May 4, 2015
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Change Ups: UICA expands staff
The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts has expanded its staff with Heather Duffy, exhibitions curator, and Katherine Williams, community programs coordinator. Duffy will plan exhibitions, manage its curatorial team, oversee the production of content and serve as a representative of UICA to the regional, state and national arts community. Williams will develop educational programming, work […]
‘Culture’ is an essential word for businesses
Do words matter? Last month the topic of this column was about labels and how they affect our perception. Certain words evoke reactions and preconceived notions, even if it is not a label pinned to a person or group. I recently encountered a strong reaction when I explained I was starting a “social media” blog […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SNAVE, Karen M. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Condo-Blackberry At Shear's Crossing, $207,200 HODGSON, Timothy A. et al, Union Bank, Condo-Duncan Cove Site Condominium, $250,000 PARNELL LAND LLC, West Michigan Community Bank, Condo-Grandville Business Center, $912,000 LANFORD, Billy E. et al, Federal Savings Bank, Condo-Crystal […]
Is it a lead or a referral? Hint: Referrals are much better
Having attended several networking events lately, I have heard the terms “lead” and “referral” bantered around. Which would you rather have? Referrals, of course. It’s the personal power of a sales lead. A recommendation, not just a name. Credibility, not just a place to call. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the […]
Food industry covers a lot of ground
MiFOOD2015 — the Michigan Food Processing & Agriculture Summit being held at DeVos Place on Thursday — will focus on some of the most challenging issues in the agriculture and food-processing industries in Michigan today. Just two of the many topics are water and exports, covering the latest technological developments in water use by farmers […]
GVSU creates $730M ripple effect
Based on an annual study examining the economic benefit of its presence in the region, Grand Valley State University generated roughly $730 million in the 2013-2014 academic year. The Economic Impact on West Michigan report, released April 24, examines how GVSU campuses and facilities impact surrounding communities and analyzes the amount of spending and flow […]
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Climbing business reaches its peak
When Higher Ground Rock Climbing opened 20 years ago, it occasionally had to deal with car break-ins and other petty crimes in the Monroe North Business District. The district started to shift once the nearly vacant Berkey & Gay Furniture building was transformed into Boardwalk Condos and as other developments and renovations popped up in […]
World Trade Week looks at Latin American markets
World Trade Week in West Michigan will have a decidedly Latin American flair. Now in its 30th year locally, the celebration begins May 4 and will emphasize the emerging markets in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Those countries will take center stage during the annual business conference and VIP reception, scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., […]
Commissioners review preliminary 2016 budget
Grand Rapids city commissioners took their first look at the $457.6 million preliminary budget recommended for the 2016 fiscal year last week. The spending plan includes a general operations budget of just more than $125 million. City Manager Greg Sundstrom called it the best plan he’s presented in six years. The budget follows a five-year […]
Center honors alumni
The Grand Rapids Center for Community Leadership has honored 30 of its alumni, which it describes as individuals in leadership positions who are working to make the community better every day. The Center for Community Leadership is a part of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber Foundation. The CCL training program helps educate and connect leaders […]
MI Celebrates Small Business hands out awards Thursday
Nearly 60 small companies from across the state will be honored at the 11th annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event Thursday at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. Awards include the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, Main Street USA, Small Business Innovation, Government Contractor of the Year, Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business […]
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BungoBox forgoes the need for utilizing cardboard
There is no question about it, the process of packing up an apartment or house before a move is no fun at all. One of the most agonizing aspects of a move is collecting the necessary number of cardboard boxes to hold all of the stuff from your former home. Hours can be spent on […]
Street Talk: Grand Rapids’ international immersion
The May dates of regional celebrations and awards marking area international trade will be given additional highlight at month’s end when Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima make their first official visit to the United States, including a stop in Grand Rapids June 2. Michigan exports $333 million yearly to the Netherlands, according to Dutch […]
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Powerhouse team backs energy reduction plan
