If the stories of the winners and finalists of the inaugural West Michigan CFO of the Year Awards are any indication, local companies are poised to take advantage of growth opportunities as the region’s economy continues to improve.

Chemical Financial Corp. wants to be prepared to raise capital quickly should it decide to pursue another acquisition.

Four of the region’s top finance executives will share their best practices and insights into the profession at the inaugural West Michigan CFO of the Year event on Tuesday evening, June 11 at the Goei Center in Grand Rapids.

GRAND RAPIDS — Flush with a half-billion dollars of new capital, one of Detroit’s most established private equity firms has begun looking aggressively for its first-ever deals in West Michigan, according to one of the firm’s partners.

It’s getting easier to find venture capital in Michigan.

Angel investing grew in Michigan in 2012, drawing more investors who put more money into companies.

Michigan’s venture capital industry grew again in 2012 as both the amount of capital under management and what’s available for new investments posted strong gains.

A Kalamazoo company developing a new treatment for people with hypertension received another infusion of capital as it prepares for a clinical trial in Europe late this year.

GRAND RAPIDS — The planned sale of Grand Rapids-based Global Futures and Forex Ltd. (GFT) stems from what founder and CEO Gary Tilkin says is a need to secure the future as part of a larger company.

Investors attracted to deals on the coasts for years overlooked Michigan as a flyover state, but those perceptions seem to be slowly changing as more outside money sets its sights on in-state companies.

Business lending by Michigan credit unions surpassed $1 billion for the first time in 2012, as the state’s credit unions posted another year of strong volume growth.

Seeking to boost the flow of credit, the U.S. Small Business Administration wants do away with a number of regulations for its two main lending programs.