Stories

Zeeland business community works to help two downtown stores swap spaces, stay in business

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Perhaps it's a lesson for all of us: when we need help, say so. That's what two downtown Zeeland business owners did when one found she needed more space and the other found he needed less. Instead of risking that either business relocate outside of Zeeland, the business owners, Zeeland Investment Partners, the City of Zeeland and the property landlords came together for a win/win solution: swap storefronts. At the end of December, Not So Shabby, an antiques and resale shop, moved into an expanded space at 114 E. Main St. where they plan to host 16 vendors instead of the 10 their previous location could accommodate. Harbor Toy Company moved to a smaller space at 152 E. Main where owners Larry Fragoules and Kim Natte hope to reap the benefits of being connected directly to MainStreet Sweets candy shop next door. The owners' plan is to continue offering high-quality toys, but less inventory, says Abby De Roo, city marketing director. "Not So Shabby had a list of vendors that wanted to rent floor space, and because we were so small, I was always turning people away," says owner Jackie Bordner. "We were looking outside of Zeeland to open a second store and this spot was perfect because we could expand instead.""I think it's important to have a diversified retail mix to help existing retailers, to attract new retailers to downtown and to promote foot traffic," says David Wilson of Generational Wealth Management, a downtown Zeeland business. Wilson co-chairs Zeeland Investment Partners (ZIP), a group of business and property owners who pool their money to fund small monthly grants for qualifying downtown Zeeland retailers. ZIP awarded a grant to Harbor Toy to help with relocation. "Over the last couple of years, downtown Zeeland has had a lot of new momentum and growth and the community has been enthusiastic," says De Roo. "The toy store was one of our first recruits, and when we heard they might not stay in Zeeland, we asked what could do to make it more affordable to stay here. We hope it's cued the community that they need to patronize the stores. Nobody wants to see downtown go backwards." Source: Jackie Bordner, Not So Shabby; Abigail De Roo, City of Zeeland; David Wilson, Zeeland Investment PartnersWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesZeeland shop of repurposed furniture, home decor is Not So Shabby Private investment group ramps up funding, aims to attract new downtown Zeeland retail

Grand Rapids' Founders Brewing adds $6.6M beer manufacturing expansion to meet market demand

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Last week at Founders Brewing Company, patrons might have noticed a little more chaos beyond the usual hustle and bustle of a busy brewery. Moving the restaurant kitchen to its new, larger space, as well as rushing to get everything cleaned and ready for customers in the midst of new construction certainly created an added stress to an already fast-paced environment. But Mike Stevens, one of the owners of the popular microbrewery, still wore a smile. Stevens, Dave Engbers, and the company's other investors should all be smiling. Not only did Founders (235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids) experience a record year in 2010, the company will soon open a $6.6 million, 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that doubles its brewing operations. "The skinny on the whole thing is we've been fortunate that our product has been in such great demand," Stevens says. "The limitations have always been our infrastructure and capacities. When we moved here from our old facility on North Monroe, we expanded from 5,000 barrels to 30,000 and went from 18 employees to 70 employees. At 30,000 barrels, we were at capacity and we're now taking our capacities to 70,000 barrels."And that's not all. Stevens says they've added a brew house that increases production from 30 barrels to 115, a bottling line that caps 250 bottles per minute, and plans for the new facility to enable future expansion to 150,000 barrels a year. Besides brewing new taproom favorites every month, the company distributes 15 bottled beers --Dirty Bastard, Red Rye's PA, Breakfast Stout, Devil Dancer and others -- to a 16-state market and can't meet the demand. "We've seen 78 percent growth in 2010 and we're forecasting those markets to grow around 58 percent in 2011," Stevens says. "We're getting a lot of recognition in the beer community and that has created demand for our product. When we first started in 1997, we'd say 'please, please, please, will you take my beer?' and now we're just trying to keep up with demand."Construction was handled by Pioneer Construction.Source: Mike Stevens, Founders Brewing CompanyWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor Related ArticlesBrewer expands in N Monroe, doubles capacity Popular microbrewery has $4M Heartside expansion on tap Founders Brewing Co. expects to hire more workers to accommodate solid growth

Lowell design charrette to get public input on proposed $600K riverside amphitheater

