West Michigan In The News

A Spain-based curriculum for training workers on totally new alternative energy technologies could be on its way to West Michigan – perhaps the first region in the U.S. to employ the training. A consortium of community colleges and universities is working to bring that technology to workers here in response to the alternative energy boom.  

According to excerpts from the story:

Teaching a class on auto repair and maintenance isn't too challenging, if your school has a car to work on. But what if the class needs to learn how to repair and maintain a 2.3 megawatt Siemens wind turbine? The Siemens 2.3 MW has a 90-ton nacelle that houses the guts of the generating machinery and is 262 feet above the ground. The turbine blades are about 165 feet long, and the complete unit costs millions of dollars to buy and install.

 "It's a pretty expensive proposition, some of this stuff we will need for training," said Julie Parks, director of work force training programs at Grand Rapids Community College. Parks, who just returned from a trip to Spain to meet with manufacturers of alternative energy equipment, is heading a consortium of community colleges and universities from southwest Michigan to Traverse City that want to share the time and expense in setting up a training facility.

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From the city of Grand Rapids' Green Grand Rapids initiative has grown a surprising number of volunteer organizations intent on creating bike parks, whitewater runs, urban forestry and access to local food. Although the initiative to develop a plan for the city's green spaces is completed, the momentum to implement the ideas seems to be growing.

According to excerpts from the story:

Now that Green Grand Rapids has wrapped up, it's time to go forth and accomplish green goals and projects, although there will be no governmental funds to help out. That was the general theme and message at the recent public meeting of Green Grand Rapids held at Creston High School.

It's up to nonprofits, foundations and business to step forward. Green Grand Rapids is a project launched by the city of Grand Rapids to update the 2002 city-wide Master Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan with an emphasis on green initiatives centered on connections, the Grand River, parks and recreation, natural systems, greening and local food. Financial supporters of Green Grand Rapids include Grand Rapids' Downtown Development Authority, and the Wege, Frey, Dyer-Ives and Grand Rapids Community foundations.

The meeting included reports from champions representing diverse groups — Urban Forestry Committee, Fulton Street Farmers Market, Grand River groups, West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition, Western chapter of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and Blandford Nature Center.

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A young Holland economic development firm helped six companies land federal grants for renewable energy capital projects that could total some $31 million in investments.

According to excerpts from the story:

Viability LLC, a Holland-based economic development consulting firm, reaped the result of a national focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy this year by helping clients throughout the Northeast secure $1.3 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy for America Program.

The USDA announced recently that it provided $62.5 million in REAP loans and grants in 2009 for 705 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 45 states, including 32 projects in Michigan. A REAP grant provides up to $250,000 for an energy efficiency project and $500,000 for a renewable energy project in designated rural areas. Viability assists companies to prepare and submit grant applications that promote sustainability.

"Businesses are seizing the opportunity to lower operational costs and reduce their environmental footprint through clean energy technologies," said Viability president Chris Byrnes. "Even though these energy projects pay for themselves in time, the grant helps overcome the initial capital investment that accompanies new technologies."

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The Blues is awarding $1 million in grants statewide to 47 free health care clinics -- including four in Grand Rapids and one each in Holland and Zeeland. The funds are a godsend to the clinics who serve the uninsured and under-insured with primary care, medication and chronic disease management.

According to excerpts from the story:

"The money is a godsend," said Dan Grinwis, co-founder of Oasis of Hope on Leonard Street (Grand Rapids) of its $23,000 grant. "We are seeing about 50 people a week. The gift is a benefit to the community because the need is just so huge."

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Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University, says his survey of business activity indicates economic recovery for the area.

According to excerpts from the story:

Results of the survey, conducted the last two weeks of October, show that the index of new orders rose to +36, up from +31. The production index remained positive, but backtracked to +29 from +38. Activity in the purchasing offices moderated to +21, down from +24. The index of employment rose modestly to +17 from +14. For the third successive month, 31 percent of the firms responding to this survey reported that employment levels are rising. This is offset by 14 percent of the respondents who are still cutting jobs.

