March 23, 2015
TED’s umbrella covers many of state’s talent initiatives
A new organization is reshaping the way the state leverages the ability to build talent. The Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development, or TED, officially launched March 16 to provide an efficient and effective approach to economic and talent development projects throughout the state by combining traditional business and economic development with talent and […]
Health workers to spot human trafficking
LANSING — Criminals who sell victims for sex or labor leave marks that are rarely noticeable to the average person, but doctors and nurses have a unique advantage to spot these red flags and intervene — if they are properly trained. This training requirement, to spot and properly respond to patients who show signs of […]
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Change Ups: Custer/Start Garden project
Start Garden credits Custer for engendering an innovative space that will help brainstorm ideas, host entrepreneurs, developers and community supporters, serve as a meeting place for individual and group work, and support events hosted onsite. Custer provided furnishings for Start Garden’s offices, conference and meeting rooms, open workspaces, café and touchdown areas. Partners included: Steelcase, […]
Construction materials prices rise for first time in six months
The largest monthly gain in petroleum prices in more than three years caused construction materials prices to expand 0.4 percent in February, ending a six-month streak when prices failed to rise, according to the March 13 producer price index report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, construction input prices fell […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds JANSEN, Kenneth II et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Ada Moorings, $223,000 BOHN, Jeffrey L. et al, US Bank, Cascade Springs Village, Lot 134, $203,500 SCHMIDT, Samuel R. Trust et al, Huntington National Bank, Condo-Silverleaf Condominium, $226,500 RIEFE-PETERS, Brian D. et al, Lake Michigan Credit […]
Street Talk: A nasty game of chicken
Gordon Food Service, the Wyoming company that may be the largest privately held food service distributor in the U.S., was the target of a media moment staged in Grand Rapids last week by an animal rights group. Mercy for Animals in Los Angeles flew one of its executives into town and called a news conference […]
What makes your ‘water’ better than anyone else’s?
Ask anyone in New York City why their bagels are the best in the world and they’ll say, “It's the water!” Ask anyone in Philadelphia why their cheese steaks are the best in the world, and they will say, “It's the bread.” Ask “Why is the bread so different?” and they will say, “It's the […]
State’s roads need support
Editor: I encourage everyone to register to vote and educate themselves on Proposal 1, which will be on the May 5, 2015, ballot. The Michigan roads, bridges and highways we work and drive on every day are crumbling before our very eyes. The Great Lakes State needs your help and support to pass Proposal 1. […]
Federal and local money work to stop lead poisoning in city
For the city of Grand Rapids, “getting the lead out” is more than an idiom with a figurative meaning. It is, to use another idiom, an economic line in the sand. Lead is a poison that causes early childhood brain damage and can send kids on a mentally off-balance trajectory for the rest of their […]
New water bonds save $2.9 million
Ottawa County has “refunded” its 2007 bond issue for its water supply system, with an estimated cost savings of almost $3 million over the next 17 years, according to an announcement by county officials. When a government entity refinances its bond debt, it is called “refunding,” according to GVSU finance professor Gregg Dimkoff. The successful […]
Better voter turnout needed
LANSING — With voter turnout in Michigan steadily declining, some lawmakers and state officials are looking for ways to make voting easier. In the 2014 midterm election, 41.6 percent of Michigan’s voting-age population turned out, according to the Michigan Secretary of State website. That’s a drop from 50.7 percent in the midterm election of 2006 […]
There are a few winners in wake of state’s budget crunch
LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder’s fiscal year 2016 budget proposal came on the heels of an executive order that cut $106 million from the current budget, and legislators are now considering slashing $100 million more to address an unexpected deficit. Next year could be even worse, as the state could take in more than a […]
Shrinking number of teachers signals end of a dream career
LANSING — Many children aspiring to be teachers when they grow up could end up having a change of heart. In the face of increased pressures due to standardized testing, new college entry tests, and a lack of societal respect for the profession, fewer students are pursuing teaching careers, education advocates say. “Nationally and in […]
Greater GR residents have a voice on issues
The Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University has released the findings from a community survey to prompt discussion about disparities revealed by participating Grand Rapids residents. Results from the 2014 VoiceGR survey assessing perceptions from more than 3,000 Greater Grand Rapids-area residents indicated while nearly 80 percent of respondents said they would give the […]
