MiBiz

State lawmakers advance $1.2 billion plan for health provider, COVID-19 support
State lawmakers are considering more than $1.2 billion in additional funding to help health care providers overburdened by the current COVID-19 surge and other patients.
Mercy Health Muskegon granted emergency OK for additional 37 beds to deal with COVID surge
MUSKEGON — Mercy Health Muskegon has received emergency state approval to add 37 beds to handle high patient volumes amid the current COVID-19 surge.
Muskegon mixed-use project shifts plans to add more apartment units
MUSKEGON — The developer of a six-story mixed-use project in downtown Muskegon is changing the scope of the development to replace some office space with…
Whitmer directive sets goals for federal electric vehicle charging funding
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive setting priorities for millions of dollars Michigan is poised to receive under the federal infrastructure bill for electric…
Holland, Big Rapids eyed for battery manufacturing developments
Advanced automotive battery suppliers are considering a pair of West Michigan cities for new or expanded manufacturing facilities, MiBiz has learned.

Comedy club Dr. Grins set to close amid pending sale of The B.O.B.

GRAND RAPIDS — Dr. Grins Comedy Club is preparing for its last event in The B.O.B. at the end of the month ahead of the expected sale of the building to a new owner.

State lawmakers advance $1.2 billion plan for health provider, COVID-19 support
State lawmakers are considering more than $1.2 billion in additional funding to help health care providers overburdened by the current COVID-19 surge and other patients.
Mercy Health Muskegon granted emergency OK for additional 37 beds to deal with COVID surge
MUSKEGON — Mercy Health Muskegon has received emergency state approval to add 37 beds to handle high patient volumes amid the current COVID-19 surge.
Muskegon mixed-use project shifts plans to add more apartment units
MUSKEGON — The developer of a six-story mixed-use project in downtown Muskegon is changing the scope of the development to replace some office space with…
Whitmer directive sets goals for federal electric vehicle charging funding
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive setting priorities for millions of dollars Michigan is poised to receive under the federal infrastructure bill for electric…
Holland, Big Rapids eyed for battery manufacturing developments
Advanced automotive battery suppliers are considering a pair of West Michigan cities for new or expanded manufacturing facilities, MiBiz has learned.

8 West Michigan projects to watch
The construction industry experienced widespread pauses on projects in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the backlog made for a packed year in 2021, which features a…
New hire part of Michigan Women Forward’s West Michigan, loan expansion
Hiring a new business development director who’s based in Grand Rapids is part of Michigan Women Forward’s goal to build a larger West Michigan market presence for business lending and…

Automation companies sustain growth despite workforce, supply chain challenges
John Amrhein and his team at Orka Automation LLC are seeing newfound levels of demand from current and potential clients looking to leverage technology to fill gaps left behind by…
Survey: Pay raises grow in a year marked by tight labor market
Employers competing for talent in a tough labor market across the region used larger pay raises in 2021 than in previous years, according to an annual wage and salary survey.

Boji Group, Bacall Companies buy Walker retail center for $23M
WALKER — Developers from Lansing and Farmington Hills are partnering on a $23 million transaction to purchase Green Ridge Square retail shopping center in Walker.

Mercy, Spectrum, Health-West at or near capacity with COVID-19 patients
Officials with three major West Michigan health systems reported Friday that their hospitals are at, or near, capacity with COVID-19 patients, test positivity rates are at record highs, and worker…

Michigan Capital Network expands to Saginaw, Midland markets with addition of BlueWater Angels
GRAND RAPIDS — Michigan Capital Network has further expanded its angel investment network across the state with the addition of Saginaw-based BlueWater Angels.

Square Roots expands produce distribution under latest deal with SpartanNash
Indoor farming operation Square Roots Urban Growers is expanding distribution for its leafy greens, herbs and other produce thanks to a newly-minted deal with Byron Center-based SpartanNash Co.

Facing ‘nightmare scenario,’ feds suspend cybersecurity requirements for defense manufacturers
A federal program that issued sweeping cybersecurity requirements to any manufacturer doing business with the U.S. Department of Defense is undergoing significant changes.

Consumers, DTE seek special electric rates for large development projects
Michigan’s two largest investor-owned utilities seek to play a more active role in economic development — particularly in luring advanced manufacturing facilities to the state — with plans to offer…

MiBiz on WOOD-TV8: Major utilities propose economic development rates to attract major projects
Major investor-owned utilities Consumers Energy and DTE Energy are seeking expedited approval from state regulators to create new economic development electricity rates aimed at attracting major manufacturing projects.

Wege Foundation’s $1M investment in minority-focused VC fund may attract more nonprofit giving
GRAND RAPIDS — The Wege Foundation’s $1 million investment committed to the New Community Transformation Fund comes from a shared vision to support greater economic diversity and inclusion in West…

Employers tap non-English-speaking workers to fill talent pipeline
Businesses in all industry sectors are exhausting potential avenues for talent as they struggle to fill their workforces. Many employers have finally turned their attention to a demographic that Wendy…

Gazelle Sports opening new location in downtown Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Running and active lifestyle specialty store Gazelle Sports has announced plans to open a sixth retail location in downtown Grand Rapids in 2022.