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Displaying items tagged: The Right Place Inc

Sunday, 25 October 2020 19:17

Panel: Rural broadband development should mirror electric grid build-out

Michigan and the nation need the same kind of concerted effort to deploy broadband internet access as 90 years ago when America set out to electrify rural areas following the Great Depression, economic developers say.

Published in Economic Development
Wednesday, 21 October 2020 17:59

Business, community leaders reflect on ‘giant in our community’ Peter Secchia

Business and community leaders on Wednesday remembered Peter Secchia as a business leader and generous philanthropist who helped to shape West Michigan over the past several decades.

Published in Finance
Thursday, 01 October 2020 15:30

Convention center expansion, amphitheater, soccer stadium are Grand Action’s new priorities

GRAND RAPIDS — The business group that pushed several major developments over the past 25 years is now focused on a downtown convention center expansion, an amphitheater and a professional soccer stadium.


Wednesday, 30 September 2020 16:45

Grand Rapids venture capital fund secures millions for minority-owned companies

A Grand Rapids-based venture capital fund that will invest nationally in companies owned by minorities has secured commitments now totaling $6.25 million, with potentially millions more on the way.

Published in Finance
Tuesday, 29 September 2020 13:42

State COVID-19 relief grants reach thousands of West Michigan small businesses

Thousands of small businesses across West and Southwest Michigan have received grant funding from a state COVID-19 relief program.

Published in Small Business
Tuesday, 22 September 2020 15:27

Gerber secures Renaissance Zone for $36 million Fremont expansion

FREMONT — The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a 10-year Renaissance Zone tax abatement for Gerber Products Co.’s $36 million expansion at its Fremont facility.

Published in Economic Development


Sunday, 30 August 2020 18:28

Michigan Israel Business Accelerator’s new initiative to help local companies harness innovation

In a business climate in which manufacturers are pressured to stay up on the latest technology, there is little wonder why Michigan-based companies might look to Israel for best practices.

Published in Manufacturing
Sunday, 16 August 2020 16:41

New $160M COVID-19 vaccine contract ‘takes GRAM to the next level’

GRAND RAPIDS — The $160 million federal contract to produce a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s ready elevates Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing Inc. into what Tom Ross calls the “big leagues.”

Published in Health Care
Sunday, 16 August 2020 11:51

Q&A: Birgit Klohs President and CEO, The Right Place Inc.

Birgit Klohs plans to retire Jan. 31, 2021 after more than three decades of leading The Right Place Inc. Klohs, whose tenure at The Right Place started in 1987 and covered the terms of five Michigan governors, has been at the table for several major economic development initiatives and projects in the Grand Rapids area, often working to drive collaboration and partnerships among various parties that included private and public interests. As she prepares to depart and as The Right Place searches for a new leader, Klohs spoke with MiBiz about her role and how economic development has changed.

Published in Economic Development

Friday, 14 August 2020 04:31

Auto industry finds optimism in the future, but not yet this year

Automotive industry professionals don’t see much reason for optimism in the near future, but their outlooks become more bullish as time moves on.

Published in Manufacturing
Monday, 10 August 2020 15:30

Thousands seek small biz pandemic relief grants in West Michigan

Nearly 4,000 small businesses across a 13-county region of West Michigan have applied for state pandemic relief grants.

Published in Small Business
Thursday, 06 August 2020 16:45

The Right Place leader Birgit Klohs to retire after 33 years

Birgit Klohs, the dean of economic developers in West Michigan and across the state, plans to retire after more than three decades of leading The Right Place Inc.

Published in Economic Development


Sunday, 02 August 2020 17:00

New diversity-focused VC fund seeks $5M locally before making national pitch

GRAND RAPIDS — A new venture capital fund to invest in businesses owned by racial and ethnic minorities looks to secure financial backing locally before reaching out nationally for investors.

Published in Finance
Wednesday, 22 July 2020 16:24

‘Money has run out’ for rural economic development agency

GREENVILLE — The COVID-19 pandemic struck at an unfortunate time for the Montcalm Economic Alliance, which is now struggling to raise funding for its economic development work.

