ACanadian app developer focused on removing mobility barriers for people with disabilities and the elderly is launching its first commercial deployment in West Michigan.

When outdoor footwear brand Merrell sought a fresh idea to promote sustainability and conservation, it turned to the innovation team at parent company Wolverine World Wide Inc.

When Tony Sarsam took the helm of SpartanNash Inc., he noticed parallels between the West Michigan food solutions company and the previous company he led.

After serving nearly three decades as director of seating and ergonomics product management for Herman Miller Inc., Keith McRobert has leveraged his knowledge and experience into a new venture.

West Michigan manufacturing automation firm Churchill Technologies LLC has been sold amid what local advisers describe as a “red hot” sector for M&A.

BYRON CENTER — Grocery retailer and food distributor SpartanNash Co. has partnered with global tech company DoorDash Inc. to provide on-demand grocery delivery for a large swath of the nation.

GRAND RAPIDS TWP. — Wood products and building materials manufacturer UFP Industries Inc. announced that it has purchased an Iowa-based plastic recycler.

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation has awarded $200,000 in grant funding to provide Muskegon-area students with increased access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education through the lens of food processing and food science.

Manufacturers throughout Michigan can now apply for grant funding to help cover costs associated with adopting Industry 4.0 technologies.

Most basketball fans in Michigan recognize Ben Wallace as an iconic figure in Detroit Pistons lore. The 6-foot, 9-inch center helped lead the Pistons to an NBA title in 2004, just one highlight in the four-time all-star’s career. Since retiring in 2012, Wallace has adjusted to life after basketball. His business pursuits also have tied him to West Michigan after he recently bought a stake in Kalamazoo-based Green Door Distilling Co. and also partnered with Rair Cannabis of Michigan, which maintains a location in Lowell, to develop a brand of cannabis products called ‘Undrafted.’ MiBiz caught up with the Hall of Fame player to talk business, basketball and his love for Grand Rapids.

AKalamazoo cannabis company’s recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing will test some particularly murky legal waters and could potentially set a legal precedent for other cannabis-related businesses facing insolvency.

Facing widespread supply chain disruptions over the past two years, manufacturers across the U.S. are increasingly sourcing components closer to home to bolster resilience and ensure product reliability.

YPSILANTI — Unity Vibration Kombucha LLC, a Michigan-based brewer and the first to develop a kombucha beer, has inked a deal with a national beverage consultant firm to expand sales throughout the United States.

GRAND RAPIDS — Elevator Service Inc., a provider of elevator services for a growing coverage area throughout the Midwest, continued to expand its geographical footprint with another acquisition.

KALAMAZOO — Green Door Distilling Co. now has a National Basketball Association Hall of Fame player within its ownership group.

The Grand Rapids Gold is working with downtown entertainment officials to see whether Van Andel Arena could be the minor league basketball team’s new venue, according to a team executive.

ZEELAND — Tier 1 automotive supplier Gentex Corp. continued to absorb blows from a volatile market as its first quarter earnings for 2022 sank below last year’s during the same period.

Newly introduced state legislation aims to bring clarity to a legal gray area that has prevented some Michigan bars and breweries from using their businesses to fuel charitable giving.

With farmland disappearing at a steady clip in Ottawa County, Julie Lamer and her colleagues are working to develop a toolbox of resources to preserve area farms.

Against the backdrop of low nationwide home inventories, many homeowners are deciding to hunker down and invest in home repair and remodeling projects.

ADA — Sales last year for multi-level marketing heavyweight Amway Corp. increased slightly from 2020, anchored by its popular brand of vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.

The city of Kalamazoo generated $15.4 million in economic impact from more than 40 different local, regional and national sporting events held in 2021, according to a new report. 

WHITEHALL TWP. — Fusion Fluid Equipment LLC, a manufacturer of fluid mixing equipment, plans to invest $6.1 million to expand and double the size of its northern Muskegon County facility.

With 2021 data pointing to a healthy rebound for the ailing nationwide craft beer industry, West Michigan brewers are heading into a pivotal year.

Ferris State University recently tapped Bill Pink as its new president after he served in the same role at Grand Rapids Community College since 2017. Pink starts the position in June after being selected over 70 other applicants. He brings to the new role a firm grasp on the state’s economic needs based in part on his active roles in multiple regional and statewide economic development organizations. Pink recently shared his vision for leading Big Rapids-based Ferris State, including overcoming recent enrollment declines and seizing partnerships after a recent $115 million capital campaign.

SpartanNash Co. last month released its first Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report to track its corporate responsibility efforts, the start of what CEO Tony Sarsam called a “transformational journey” for the Byron Center-based grocery retailer and food distributor.

KENTWOOD — A Grand Rapids-area manufacturing group that made recent and significant investments in the casino gaming machine industry has filed for bankruptcy after accumulating more than $10 million in debt.

HOLLAND CHARTER TWP. — Custom metal fabricator Impact Fabrication Inc. plans to expand its existing facility near Holland.