October 15, 2019
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Change Ups: Aquinas taps Covert for VP advancement role
Gina Covert is Aquinas College’s new vice president for advancement. Covert will provide leadership for the college’s fundraising strategies and capital campaigns, will direct the growth of the college’s endowment, and will oversee planned giving, stewardship, alumni engagement and grant administration. Covert comes to Aquinas from Grand Valley State University, where she served as director […]
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Do you have a selling system?
“I have my own style of selling.” That is a remark I have heard several times, usually from relatively inexperienced salespeople. What they usually mean is something like this: “I don’t have any real system to what I do, I don’t want any scrutiny and I am probably not going to learn anything from you.” […]
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Switch, school districts at odds over taxes
A tax battle may force some school districts to refund more than $600,000. Switch, a data center in Gaines Township, is working with Michigan lawmakers to pass Senate Bill No. 455 that would exempt the company from paying personal property tax. The new bill is the result of ambiguity between the Renaissance Zone Act, the […]
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Foster care program at risk after budget cuts
An organization formed in a pilot program to oversee foster care in Kent County is at risk of closing after state budget cuts. Among the $600 million administration transfer by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this month, $2 million was taken from the budget of the West Michigan Partnership for Children. The nonprofit was established two […]
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Grand Rapids sets rules for recreational marijuana facilities
Grand Rapids has met the state-imposed deadline for establishing recreational marijuana ordinances. The Grand Rapids City Commission last week approved a licensing ordinance for recreational marijuana facilities. The ordinance establishes the framework for local licensing and regulation of marijuana establishments and facilities as authorized under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act and Michigan Regulation and […]
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Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-03639 – TIEMANN, Torey N., 550 Michigan NE, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 7) 19-03641 – MACIAS, Virginia Y., 64 Friendship Drive, Sparta, Jeffrey D. Mapes (Ch. 7) 19-03653 – TIGCHELAAR, Brad J., 1150 Joosten SW, Wyoming, Greg J. Ekdahl (Ch. 13) 19-03656 – CUEVAS, Vicente J., 978 Four Mile NW, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 7) […]
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Street Talk: The old switcheroo
What a change four years and a shift in political power can make. In late 2015 when West Michigan was fighting to attract Switch’s major data center campus, local lawmakers were behind bills that would exempt such centers from use and sales taxes, to essentially “level the playing field” with nearby states like Ohio and […]
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WMU professor testing opioid treatment app
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Research on the horizon at Western Michigan University will explore how a new smartphone application can help treat opioid addiction. Anthony DeFulio, associate professor of psychology, will lead the research, which involves testing the feasibility of a smartphone app to reduce relapse in patients who have overdosed and enroll […]
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Partnership leads to coffee-flavored CBD gummy
An encounter between Uncommon Coffee Roasters in Saugatuck and Chicago-based Half Day CBD has produced new coffee-flavored, CBD-infused gummies in an emerging market for recreational cannabis in West Michigan. Half Day CBD, a producer of CBD oils, topicals and gummies, was present at a street festival in the Chicago, Illinois, neighborhood of Andersonville, in June when […]
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Printing company marks four decades of change
One local business has been evolving for 40 years. Since it was founded in 1979, the business model at Allegra Marketing Print Mail has undergone several transitions in order to grow and remain competitive in the print and marketing industry. The company has transitioned from a quick print and graphic design center to a full-service […]
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Inside Track: Bob Taylor helps lost veterans ‘find a new purpose’ in life
As a former member of the U.S. Air Force, Bob Taylor understands what it means to be a military veteran and works to helps others like him. As a business owner, he is dedicated to hiring veterans. Taylor also is writing a book called “From Service to Success,” a part memoir that also covers clinical […]
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Residents look to form watershed council
Chester Township resident Callie Melton started building support for a watershed council after what she called “old-school farming practices” and climate change caused heavy soil erosion that impacted her backyard last year. While her neighbor — a farmer — fixed the issue, Melton saw the episode as part of a larger erosion and drainage problem […]
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WMU rolls out student-created wine as fundraiser
In its latest philanthropic venture, Western Michigan University recently began selling a new wine brand designed by students. The wine brand, Bronconess, recently became available in multiple restaurants and stores throughout the state. The brand was researched and developed by students in WMU’s leadership and business strategy program, overseen by Derrick McIver and Doug Lepisto. […]
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Distinguished Alumnus follows his own path to success
Dante Villarreal said the phone call informing him he’d been chosen as this year’s 40 Under 40 Distinguished Alum came as quite a surprise. It shouldn’t have. Villarreal has had a hand in much of the local business growth for years. “It’s been a gift not just to watch but to participate in,” he said. […]
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EPS upgrading its signal communication
A security company headquartered in Grand Rapids is preparing for the future in the telecommunications industry. EPS Security is in the midst of upgrading its alarm signal communication devices from 3G and 4G networks to LTE (Long Term Evolution), which was implemented by cellular carriers. LTE will improve the speed of wireless connections. Jeremy Schellie, […]
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Southtown plan goes public
A draft of the Southtown Business Area Specific Plan is out for review and public comment until early November. The plan identifies positive changes and creates a roadmap that will lead to an improved commercial core and public spaces that support existing and new businesses, appeal to neighborhood residents, encourage pride in places and attract […]
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Report pegs beer’s impact at $38.5 million
A new study released by Experience Grand Rapids shows a $38.5 million economic impact from beer tourism last year. The impact measured in 2015 was $12.2 million. The study by Anderson Economic Group shows the numerous breweries in Grand Rapids and Kent County attracted more than 94,000 tourists. Grand Rapids alone has nearly 40 breweries. […]
