March 20, 2017

  • GRPS refunds bonds with lower rate

    Grand Rapids Public Schools has refunded bonds originally sold in 1997 for capital improvements, securing a lower interest rate and saving taxpayers $5,007,680. Larry Oberst, the district’s CFO, said bond refunding is a mechanism by which a school district may call bonds issued to investors before their 25-year maturity date to secure a lower interest […]

  • Organization aims to help older foster kids

    There are 600,000 kids in need of families across the United States. These kids are part of the foster care system and are available for adoption, but for children 10 and older, the hope of finding a family dwindles with every added year. Helen Zeerip wants to restore these children’s hope. Zeerip, who is a […]

  • Law eases trust planning for disabled individuals

    For individuals with disabilities, a two-word change makes a world of difference. In December, then-President Barack Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act. The new statute adds a provision that allows competent individuals with disabilities to create their own special needs trusts (SNT). Prior to […]

  • Street Talk: Putting a charge in development

    Consumers Energy has marked 200 acres of industrially zoned land in Crockery Township for possible development. The utilities company recently completed an “energy ready” assessment of Crockery Township Industrial Development Park, a vacant parcel near the I-96 and M-231 bypass. Consumers had reached out to Zeeland-based economic development agency Lakeshore Advantage to help identify a […]

  • Construction employment surges to best month in 10 years

    National construction employment surged in February, as the industry added 58,000 seasonally adjusted net new jobs, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. February’s data represents the best month for construction job creation since March 2007. Nonresidential construction added nearly two-thirds of net new construction jobs with 38,500 jobs added for […]

  • WMU’s online programs continue to evolve

    Western Michigan University launched its first online courses in 1998, when less than half of adults used the internet, and those who did faced slow connection speeds and limited usability. Two decades later, online learning at WMU has evolved from professors uploading course lecture notes on a static site to instructional designers creating an immersive […]

  • Public Record

    MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds LABARGE, William E. & Karen F. Trust et al, Chemical Bank, Sunny Acres No. 3, Lot 87, $469,900 CALLIGARIS-RODRIGUEZ, Karen A. et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Brookshire Estates, Lot 10, $213,120 HAYNES, Jeffery M. et al, VanDyk Mortgage Corp., Spencer Twp., 14-10-9, $243,788 PROCTOR, William […]

  • Change Ups: Enslen recognized as Leader in the Law

    Michigan Lawyers Weekly recognized Warner Norcross & Judd LLP partner Pamela C. Enslen as one of the year’s Leaders in the Law. The award recognizes attorneys who are changing the law by expanding access to justice as well as improving the profession and their communities. Enslen currently serves as chair of the firm’s Higher Education Practice […]

  • 5.5 keys to naming your product’s price with confidence

    The price of whatever you sell carries with it a discomfort for most salespeople. They’re hesitant to bring up the price because it’s the final element in completing any transaction — or so they think. Actually, price or fee or rate is a logical progression of a presentation. If the rest of the elements of […]

  • The picture of the United States health care crisis

    Human resource professionals are expected to deal with all health care matters from a variety perspectives. The general expectation is to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. However, in order to do that, they have to have a good understanding of objectives and available resources. They also have to have a good […]

  • Every breath you take: Air quality critical issue for commercial real estate

    Indoor air quality is the new environmental driver for commercial real estate. Case in point: Last summer, two state agencies ordered the evacuation of several properties near downtown Grand Rapids due to the discovery of solvent vapors from a former dry cleaning operation in the neighborhood. The discovery resulted in involvement by the U. S. […]

  • New law gives physician assistants greater autonomy

    A new law will expand the scope of possibility for care providers, such as Libby Anderson, a physician assistant at Spectrum Health. Anderson, who works in pediatrics at Spectrum Health Medical Group, 1545 68th St. SE, sees children for routine care, as well as treating ailments ranging from colds to the flu to ADHD. A new Michigan […]

  • LINC Up looks to address affordable housing

    Community-driven economic development organization LINC Up is hoping to address the affordable housing dilemma by starting right around the corner. Braving the return of winter weather, state and local officials were on hand last week to celebrate the announcement of LINC Up’s new partnership with Grand Rapids Community College. The program will provide hands-on experience […]

  • LINC Up initiative provides multifaceted impact

    The essential successes of neighborhood improvements in Grand Rapids has become so well understood most every accolade almost sounds ubiquitous. Indeed, it is not, and one need only check the rear-view mirror of 2008-11, when the housing financial meltdown ravaged hard-fought gains made ever so slowly in the previous decade. Small businesses, mom-and-pop business and […]

  • Survey finds CEOs exude confidence

    Optimism among Michigan’s executives continues to be high in the wake of the 2016 election. Business Leaders for Michigan’s first quarterly economic outlook for 2017 revealed 73 percent of survey respondents believe the national economy will improve over the next six months, while 63 percent said the same of Michigan’s economy. The quarterly survey is […]

  • Inside Track: A new world of medicine

    For nearly three decades, John Butzer was the chief of medicine at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. But three years ago, in the twilight of his career, Butzer retired from that position to take on a new challenge — and in the process, reached one of his top accomplishments in his tenured career. In 2014, […]

  • Too many breweries in West Michigan?

    (As seen on WZZM TV 13) Mitch Ermatinger’s business model raises eyebrows, as speculation grows in regard to West Michigan reaching a saturation point of breweries, with several closing in the state during the past year. The owner of Speciation Artisan Ales sells tickets for batches of bottles once a month out of his Comstock […]

  • Youth shelters growing to meet demand

    Over the past few years, Grand Rapids has seen an increase in efforts to help an often over-looked homeless population: youth. Several organizations are adding or increasing services to help homeless youth with the unique challenges they face. One of the newest projects is the Covenant House Michigan – Grand Rapids (CHMGR) youth shelter The […]

  • Comedian Pete Holmes stresses networking

    Comedian Pete Holmes was in Grand Rapids for LaughFest this weekend, so the Business Journal caught up with the star and creator of the new HBO show “Crashing.” Holmes also hosts the You Made It Weird podcast, where he interviews other comedians, which has had guests ranging from Judd Apatow to Aziz Ansari and West […]

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