A new public-private partnership is about to change the way energy is used in Grand Rapids forever. On the morning of April 24, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, backed by some of the area’s most powerful developers, building owners and operators, and other stakeholders, announced the city of Grand Rapids has been named an Emerging […]
GR housing rates create inequality gap
The national foreclosure crisis is winding down, but some cities like Grand Rapids are still feeling the devastating effects. “The hangover of the Great Recession is not yet over,” said Ruth Kelly, 2nd Ward commissioner for the city of Grand Rapids. The city is currently experiencing a demand for housing that exceeds supply, Kelly said. […]
Contractor prepares spec industrial center on Broadmoor Avenue
For anyone thinking the availability of speculative industrial space in Grand Rapids is long gone, think again. A major industrial center is coming to a 17-acre site of vacant cornfield located at 5300 Broadmoor Ave. SE. A.J. Veneklasen Inc., a Grand Rapids-based full-service general contractor and builder, broke ground in March on an approximately 262,000-square-foot, […]
Value your time and find joy in the journey
Why is it that people tend to rush to judgment, hurry up to wait and do anything but “stop to smell the roses”? We seem to worry more about how quickly we can finish the race than about the joy along the way — or even the satisfaction derived from simply crossing the finish line. […]
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Inside Track: Change agent for inclusion
The day the Business Journal sat down with Sonya Hughes, Grand Valley State University’s Johnson Center had just released its VoiceGR survey, which found that racism is “very much an issue” for 11 percent of respondents and “somewhat of an issue” for another 33 percent. One-third of respondents said they’d experienced discrimination in the past […]
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Former ConAgra site lands new tenants
Although 2014 was a dark year for the mammoth industrial building at 4490 44th St. SE in Kentwood, 2015 is looking a lot brighter. The troubles of the 230,000-square-foot Kentwood plant began in January of last year when ConAgra Foods, an Omaha-based packaged-food company, announced it would cease production at the site by May 2014, […]
Auto industry no longer can support state’s prosperity
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That certainly is the case with the chart included here, which comes from the Senate Fiscal Agency’s state budget overview. The bottom line: Michiganders no longer are prosperous when the Detroit Three are doing well. This, of course, is a seismic change. For most of the […]
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Housing report sees 6,250 more dwellings
In the next five years, more than 6,000 new and rehabilitated dwelling units could be supported in the city of Grand Rapids, according to a recent in-depth report. The more than 150-page report, which was prepared by Zimmerman/Volk Associates Inc., a New Jersey-based residential market analysis and implementation strategies firm, was presented before city officials, […]
2030 District partnership demonstrates long-term economic growth impact
Grand Rapids has long been recognized for the number of public and private development partnerships contributing to the lifestyle and therefore the growth of the community, but the recent commitment of Mayor George Heartwell and city staff in a partnership with building owners and developers may be one of the most important to date. The […]
Public airs support, concerns over Metro/CHS deal
The proposed Metro Health affiliation with CHS prompted widespread support, as well as some concern, at a recent hearing included in the Attorney General’s review process. During the public community forum hosted by the State of Michigan Department of Attorney General April 23, more than 30 individuals provided comments and concerns on the proposed joint […]
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Brisk beef brisket business bemuses barbecue boys
In the swirling late April snow, customers made their way through a line at Two Scotts Barbecue. Two Scotts co-owner Scott Hartmann was amazed how many customers were braving the harsh weather to come eat the food he and business partner Scott Luecht have bet their lives on. “We hoped the reception would be great,” […]
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Study unveils a Grand (River) plan for downtown
Grand Rapids has come a long way in a few decades, but there’s still work to be done. One plan for that work is a step closer to fruition. GR Forward has wrapped up the public engagement phase for its Downtown and River Action Plan with more than 3,000 Grand Rapidians expressing their opinions at […]
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‘A bit of a romantic idea’
Brandon Voorhees hopes when Grand Rapidians walk into local bars in a few years, a selection of Michigan-based cocktails will sit alongside the Michigan beer menus. Some local restaurants already offer a few cocktails made with Michigan spirits, but the industry still is in its infancy compared to the more than 130 breweries in the […]
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Poultry industry on alert for bird flu
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) A new strain of bird flu suspected of being spread by migrating waterfowl is decimating commercial poultry operations in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but has not yet been reported in Michigan. Michigan state government and the poultry industry are on high alert, although longstanding rigorous bio-security precautions in effect […]