Published in Economic Development
Wednesday, 15 July 2020 04:54

State launches $115M grant program for small biz, agriculture relief

A pair of state grant funds totaling $115 million launches today as another source of financial assistance for small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in Small Business

Tuesday, 30 June 2020 09:44

Trucking equipment supplier set to open first Michigan location in Walker

WALKER — Chicago-based General Truck Parts & Equipment is investing more than $500,000 to launch a new facility in Walker, the company’s first operation in Michigan.

Published in Manufacturing
Sunday, 21 June 2020 16:22

Kent County commits $25M to small business recovery assistance grants

Forming a relief fund to aid small businesses hurting from the COVID-19 pandemic was an early idea Kent County commissioners pursued when they began considering two months ago what to do with $114.6 million in federal aid funding. 

Published in Small Business
Thursday, 11 June 2020 12:52

MEDC awards $4.3M in COVID-19 relief loans

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has awarded $4.3 million in low-interest relief loans to 74 small businesses statewide affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in Small Business

Friday, 08 May 2020 16:45

Suppliers resume manufacturing in preparation for automakers

Automotive suppliers in West Michigan will begin warming up the industry’s supply chain next week.  

Published in Manufacturing
Sunday, 10 May 2020 18:02

HOME, FOR NOW: Office furniture industry stays vigilant as nation joins ‘huge experiment’ in remote working

The COVID-19 global pandemic has pushed millions of Americans to work from their home offices, or in lieu of a dedicated workspace, their dining room tables and couches. 

Published in Manufacturing
Friday, 01 May 2020 17:13

West Michigan small businesses receive $1 million in state funding, ‘staggering’ need

Nearly 200 small businesses in West Michigan that are struggling to survive through the COVID-19 pandemic will receive grant support from the state’s Michigan Small Business Relief Program.

Published in Small Business

Sunday, 26 April 2020 18:20

The new normal: As public officials and businesses plan to reopen, the future will look much different

The world around us — as we knew it in Michigan before March 10 — is going to look much different for the next 12 to 18 months.

Published in Economic Development
Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:18

Grand Rapids Chamber seeks additional $2 million for small business relief fund

The foundation for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce wants to raise another $2 million for an emergency relief fund for small businesses affected by closures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in Small Business
Sunday, 12 April 2020 19:37

Rural broadband access in focus as school, health care, work shift to homes

The widespread closure of schools, workplaces and in-person doctor visits has highlighted inequities in reliable internet access across Michigan, particularly among rural and low-income residents.

Published in Economic Development

Monday, 30 March 2020 15:45

West Michigan coalition compiles COVID-19 resources for businesses, employees

A coalition of West Michigan business, community and governmental organizations has formed to provide resources to business owners and employees facing confusion amid new restrictions to control the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

Published in Economic Development
Friday, 27 March 2020 17:09

Stimulus law directs $350B in support for small biz

The historic $2 trillion federal economic stimulus bill signed into law Friday contains $350 billion in loans for small businesses that could transition into grants.

Published in Small Business
Friday, 27 March 2020 13:15

Applications now open for Michigan small business grants, loans

Michigan’s loan and grant program for small businesses affected by the coronavirus is now accepting applications, state officials announced today.

Published in Small Business

Friday, 27 March 2020 05:02

MSU, The Right Place form task force to connect manufacturers to hospitals in need

GRAND RAPIDS — As the coronavirus pandemic spread to Michigan, Norman Beauchamp saw a need and an opportunity to coordinate manufacturers locally to supply equipment and supplies to hospitals expecting a surge in patients.

Published in Manufacturing
Monday, 23 March 2020 08:08

Everything Begins with Design

When it comes to manufacturing, a low-cost product does not have to be synonymous with a low-quality product. That was a main takeaway from a recent webinar hosted by the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center-West, MiBiz  and The Right Place. The webinar on Design for Manufacturing and Assembly — often referred to as DFMA — brought together West Michigan manufacturing executives to discuss the importance of intentional product design in manufacturing. 

Published in Sponsored content
Friday, 13 March 2020 14:33

Laser Access acquired, plans $1.6 million expansion

GRAND RAPIDS — Laser cutting service Laser Access LLC is under new ownership and plans to expand its facility in Walker. 

Published in Manufacturing

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