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Lowell's old concrete amphitheater that used to host Lowell Showboat concerts, school graduations and other community events has lain unused and decaying. But now that chunk of Flat River riverbank, where a lovely new riverwalk ends abruptly, is in line for a $600,000 to $750,000 makeover that could transform the riverside into an inviting family-friendly green space and more. "We're looking at soliciting comment through a charrette to complete the riverwalk, and clean up the site and the concrete amphitheater," says Lowell City Manager Dave Pasquale. "The idea is to extend the riverwalk that starts at Main Street by the Flat River Grill north to King Street."Designers from Grand Rapids-based Design Plus will be on hand Thursday, Jan. 13 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Inn when the community can drop by and give opinions on the concepts. The two concepts include replacing the decrepit amphitheater with a new one with a flat lawn for picnicking and events, and a racing shell for easy launch of canoes, kayaks and competitive crew boats. The main difference between the concepts is the arrangement of fixed seating: one proposes several half-round rows of seats and a raised viewing plaza; the other features gracefully s-curved rows, a kidney-shaped stage and no raised viewing plaza. "The river is one of the greatest assets Lowell has," says Peter Lazdins, sr. landscape architect at Design Plus, the company behind Lowell's Main St. streetscaping project and the Riverwalk. "It completes connecting the neighborhood with the downtown using a safe and lighted walkway," Lazdins says. "And it resurrects the space where there's an amphitheater that's seen its better days. I think because of the popularity of the Sizzlin' Summer Concerts, it's a great opportunity for expansion for that event, which is now (held) along the riverwalk closer to Main Street."The charrette will also solicit ideas for shoring up the west bank of the Flat River near downtown. Lowell's Downtown Development Authority will fund part of the project. The city will apply to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources for grant monies, says Pasquale.Source: David Pasquale, City of Lowell; Peter Lazdins, Design PlusWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Film credits to be reviewed by new administration

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Source: MLive.com

Michigan's film credits will be among the first tax incentives to be reviewed by Governor Snyder's administration. According to excerpts from MLive" Michigan's new economic development chief plans to examine the state's present array of tax incentives used to lure business investments. Michigan Economic Development Corp. CEO Mike Finney says his goal is to "do a very thorough review" and forward recommendations for changes to new Gov. Rick Snyder and the Legislature within a few months. You can read the complete story here.

Health care sector to play pivotal role in growing jobs

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Source: MLive.com

Health care and medical research are posed to be dynamic forces in creating jobs within West Michigan. According to excerpts from MLive: Heath care and medical research will continue to grow jobs in the Grand Rapids area during the decade, as the industry becomes a greater economic force, according to a Grand Valley State University analysis. Two keys areas are nursing and physician assistants -- professions that will experience shortages as the growing demand outpaces the supply of new talent coming out of college. You can read the complete story here.

Proposed $1.2M Olympic-style archery center on track for Rockford

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Source: Rockford Independent

The Rockford Independent reports that a proposed Olympic-style archery center has received funding from multiple sources and looks to break ground soon.According to excerpts from the story:Youth and adults in archery programs through the Rockford Sportsman's Club soon may have access to a four-season, Olympic-style training facility. Club members hope as early as this summer.The sportsman's club recently received a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) through Algoma Township.The township applied for the funding on behalf of the club, which will construct the nearly $1.2 million archery center on its existing property at 11115 Northland Drive. The property will be leased to Algoma for $1 to become a public park by name, however the site will continue to be maintained and operated by the sportsman's club. Read the complete story here.

Study says Grand Rapids' downtown, riverbanks ready for more economic development

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Source: Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids press reports that a new study by Grand Rapids' Downtown Development Authority confirms the area is ripe for new development focused on economy, environment and experience.According to excerpts from the story:The next wave of large-scale investments downtown might be two to three years away, a lull that presents an opportunity to set the stage to support that investment. That was one of the central conclusions of a plan commissioned by the Downtown Development Authority that is being finalized over the next month. The study, a draft of which was provided to The Press, calls for the creation of retail incubators, a venture fund to support new businesses and other efforts geared toward promoting living, working and shopping downtown. Read the complete story here.

Feature Story

Holiday Break, Rapid Reflections

Rapid Growth TeamThursday, December 16, 2010

Rapid Growth reveals the top ten most popular articles of the past year as we prepare to go on break.

Feature Story

A Walk in the Woods: Woodcarver Jarrod Napierkowski

Joe BaschThursday, December 16, 2010

Local artist and musician Jarrod Napierkowski makes some of the most unique, intricately handcrafted jewelry around. Using predominantly locally found materials, Napierkowski turns discarded wood, fallen branches, bone and deer antlers into beautiful, wearable art.

Feature Story

RapidBlog: My Locally Sourced Fashion Life, by Patrick Plank

Patrick PlankThursday, December 16, 2010

LEIGH'S Patrick Plank muses on his fashion history, personal style and finding finding the look on a local level.

Feature Story

(Future) Patron Saint of Ales: Jason Spaulding of Brewery Vivant

Mitchell TerpstraThursday, December 16, 2010

Brewery Vivant (925 Cherry St. SE) is scheduled to open before the end of the year following a $3 million renovation. In this preview article, brewer Jason Spaulding talks beer, food and business.

Feature Story

G-Sync - 2010: Who Knew Grand Rapids Could Hold So Much?

Tommy Allen, Lifestyle EditorThursday, December 16, 2010

Before we head off into the wintry sunset of 2010, G-Sync's Tommy Allen creates an editorial for the ages. While most have a hard time remembering the past weekend, much less a year's worth of events, as the recorder of our days, Allen has created an epic look back at what worked and didn't in 2010.

