November 12, 2012
Ramirez-Garcia named executive director of Hispanic Chamber
The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director: Veronica Ramirez-Garcia. Ramirez-Garcia joins the chamber full time after six years of involvement with the organization, including growing participation during the past year-and-a-half as a member on the education committee. She also had an office within the Hispanic Chamber building as part of […]
September’s policy forum was the biggest ever
According to the organization’s president, the most recent West Michigan Policy Forum was the best attended of the three that have been held. “We did have a successful event,” said WMPF President Jared Rodriguez. Rodriguez recently told the Grand Valley Metro Council that September’s two-day event drew 645 attendees, the largest turnout the biannual forum […]
Insurance uncertainties problematic
The election caused some employers to delay decisions about next year’s employee health benefits, but the waiting isn’t over yet. There’s still the Michigan health insurance exchange, which is under wraps until Nov. 16, when Gov. Rick Snyder has to submit it to the federal Health & Human Services agency in Washington, D.C., according to […]
Support grows for more preschool education
LANSING —A $130 million initiative for pre-kindergarten education is in the early stages of development, according to the Department of Education. The initiative calls for more funding for the Great Start Readiness Program, which provides state aid to public school districts and charter schools for pre-K programs. Through Great Start Readiness, intermediate school districts receive […]
Flexible accounts to have new limit
It may not be as flexible next year as it was previously. When the New Year arrives, another provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will kick in —and this time it will affect the flexible spending accounts employees have established through their employers. Starting Jan. 1, flex accounts will have a mandatory […]
Community colleges, manufacturers team up to fill middle-skill jobs
LANSING — With the state’s manufacturing industry facing a talent crisis, the Michigan Manufacturers Association and the Michigan Community College Association are collaborating to meet the demand for middle-skill workers. As technology advances, a lot of jobs require people with the right skills, said Delaney McKinley, director of human resource policy for the MMA. And […]
Risk-takers provide ‘authentic’ spaces for next generations
As is customary, the delicate autopsy of the presidential election last Tuesday provided breakdowns of the voters and a thorough analysis of every ethnic group and both genders. What is striking is that the commentary from the major political parties and analysts was echoed during the University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute statewide commercial real estate […]
Higher incentives boost films
LANSING — Because tax incentives for film production recently doubled, Margaret O’Riley, new head of the Michigan Film Office, said efforts to promote films and digital projects in the state will be unceasing. The state-funded program reimburses part of the cost of film and digital media projects produced in Michigan. Last year, incentives were cut […]
West Michigan: a culture of optimism and conscience
I learned something this year. After spending the past 20 years in Chicago and Detroit, I returned home to West Michigan approximately one year ago today. I returned to join The Bank of Holland as president and CEO. At first impression, I observed a bank with good people, good products and strong convictions. After spending […]
Preparing the next generation to purchase the business
West Michigan has a rich tradition of successful family-owned businesses, and ensuring they pass from one generation to the next is often very challenging but important to the future of our local economy. There are a number of challenges that may prevent the next generation from being successful. Obstacles like proper business acumen, work ethic, […]
Behind and beyond the sales pitch — timing is everything
As a collector of sports memorabilia, I’m on a bunch of mailing lists. Most of the offers I get are for items I can buy almost anywhere — except for the offers from Steiner Sports. Here’s Steiner Sports’ typical email after a big game or event: From: SteinerSports.com<email@email.steinersports.com> Date: October 28, 2012, 1:02:24 a.m. EDT […]
Grand Rapids manufacturing shows minor improvement
Very modestly up. Our local economy has been flat for the last three reports, so even a modest uptick is good news. According to the data collected in the month ending Oct. 31, New Orders, our index of business improvement, edged up to +6 from -2. However, the Production index remained negative at -1, although […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds HAIDAR, Salim et al, Arbor Mortgage Corp., Jennydale Estates, Lot 16, $230,000 JOHNSON, James R. et al, Independent Bank, Condo-Rosa Casa Ridge, $249,350 ALGUIRE, Staci Marie et al, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Ravenswood Plat, Lot 116, $347,320 EGWUATU, Nnaemeka et al, Comerica Bank, Lake Drive […]
-
Change Ups: Grant will promote Native American wellness
A consortium of three Potawatomi tribes received a $4,198,250 grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The five-year pilot program is intended to promote wellness in young children from birth through age 8, expectant mothers and families of both. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band […]
