Luckily for local eyewear professionals Michael McConnell and Corey Van Duinen, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. "Corey and I were hanging out in Vegas, and we started talking about putting together a cool optical store," says McConnell. "He said, 'if you bring the eyewear, I'll bring the design.'" Six months later, the idea is becoming a reality as Sight Optical Boutique opens at 924 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, in the former Muse Boutique space. When the store opens in March, it will include a large selection of artist-designed eyewear that can't be found at other local eye care providers. McConnell works in management and U.S. distribution for Hamburg Eyewear of Germany, while business partner Corey Van Duinen is the president and a designer for Grand Rapids-based optical display furnisher Illusion Optical Displays. Van Duinen was also one of the ArtPrize artists behind the Grand Rapids Children's Museum's "Imagine That!" mural. Prices will range from about $200 to $800 for frames from brands like Hamburg, Mykita, Salt and Initium -- all recognized for their fashion-forward designs. McConnell says they will host in-store events with the brands' designers, allowing customers to connect with the artists directly. Optician Marcie VanEss and optometrist Sarah Weeks will round out the staff, providing eyewear guidance and vision exams."Of course we have the medical side, but Sight is more about letting the personality come out in the frames," says McConnell. "Our staff will be very hands on, helping people discover the perfect frame."Source: Michael McConnell, Sight Optical Boutique Writer: Kelly Quintanilla

A news report in the White Lake Beacon states that a new West Michigan entrepreneur network will gather and coordinate resources, programs and services all in one place for innovators looking to start or grow their own businesses. According to excerpts from the story:Current business entrepreneurs or those considering starting their own company can now access resources through the newly announced "e-merge" entrepreneur network on Michigan's West Coast. A press conference was held last Wednesday morning on the Frauenthal Center stage to publicly kick off the effort which will coordinate current resources for entrepreneurs, organize new programs, promote entrepreneurial services and promote the benefits of entrepreneurship to the community.. Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids has three cultural attractions that were in the top 10 most visited destinations in the state in 2010. According to excerpts from MLive: Three area attractions were recognized this week as being among Michigan's largest cultural institutions, based on attendance figures from 2010. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the John Ball Zoological Garden ranked third and fourth on the Crain's Detroit Business' list. The Grand Rapids Art Museum earned eighth place. You can read the complete story here:

Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF), low income families of Grand Rapids will have improved access to Michigan-grown fresh fruit and vegetables and many Michigan farmers will have access to a new market segment. According to Kate Luckert Schmid, GRCF program director, Grand Rapids will be one of several Michigan cities participating in a pilot program led by  Fair Food Network, a national nonprofit based out of Ann Arbor.    The program incentivizes food stamp users to buy Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables at local farmers' markets by offering "Double Up" tokens, which can be used to purchase Michigan produce.   "(The program) is an intersection of a number of our funding priorities," Luckert Schmid says, citing the increased access to healthy foods, improved food security in low income homes and support for local farmers. At this time, the participating farmers' markets have not been announced, but Luckert Schmid is confident that several area markets will be on board when the spring season begins. The funding for the pilot program will be spread out over three years in order to accurately measure its impact. Besides helping low-income families have more options to purchase fresh produce, Luckert Schmid is also hopeful that this program will encourage more farmers' markets to accept bridge cards. For more information about this program, you can visit the Fair Food Networks website here. Source: Kate Luckert Schmid, GRCF Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

The empty former St. Andrew Elementary School and the long-vacant Eerdman's Publishing building could soon be rubble, a next step toward completing the vision of building an attractive gateway to both the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese's new Cathedral Square and to a proposed new entrance to Saint Mary's Health Care. The diocese, which owns the school building (corner of Sheldon and Maple SE), and Saint Mary's, owner of the publishing building (corner of Maple and Jefferson SE), have submitted joint plans to the Grand Rapids Planning Commission to level both buildings. This would create an unobstructed view across several acres of land stretching along Jefferson and Maple streets between Saint Mary's Hospital (200 Jefferson St. SE) and the Cathedral of St. Andrew (265 Sheldon SE). The proposed result is a lighted, pedestrian-friendly plaza along Maple St. SE, incorporating pedestrian and automobile access to and from points in-between. The project, the Maple Street Improvement Plan, wraps up construction of the diocese's $22 million Cathedral Square development. In addition, Saint Mary's will develop the west side of Jefferson directly in front of the hospital. "Our front parking lot will be reconstructed and will include a sculptural centerpiece and more green space, but leaving room for parking on either side," says Micki Benz, Saint Mary's VP of public relations. "It will lead right into the new boulevard on the west side (of Jefferson). Saint Mary's had this in our master campus plan we presented to the city in 2006; this is the second phase of implementation.The first phase was completing the Hauenstein Center." Benz says the project has generated some interest from physicians and developers that could result in a mixed-use development on the west side of Jefferson, but that is several years off. A news release dated Feb. 6, 2011 states that the planning commission will review the plans in March. No demolition or construction dates have been set. Source: Micki Benz, Saint Mary's Health Care; Diocese of Grand RapidsWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesHeartside's $22M Cathedral Square on track for July completionRGTV - After three years, $60M Hauenstein Center at Saint Mary's receives first patientsSaint Mary's Health Care expansion integrates proposed Bus Rapid Transit