September 2, 2013
Cooley professors file amicus brief in marriage equality case
Eight professors from Thomas M. Cooley Law School have filed a joint amicus brief in the marriage equality case DeBoer v. Snyder, which challenges the legality of both the 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Michigan and the Michigan Adoption Code. An amicus brief, or “friend of the court” brief, makes arguments and provides […]
Paulstra CRC to build new structure
City commissioners awarded an auto-parts maker a 12-year industrial tax exemption last week to help the company construct a new plant. The Paulstra CRC Corp. at 460 Fuller Ave. NE intends to invest $850,000 into a 26,000-square-foot building that will contain four new truck docks, a climate-controlled room, safe storage space for chemicals, and a […]
County revenue is down in fiscal year’s first half
Total revenue to the Kent County general operating fund was down by $1.3 million at the fiscal year’s halfway mark from the same period a year ago to $38.3 million, a drop of 3.3 percent. Tax revenue to the fund also was down, but by 24 percent from last year to $2.2 million through the […]
‘In-your-face’ help for mentally ill offenders
A three-year evaluation of 10 Michigan mental health courts finds that participants re-offend at significantly lower levels than comparable groups of criminal offenders who do not participate in the mental health courts. The evaluation, which was conducted by the State Court Administrative Office, found that one year after starting the program, mental health court participants’ […]
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Commission amends Gallery on Fulton agreements
Now that Ferris State University and Kendall College of Art and Design have decided to acquire the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids city commissioners had to alter two agreements the city has with the Gallery on Fulton — UICA’s home for the past two years. “We were the ultimate partner in the Gallery […]
Question: Are your sales historical — or hysterical?
Summer’s over. Back to school. Boy, there are some memories: high school; college; subjects you loved, subjects you hated; teachers you loved, teachers you hated. The question is: What did you learn in school? What lessons are you still using? I have 2.5 major, early and later school-learned lessons I am grateful for: 1. Grammar […]
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Change Ups: GRACC hires public policy coordinator
Allie M. Bush has joined the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce as public policy coordinator. Bush previously served as policy advisor in the Michigan House Republican Policy Office, covering issues pertaining to local government, tourism and the general government budget. Bush will work on education and tax policy, monitor legislation that affects GRACC membership, […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds EWB PROPERTIES LLC, Huntington National Bank, Gunnison's Sub., Lot 2, $373,500 PIPPEL, Craig et al, Huntington National Bank, Kentwood, 13-6-11, $418,000 JANKOWSKI, Nicole et al, Founders Bank & Trust, Vergennes Twp., 18-7-9, $242,750 LEQUIA, Steven P. et al, McGlone Mortgage, Chalet Estates East No. 5, […]
Business values are getting a boost from low interest rates
Today’s near-record low interest rates have acted to boost business values much in the same way low mortgage rates have helped to restore residential real estate values. If a business owner were to consider that low interest rates are being held down by aggressive Federal Reserve Bank action, one could envision that rates will likely […]
Street Talk: Health care staff shortages are on the horizon
“Is Long-Anticipated Slowdown Here?” was the arresting headline on a news release from Altarum Institute in early August. Altarum is a nonprofit health systems research and consulting organization in Ann Arbor, and the news release was referencing a perceived slow-down at long last in health-care related hiring. Altarum said U.S. health care employment rose by […]
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Money trees: apples by the bushels
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Michigan’s apple growers will harvest approximately 30 million bushels of apples this year, according to the official crop estimate announced in late August at the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago, where the Michigan Apple Committee was in attendance. Compare that 30 million to one year ago when only about […]
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Inside Track: Mark Frost helps connect students to future careers
As Mark Frost guided Steelcase executives around Central High School, they stumbled upon a huge collection of yearbooks — all but three of the volumes since 1893. One of the executives picked up an early volume, flipped through the leather-bound pages and found a photo of one of the founders of Steelcase. Frost is at […]
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A rewarding and fantastic experience
With his year-long term as president of the State Bar of Michigan winding down, Bruce Courtade said it came up on him faster than he thought it would, and it’s ending sooner than he thought it should. Courtade took over the top spot Sept. 19 at the bar’s annual meeting, held at DeVos Place, and […]
Attorneys leave one firm for another
Grand Rapids law firm McShane & Bowie announced that it has added five new attorneys, all from the Grand Rapids office of Bloomfield Hills-based firm Myers Nelson Dillon & Shierk PLLC. Bob Nelson, Terry Dillon and Jim Bruinsma have joined McShane & Bowie as partners, and Mike Farrell and Kathleen Ley-Bruinsma are associates. Myers Nelson […]
Rich kid, poor kid: Where you end up is all up to you
I had an interesting discussion several years ago with a man about the advantages of growing up in a wealthy family. While he grew up in a family of modest means, my father was the general superintendent of all the Buick plants in Flint. He was a successful businessman whom I admired for his ability […]
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GrrCON: playground for hackers
GrrCON, a Grand Rapids-based technology hacking and security event, is set for its third annual conference Sept. 12-13 in DeVos Place. Tickets are $115 and include food and beer at the conference, said Chris Payne, the founder of GrrCON, adding that he expects about 1,000 people from all over the Midwest and the world to […]
Knapp’s Crossing has first bankruptcy hearing next week
Evergreen Properties Principal Steve Benner first revealed his idea to the Business Journal for a lifestyle retail center on East Beltline at Knapp Street in late September 2004. “Lifestyle centers are new to Grand Rapids. It’s a very upscale style of retail development, something you can’t put 10 or 15 of in Grand Rapids,” he […]
Restaurant jobs provide career basics
As Michigan’s unemployment rate increased again last month, the restaurant industry has been an economic bright spot by providing good-paying, reliable jobs in our state. The industry employs nearly 400,000 workers — keeping thousands of Michigan families on solid financial ground and strengthening our state’s economy. What does the industry get in return for helping […]
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WM Defense Team opens office
While it’s not uncommon for criminal defense attorneys to practice alone or as part of a two-attorney partnership, the founders of West Michigan Defense Team decided to go a step further and hatched the idea of building a small criminal defense firm. Jeffrey Kortes, Gerald Lykins, Mark Hunting and Jason Jansma — all seasoned area […]
Grand Action projects: $420 million Partnerships and impact: priceless
Grand Action co-chairs and contributors this week are celebrating another milestone with festivities marking the grand opening of the Indoor Market Hall, just one facet of the new Downtown Market. Downtown Market, the Grand Rapids Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year (selected in January), extends Grand Action’s consequential projects that have included Van Andel Arena, […]
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DeVos notes Downtown Market opening is a celebration of entrepreneurs
Nineteen new, expanded or relocated businesses are now part of the much-anticipated Indoor Market Hall at Downtown Market that opened Labor Day and is the focus of two “official” Grand Action receptions this week. “From a business perspective, this is entrepreneurship in action,” said Dick DeVos, one of the co-chairs of Grand Action, the storied […]