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Kent planning qualifies for FEMA grant
Kent County has had a hazard mitigation plan in effect for years, which is why it qualifies for a $708,653 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to be used by Plainfield Township to acquire and remove 15 flood-prone houses along the Grand River. Jack Stewart, Kent County emergency management coordinator, said a condition for receiving the federal […]
Debate over two- and four-year degrees
LANSING — This spring, thousands of students across Michigan will collect high school diplomas, with their sights set on higher education. But where those students can get the best education for their needs has become a matter of debate between the governor and the universities. Gov. Rick Snyder has pushed hard for more students to […]
IRS data and analysis of Form 1042-S filings of interest
Over the past year we have seen many reports on international taxation. From inversions to Double Irish tax structures, mainstream media has become interested in tax policy. The news even grabbed the attention of my middle school children who were informed on the Burger King – Tim Horton transaction, thanks to CNN’s Student News. Foreign […]
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Comedy group is building a ‘pipeline of cash’
Joe Anderson has performed comedy for nearly 30 years, but only within the last five years has he been able to make a living doing what he loves. Now, he and his sketch comedy group, The Don’t We Boys, are diversifying their moneymaking endeavors, including product marketing and writing political ads. Anderson has led several […]
Prosperity is driven by education attainment
Business Journal editor Carole Valade titled a recent editorial “Michigan: a state of impoverishment.” Unfortunately, that is an accurate assessment of Michigan today; it’s one of the nation’s poorest states. Valade cites data from the Michigan League for Public Policy’s 2015 Kids Count in Michigan data book, which shows a 35 percent increase in Michigan […]
Citywide survey offers ‘top’ list for businesses as well as focus point
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy Community Research Institute has completed the closest thing to a one-on-one survey of city residents, providing a more representative sampling of viewpoints — and needs. VoiceGR offers affirmations for the city, as well as critical areas for focus. The most compelling observation after diligent layering of facts, statistics […]
Furniture industry veterans launch new venture
Three furniture industry veterans are forgoing retirement and teaming up to bring innovative products from concept to market. Robert Russell, Mike Dunlap and Doug Gregory quietly launched RDG Product Strategies Group a little less than a year ago. Between the three of them, they have a rich history working in the furniture industry in the […]
Kent County home values back to pre-recession levels
The long, deep recession that flattened the residential real estate and home construction industries has finally ended, with an early indication that home prices in Kent County rose an average of 7.25 percent in 2014. Matt Woolford, equalization director for Kent County, said the 2014 increase marks the second or possibly third consecutive year of […]
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GRCC taps into training grant
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Another Michigan college is entering the beer education game. Grand Rapids Community College will begin offering a craft brewing management certification in 2016, thanks in part to a $2.9 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. GRCC’s craft brewing program will join a certificate at Central Michigan University […]
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Inside Track: No mixed message for Mixed Staffing
Sara Sherry is establishing her boutique firm as the staffing agency that personalizes the job market — one person and one employment opportunity at a time. Mixed Staffing, 85 Campau Ave. NW, not only assists local businesses in finding the right talent and connecting people with job opportunities, but also is led by Sherry’s drive […]
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Bar and restaurant supplier growing like brew pubs
BBC Distributing Co., previously known as Bar Beverage Control since its founding in Grand Rapids 40 years ago, changed hands in 2013 and now has business across the entire Lower Peninsula — including southeast Michigan — and in northern Indiana. The bar and restaurant supplier’s revenue jumped 40 percent in 2014, and now it needs […]
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Cider makers come full circle
Following a year of painstaking renovations, a trio of partners recently pushed out their first two batches of cider. John Behrens bought his family’s farm to ensure it would stay in the family for a fifth generation, following his grandmother’s death in 2013. Approximately 150 years ago, Behrens’ great-great-grandfather Claus Behrens came to West Michigan […]
