West Michigan In The News

Muskegon job group diversifies advocacy

MLive Thursday, February 09, 2012

There is more to local job advocacy than promoting alternative energy in West Michigan. Equally important is creating a vibrant downtown district.

According the article in MLive:

Supporting Muskegon's new downtown retailers is a lot less political than pitching for wind turbines on Lake Michigan.

The West Michigan Jobs Group cash mob was expected to bring more than 40 shoppers to the Century Club Center in downtown Muskegon Friday evening.

That's why the West Michigan Jobs Group is holding "cash mobs" every other month. The social media group of community activists came together Friday evening at the new Century Club Center to spend some money.

You can read the entire story here.

Collegiate entrepreneur loves the Great Lakes

Holland Sentinel Thursday, February 09, 2012

An idea to create and sell T-shirts celebrating the Great Lakes was compelling enough for the 5X5 Night judges to award a Hope College student $2000.

According to excerpts from the Holland Sentinel:

Entrepreneurial Hope College student Kylen Blom scored some capital for his web-based startup, My Great Lake, Tuesday night at a 5x5, a monthly business competition in Grand Rapids.
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At each competition, five presenters with five ideas have five minutes each to present five slides to five judges for the chance to win up to $5,000 in grant money, no strings attached, according to 5x5Night.com. Judges split the money, giving $2,000 to My Great Lake and $3,000 to a Web show called "Hey! Grand Rapids! Let's Eat!!!"

You can read the entire story here.

Michigan farmers get boost from tourist association

Holland Sentinel Thursday, February 02, 2012

Well-run agricultural operations have appeal beyond raising crops and livestock.

According to excerpts from the Holland Sentinel:

Local farmers tapped into the agri-tourism industry recently got a boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The West Michigan Tourist Association was recently awarded a Specialty Crop Grant from the Department of Agriculture.

You can read the entire story here.

Holland is the home to new barbecue joint

MLive Thursday, February 02, 2012

Is this the beginning of smoked food renaissance in West Michigan? Barbecue enthusiasts can only hope so.

According the story in MLive:

Popular Tulip Time Festival food vendor Brigitte Wooten has parked her barbecue smoker at 1180 South Washington Ave. and opened the restaurant Jus' Ribs & More.

You can read the entire story here.

MSU buys former Grand Rapids Press building for future medical school expansion

Lansing State Journal Thursday, February 02, 2012

The Lansing State Journal released a story saying that Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine has plans to expand to property and five parking lots once owned by The Grand Rapids Press.

According to excerpts from the story:

Michigan State University's Board of Trustees has approved a $12 million deal to acquire the former Grand Rapids Press building and five parking lots north of downtown Grand Rapids for "future" expansion of the College of Human Medicine research programs.

"We don't necessarily intend to occupy or build at the moment but the property became available," said Vice President for Finance and Operations Fred Poston.

The Press building, three blocks from the Grand Rapids campus of MSU's medical school, was put up for sale as part of a companywide restructuring.

Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids' JW Marriott, Amway Grand make the 2012 AAA 4-Diamond list

Grand Rapids Press Thursday, February 02, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press reports that 20 Michigan establishments received 4-Diamond ratings, and two of those are in Grand Rapids.

According to excerpts from the story:

The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel did well on the 2012 AAA 4-Diamond list, receiving the prestigious hospitality ranking in both the lodging category as well for the Cygnus 27 restaurant.

The J.W. Marriott hotel also made the 4-Diamond list for lodging in the automobile association's annual hospitality industry ratings, announced last week.

Read the complete story here.

Growing the wind energy industry in west Michigan

MLive Thursday, January 26, 2012

Recognizing there is power in numbers, L3 Combat Propulsion Systems has joined a regional consortium to move the wind energy industry forward.

According to the article in MLive:

L3 Combat Propulsion Systems' move into utility-scale wind turbines would put its magnet-motor technology on steroids

But before any wind energy equipment is produced in the company's Getty Street plant that is the historic home of Continental Motors, L3 has joined a Michigan Wind Energy Consortium to develop the industry in the state.

You can read the complete story here.

Detroit Tigers strengthens their bullpen with Hudsonville Ice Cream

Holland Sentinel Thursday, January 26, 2012

Citing a shared history in the state, the Detroit Tigers and Hudsonville Ice Cream announced a strategic partnership.

According to excerpts from the Holland Sentinel:

Members of the Detroit Tigers were in town Friday during the team‚Äôs annual winter caravan to announce a partnership with Holland-based Hudsonville Ice Cream, bringing two of the oldest names in Michigan together a month before pitchers and catchers report for spring training.

The company‚Äôs ice cream will be sold in Comerica Park as the official made-in-Michigan ice cream of the Detroit Tigers. It also will partner with the Detroit Tigers Foundation, the team‚Äôs official charity.

You can read the complete story here.