-
Inside Track: Abbott relishes ‘what’s around the corner’
Stored in Nathan Abbott’s iPhone are two questions he culled from the 2007 comedy-drama “The Bucket List,” which he refers to from time to time as a checkpoint to his life. They are: No. 1: Have you found joy in your life? No. 2: How has your life brought joy to others? “I’ve really been […]
Street Talk: A man for all seasons — and conferences
GR Mayor George Heartwell was the anticipated guest celebrity to welcome attendees at the University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute statewide commercial real estate conference last Wednesday, back in downtown Grand Rapids for the first time since 2008. U-M’s Margaret Dewar was an able substitute in the program, however, when Heartwell went instead to Ann Arbor. […]
Land bank committee temporarily suspends meetings
The Kent County Land Bank Process Subcommittee decided late last week to suspend its meetings until a pending court case is resolved. “Once we get more information from the court, we can move on,” said Commissioner Tom Antor, who suggested the subcommittee temporarily delay further meetings. “I just don’t see any benefit of going forward […]
Work group assesses how properties are handled
Can property assessments and equalization services be consolidated to save local governments some cash and also provide the private real estate sector with more timely information? Kent County Equalization Director Matt Woolford thinks so, and that’s what he told members of the county’s Community Collaboration Work Group last week. “I think there are opportunities for […]
-
Free social media training to help returning military veterans
More than 250,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces complete their service each year and re-enter the civilian work force — and statistics show that re-entry isn’t easy. In 2011, the average unemployment rate for veterans age 18 to 24 was almost 30 percent. Paul Doyle, an entrepreneur, business owner and veteran of service in […]
-
Wolverine brand Keds’ multi-year pact with Taylor Swift a hit
American shoe and lifestyle brand Keds, owned by Wolverine Worldwide, received a facelift a couple of weeks ago from a very famous face: six-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and megastar Taylor Swift. Swift has signed on for a three-year commitment with Keds, where she will serve as the brand’s new “face” and role model for its target […]
Effort underway to integrate physical, mental health services
LANSING — The look of health care in the future will combine behavioral health and physical care for more uniform treatment, according to James Haveman, director of the Department of Community Health. “There’s a great deal of effort being made to integrate mental health, substance abuse and physical health care,” Haveman said. “If we build […]
Governor’s representative visits Metro Council
Erika Rosebrook recently paid her second visit to the Grand Valley Metro Council. Her first was to introduce herself and let board members know they’d be seeing more of her. This time she came to briefly update them on an effort Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder started last year. Rosebrook is an associate director of the […]
-
Autism insurance helps children, but more therapists needed
LANSING — The state now requires health insurers to provide diagnosis and treatment coverage for people with autism spectrum disorder, and advocacy groups say children with autism have more opportunities to receive treatment. But experts in Grand Rapids, Southfield and Sault Ste. Marie say families still face major challenges in finding suitable services. The average […]
-
Donk’s coming to Medical Mile sector
A Belmont couple with a background in the local restaurant industry is getting ready to open a new eatery on the Medical Mile and then convert their current restaurants into the new entry. Scott and Sue Drolema have plans to debut Donk’s Mexican Joint at 820 Michigan St. NE, near Eastern Avenue, in December. Although […]
County panel approves contract with Experience GR
Members of the Kent County Finance Committee recommended last week that the full commission ratify a new three-year contract with Experience Grand Rapids, the county’s convention and tourism destination marketer. The current three-year contract expires at the end of this year. “Three years is all I’m willing to go with Experience Grand Rapids, due to […]
-
Conference on slavery raises business ethics questions
Do West Michigan business owners know if they are profiting from slavery? It was a question Chris Johnson, director of Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s graduate program in corporate law and finance, wanted on minds and hearts when he hosted the Cooley Law Review Symposium and Michigan Abolitionist Project Conference on Corporate Responsibility and Human […]
-
Creston High closure could impact business district
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) While many parents in the Grand Rapids Public School district are up in arms about the possible closure of Creston High School, the businesses along the Plainfield corridor where the school sits are less concerned. Though most of them say closing the school wouldn’t help the neighborhood, they also […]
