MiBiz: West Michigan Business News

Continental Linen Services invests in upgrades in Kalamazoo, new Cadillac location
Continental Linen Services Inc. is wrapping up the first phase of expansion at its Kalamazoo headquarters as it plans to break ground next week on…
Compliance One acquires Illinois-based consultancy
Compliance One LLC of Kalamazoo has acquired Rockton, Ill.-based Keyes Life Safety Compliance LLC.
Cybersecurity firm VDA Labs to establish HQ campus in Plainfield Township
Vulnerability Discovery & Analysis Labs LLC, a Grand Rapids-based cybersecurity firm, is opening a new headquarters at 5234 Plainfield Ave. NE.
Greenville Daily News, Stafford Printing to sell to View Newspaper Group
After more then six decades under the ownership of the Stafford family, the Greenville Daily News is selling to new owners.
ICCF plans move to new HQ in Grand Rapids
After helping save one historic building from the wrecking ball and rehabilitate it into usable office space, the Inner City Christian Federation is looking to…

LEARNING TO CRAWL: Spectrum Health Ventures stakes out space in health care investing

GRAND RAPIDS — Two years ago, the venture capital arm that health system Spectrum Health formed to back innovative health care startups had to go looking for deals because nobody in the field knew it existed. Today, Spectrum Health Ventures LLC faces a much different situation. Investment prospects now often come from referrals by other large health systems across the U.S. that also operate venture capital arms and want co-investors for deals.

Continental Linen Services invests in upgrades in Kalamazoo, new Cadillac location
Continental Linen Services Inc. is wrapping up the first phase of expansion at its Kalamazoo headquarters as it plans to break ground next week on…
Compliance One acquires Illinois-based consultancy
Compliance One LLC of Kalamazoo has acquired Rockton, Ill.-based Keyes Life Safety Compliance LLC.
Cybersecurity firm VDA Labs to establish HQ campus in Plainfield Township
Vulnerability Discovery & Analysis Labs LLC, a Grand Rapids-based cybersecurity firm, is opening a new headquarters at 5234 Plainfield Ave. NE.
Greenville Daily News, Stafford Printing to sell to View Newspaper Group
After more then six decades under the ownership of the Stafford family, the Greenville Daily News is selling to new owners.
ICCF plans move to new HQ in Grand Rapids
After helping save one historic building from the wrecking ball and rehabilitate it into usable office space, the Inner City Christian Federation is looking to…

Lawmakers, advocates push for revival of state’s historic preservation tax credit
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Lansing hopes to revive Michigan’s historic preservation tax credit, which they say will encourage redevelopment in communities across the state. Bills introduced in the state…
Sportsman Tracker raises $2M for hunter-friendly social media platform
GRAND RAPIDS — The $2.05 million in funding Sportsman Tracker Inc. raised this spring will go to further develop a social media platform and mobile app for hunters. As some social media…

‘SIGNIFICANT ASSET’: Amid slowdown in launches, new threats, West Michigan tooling industry braces for change
The challenges confronting Michigan’s tool, die and mold makers are deeply rooted. The state hosts more than twice as many tool and die workers compared to any other state, according to…
PLUG AND PLAY: Modular automation breaks boundaries
Barriers to entry for advanced manufacturing continue to come down as automation becomes a more viable option — even for job shops — through what’s becoming known as modular manufacturing. Vickers…

With ‘beautiful little niche’ in green building, Bazzani Building transitions to new owners
GRAND RAPIDS — In selling shares in the design and construction management firm he started 23 years ago, Guy Bazzani begins to wind down a lengthy career that had a…

Bergmann takes over at Ascension Borgess amid time of transition
KALAMAZOO — Peter Bergmann began his tenure as president at Ascension Borgess three months ago with a host of issues on his plate to manage. Among them is finalizing the proposed acquisition…

MSU’s student-led VC fund offers new hands-on learning
EAST LANSING — With a new investment fund at Michigan State University, students can gain experience on either side of the venture capital industry. The Student Venture Capital Fund offers students with…

Q&A: John Behrens, Co-founder, Farmhaus Cider Co.
According to Nielsen data supplied by the United States Association of Cider Makers, the cider beverage category continues to expand, with off-premise sales up 9.4 percent in the third quarter…

Opus Packaging secures tax credits for Indiana expansion
Opus Packaging Group Inc., a West Michigan-based packaging company, plans to build a new plant in Whitestown, Ind., located about 22 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

Advocates say long-term road-funding plan needed for EVs
A large penetration of electric vehicles is not in Michigan’s near-future, so advocates say EV drivers shouldn’t be hit with steep fee increases based on the state’s road funding formula. That…

Advocates identify food insecurity as key workforce challenge for Michigan
In Michigan, the second most diverse agricultural state in America, one in six children goes to bed hungry. That was among the findings in Map the Meal Gap 2019, the latest…

Davenport University to expand nursing program in Grand Rapids
Davenport University plans to expand a bachelor’s program for nursing in the Grand Rapids area to meet a talent shortage.

ROUND THREE: Varnum continues program to help startups access free legal help
GRAND RAPIDS — More than seven years, $2 million and 500 companies later, Varnum LLP signed on for a third round of providing free legal services to help new companies get…