West Michigan In The News

New boutique hotel opens in Holland

MLive Thursday, May 02, 2013

A new boutique hotel opens in Holland's historic Teerman's building.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Teerman Lofts has six, fully furnished suites overlooking the downtown commercial district. There are five one-bedroom suites that sleep up to four starting at $179 per night and one two-bedroom suite that sleeps six for $249 per night. The suites range in size from 600-to 800-square-feet, each with a unique floor plan.

Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids one of 10 best cities to get a job

Forbes Magazine Thursday, April 25, 2013

Forbes chooses Grand Rapids as one of the ten best cities in America to get a job.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The human resources firm Adecco Staffing U.S. looked at the U.S. cities with the fullest employment, according to the Department of Labor, as well as internal data around job growth and demand–and then determined which areas are the best for finding a job. The ranking reflects considerations such as: the diversity of industries in the city, the cost of living, the range in size of companies offering employment, and high level of education among its residents. All those factors were weighed equally.

Read the complete story here.

Nonprofit The Source receives grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation

MLive Thursday, April 25, 2013

The SOURCE receives a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The SOURCE has received a three-year, $675,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to start a new Duel Generation pilot program, focusing on low income children and parents in Kent County.

Read the complete story here.

Kindel Furniture hatches new plan for growth

MiBiz Thursday, April 25, 2013

Kindel Furniture's new growth plan involves high-quality, American-made products.

According to an excerpt from the article:

While other companies are betting on cheap, mass-produced furniture, Kindel’s executives say they see value in producing one-of-a-kind products built by American craftsmen. The company is on the hunt for other, like-minded brands to broaden its portfolio.

Read the complete story here.

GR's HopCat to open second location in E. Lansing

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 25, 2013

Grand Rapids' beer bar HopCat to open second location in E. Lansing.

According to an excerpt from the article:

This location will have 100 taps, and BarFly Ventures -- the umbrella company that owns HopCat, Grand Rapids Brewing Co., McFaddens and Stella's Lounge -- expects to create more than 75 jobs when it opens later this summer.

Read the complete story here.

Founders heads across the pond

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 18, 2013

Founders announces distribution of their beer to the U.K.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Founders Brewing Co. continues its rapid international growth, announcing Tuesday the brewery will begin distribution in the United Kingdom in June.

Read the complete story here.

Pill Pouch and hunting tree stand are the latest Start Garden investments

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 18, 2013

Start Garden invests in Pill Pouch and REV, a tree stand for hunters.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The Revolution, or REV, a hunter’s tree stand that has the ability to pivot 270 degrees in a seat that can rotate a full 360 degrees, is one of two product ideas that received funding from Start Garden last week.

Read the complete story here.

2013 looks positive for tourism industry

MiBiz Thursday, April 18, 2013

A study by researchers at MSU indicates growth for Michigan's tourism industry in 2013.

According to an excerpt from the article:

An annual outlook from MSU projects tourism spending to grow 5.5 percent in 2013 and travel volume to increase 3 percent. This year’s growth will come after a 2012 travel season where travel spending grew by 6 percent and hotels in the state recorded their highest occupancy rate since 2000.

Read the complete story here.

Pure Michigan announces best ROI yet in 2012

MiBiz Thursday, April 18, 2013

Pure Michigan generated its best ever ROI in 2012.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The Pure Michigan tourism campaign generated its best return ever in 2012, drawing an estimated 3.8 million people to the state that spent more than $1.1 billion during their stay, according to new research data.

Read the complete story here.

$54M renovation underway for Mary Free Bed

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Mary Free Bed broke ground on a $54 million renovation this Tuesday.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The three existing buildings will be renovated and a new 190,000-square-foot structure be built and in use by the fall of 2014.

Read the complete story here.

Lowbrow art gallery, painting business app next recipients of Start Garden funds

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 11, 2013

Start Garden invests in a lowbrow gallery and a painting business app.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The Start Garden team selected the paint-production app, Paintware CRM, a web based customer relationship management platform that allows users to manage all the aspects of a painting business...

The Start Garden community selected Ice Cream Gallery and Grill, which would serve as a “destination restaurant/gallery/gift shop/ice cream parlor, celebrating Americana and lowbrow art,” writes idea creator Ronnie Edison on his Start Garden page.

Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids and Detroit need to work together

Detroit Free Press Thursday, April 11, 2013

Tom Walsh's editorial in The Detroit Free Press talks about how Grand Rapids and Detroit should work together for a stronger Michigan.

According to an excerpt from the article:

In a post-recession Michigan, business leaders from Grand Rapids and Detroit realize they must cooperate like never before to survive and grow. Together, they're providing money to fledgling start-ups, helping each other with sister initiatives to recruit and retain young talent, infusing respective city cores with new development and retail, and recognizing they are stronger if East and West are both thriving.

Read the complete story here.

The Rapidian offers new specialty internships

The Rapidian Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Rapidian offers new, specialty internships to all majors as well as the general public.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Imagine spending your summer keeping tabs on our local breweries and sitting down each week to learn a brewer's story. And then sharing it with your community.

Or imagine visiting with our local farmers. Or nonprofits. Or the wide variety of people that make up our creative class.

Read the complete story here.

$4M renovation planned for Cornerstone University building

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 04, 2013

Cornerstone University has a $4 million renovation planned for the professional and graduate studies building.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The private Christian university’s plan to completely gut, renovate and extend the outdated building will begin this summer -- with hopes of completion by February 2014, said Robert Simpson, Cornerstone associate provost.

Read the complete story here.

Eastown's Wilcox Park wins a $50K makeover

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, April 04, 2013

Wilcox Park wins a $50,000 makeover through My GR City Points.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Grand Rapids residents had the opportunity to donate their My GR City Points to their favorite park, and thousands of contributors donated more than 4 million points during the contest.

Read the complete story here.