West Michigan In The News

Start Garden invests in five ideas, totaling $70,000

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, March 07, 2013

New mobile apps, a new kind of water board, a landscaping business, and an online butcher shop round out Start Garden's most recent investments.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The three ideas that reached the $20,000 level of funding on Update Night were Marcuski, a new water sport board; Cunable, an e-book retail model allowing for direct publisher-to-public exchange; and Benefit, a mobile commerce platform that combines shopping with charity.

Read the complete story here.

Michigan beer invades Chicago

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, March 07, 2013

Michigan beer is a hit in nearby Chicago.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Not only are the beers quenching the thirst for good beer in Chicago, the Michigan industry also helps make for an easy weekend getaway from the big city. The Chicago Tribune has run several stories in the past year on Michigan beer, including two recent articles about Grand Rapids brewing in the past six months.

Read the complete story here.

Get Michigan tomatoes all year long

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, February 28, 2013

Mastronardi Produce’s greenhouse in Coldwater produces Michigan tomatoes all year long and makes them available at Meijer stores.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The Coldwater greenhouse is the first of its kind in the Midwest, utilizing unique grow lights, water filtration systems and alternative energy sources that create an internal climate that ensures optimal growing conditions 12 months a year, according to Meijer.

Read the complete story here.

Industrial, retail, and office real estate markets all up in West Michigan

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, February 28, 2013

Industrial, office, and retail markets in West Michigan all showed growth in 2012.

According to an excerpt from the article:

While the area’s industrial real estate market showed strong signs of activity during the fourth quarter of last year and the office market showed steady and slow growth, Colliers International of West Michigan said the retail market had a banner quarter.

Read the complete story here.

Bassmaster event coming to Muskegon

MLive Thursday, February 28, 2013

A professional fishing event has been booked for Muskegon and White Lakes in September.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Muskegon Lake and White Lake have been selected by the Bassmaster organization to bring 14 of the nation’s top professional bass fishermen together to compete for a $100,000 total prize payout. The event at Muskegon County’s Heritage Landing will be rebroadcast in a two-hour program in October on ESPN2.

Read the complete story here.

Holland Hospital named one of top 100 in nation, twice

MLive Thursday, February 28, 2013

Holland Hospital named one of the nation's top 100 by Truven Health Analytics. Earlier, Holland Hospital received the same award from Healthgrades.

According to an except from the article:

Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) named the hospital as one of the nation’s top 100 in a report issued Monday, Feb. 25. This is the eighth year the Holland institution received the recognition.

Read the complete story here.

Annual Winter Beer Fest this weekend in Grand Rapids

MLive Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Annual Winter Beer Festival took 13 minutes to sell out this year.

According to an excerpt from the article:

About 6,000 ticketholders will don hats and long underwear to quaff brews outdoors, up from 5,850 in 2012. Add industry representatives, staff and their guests, and between 7,000 and 8,000 people could be on the grounds.

Read the complete story here.

Plans for a new Forest Hills YMCA emerge

MLive Thursday, February 21, 2013

The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids plans to open a new facility in 2014.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids plans to submit a zoning application this week for a permit needed to build a facility on the south side of Leonard Street NE, east of East Beltline Avenue across from Forest Hills Northern High School.

Read the complete story here.

Say hello from Grand Rapids with new postcards

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, February 21, 2013

Paul Jendrasiak, Josh Depenbrok and Wynnona Francis have created a new line of Grand Rapids postcards.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The trio created a line of postcards displaying prominent and historical landmarks in Grand Rapids. The photographs were taken by Jendrasiak and Depenbrok, and the cards were designed by Francis.

Read the complete story here.

TV Show "Cake Boss" turns Haworth chair into a cake

MLive Thursday, February 21, 2013

TLC's "Cake Boss" turns a Haworth ToDo chair into a cake.

According to an excerpt from the article:

With the cameras filming, a life-size, cake-version of Haworth's ToDo chair was created. Toward the end of the design and construction process, Haworth provided the "Cake Boss" bakery with ToDo handles and feet to finish the cake.

Read the complete story here.

GRid70 highlighted in coworking space article

Fast Company Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Fast Company article exploring coworking spaces highlights downtown Grand Rapids' GRid70.

According to an excerpt from the article:

At the moment, the world's largest experiment in company-to-company coworking sits at the end of a row of handsome brick warehouses in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Read the complete story here.

Story Cafe opening on Westside

The Rapidian Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Story Cafe will have its grand opening on Feb. 16, 2013.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The celebration will include free samples throughout the day, live music and storytelling. Since its soft opening, the cafe has featured a full espresso bar and pastries from deBoer Bakery in Holland and artisan chocolates from Confections with Convictions in Kalamazoo. Starting Saturday, the shop will serve soups, sandwiches and smoothies as well.

Read the complete story here.

Registration open for Art.Downtown

The Rapidian Thursday, February 14, 2013

Registration is now open between now and March 8 for Art.Downtown.

According to an excerpt from the article:

The largest annual event organized by the Avenue for the Arts, it will feature the work of over 300 local artists. More than 30 venues will participate ranging from the UICA and the Old Public Museum to Gaspard Gallery and Craft House (two new galleries on S.Division).

Read the complete story here.

Two Grand Rapids companies appear on Fortune 100's list of Best Companies to Work For

Grand Rapids Business Journal Thursday, February 14, 2013

Both Plante Moran and Stryker rank on Fortune 100's list of Best Companies to Work For.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Accounting firm Plante Moran, which is headquartered in Southfield and has an office in Grand Rapids, ranks No. 25, while Kalamazoo based medical equipment manufacturer Stryker ranks No. 61.

Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids is home to a top tree advocate

Alliance for Community Trees Thursday, February 07, 2013

The Alliance for Community Trees has selected a Grand Rapids resident as Volunteer of the Year.

According to an excerpt from the article:

Alliance for Community Trees is honored to announce that Dotti Clune, a volunteer with Michigan-based nonprofit Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, has received its 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award. The award highlights inspirational volunteers in action who have made a contribution to urban forestry by improving community trees and the neighborhoods where they live.

Read the complete story here.