Archives

Keeping up with the Joneses

Part of the west side of Grand Rapids for more than 100 years, The Holiday Bar is getting a makeover. Sitting at 801 Fifth St....

Inside Track: Garberson helps connect refugees with job opportunities

Kyle Garberson is only two months into a job he said already makes him proud to be an American. That job is serving as the...

Barbecue joint hits the open road this summer

(As seen on WZZM TV 13) The two Scotts at Two Scotts Barbecue have rewarded themselves for saving money. Scott Hartmann and Scott Luecht put...

GVSU’s annual economic impact: $780M

The value of an education cannot always be measured in dollars — but the value of an educational institution can. Grand Valley State University, for...

Housing values are on the rise in GR metro area

The increase in home values in Greater Grand Rapids has pulled ahead of the national average, while rental prices stayed on par with the...

Small business issues require more than federal advocacy; they require real change

Grand Rapids is home base for a large community of small businesses and entrepreneurial efforts, all well-versed in the complexities, ambiguous terms, technical language...

Private road or private nightmare?

Our country has thousands of miles of private roads. By “private,” I mean roads not owned or maintained by government that serve two or...

Investment industry still struggling with commissions vs. fees

Ben VerWys said there was no Jerry Maguire-type memo when he decided to leave his place in the traditional investment advisor world. Still, the general...

Keeping the scavengers at bay: protecting your assets

My wife and I watched a “60 Minutes” segment on how life insurance companies sometimes keep the cash or face value of a life...

Report finds $368M value in garbage diversion

The phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is an idea two organizations in West Michigan are hoping to convey across the state,...

Cities face lead challenges

LANSING — While the lead in Flint’s water captures plenty of attention, another source of the deadly element also threatens Michigan cities and neighborhoods. The...

Employee benefits industry experiences growth surge

Employee benefits consultants in West Michigan are making more money — and for firms like Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., that means getting bigger. Gallagher Benefit...

Montgomerie looks forward to Benton Harbor and defending PGA crown

Mike Todman believes the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor is a big deal for the community. A few weeks...

Street Talk: The long blue thread

The former executive director of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council is running for political office — not because she wants to but because...

Holland SmartZone gains final approval

The Holland SmartZone has taken a major step in its mission to continue cultivating West Michigan’s economic environment well into the future. The initial conversations...

Economist preaches patience

The United States can expect an economic boom — in about five to 10 years. Until then, however, the U.S. will sputter like a...

Bill enhances small business connections

New legislation is expected to help Michigan’s small businesses connect more efficiently with the federal government. The SEC Small Business Advocate Act was introduced in...

Public Record

MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds WILLINK, Brett et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-West Hampton, $213,500 5366 PLAINFIELD LLC, Huntington National Bank,...

The relationship edge: Are you on it, in it, or over it?

Beginning a relationship is easy, whether it’s a social relationship or a business relationship. Exploration is predominantly on the surface. Nothing too revealing. In...

Nonresidential construction spending slips a bit

Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.4 percent on a monthly basis in March, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, but it was...