West Michigan In The News

Building anew after a devastating explosion, a new project in Grand Rapids' Eastown is beginning to attract commercial and residential tenants to the business district.

According to excerpts from the story:

The new Phoenix building in Eastown was designed to fit into the neighborhood of some 100-year-old buildings. Described as a catalyst project for Eastown on a key corner of Wealthy Street and Ethel Avenue, the Phoenix building rose from the ashes of a traumatic explosion in February 2008. That explosion leveled a building that included four business tenants and knocked out windows across the street.

Guy Bazzani, owner of Bazzani Associates Inc., known for his neighborhood revitalization and green projects, bought the property from Eastown Properties and developed and built the new building which takes up nearly the entire lot. The building, which is deeper than it is wide, includes space for two commercial businesses with three market-rate apartments upstairs. PT360, a physical therapy business, moved into one of the commercial spots in late May; Bazzani is seeking a second tenant.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

For years, women have enjoyed the benefits of stepping out in style with lower cost consignment clothing and now an Ada merchant offers the same price advantages for men.

According to excerpts from the story:

Russ Martin's passion for high-end clothing started early. He remembers wearing Ralph Lauren shirts to work at a chicken joint in his hometown of Allegan when he was 16 and a few grease splatters were the price he paid to be on the cutting edge of fashion. Today, an entire bedroom of his Ada home is devoted to his wardrobe, where the labels read like a catalogue of designer Who's Who. He knows he's not the only man in West Michigan who loves clothes.

Martin, with partner Barri Bevan serving as manager, opened George's, a consignment clothing store for men at 527 Ada Drive SE, earlier this month. The 1,500-square-foot store sells name-brand men's clothing, shoes and accessories such as Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Brooks Brothers, Ermenegildo Zenga and John Varvatos.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

More than $400,000 in additional economic stimulus funds will go toward housing and economic development projects in the Greater Muskegon area.

According to excerpts from the story:

The cities of Muskegon, Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores received official word that an additional allocation of federal community development dollars will come their way as part of the “stimulus” program. Michigan Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced this week that the state and its communities will receive a total of $27 million in additional Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

CDBG funds are used to improve communities through housing and economic development programs, among other uses. The additional allocation this year through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — known as the economic “stimulus” program — was to be put toward projects that provided affordable housing and create economic opportunities.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

A writing competition for elementary school-aged students draws its inspiration, and subject matter, from Grand Rapids' ArtPrize art competition.

According to excerpts from the story:

While they may be too young to vote, West Michigan students in grades 2-8 can express their thoughts about ArtPrize during a unique writing competition known as WritePrize. Grand Valley State University is sponsoring the writing competition through its Lake Michigan Writing Project, a program that provides West Michigan teachers with professional development programs and writing workshops as an affiliate of the National Writing Project.

Several Laker Writing Camps for young students are also held each year. The WritePrize 2009 event invites teachers to get their students writing about their community using the International ArtPrize competition as their topic in one of two categories. Students may write a persuasive piece promoting a favorite ArtPrize exhibit, or write a creative piece inspired about one of the ArtPrize finalists.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

A research study will help West Michigan communities answer questions about the impact of potential large wind farms in the region and help local governments determine how to regulate the developments.

According to excerpts from the story:

A research project designed to help West Michigan communities deal with a potential of large utility-scale wind energy developments got off to a slow, but productive start this week. The stakeholder steering committee, comprised of representatives of government, utility companies and environmental groups, urged the research team from Grand Valley State University to hone in on the project's mission and design a final report the general public will understand. The group's inaugural, 90-minute meeting Tuesday at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon focused mainly on developing a concise mission and choosing the best words for the report. By the end of the research project, which is to be completed by May 2011, the goals are to describe and answer common questions and concerns, and assist local governments with the best practices for regulating large-scale wind farms.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

Several West Michigan colleges have banded together to help each other build a highly skilled future workforce that will lead the way in development of alternative energies. Plans call for creation of an alternative energy park where students would study battery technology and other forms of renewable energy.

