company is looking to establish record revenues in 2020. I am not talking about the customary top-line revenue, but rather something I’d like to call, “social revenue.” I define social revenue by simply taking the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of “revenue” and replacing the word “income” with “benefit.” Therefore, “social revenue” is a benefit of […]

  • Spectrum ramping up telemedicine

    (As seen on WZZM TV 13) Since its start in 2015, Spectrum Health’s telemedicine service has saved payers and patients an estimated $9.4 million. Through the Spectrum Health Now website and app, the health system offers appointments through video calls for low-acuity issues to anyone in the state, allowing many patients to stay home rather […]

  • Would road millage work for county?

    The Grand Valley Metro Council predicted its annual budget would have to double to meet road improvement goals by 2045, which begs the question whether a dedicated road millage for Kent County would help close the gap. Ultimately there is no dedicated millage for roadwork at the county level because voters haven’t approved one, and […]

  • Amway contends with coronavirus impacts

    As financial markets tumbled Feb. 24 and 25 over fears stemming from the global economic impact of the coronavirus, the West Michigan business community heard from Amway CEO Milind Pant on how the company is addressing supply chain disruptions and offering relief in its largest market: China. Pant spoke to the Economic Club of Grand […]

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