November 26, 2012
Legislature: Focus on tax revenue replacement
In the short time between the presidential election and Thanksgiving break, one could question whether legislators are ready to finish business in the lame duck session now beginning. It has been suggested that voter disapproval of “collective bargaining” Proposition 2 and of “home-based caregiver unionization” Proposition 4 opens the door to the Right to Work […]
Is a hamburger really just a hamburger?
When I think of a hamburger, I am left with a few questions. Why is it so popular? Is it the taste? Is it the years of good marketing? Is it the convenience and price of being fast food? All of the above? The changes to the hamburger have sustained its popularity, even with the […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds SEIF, Eric & Tanya Trust et al, Hastings City Bank, Condo-Songbird Ridge, $255,000 HART, Bruce M. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Paris Park, Lot 5, $288,000 28TH STREET HOTEL LLC, Mercantile Bank Mortgage Co., Kentwood, 12-6-11, $950,000 28TH STREET HOTEL LLC, Visser, Kentwood, 12-6-11, […]
Street Talk: Old Federal Building is good as Gold
To hear Ferris State University President David Eisler tell it, the old Federal Building, which now houses Kendall College of Art and Design’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, was one of the biggest eyesores in the city. When the college acquired the structure, plastic sheeting kept rainwater from ruining the flooring in some of its upper […]
Metro economy’s 10-year average dips precipitously
From 2001-2010, the seven-county Grand Rapids regional economy performed better than the Michigan economy. That said, it was a decade of decline, and the region, in 2010, was one of the poorest of all the metropolitan areas in the country with a population of 1 million or more. Employment and wages In 2010, there were […]
A ‘nanny tax’ horror story from an honest tax expert
The election is over, and the president will soon be naming new cabinet and senior administration appointees. Background checks may reveal various items including tax returns. We have seen in recent history cabinet-level appointees who have not filed correct or complete tax returns and face harsh outcry from members of Congress and the media. This […]
What is the most misused word in the world of sales?
The most misused word in sales will surprise you. It’s “value.” Value is a misguided, misused and maligned word, whose meaning has gone fallow. It is used without meaning, understanding and implication. The word “value” is bantered about in a way that customers (including yours) are becoming numb to anything related to the word. Value […]
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Change Ups: Muskegon Chamber names Agents of Change
Ten community leaders and initiatives have been recognized as 2012 Agents of Change by the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s Inclusion and Community Awareness Committee. This year’s recipients: Amanda Shunta; Ed Garner; Debbie Chase and John Hanson, along with Heather Bloom, Al Lowe, Kathy Kauranen and Steve Kauranen; Jera Cook and Brett Gilbert; Jennifer Cross; […]
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Inside Track: Creating a culture of opportunity for students
The tentacles of fear have a way of stymieing a person’s potential. It’s for that reason Kim Dabbs recently jumped out of an airplane, has plans to scale the Himalayas, and one day will take part in “any marathon I can finish.” Such derring-do is part of a list of 40 things Dabbs intends to […]
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Drought of 2012 has farmers thinking irrigation
As farms get bigger and more capital intensive, and commodity crop prices keep rising, irrigation has become more important to the West Michigan agricultural industry. Then there was the drought of 2012, which was like throwing gasoline on a smoldering fire. Several farmers have approached The Bank of Holland lately, inquiring about financing for new […]
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LMCU leads mortgage charge with record month
Lake Michigan Credit Union, which really began pushing its mortgage business just a few years ago, funded $132 million in new mortgages during October, representing 848 loans. October was “an all-time record for us,” said Eric Burgoon, senior vice president of mortgage lending at LMCU. “We are very optimistic about housing, and our mortgage business, […]
Michigan credit unions claim ‘extraordinary’ growth
In the year since consumers were urged to move their accounts from big banks to credit unions on Bank Transfer Day (Nov. 5, 2011), credit unions in Michigan have reported an “extraordinary” surge in new members, according to a report from Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates. Using data from the National Credit Union Administration […]
Appraisers cautious
While reports that the real estate market is bouncing back continue, the appraisal industry isn’t quite ready to breathe a sigh of relief. The current real estate market, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, saw an uptick in October sales for previously owned homes. Additionally, home prices across the country are rebounding. Real […]
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Cornerstone, Holland manufacturers partner
It may seem unlikely that Holland manufacturing companies and a faith-based university in Grand Rapids better known for its teaching and music programs would collaborate on a master’s degree in business, but that’s exactly what’s happening in January. Cornerstone University is joining the recent wave of higher education platforms offering online courses designed for businesses, […]
Employers face deadline for health mandates
The fiscal cliff isn’t the only issue agitating employers. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, also has them scrambling for answers. Those who attended the recent Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce/Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michiganhealth care summit, held at Thousand Oaks Golf Course in Plainfield Township, received some welcomed insight. […]
Value of PR measured in reputation and relationships
There is no magic formula when it comes to measuring the dollar value of public relations, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to determine whether the PR firm a business is working with is delivering the services its brand needs most. PR begins with research and finding out about the current relationship and […]
Land bank sale may not have violated county policy
Kent County Corporate Counsel Dan Ophoff was set to deliver his opinions on a key matter to the county’s Land Bank Process Subcommittee a few weeks ago, until the panel’s members decided to suspend their meetings for the foreseeable future because of a pending lawsuit. So, Ophoff wasn’t able to disclose his legal interpretations on […]
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Park system is good, but not great
The Kent County Parks Department will approach county commissioners soon to ask for some fee changes. One would raise the family season pass from $50 to $60 a year, while another would create an extended-family season pass for $70 a year that would allow grandparents and caregivers to take their kids to a park. A […]