"All in all, our statistics continue to be very positive. For this survey, we are now in our seventh month of recovery," Long said.

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Sellner-Behr Corp, an Alpine Township auto parts supplier, expects to hire 25 more workers in the next few months after winning a contract to manufacture interior wood trim for a BMW sports utility vehicle. Norb Dieterle, president of Sellner-Behr, expects significant growth over the next five years due to local expertise, experience and automation.

According to excerpts from the story:

"Dieterle said the apparatus, designed by Munich-based KraussMaffei Technologies, offers a more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to do the work. It injects topcoat material into the trim rather than spraying it, preventing "a lot of fumes and excess spray being released into the atmosphere," he said.

"Dieterle said there's been pressure for the almost 20-year-old firm to move south, but the goal is to stay in West Michigan." As long as we can remain competitive, we're trying to keep that business here," he said."

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http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2009/11/sellner-behr_corp_lands_bmw_wo.html

 

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Thousands of foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties across Michigan, including Grand Rapids, could give way to neighborhood revitalization if the federal government awards the state the $290 million it seeks to demolish or rehabilitate the buildings.

According to excerpts from the story:

Michigan is seeking $290 million in federal money to help tear down blighted buildings and revitalize neighborhoods in 12 cities including Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority has proposed launching the "New Michigan Urban Neighborhood" plan. Officials say the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could decide on funding by Dec. 1.

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Downtown motorists in Grand Rapids can now conveniently use their credit cards to feed parking meters by authorizing the payment through their cell phones.  The program that started this week is used in many European cities but Grand Rapids is among the first of several cities in the United States to launch the payment plan.

According to excerpts from the story:

Grand Rapids motorists may now use their cell phones and credit cards instead of their pocket change to feed downtown parking meters. The program that started Monday is aimed at making it more convenient to pay for metered parking in Michigan’s second-largest city.

Parkmobile North America spokesman Laurens Eckelboom says the company's high-tech parking program is used in more than 100 European cities. Grand Rapids is the first of several U.S. cities where it will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

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http://www.freep.com/article/20091102/NEWS06/91102040/Grand-Rapids-parking-meters-now-take-credit-cards

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With the phenomenal success of ArtPrize's first year as a proven winner for making Grand Rapids a travel destination, the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau has begun planning next year's targeted marketing plan to raise the city's profile as edgy and progressive.  

According to excerpts from the story:

Doug Small likely wasn't alone in how he reacted to the initial pitch for ArtPrize, and he's certainly not alone in thinking the contest went well beyond expectations.  Small, president of the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he and his staff had a hard time "getting our arms around" Rick DeVos' concept for the world's largest art competition. The mission for DeVos' "experiment" – to create a conversation about the arts–wasn't the easiest to grasp for the downtown marketing agency, let alone have them devise a way to craft it to potential visitors.

 "We just sort of let it happen," Small told M&C. "We said we will do what we do best – market the location –and oh, by the way, we now have the world's biggest art prize." The CVB helped encourage downtown hotels to extend their summer rate packages, but the organization decided early on that it would take a hands-off approach to the event. They wanted to figure out exactly what the experiment was and to see if it would prove to be a success, he said.

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Several successful retailers in downtown Holland have moved to new locations, lured by the appeal of more square footage for the growing businesses.

According to excerpts from the story:

When clothier Lokker Rutgers closed its doors last year after 116 years of business, Brendon Davis saw an opportunity for his family’s firm, Thomas A. Davis Jewelers, to move next door. He approached his father, Thomas Davis, the company’s owner, to see if there might be interest in relocating. “I said, ‘Dad, it’s not going to hurt to ask,’” said Brendon Davis, a goldsmith and designer.

The store leased the space from property owner Lumir Corp., and moved into the former Lokker Rutgers at 39 E. Eighth St. It is one of four downtown retailers that have relocated since summer.

