WYOMING — City officials have secured $6 million from Kent County’s share of federal stimulus funds to help advance longtime plans for a downtown just south of 28th Street.
GRAND RAPIDS — The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted today to allocate $108 million in federal stimulus funds to 30 local projects as several commissioners described the process as highly politicized.
Video Q&A: Fishbeck executive discusses development outlook, growth amid challenges, DEI
Written by MiBiz StaffJenny Waugh, director of sales and marketing at Fishbeck, discusses the talent shortage as the biggest obstacle to growth, how the full-service construction and design firm is managing through market disruptions, and how companies can achieve more equity and gender parity within their operations.
TRAVERSE CITY — Specialty and classic vehicle insurer Hagerty Inc. plans to reduce its workforce by 6 percent to cut costs and improve earnings.
Trinity Health seeks input, partners to revitalize housing in GR’s Heartside neighborhood
Written by Mark SanchezGRAND RAPIDS — More than 4,700 people once lived in the neighborhood immediately surrounding Trinity Health’s Saint Mary’s Hospital campus back in the early 1900s.
Startup racks up investments to scale battery manufacturing at Meadowbrook plant in Holland
Written by MiBiz StaffHOLLAND — An equity investment from United Airlines Ventures could allow a startup advanced battery company to ramp up production in Holland via a partnership with automotive battery supplier Clarios International Inc.
CASCADE TWP. — Cascade Engineering Inc. has sold its powersports division to a private equity-backed firm, marking a second notable sale this year for the plastic injection molding manufacturer.
Michigan Capital Network names directors for GR, Detroit angel investing groups
Written by Mark SanchezMichigan Capital Network has named new leaders for angel investing groups in Grand Rapids and Detroit.
Public-private partnership aims to create 1,000 child care slots across Ottawa Co.
Written by Andy BalaskovitzOttawa County officials have signed off on plans to leverage $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds with nearly $25 million from the private sector to create 1,000 new child care slots in the next three years.
GRAND RAPIDS — Dozens of individuals and organizations in Grand Rapids have formed the Coalition for Community Owned Safety to educate residents on the city’s budget and explore new ways to direct city funding to address the root causes of crime.
GRAND RAPIDS — Tommy’s Boats LLC, a retailer of ski, wake and pontoon boats, is expanding its operations in California with the acquisition of Larson Marine Inc., a Stockton, Calif.-based watersports dealer.
Milind Pant recently completed the next “logical step” in his experience as a global business executive when he, his wife and two sons were approved for U.S. citizenship. For the Amway Corp. CEO who grew up in the Himalayan foothills of India, that journey started about seven years while he was a Yum! Brands executive in Dallas.
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University of Michigan Health-West, GRCC take on nursing shortage with new partnership
Written by Mark SanchezUniversity of Michigan Health-West will help nursing students at Grand Rapids Community College pay for their training through a new partnership designed to address an acute nursing shortage.
Falling off the “benefits cliff,” declining higher education enrollment, and a widespread skills gap have each contributed to Michigan’s labor force participation rate dropping by nearly twice the national average over the past two decades.
Ottawa County commissioners last week signed off on a $32.7 million spending plan that will direct federal stimulus funding to two dozen local projects.
The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has approved allocating $32.7 million in federal stimulus funds for 24 community projects, over some objections that an incoming slate of commissioners should get to vote on project funding.
GR med device startup prepares implant material for commercialization after raising $5.3M
Written by Mark SanchezA Grand Rapids medical device startup aims to launch into the market in early 2023 with a new material for spinal and orthopedic implants.
Wolverine Building Group co-owner steps down to pursue new opportunities, focus on equity in industry
Written by Kate CarlsonKENTWOOD — Wolverine Building Group co-owner Aaron Jonker has sold his shares in the construction company to pursue “a couple of different opportunities” that could involve a more development-oriented role focused on equity in the industry.
Allied Mechanical Services president leaves family-owned business to join woman-owned construction startup
Written by Kate CarlsonBYRON CENTER — Steve Huizinga recently left his post as the third-generation president of Allied Mechanical Services Inc. to help lead a woman-owned construction startup and pursue more diverse business partnerships.
Developer plans 72-unit mixed-use apartment project in GR’s Creston neighborhood
Written by Kate CarlsonGRAND RAPIDS — A second site tied to a failed development firm in Grand Rapids’ Creston neighborhood is attracting interest from a new developer.
State energy regulator says Palisades denial ‘obviously disappointing,’ but other clean energy routes exist
Written by Andy BalaskovitzCOVERT TWP. — While the recent denial of funding to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant handicaps Michigan’s short-term emission-reduction goals, the state’s top energy regulator says new federal laws will create additional clean energy opportunities.
Perrin Brewing Co. partners with Grand Rapids Gold, plans beer garden at Van Andel Arena
Written by Joe BoomgaardGRAND RAPIDS — Alpine Township-based Perrin Brewing Co. plans to open a new beer garden at Van Andel Arena under the terms of a sponsorship deal with the Grand Rapids Gold G-League basketball team.
Alpine Twp. officials table large housing plan at golf course amid community pushback
Written by Kate CarlsonALPINE TWP. — Local backlash has caused township officials to pause their consideration of a developer’s plan for 567 housing units at Gracewil Country Club in Kent County.
Goorhouse stepping down as leader of Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area
Written by Andy BalaskovitzHOLLAND — Mike Goorhouse began his work with the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area when he was just 14 years old. In the coming months, Goorhouse will say goodbye to the organization that he has led for the past eight years.