According to excerpts from the story:

A group of community colleges in West Michigan has embarked on a power trip fueled by alternative and renewable energies.

With Michigan’s traditional economic base running out of gas, it’s full steam ahead for a community college consortium working together to build a highly skilled workforce in alternative and renewable energies.  

In this pursuit, the consortium looks to build a park that each institution member would use for training in alternative and renewable energies like wind, solar, biomass and battery technology.

According to Julie Parks, director of workforce training at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), the group has been looking at 50 to 80 acre sites in northern Allegan County.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

Instead of having classes in small portable classrooms, some of Spring Lake public school students will benefit from attending classes in a new $500,000 building.

According to excerpts from the story:

About 30 residents attended an open house Wednesday night for the Spring Lake school district's new alternative education building.  

"My first reaction is 'wow,'" said Spring Lake Public Schools Superintendent Dennis Furton. "This is completely in line with the rest of our district goals. It will give these kids the same opportunities as the rest of our kids have."  The $500,000 building, located on the north side of Leonard Road just south of the high school, includes four new classrooms and a meeting room/teacher's lounge.  The district is currently leasing two of the classrooms to the Ottawa County community-based instruction program.  Spring Lake's alternative ed students formerly were housed in portable classrooms at the middle school.

Read the complete story here.



read on…

A proposed 30-mile hiking and mountain biking trail through the hills and ravines surrounding the Muskegon River's Hardy Pond could put West Michigan on the map for some of the best hiking south of the Canada border.

According to excerpts from the story:

It could become one of the premier trail destinations in West Michigan if it gets built, local township officials say, of a 30-mile multi-use trail loop proposed around Hardy Pond on the Muskegon River. The non-motorized shoreline trail for hikers and mountain bikers would be built through forested property owned by Consumers Energy, which has agreed to forward the proposal this winter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“Hopefully, we will have FERC approval by next spring so we can get into more intensive planning and layout,” said Jim Bernier, the senior Natural Resource Manager of Hydro Operations for the utility. “There is a lot of boating at Hardy now, but once the trail is built, you could spend a week on it pretty readily.”

Read the complete story here.



read on…

Development of a leading-edge rocket fuel based on carbohydrates is about to take off with the launch of the first 1,500 pounds of product from a West Michigan laboratory.

According to excerpts from the story:

Aerospace is propelling Afid Therapeutics Inc., the lone company using the Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute in Holland. Afid Therapeutics, founded in 2004 by MSU Professor Rawle Hollingsworth, recently landed three federal orders for “a new high purity reactant.”

Some 1,500 pounds of the substance is expected to ship shortly, according to an Afid press release. The carbohydrate-based substance is used in propulsion, Hollingsworth said, and like Afid’s pharmaceutical products now in the marketplace, is based on plant material. He said it is not explosive, but because of national security issues, he said he could reveal little more. “I can’t say a lot about it because it’s a new reactant that is used in launch systems, and our clients, our customers, want us to be as vague about it as possible,” said Hollingworth, who teaches graduate chemistry classes at MSU and holds appointments in a variety of disciplines there.

Read the complete story here.



read on…

Local temp agencies say temp hiring numbers are up, indicating that a better West Michigan job market lies ahead if the trend follows past years.

According to excerpts from the story:

Jeffrey Jason, a father of five, was laid off from his job two months ago. This month, he snagged a trial hire position as a customer service representative at Sign Comp in Walker through the EmploymentGroup employment agency. Jason, 46, is one example of a recent spike in temporary hiring in West Michigan that area employment agencies say may bode well for the near future of the local job market.

Local temp agencies say increases in temporary hiring in the past have served as a fairly accurate barometer of the job market's future. Mark Lancaster, CEO of EmploymentGroup, said temporary placements at his agency are up 70 percent since April after a 30 percent decline last year. Lancaster said employers typically turn to temporary workers as they test the waters of an economic recovery. "Before they start hiring new employees, they want to make sure the recovery is real," Lancaster said.