“There’s often shifting (of locations) going on, but to have it happen all at once is unusual,” Mainstreet/Downtown Development Authority Director Patty Fitzpatrick said. At about 6,000 square feet, Thomas A. Davis Jewelers’ new location is about three times the size of its former site at 43 E. Eighth St. The building has been renovated, most notably cutting down several large beams into polished stumps that are used for displays.

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Responding to the growth in health care, Grand Valley State University has developed several new majors to adequately prepare students for the field specialties.

According to excerpts from the story:

The past few years have seen expansions in two Grand Valley State University health and sciences programs. The first expansion, in the radiologic and imaging sciences department, has turned what was one major with three possible emphases into three separate majors.

“We had a program of study here in (radiologic) imaging, but we didn’t have separate majors in the program,” said Roy Olsson, dean of the College of Health Professions. “We’ve progressed far enough that the fields were uniquely different. We decided that the best avenue would be brand new programs that would represent the three fields.”

GVSU has become one of only a handful of schools that offer the specific degreed programs.

“One (major) would be radiation therapy, which is mainly used for cancer. Then we have diagnostic medical stenography. That’s anything from ultrasound to any imaging you would have. That’s a pretty broad field,” he said.

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There are high-paying health care and science jobs to be had in West Michigan, but prospective employers are operating with key positions unfilled due to the lack of qualified candidates, even with the relatively high unemployment rate.

According to excerpts from the story:

At $32 an hour, the position at Saint Mary’s Health Care pays well enough. And, in a brutal economy, one might expect the job posting to last about as long as a Detroit Lions winning streak.  But Saint Mary’s Vice President Tom Karel spent a half-year trying to fill an opening for manager of medical instrument sterilization. One applicant had the technical expertise but no management skills. For another, it was the reverse. He finally found the right candidate about a week ago.

“There is a somewhat limited supply,” Karel said. It’s not the only hiring challenge at the Grand Rapids hospital: Openings for medical technologists, nurses, doctors, even patient registration can be tough to fill.

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As home heating costs climb, a Holland wood pellet manufacturer finds itself considering a major expansion of its production facility and the addition of jobs.

According to excerpts from the story:

A Holland business that turns wood chips into fuel pellets for heating is experiencing a growth spurt. Michigan Wood Pellet Fuel is increasing production and tripling its workforce to keep up.  Trista Moore is pulling 12-hour shifts on the line at Michigan Wood Pellet Fuel. Moore spent time recently in another line - the unemployment line. Her metal polishing job shut down and no one else was hiring… This year, the company will fill two million bags of wood pellets for heating homes

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If the expected overhaul and expansion of The Rapid's bus garage goes as planned, the new facility will incorporate energy efficiencies, lean operating principles and could even increase the number on on-time bus departures.

According to excerpts from the story:

For the design of the Interurban Transit Partnership's new Wealthy Operations Center, transit officials want a remarkable, professional, appealing facility that fits into the neighborhood. ITP —known as The Rapid — turned to Progressive AE to design the Rapid Central Station, which opened in 2004 as a distinctive structure that features a white, Teflon coated fabric for awnings.

 The renovation and expansion of the operations center will be part of ITP's brand to complement the nearby Rapid Central Station, according to Alan Hartley, assistant executive director at The Rapid.  The original construction of the Wealthy Operations Center took place in the mid-1970s. Hartley said the new facility will be able to hold over 150 buses when completed.

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A longtime Grand Rapids furniture maker known for crafting high end, one-of-a-kind pieces for global clients just nailed two firsts with one new order: the first custom piece for the Kuwaiti government and the most expensive item the company has ever built.

According to excerpts from the story:

A massive round mahogany table, 12 feet in diameter, left its birthplace at Kindel Furniture Co. this week to become the centerpiece for a December governmental dinner party in Kuwait. The order came in from the Kuwaiti ministry in August with a Sunday deadline for delivery, Kindel spokeswoman Amy Wolbert said.

At the ministry's annual meeting in December, 15 diners will be seated around the table's perimeter. "It's got 84 pieces of applied brass all the way around the apron, with gilt leaf on it and a huge medallion inlaid in the center," Wolbert said. "It's the most costly item we've ever produced out of this factory."

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