September 23, 2013
Street Talk: Economic lessons from across the pond
Dixie Anderson of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan put the Business Journal in touch with Michael C. Maibach, who was in town this month as a guest of the council. Maibach, a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute’s 21st Century Manufacturing program, first presented at the World Affairs Council years ago when he […]
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Change Ups: Law firm marks fifth anniversary
Hilger Hammond PC recently celebrated its five-year anniversary as a law firm. What started in 2008 as a solo practice quickly grew as founding member Steve Hilger partnered with local attorneys Ben Hammond and Aileen Leipprandt to develop a firm that focuses on construction law, complex commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation services, as well as […]
City to set millage revenue guidelines
While Grand Rapids city commissioners have placed a property tax millage request for the park system on the November ballot, Kent County commissioners are debating whether to take similar action next year on behalf of military veterans. At its last meeting, the county Finance Committee decided to send the matter of whether the county should […]
GRCC receives passing marks for strategic planning
Grand Rapids Community College has had its eye on the future for a while now. And after more than three years of strategic planning, the school is beginning to enjoy some of the fruits of its labor. Administrators and members of the school board started revising the school’s goals and strategic vision in fall 2009. […]
City sells unusually shaped commercial lot
The city of Grand Rapids is conducting a somewhat unusual sale of a small commercial property it picked up from the state in the foreclosure process. City commissioners recently agreed to sell a vacant commercial site at 53 Coldbrook NE to T-Mac LLC, which owns Grapids Irrigation at 55 Coldbrook NE, for $1 per square […]
County executive gets contract extension
Kent County commissioners recently gave their top executive a unanimous vote of confidence by extending his employment contract for three more years. County Administrator and Controller Daryl Delabbio will continue in his current post through 2016. He has held the position for 15 years and this extension was the sixth he has received over his […]
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Muskegon Museum of Art grows its capital campaign
In preparation for its transference to an independent institution in July 2014, the Muskegon Museum of Art launched a $7.5 million capital campaign last September. The campaign has reached its initial goal and continues to grow as it works to fulfill another $70,000 challenge offered this summer. MMA Executive Director Judith Hayner said she expects […]
Sales mistakes and the laws that govern selling success
A recent letter from a reader who asks three questions: Hi Jeffrey, I just purchased your new book on the “21.5 Unbreakable Laws of Selling.” As usual, it’s full of amazing content. But as I read it, it generated three compelling questions I hope you can answer. Thanks, Brandon 1. What is the biggest difference […]
West Michigan’s economy shows a little summer hesitation
Very slightly negative. That’s the latest word on the West Michigan economy, according to the data collected during the last two weeks of August. Just like July, business activity slowed in August. New Orders, our index of business improvement, turned modestly negative at -4, down from last month’s +7, but much slower than June’s +34. […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds CASTILLO, Ricardo L. et al, Flagstar Bank, Forest Farm Plat, Lot 8, $209,003 HESSELINK, Randall et al, First Place Bank, Condo-Kerrington Place, $268,000 BARTZ, Kimberly et al, First Place Bank, Marlo Farms, Lot 16, $222,717 POCKLINGTON, Jeffrey D. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Celadon […]
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West Michigan Symphony expands with The Block
At the tail end of its 2012-2013 season, West Michigan Symphony opened its new performance space in the newly developed Russell Block building in downtown Muskegon at 360 W. Western Ave., where its offices also now are located. Known as The Block, the new space will accommodate audiences of up to 148 people and will […]
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WCHA uses ArtPrize to introduce itself
As a prelude to holding its men’s championship tournament here for the first time next March, officials of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will begin marketing the annual Final Five event at Van Andel Arena Oct. 5. “We are thrilled to be bringing this premier collegiate championship to the friendly and sports-loving city of Grand […]
Prevailing wage repeal: another step toward stable state economy
Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature have done much to improve Michigan’s business climate in recent years. However, one archaic, nonsensical law remains on the books, and it costs taxpayers money every year. Michigan needs to keep job numbers growing, but the state’s outdated prevailing wage law is holding the construction industry back. The […]
Spectrum Health establishes baseline with first CSR report
Though Spectrum Health has implemented a slew of environmental- and community-focused programs and initiatives over the years, it has never done much to toot its own horn about those efforts. “There was a sense of presumption before that everybody knows who we are and that we do a lot of things and that we are […]
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Whitecaps register good season off the field
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Although the team failed to make the Midwest League playoffs, the West Michigan Whitecaps still had a good business year. The club’s game attendance and overall revenue rose in its 20th anniversary season from the previous year. “From a business perspective, we had a really great year. Obviously, we […]
Fewer unpaid internships may actually be a blessing
During the summer of 2012, I paid Indiana University — where I am a law student — $680 to work as an unpaid intern for a criminal law judge for one academic credit. I also worked part time in a paid internship position for an attorney at a technology company for $20 an hour to […]
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Potash: a gold mine for Michigan?
A nearly forgotten deposit of high-grade potash under two West Michigan counties is being touted as a potential multibillion dollar industry that could make the state one of the world’s leading sources for one of the most important ingredients in agricultural fertilizer. The rediscovery was made by testing samples from a trove of geologic drilling […]
‘Safety ambassadors’ are a confusing redundancy, expense
This week Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. becomes the umbrella organization with authority over the Downtown Development Authority, Office of Special Events, Downtown Improvement District and Monroe North Tax Increment Financing Authority, phasing out the Downtown Alliance — the organization that represented property owners paying special assessments within the district. Operating from a “Framework Plan” provided […]
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Inside Track: World traveler invests in city’s urban neighborhoods
He is multi-lingual and has traveled much of the world and gained cultural insights from places like Brazil, India and the European continent. He also has taken part in real estate developments in lush portions of Costa Rica and Panama that draw tourists and business investors from all over the globe. But at the same […]
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West Michigan film industry hits restart button
It’s been a rocky transition for the West Michigan film industry following Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s changes to the state’s film incentive program that originated under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s administration, and West Michigan-based film and video production company Gorilla Pictures has been around for the entire ride. Founded nearly a decade ago by Eric […]