Corewell Health files emergency request to add capacity at DeVos Children’s Hospital amid RSV surge
Written by Mark SanchezGRAND RAPIDS — Corewell Health wants to temporarily add capacity at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids to handle a surge in young patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
MiBiz on WOOD-TV8: Talent, inflation top concerns for West Mich. biz execs, survey finds
Written by MiBiz StaffA survey of more than 300 West Michigan business leaders shows that talent availability and inflation are their biggest barriers to growth, while investing in automation and raising prices will be key measures to overcome risk.
MiBiz Growth Report: Nov. 21, 2022
Written by MiBiz StaffBelow is a snapshot of growth activity that was published in our Nov. 21, 2022 print edition.
Rende Progress Capital addresses wealth gap, access to capital for minority borrowers
Written by Mark SanchezEric Foster credits a 2015 report from Forbes.com that ranked Grand Rapids as 51st out of 52 markets in the U.S. economically for African Americans for helping to cement his idea to create Rende Progress Capital.
Michigan CDFIs to form coalition, collaborate on lending solutions, programming
Written by Elyse WildAforthcoming statewide coalition aims to leverage the effectiveness of Michigan’s community development financial institutions through a collaborative approach to lending and technical assistance.
Commercial lenders begin to see signs of softness in demand for credit as economy weakens
Written by Mark SanchezCommercial lenders head toward the end of 2022 in an uncertain economic environment with rising interest rates and predictions for a mild U.S. recession in the second half of next year.
When he began leading commercial lending at Lake Michigan Credit Union in 2011, Jim Maskell occasionally found surprise among prospective clients.
MUSKEGON — A new branch office under construction in Muskegon will become the fifth location in the lakeshore market for Community Choice Credit Union, which plans to broaden its West Michigan presence in the years ahead.
Agroup of West Michigan growers is proposing a solution to solve two problems around equity and unentitled land assets that currently affect the state’s agricultural industry.
People in the news: Nov. 21, 2022
Written by MiBiz StaffHere are the staffing announcements from the Nov. 21, 2022 print edition.
As job-seeker’s market persists, West Michigan employers boost wages to stay competitive
Written by Mark SanchezGrand Rapids-area employers raised wages by an average of 5.2 percent this year, an amount that exceeds historical norms as companies adjust pay to attract and retain people in a fiercely tight labor market.
Construction firms worry labor availability may disrupt major project pipeline
Written by Kate CarlsonAhistoric influx of federal stimulus and infrastructure funding, combined with the state’s full-court press for large battery manufacturing plants, is on a collision course with a widespread construction labor shortage.
West Michigan executive survey: Talent, inflation pose critical hurdles to growth
Written by Andy BalaskovitzTalent and labor availability, inflation, and supply chain disruptions are the biggest hurdles to growth for West Michigan executives, while many plan to turn to automation and price increases to mitigate those risks.
Ottawa County officials are considering a plan to redirect $12.5 million in reserves to fund the full number of projects prioritized for federal stimulus funding.
More foundations, more giving: Johnson Center report offers 30-year retrospective on philanthropy
By Josh SpanningaSince Grand Valley State University’s Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy was founded 30 years ago, the nonprofit industry has seen seismic shifts in the amount of charitable giving, nonprofits’ assets, and the overall number of nonprofit organizations.
HAP expands care network in West Michigan as part of statewide growth strategy
Written by Mark SanchezHealth Alliance Plan has extended its care network on the west side of the state under new contracts with care providers.
U-M economists expect auto sales to shield Michigan from mild U.S. recession in ‘23
Written by Mark SanchezUniversity of Michigan economists expect the U.S. economy to move into a mild recession in the second half of 2023, as rising interest rates drag on growth.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader from GR discusses ‘right to work,’ civil rights expansions, housing and abortion as an economic issue
Written by Andy BalaskovitzDemocratic state Sen. Winnie Brinks from Grand Rapids continues to make history. She was the first woman to represent Grand Rapids in the state Senate since Eva McCall Hamilton was elected in 1920, and she will be Michigan’s first woman Senate Majority Leader when the Democrats take control of the legislative branch on Jan. 1 for the first time in 40 years.
Housing, public safety top concerns for 3 incoming Grand Rapids city commissioners
Written by Kate CarlsonGRAND RAPIDS — The three new members elected to the Grand Rapids City Commission on Nov. 8 each plan to make housing and public safety key priorities.
Troy-based accounting and advisory firm Rehmann plans to acquire Rivertown Finance LLC in Grand Rapids.
TRAVERSE CITY — Walstrom Marine Inc., a Harbor Springs-based yacht sales and service company and marina operator acquired last year by Continuum Ventures LLC in Grand Rapids, acquired Grand Bay Marine in Traverse City.
3 Michigan tribal economic development entities form ‘historic’ construction joint venture
Written by Kate CarlsonA trio of non-gaming tribal economic development entities has formed a rare real estate development, construction and property management joint venture that’s considered the first of its kind in the Midwest.
GRAND RAPIDS — Rende Progress Capital, a small business lender to companies owned by entrepreneurs of color, will host a networking event Thursday that’s designed to introduce minority-owned businesses to one another and prospective new customers.
Housing loan fund, public amenities among 21 projects recommended for share of Kent County stimulus funding
Written by Kate CarlsonKent County staff have narrowed down more than 300 requests for federal stimulus funding to 21 projects that involve housing, public amenities, support for underrepresented communities, and social programs.