MiBiz

West Michigan organizations to partner on Industry 4.0 workshops for companies
A partnership among West Michigan organizations supporting advanced manufacturing has announced an opportunity for area companies to learn more about Industry 4.0.
Plainfield Twp. residents to vote on financing $23.5M community center
PLAINFIELD TWP. — Funding the construction of a 52,000-square-foot community center with a 20-year millage will be up to township voters to decide during the…
Spectrum, Ascension to require workforce COVID-19 vaccines
GRAND RAPIDS — Spectrum Health will require COVID-19 vaccinations of employees, students, volunteers and contractors, although not until the vaccines are fully approved by federal…
Stryker sales grow 55% as company regains pre-COVID ‘rhythm’
KALAMAZOO — Stryker Corp.’s sales grew 55 percent in the second quarter, driven primarily by a return of business lost last year with the onset…
NBA star Chris Paul among latest investors in GR-based sports tech firm
GRAND RAPIDS — Sports technology firm MaxOne LLC announced this week that it has raised $3.5 million in capital, which includes an investment from professional…

State Land Bank Authority looks to speed up redevelopment projects

Michigan’s State Land Bank Authority seeks to redevelop state and county land bank properties quicker through a new process that allows developers to submit their credentials in advance.

West Michigan organizations to partner on Industry 4.0 workshops for companies
A partnership among West Michigan organizations supporting advanced manufacturing has announced an opportunity for area companies to learn more about Industry 4.0.
Plainfield Twp. residents to vote on financing $23.5M community center
PLAINFIELD TWP. — Funding the construction of a 52,000-square-foot community center with a 20-year millage will be up to township voters to decide during the…
Spectrum, Ascension to require workforce COVID-19 vaccines
GRAND RAPIDS — Spectrum Health will require COVID-19 vaccinations of employees, students, volunteers and contractors, although not until the vaccines are fully approved by federal…
Stryker sales grow 55% as company regains pre-COVID ‘rhythm’
KALAMAZOO — Stryker Corp.’s sales grew 55 percent in the second quarter, driven primarily by a return of business lost last year with the onset…
NBA star Chris Paul among latest investors in GR-based sports tech firm
GRAND RAPIDS — Sports technology firm MaxOne LLC announced this week that it has raised $3.5 million in capital, which includes an investment from professional…

Catholic Church bankrolling opposition to biz-backed LGBTQ rights expansion
The Michigan Catholic Conference has contributed nearly $240,000 to a campaign committee opposing a business-backed initiative to expand Michigan’s civil rights law to include protections for LGBTQ individuals.
Michigan-based Phoenix Theatres is latest major tenant at Woodland Mall
KENTWOOD — Phoenix Theatres LLC plans to invest $4 million to refurbish the Woodland Mall’s movie theater space formerly occupied by Celebration! Cinema.

Indiana RV manufacturer chooses St. Joseph County for $35.9M expansion
LANSING — State and local officials announced a series of grants and tax incentives for a major Indiana-based recreational vehicle manufacturer to expand in St. Joseph County.
SpartanNash opens new micro-fulfillment center as it faces surge in online orders
CALEDONIA — Grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash Co. today celebrated the grand opening of its first micro-fulfillment center, which the company expects to more effectively serve a growing number of…

Mitten Brewing Co. plans GR-area expansion with new takeout, delivery concept
CANNON TWP. — The Mitten Brewing Co. is once again leaning on pizza — a company mainstay that helped it through its early brewing years as well as the COVID-19…

Metro Health, Mercy Health finalize agreement for new open-heart surgery program
WYOMING — Metro Health-University of Michigan Health and Mercy Health have finalized a joint operating agreement to partner on heart care.

Independent Bank earnings dip in latest quarter
GRAND RAPIDS — Independent Bank Corp.’s earnings declined in the second quarter from the prior year, largely because of lower non-interest income and higher non-interest expenses.

SpartanNash to open Caledonia Micro-Fulfillment Center for online grocery shopping
BYRON CENTER — Grocery retailer and distributor SpartanNash Co. has announced a new “Micro-Fulfillment Center” that will assemble online grocery orders to be shipped to local grocery stores or homes.

Gentex sales hampered by widespread auto industry challenges
ZEELAND — Quarterly sales for automotive supplier Gentex Corp. have rebounded since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the company’s growth remains hampered by widespread supply chain disruptions.

Consumers Energy unveils ‘win-win’ solar project on former Cadillac brownfield property
CADILLAC — Consumers Energy has unveiled a new “brownfield to brightfield” solar project that converted formerly abandoned industrial property into a clean energy power source.

Grocery executive prepares for more online shopping experience
After serving as CEO of Dallas-based Borden Dairy Co., Tony Sarsam took the reins of Byron Center-based grocery distributor and retailer SpartanNash Co. (Nasdaq:SPTN) last September during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence receives ‘transformational’ $400M donation
KALAMAZOO — City officials announced today that the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence has received an anonymous $400 million donation to support the nonprofit’s mission to continue providing key city services…

$10M grant to support new statewide apprenticeship program
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has received a $10 million federal grant that will go toward an apprenticeship program for more than 1,640 workers.

Lt. Gov. Gilchrist sees ‘unprecedented’ opportunities for small business relief programs
GRAND RAPIDS — Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist was in Grand Rapids Monday touting the Whitmer administration’s Economic Jumpstart Plan for small businesses as billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief…