September 10, 2018
Count your blessings; some people aren’t so lucky
I attended The Salvation Army spring fundraising event, where former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell spoke. As I listened to him, I thought of what he represents, and I began to question my past feelings about him and liberals in general. He has had an interesting life, and his wife was obviously a big fan […]
Street Talk: The trade market
After having helmed a defunct startup focused on bartering, a local entrepreneur still is hoping the practice goes big in West Michigan. Michael Lynn, owner and producer at Michael Lynn Animation Studio, is a member of the Bellevue, Washington-based International Trade Exchange, which fosters cashless B2B transactions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Lynn said ITEX […]
Legalizing marijuana sure to impact Michigan employers
The battle for legalizing marijuana in Michigan reaches its climax Nov. 6. That’s when voters will determine if the state should allow the possession and sale of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for adult recreational use while individuals 21 and over — and those who have appropriate medical licenses — would be able to […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds 2375 28TH STREET LLC, Keybank, Wilson & Chalmer's Garden Add To Wyoming Park, Lot 70, $480,000 KUMAR, Kacie et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Condo-Bluffs At Rivertown Park, $225,525 WHITWORTH, Jeremy et al, Team Mortgage Co., Planters Row No. 8, Lot 269, $262,400 HEIGERT, Shelley S. […]
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Change Ups: Little Red Schoolhouse renovated as general store
Renovations inside and outside of Ada’s Little Red Schoolhouse are finished. Its new location is at the heart of the Envision Ada redevelopment project at 7430 River St. in Ada. The 150-plus-year-old building now is home to the Ada Village General Store. From 1859 to 1964, the building was a school until Forest Hills schools […]
November elections: Ballot threatens Michigan workers
In November, Michigan voters will decide on a series of initiatives that could impact our way of life and our ability to compete for many years to come. Michigan is in the midst of a great turnaround, and we’ve become a state that is among the nation’s leaders in job creation and opportunity. As the […]
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Inside Track: Her message: inclusion
Krista Flynn kicked off her career in banking when it still was largely a boys’ club, and she thought she fit in pretty well. Looking back on that time in light of the #MeToo movement, Flynn now sees the compromises she made to be accepted — laughing at demeaning jokes, staying silent about inequity — […]
GR partners on energy, sustainability efforts
The city of Grand Rapids is partnering with business and community leaders on its recent energy and sustainability efforts. Through the recently formed Energy Advisory Committee and Sustainability Advisory Committee, city staff is cooperating with a wide range of local businesses, nonprofits, and educational and government institutions on existing and future energy and sustainability plans. […]
Hope rolls out innovative experiential learning center
Hope College is placing a greater emphasis on providing students with the tools and hands-on experience needed to land jobs after college. The Holland-based private college revamped its academic counseling and career services department, establishing the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career that opened this year. Shonn Colbrunn, a 1994 Hope alum and former Spectrum […]
SBA loans continue upward trajectory
As the economy continues to flourish, the demand for loans has followed suit. According to the U.S. Small Business Admission Administration’s Michigan District Office, Michigan bank lenders have set a new record. SBA lending in the state grew 15 percent to $912 million. The total loans supported by SBA in Michigan, which includes 504 third-party […]
Farmers want Canada in trade agreement
Although there is a level of uncertainty for a concrete U.S., Mexico and Canada trade agreement, there might be good news for two industries. In August, President Donald Trump announced The United States-Mexico trade agreement, which was formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement and included Canada. “This is something that is very […]
Porter Hills considers merger
Two Michigan senior living organizations are considering becoming one, creating a new organization that would stretch shore to shore. Porter Hills, which has nine communities in Grand Rapids, is exploring joining forces with United Methodist Retirement Communities, which has seven communities from Jackson to Detroit, as well as a home-based independent living program in Lansing. […]
Hour Media acquires Gemini
The Grand Rapids Business Journal now is the first business newspaper in Hour Media Group’s portfolio. The Troy-based media company owned by John Balardo and Stefan Wanczyk announced Sept. 4 it purchased Gemini Publications — which owns the Business Journal, Grand Rapids Magazine and Michigan Blue — from founder, CEO and Publisher John Zwarensteyn, who […]
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New initiative hopes to bolster Great Lakes cruises
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) A new international campaign to attract more cruise ships to the Great Lakes is expected to benefit the tourism industry in West Michigan. Cruise ship companies have taken notice of West Michigan, docking in Muskegon a few dozen times in the past few years for day trips on routes […]
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AgHelp prepares for launch
Last year at this time, AgHelp was testing its prototype of a mobile app for connecting migrant workers to jobs and support services in the agriculture industry. After finishing a three-month stint in the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator this summer, the Grand Rapids-based startup has a new strategy and a mid-October launch date for its platform. […]
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Entrepreneur turns sideline into main act
Michael Lynn has seen enough action in the film industry to give him experience in storytelling from every angle. He graduated from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids in 2009, where he earned a degree in theater and film that included dual enrollment at Compass College of Cinematic Arts and a semester at Los Angeles Film […]
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Mosby’s pops onto Meijer shelves
A local product has made its way onto the shelf of the newly opened Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids. Meijer’s West Side grocery store opened Aug. 29, and it now sells Mosby’s Popcorn. The startup business began selling popcorn in November 2015 at its Kentwood location. Less than three years later, Mosby’s Popcorn can […]
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Breweries doing battle over branding in court
Railtown Brewing Company filed suit against a nearby startup brewery over branding confusion. Railtown co-owner Justin Buiter said he was first notified of an attempted brewery that sounded similar to his by confused customers who wanted to know when Railtown was opening its “new location” in Byron Center. But Railtown had no plans to open […]
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Rich DeVos leaves a legacy of ‘stewardship’
It would be hard to make it through a day in West Michigan without seeing evidence of Richard M. DeVos’ presence. Whether it’s the thousands of people employed because of Ada-based Amway, a global direct-selling company he co-founded with Jay Van Andel; the many downtown buildings he and Van Andel helped plan, build and fund […]