Southwest Airlines, AirTran to remain at Gerald Ford International Airport

WZZM-13 Thursday, January 26, 2012

WZZM-13 reports that Southwest Airline officials have committed to keeping its subsidiary discount airline, AirTran, at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Leaders from the airport and the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan applaud the decision, citing increased air travel at the airport as one of the economic benefits for the region.

According to excerpts from the story:

Southwest Airlines executives say they will keep their subsidiary, AirTran, flying into Grand Rapids. AirTran began service to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in May 2010. A few months later, Southwest merged with the smaller discount airline.

The Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan led the recruitment effort to bring AirTran to Ford Airport. On Friday, RAA founder Dick DeVos issued a statement praising Southwest's decision to stay in Grand Rapids.

"This is a real endorsement that both the Gerald R. Ford International Airport will continue to be a strong regional asset and that West Michigan appreciates and supports quality commercial air service," said DeVos in the statement.

Read the complete story here.

Wind energy developer pulls plans for Lenawee County wind park, eyes Ionia, Gratiot instead

Ionia Sentinel-Standard Thursday, January 26, 2012

A report in the Ionia Sentinel-Standard says that plans for a proposed wind energy park in Lenawee County have been scratched in favor of creating a similar energy center in Ionia or Gratiot counties.

According to excerpts from the story:

With a looming deadline to complete a wind turbine park by the end of this year, officials with Blissfield Wind Energy LLC filed an amendment to a contract with Consumer’s Energy to relocate the project from Lenawee County to either Ionia or Gratiot counties. The Blissfield Wind Project is a partnership between Great Lakes Wind LLC and Exelon Wind, which is a division of Exelon Power.

Bob Judge, manager for communications for Exelon Power, said a contract with Consumers Energy states that the wind turbines need to be completed by the end of 2012.

Read the complete story here.

Get your morning coffee without leaving your car

MLive Thursday, January 19, 2012

Entrepreneurs hope that limiting customer choice to drive-through-only will be the ticket to coffee shop success.

According to an excerpt from the article in MLive:

After 15 years operating a coffee kiosk at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital, a Grand Rapids couple is betting a drive-through-only coffee shop in Kentwood will pay off.

You can read the entire story here.

Foreclosures at five-year low in Holland

Holland Sentinel Thursday, January 19, 2012

For the first time in five years, foreclosures dropped in 2011 as lending institutions appear to be adapting to the recent mortgage issues.

According to an article in the Holland Sentinel:

Foreclosure activity for the greater Holland area dipped during 2011 ‚Äî the first time in at least five years, according to an industry website.

Data released by RealtyTrac.com this morning showed 1,572 properties in Ottawa County were associated with foreclosure filings ‚Äî default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions ‚Äî during 2011. That number peaked at 2,269 in 2010 after increasing each year for at least five years running.

You can read the entire story here.

Heartside's proposed high-tech communications system to point residents to resources in Grand Rapids

The Rapidian Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Rapidian reports that Grand Rapids' Heartside residents could soon have a new electronic communications system in the neighborhood that will help them identify resources for food, shelter, classes and events.

According to excerpts from the story:

Heartside residents and visitors may soon experience a technology leap that is intended to help them identify resources in the area. The Heartside-Downtown Electronic Communications System (H-DECS) will be a wireless network of flat screen monitors that scroll announcements about currently available resources like food, shelter, classes and events in the area. Some of the screens will face outward behind storefront windows while others will be in places where residents regularly gather, like Degage and God’s Kitchen.

Read the complete story here.

GVSU's MAREC to help Michigan's growing tech firms qualify for state grants up to $50,000

Muskegon Chronicle Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Muskegon Chronicle reports that Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center is now part of a statewide program to help fledgling high-tech businesses qualify for business development grants up to $50,000.

According to excerpts from the story:

Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon has joined a statewide grant program to help growing, high-tech Michigan companies get services designed to encourage business development and job growth. The Business Accelerator Fund, managed by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center at Grand Valley, will allow MAREC to work with qualified Michigan companies to pursue business development grants of up to $50,000. The program was launched in December with $3.5 million in state funds. MAREC is one of 15 Michigan SmartZones eligible for the program.

Read the complete story here.

Downtown jazz club set to open in Grand Rapids

MLive Thursday, January 12, 2012

The downtown Grand Rapids nightlife scene will be swinging to a new beat thanks to the opening of a new jazz club.

According to excerpts from the article in MLive:

...the Ottawa Tavern will freestyle its way through a jazzy new winter music lineup before rebranding as an “upscale cosmopolitan” jazz club this March.

"Our phones have been ringing off the hooks with interest in the new concept," said Greg Gilmore, president of the Gilmore Collection of restaurants, which owns the Ottawa Tavern and Bite, the casual tavern's breakfast and lunch companion in the Waters Building downtown.

You can read the entire story here.