Crystal Ball 2021 Letter from the Editor: Keep on fishing.
The experience of living through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping manage a small business during a (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime crisis has me leaning heavily on lessons I learned decades ago chasing winter steelhead with my dad on the Manistee River.
The Right Place selects Randy Thelen as new CEO
GRAND RAPIDS — Former Lakeshore Advantage CEO Randy Thelen is returning to West Michigan to lead regional economic development firm The Right Place Inc.
DeVos-backed spirits brand Jos. A. Magnus & Co. relocates from D.C. to West Michigan
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP — An award-winning spirits brand backed by the DeVos family is relocating to West Michigan from Washington, D.C.
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians inches closer to $180M Muskegon casino
FRUITPORT TWP. — Federal action expected tomorrow will move the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians one step closer to being able to develop a $180 million casino on land it owns in Muskegon Country.
Old Mission wineries allege local ordinances unconstitutionally prohibit speech, commerce
PENINSULA TOWNSHIP — A group of Northern Michigan wineries and a trade group representing them have filed a federal lawsuit against Peninsula Township alleging that their businesses are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year because of the municipality’s allegedly unconstitutional ordinances.
Inability to refinance short-term debt pushes SW Michigan meat processor, cattle farm into bankruptcy
SCOTTS — The owners of a Southwest Michigan meat processing company and cattle operation say the businesses have fallen victim to the tight credit market brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tribally owned firm acquires Re-source Industries Inc. of Muskegon
GRAND RAPIDS — Waséyabek Development Co., the non-gaming economic development arm of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians, continues to build out its portfolio of companies with the acquisition of a Muskegon-based manufacturer.
With vertically integrated cannabis startup, U.P. tribe forges own path to economic diversification
BRIMLEY — The Bay Mills Indian Community views the marijuana industry as a key way for the tribe to diversify its economy, which has been devastated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leveraging tribal sovereignty gives cannabis firm entry to off-limits Michigan markets
SAULT STE. MARIE — Lume Cannabis Co. has figured out a way to open retail marijuana dispensaries within communities that have blocked businesses that participate in Michigan’s adult-use market.
Pandemic deals major financial, cultural blow to Michigan tribes
More than four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan’s 12 federally recognized tribes have fared better from a health care perspective than many other Native American tribes nationally.
Michigan tribes face ‘circular exclusion’ from key minority business certification
As a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and CEO of its non-gaming enterprise, Kurtis Trevan wants to leverage other corporations’ diversity and inclusion goals to the economic benefit of his fellow tribe members, as well as further the tribe’s own inclusionary spending.
Casino closures make case for Michigan tribes’ further economic diversification
In mid March of this year, all 24 of Michigan’s tribally operated casinos fell silent, their more than 22,280 slot machines spitting out their final paydays for lucky patrons or taking one last injection of cash for the house.
N.Y. group acquires 21 Goodrich Quality Theaters locations out of bankruptcy
GRAND RAPIDS — A partnership of Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group has acquired the majority of the assets of Goodrich Quality Theaters Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February.
State fines liquor distribution agent $3 million over violations that led to booze shortages
Republic National Distributing Co. has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a dispute with the state over dozens of violations that led to widespread liquor shortages in November and December of 2019.
Michigan’s tribes add $288.8 million to state economy via non-gaming businesses
As they’ve taken steps to diversify their revenues away from casinos in recent years, Michigan’s Native American tribes have built growing business ventures that in 2019 contributed nearly $288.8 million to the state economy.
Ohio developer buys Knoll manufacturing plant, plans renovations
KENTWOOD — A Cleveland-based developer with properties elsewhere in Michigan has made its first entry into the greater Grand Rapids market with the purchase of an industrial complex from office furniture maker Knoll Inc.
Short’s to revive Arcadia Brewing brand
After a brief hiatus from the market, one of the pioneering brands in the Michigan craft beer industry will once again be back on store shelves.
General Mills/Yoplait taps three Michigan dairies for regenerative ag pilot program
REED CITY — A pilot project spearheaded by global food processor General Mills Inc. aims to help improve the stability of dairy farms, starting with a trio of West Michigan operations and a focus on regenerative agricultural practices.
Tribally owned firm secures $161M federal contract, expands GR headquarters
GRAND RAPIDS — A federal contracting firm owned by Waséyabek Development Co. LLC has begun work on a five-year, $161 million contract with the Department of Energy to provide site operations and support services at three National Energy Technology Laboratory locations.
Bar/restaurant reopening not a return to normal
West Michigan restaurant and bar owners who are preparing to reopen June 8 under the state’s new rules and capacity restrictions can look to their up north colleagues for clues as to how the new process will go.
Shift to eating at home during pandemic drives sales significantly higher for SpartanNash
BYRON CENTER — People eating at home during the pandemic has been a boon for sales at grocery retailer and distributor SpartanNash Co.
Steelcase calls back most of workforce, partially reinstates executive pay
GRAND RAPIDS — Office furniture maker Steelcase Inc. has called back most of its manufacturing workforce from temporary layoffs as it gets back to work to fulfill around $700 million in customer order backlogs.
Continental Linen Services right-sizes business, adapts to new environment
KALAMAZOO — The 121-year-old Continental Linen Services Inc. helps customers keep their workplaces sanitary and clean.
Seven Generations A+E transitions to remote work to deliver ongoing federal projects
KALAMAZOO — Even as construction and development projects came to a halt for several weeks as states and the nation reacted to the spread of COVID-19, Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering LLC has remained busy.
Midwest Realty stays nimble to react to coming commercial real estate evolution
PORTAGE — The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a series of changes that could fundamentally shift the commercial real estate market in the months ahead.
MLCC streamlines process for bars, restaurants to add outdoor service, offer to-go beer and wine
Bars and restaurants that want to open outdoor service areas can now take advantage of a streamlined permitting process through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
‘Cumbersome’ state liquor buyback program comes with many questions for bars, restaurants
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has returned nearly $3.4 million to licensees as part of a liquor buyback program to support bars and restaurants during the state-mandated closure to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Meritage declines $29.1 million in PPP loans, citing ‘shifting rules, unclear guidance’
GRAND RAPIDS — Restaurant operator Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. said today that it declined millions in loans under a federal coronavirus relief program intended for small businesses.
Journeyman Distillery focuses on survival
THREE OAKS — Other than the early days of launching Journeyman Distillery LLC, founder Bill Welter cannot recall a more difficult business environment than the present.
For tech firm Carnevale ID, reacting to unpredictable change is business as usual
GRAND RAPIDS — Technology firms like Carnevale ID Inc. are designed to react quickly to changes and create new innovations for clients.