October 21, 2019
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Change Ups: Land Conservancy hires Karn as development director
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, a nonprofit land trust, hired Kim Karn as development director. Her initial focus will be to refine and implement an effective major donor and planned giving program, as well as grow the Land Conservancy’s donor and volunteer base. Karn also will reach out to partners and stakeholders involved in […]
Street Talk: A safe partnership
Bethany Christian Services surpassed 10,000 clients served through its partnership with Safe Families for Children. Chicago-based Safe Families was founded in 2003 as a solution for parents and families experiencing such trauma as poverty, addiction recovery, homelessness or unemployment that would make the family unit vulnerable. In the past, extended family or neighbors stepped in […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-03754 – HAIRSTON, Willie B. Jr., 967 33rd SE, Stephen C. Watt (Ch. 7) 19-03756 – FROST, Robert E., 4008 Ziverts NE, Rockford, April A. Hulst (Ch. 13) 19-03758 – BULLISS, Randy O., 630 Schultz, Sparta, David C. Andersen (Ch. 7) 19-03761 – NALBANDIAN, Florence D., 1447 Colorado SE, Perry G. Pastula (Ch. 7) […]
Recent state budget cuts leave college students scrambling
The budget dispute in Lansing has resulted in drastic cuts to an essential needs-based tuition grant program for Michigan students. Just last week, the Michigan Tuition Grant was redlined out of the state’s budget for the year. This decision not only puts our state’s most vulnerable populations at risk, but it also puts our economic […]
Preparing for the California Consumer Privacy Act
The California Consumer Protection Act becomes effective Jan. 1. While the California Legislature recently passed amendments to the CCPA that we expect will become law, the CCPA remains fundamentally unchanged, except there is now a one-year carve-out for employment data and business-to-business contact information. Companies should take steps now to ready themselves before the Jan. […]
BLM sees diminished outlook
Business leaders’ concerns are growing regarding the future economic growth over the short and long term. Nearly half of Michigan business leaders expect a worsening state economy in the next six to 12 months, according to the third-quarter economic survey conducted by Business Leaders for Michigan, a business roundtable that includes top leadership responsible for […]
Kent expanding HIV/AIDS program
The Kent County Health Department is planning to expand a program that serves people with HIV and AIDS. The department plans to add early intervention services and develop a comprehensive HIV care continuum, from initial diagnosis to viral load suppression and an improved quality of life. “The use of early intervention services has been proven […]
GVSU sees fifth cohort in Professional MBA program
This fall semester marked the fifth cohort enrolled in Grand Valley State University’s new Professional Master of Business Administration program. The university launched the program at the start of the 2018 fall semester to upgrade its traditional MBA program. Koleta Moore, assistant dean of student engagement and graduate program operations, said the traditional MBA program […]
Summit addresses road woes
The first of a series of fall communication and coordination summits took place last week in Comstock Park to address the management of Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure. The Michigan Infrastructure Council this year has been working with regions across the state to host spring and fall regional summits as an opportunity to engage with peers and […]
Muskegon Heights seeks to enhance business community
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) A new business association formed in the city of Muskegon Heights. The Muskegon Heights Business Association is a group of large and small businesses that have joined forces with the intention of creating a thriving business community. Led by Jack Russell, president of Rolar Products, plans for the association […]
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Inside Track: Reflecting company values
Matt Jung said he believes in simplicity, not just for his company’s famously oversized beanbag chairs, but also for crafting a company culture that attracts and retains people who do the right thing, expect the best and find a better way, the company’s core values. Entrepreneurism is in Jung’s DNA. His father and both of […]
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Lender receives $500K to help small businesses
Diverse small business loan customers in West Michigan will get a leg up from their lender this year, thanks to a $500,000 grant. Marquette-based Northern Initiatives received $500,000 from the Wells Fargo Works for Small Business: Diverse Community Capital (DCC) program, which offers capital and technical assistance to minority-owned small businesses through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). […]
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Store practices collaborative community
What started as a hobby for Heather Nowakowski has grown into a supportive community of vintage, antique and artisan dealers in the Clyde Park neighborhood. Nowakowski started Elevated Antiquities with Laurie Boyer and Wendy Winn in 2018 at 1111 Godfrey Ave. SW as a hobby business. Nowakowski had a full-time gig manufacturing and selling foot […]
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Start Garden 100 grows, increases diversity
This year, more people turned their entrepreneurial ideas into reality at one entrepreneurial competition. The second annual Start Garden 100 saw a 24% increase in ideas submitted for the startup competition, where 100 finalists were selected and awarded $1,000 each. Eventually, the 100 individuals were narrowed down to 10 winners on Demo Day and given […]
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Flour mill rises to the challenge
Twenty days before Black Tuesday and the start of the Great Depression, a farmer named Charles “Charlie” Brown Knappen incorporated a flour mill business in Augusta that his great-granddaughter now runs today. Emily Knappen Likens, president and CEO of Knappen Milling Company, said her great-grandfather Charlie Knappen in 1929 owned a 300-acre farm and a […]
