October 3, 2016
Universities partner with utility to provide solar power
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Solar power is growing in West Michigan thanks to two solar gardens that began operating this year. Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo became the second university in the state to partner with Consumers Energy on a solar garden power plant. The 8.5-acre solar garden, which contains 4,000 solar panels, […]
U-M prof: Dearth of corporations is not all bad
Initial public offerings just aren’t cool any more, according to a new book by a University of Michigan professor. University of Michigan Ross School of Business Professor Jerry Davis spoke at Grand Valley State University last week about the death of American corporations and his book, “The Vanishing American Corporation: Navigating the Hazards of a […]
Tech policy expert: Data will fuel innovation
The next age of innovation will be fueled by data, according to technology policy expert Alec Ross. Speaking at last week’s West Michigan Policy Forum, Ross explained to the assembled crowd of West Michigan business leaders that there are 16 billion networked devices used across the world. By September 2020, he expects that number to […]
Celebrating 20 years: The growth of the Medical Mile
Grand Rapids is a city that defies expectations. It has a strong philanthropic heart, diverse economic engines and a robust and supportive community. When my parents, Jay and Betty, founded Van Andel Institute in 1996, Grand Rapids had undeniable assets, but it was struggling. Businesses were closing, jobs were scarce and there was no defined […]
Street Talk: TPP could benefit West Michigan
Matt Priest believes the Trans-Pacific Partnership could benefit West Michigan, and he will be in West Michigan this week to explain why. The president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America will speak to corporate members of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan on Oct. 5 to present, “Beyond The Presidential Race Rhetoric […]
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YWCA building set to open doors after renovations
Next week, the YWCA West Central Michigan will open its doors and introduce the public to its brand new insides. The YWCA is wrapping up its $7.2 million Transformation campaign this month with the completion of renovations at 25 Sheldon Blvd., the more than 100-year-old building housing the organization’s headquarters. The building was under construction […]
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Change Ups: McDonald’s recognizes SeyferthPR for 25-plus years of service
Representatives of McDonald's Corp. and more than 60 Michigan McDonald’s owners came to Grand Rapids recently to recognize SeyferthPR for 30 years of public relations service and leadership with the brand. SeyferthPR is one of only a handful of firms in North America that has been the agency of record for McDonald’s for more than […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds BOERSEMA, Daryl S. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cascade Terrace, Lot 6, $216,000 JOHNSON, Lynne et al, Consumers Credit Union, Waldenwood No. 2, Lot 23, $504,000 CARLEY, Daniel J. et al, Amerisave Mortgage Corp., Condo-Koinonia Woods, $331,700 JOHNSON, Stephen et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, […]
Michigan retailers improve their outlook for autumn
Michigan retailers’ autumn sales forecasts rose modestly following sluggish sales growth in August, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Retailers’ three-month projections moved up six points on the 100-point, seasonally adjusted index to return to June’s level after a dip in […]
Comprehensive tax reform needed for more competitive system
In September, I had some business trips outside the United States. Business travel overseas is more prevalent given free trade and new market opportunities. International business is a reality most businesses need to deal with each day. There really aren’t many closed markets anymore for international trade and commerce — businesses can’t hide from this […]
Face-to-face networking still is key to connections
How important is face-to-face networking to sales, relationships, career and success? I asked my commercial insurance agent, John Cantrell, to give me a synopsis of his networking strategies. John has been a friend, client and vendor for the past 22 years. Here are two important facts about John: 1. His insurance business has exploded with […]
Say, hey! Let’s learn a little sports chatter!
For many Americans, this weekend will consist of at least one football game. Chances are, however, there are several coworkers in an average office who understand very little of what happened on the gridiron. Alan Headbloom has an idea of how to help bridge the cultural differences in sports and general American culture for people […]
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Orchard is sweet on cider apples
For every apple picked off of a grocery store shelf, a consumer could pick up several cans of hard cider. Very few apples pass the test to make it to the grocery store, with the rest heading to processing purposes, such as hard cider, apple juice, applesauce and other apple products, according to Dan Dietrich, […]
Trained dental workforce will solve access to care problem
Recently, legislation was introduced advocating for dental therapists in Michigan, despite a lack of proof dental therapists will make a meaningful impact in addressing the barriers to dental care. A better idea is to build Michigan’s successful strategies using our current dental workforce. As a Michigan dentist for over 40 years, I’m proud our state […]
Smith Haughey celebrates 75 years of practicing law
Over the past 75 years, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge has transitioned from a small litigation practice to a full service law firm with an impressive reputation and a history of influential cases. The firm was founded in 1941 as a partnership between Clifford Mitts, who’d been working as a solo practitioner for several years, […]
Letter: How many apartment buildings are too many?
Editor: “Is Grand Rapids in the midst of an apartment building bubble?” “Who is going to fill all of these units that are being built?” These are questions I hear almost daily. From meetings with lenders to neighborhood meetings on development-related topics, it is the topic du jour. It is impossible to drive around town […]
Stryker VP: We are at the forefront of robotic surgery
Just three days before she was part of a panel discussion at the West Michigan Policy Forum, Stryker Corporation Vice President Katy Fink saw something incredible on a trip to China. While visiting overseas, Fink had the opportunity to witness a robotic-assisted surgery. And as luck would have it, a few days later, she was […]
With medical center developments, caution over congratulations is advised
Grand Rapids Business Journal is reporting on several multimillion-dollar medical center developments, as Spectrum Health expansions continue in Ottawa County, and Mercy Health begins construction on its $271 million complex in Muskegon. Caution rather than congratulations is advised, as it adds to increasing cost of care for West Michigan residents. The buildout to remain competitive […]
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There’s nothing fishy about Meijer’s seafood commitment
Thanks to the Midwest consumer’s general love of flaky white fish, Meijer boosted the growth of a Great Lakes fish company. Since an initial handshake deal almost 20 years ago between Meijer and fish processor La Nassa Foods, the Canadian fish processing company grew from three ships and 35 employees to 11 vessels and 105 […]
Grand Rapids sees grand expansion
Judging by the name, Grand Circus seems like a perfect fit for Grand Rapids. Judging by the region’s accelerated growth in software development and IT services, Grand Rapids seems like a perfect fit for Grand Circus, as well. Founded in Detroit in early 2013, Grand Circus is a software development training agency focused on addressing […]
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Construction underway on $271 million medical center
Construction is underway in Muskegon on the new $271 million, nine-story Mercy Health Muskegon medical center, which is expected to have a “transformational” impact on patient health along the lakeshore. It has taken nearly three years for the project to get off the ground since it was first announced in 2013, but Mercy Health Muskegon […]
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Development firms play waiting game
Third Coast Development and PK Development have waited patiently to begin their $42 million Diamond Place project on a 2.8-acre site at 1003 Michigan St. SE. The wait to break ground might soon be over, Third Coast Development Principal Max Benedict said. Demolition begins Oct. 3, and Benedict still is hopeful construction will begin this […]
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Inside Track: Giving back to his tribe
Around 5 a.m. every Monday morning for six months, Kurt Trevan hit the road and made the three-hour drive from Grand Rapids to Chicago. During the week, Trevan was a vice president and relationship manager for Silicon Valley Bank in the Windy City. But on the weekends, he would return to West Michigan to work […]