"After all recessions, there's a big uptick in temporary hiring," he added.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

Building homes powered by renewable energy sources is a niche one Norton Shores builder has carved out for his company. Hybrid Homes may be creating a construction model for other homebuilders to follow that could help revolutionize the industry.  

According to excerpts from the story:

To most home-builders, the thought of turning down some projects sounds crazy in the current economy and housing market. To Adam Bearup, it is the price of being one of the state's pioneer renewable-energy builders.

The Norton Shores man is in high demand these days as more and more people look for ways to "go green" by implementing renewable and sustainable energy into new home constructions and renovations. He recently reviewed a list of 16 new home projects from a designer he uses and was forced to pick some and turn down others because his company can only handle so much. Hybrid Homes, the Norton Shores-based construction company, is making a name for itself across the state.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

Even though more than 1,200 artists will descend on the Grand Rapids for the next two-plus weeks, business owners don't know what kind of economic impact the event will generate. Tourism leaders say it's all good and expect the event to boost the city's visibility on the international art scene.

According to excerpts from the story:

More than 1,200 artists are descending on downtown for ArtPrize, but local officials and businesses are being cautiously optimistic about the economic impact. The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau is not making projections about how much money the event, billed as the world's largest art competition, may pump into the economy. Ditto for how many visitors it will draw.

The competition kicks off Wednesday and wraps up Oct. 10, two days after $449,000 in prizes are awarded to the artists whose works get the most "thumbs up"; from online voters. "There is nothing but upside to ArtPrize," convention bureau president Doug Small said.

"It fell at a time where, fortunately or unfortunately for us, we do not have a lot of convention business. Any room night derived from it is a bonus and helpful." Small said he believes the event will bring long-term benefits as people associate Grand Rapids with being an international hub for artists.

Read the complete story here.



read on…

Based on survey results from employees of more than 300 healthcare facilities nationwide, Zeeland Community Hospital's employee responses landed the hospital in the nation's top 100 best places to work in healthcare.

According to excerpts from the story:

A total of 317 healthcare employers participated in this year's program putting themselves and their employees through a lengthy survey process that began in July. Honorees will be recognized at an October awards ceremony in Chicago.

Read the complete story here.


read on…

A new initiative aimed at attracting and retaining information technology jobs in Michigan offers economic incentives  to promote investment in the state. Cross-training programs with several of the state's colleges look to prepare workers for high-demand IT jobs.

According to excerpts from the story:

Michigan Department of Information Technology Director Ken Theis Thursday announced a new initiative to develop, attract and retain information technology jobs and investments in Michigan.  The New Economy Partnerships collaboration brings together MDIT, the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to make Michigan a destination for growing information, communications and technology firms and services.

"About a year ago we started combining IT expertise, workforce development and economic incentives in ‘one-stop' fashion and winning investments for Michigan," Theis said. "Today we're formalizing that effort and engaging the private sector in developing proactive strategies and incentives. This partnership is not only benefiting Michigan's economy, but it is enhancing government service for our citizens."

Read the complete story here.

 

read on…

A veteran restaurant developer has realized a longtime dream of opening an eatery on Henry Street with development of a new sports/pizza kitchen and pub.

According to excerpts from the story:

Hoby Thrasher has been working more than 30 years in the food business with hopes of opening a new restaurant on Henry Street.

He now has the opportunity, creating Handsome Henry's in the former Finley's American Restaurant building at 3065 Henry in Roosevelt Park. Handsome Henry's is expected to open in mid-November.

"This one will be a keeper," Thrasher said of his 11th Muskegon-area restaurant creation, most of them sold to managers or investors. "I've always wanted to get on Henry Street."

Handsome Henry's aims to be a typical Thrasher creation: a pub setting with a creative flair, basic but high-quality menu items and strong customer service.

Read the complete story here.


read on…