New LocalMotion Awards to recognize leaders in local sustainability

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Local First has announced its first-ever LocalMotion Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the West Michigan economy by local businesses and organizations. According to Executive Director Elissa S. Hillary, these awards will recognize "the great strides many businesses have made to the local first mission." Hillary identifies practices such as localizing supply chains and working towards accountability with the triple bottom line as examples of actions used to evaluate the nominations. Although there are several programs that recognize local businesses, Hillary says no existing program focused on the sustainability efforts of small and medium-sized businesses. The 2011 Local First LocalMotion Awards will include: The Local Legacy Award: Recognizing lifetime achievement, this award honors an individual or business dedicated to promoting locally owned businesses and sustainable business practices in West Michigan. The TBL Award: This award is presented to a business that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Triple Bottom Line. The Mover & Shaker Award: This award recognizes a locally owned business that has accomplished a significant shift toward local supply chains in the past year. The Local Hero Award: This award is presented to an individual or family that has demonstrated a significant shift toward local purchasing and sustainable living. The Change Agent Award: This award recognizes a locally owned business or organization that is growing successfully and has made a significant contribution toward the revitalization of a neighborhood or business corridor. Nominations will be accepted until Dec. 17. Details of the nomination procedure can be found on the Local First website. Source Ellissa S. Hillary, executive director, Local First Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

Inventor helps health clubs and hotels save money by reducing towel theft with Towel Tracker

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Reducing towel theft in fitness centers and hotels means more than big savings for the owners; it also means substantial reductions in water, electricity and detergent consumption. Byron Center-based entrepreneur Steven Molewyk has developed an environmentally sustainable technology to help fitness centers and hotels improve their towel management service. It's all possible because of a washable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag the size of a paperclip. According to Molewyk, Towel Tracker has been in development for "about three and a half years," saying it has been a difficult and expensive road to bring his product to the market. "We are working with a new technology that no one has dealt with before and we have a totally revolutionary way to deal with the problem of towel theft," he says. Molewyk's inspiration came from a local health club owner who grew weary of members stealing an average of 3,500 towels a month from his facility. Stolen towels cost the business approximately $50,000 year -- "People don't realize how much is stolen from health clubs," Molewyk says. Besides reducing theft, Towel Tracker also has the potential to reduce excessive usage as customers are more apt to use less towels knowing they will be responsible for their return. This in turn leads to less use of water, detergent and electricity. Molewyk indicates he is in discussions with many companies "from all around the world" for his product. For more information on Towel Tracker, you can visit the website. Source: Steve Molewyk, Towel Tracker CEO Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

Rehab of West Side fitness center includes LIVESTRONG equipment, supports $4M gift to fight cancer

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Fourteen-year-old Champlin McCahill lost his father, Grand Rapids Catholic Central coach Ray McCahill, to colon cancer three years ago. Now Champlin's determination to beat his own brain cancer has inspired his family's fitness company to team up with Matrix Fitness and the Lance Armstrong Foundation's LIVESTRONG in the fight against cancer. Grand Rapids-based McCahill Group, a corporate wellness company owned by Champlin's mother, Peaches McCahill, manages the Bridgewater Fitness Center at Bridgewater Place (333 Bridge St. NW). The recent renovation of the 4,100-square-foot facility features the addition of state-of-the-art LIVESTRONG fitness equipment created by Matrix Fitness. Bridgewater is the first facility in Michigan to feature the new equipment, says the McCahill Group's Katelin McCahill in a recent email. The fitness center now offers members an opportunity to work out on LIVESTRONG equipment including three treadmills, two elliptical machines and two stationary bikes, plus several strength-training pieces. The facility overlooks the Grand River and features a one-on-one personal training studio. "Our company is founded on health and wellness and we understand the implications of being healthy," says Andy Bix, director of health and wellness. "We want to create awareness on how to take care of yourself and to help prevent cancer in any way you can."Matrix Fitness will donate a minimum of $4 million to LIVESTRONG over the next three years, based on sales of the equipment, says Bix. The McCahill Group's purchase helps ensure that funding. Bridgewater Fitness Facility is open to the public. Monthly memberships are $35 for building tenants, $45 for non-tenants, plus a $50 signup fee. Members receive free parking in the Bridgewater Place parking ramp and 24-hour access to the fitness center. "This is a good location for a lot of the downtown residents and not far from downtown for downtown workers," Bix says. "And we offer a smaller facility with easy access."Source: Andy Bix, Katelin McCahill, The McCahill GroupWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesVirtual personal trainer looking to energize corporate wellness

$30M Heart of the City Health Center on track to serve 27,000 patients in Grand Rapids' urban core

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Construction of Grand Rapids' $30 million Heart of the City Health Center is on schedule to serve an estimated 27,000 patients annually, beginning in August 2011. A project of Cherry Street Health Services, Proaction Behavioral Health Alliance and Touchstone Innovaré, the center will provide low-income patients with one-stop access to complete medical and mental health services. After demolition of several buildings on the corner of Cherry and Sheldon streets SE, excavators removed 100,000 cubic feet of fill to make way for two levels of underground parking. Crews temporarily diverted the ground water flowing through the site using a dewatering system until they completed installation of the 22- and 32-foot-deep foundation system. The foundation concrete contains Xypex and the rebar is epoxy coated -- waterproofing features that keep the material from degrading."Every downtown project is unique because you're limited on deliveries and staging because of the surroundings," says Justin Bialik, project manager for Pioneer Construction. Bialik has worked on urban medical construction that includes Spectrum Health and Pine Rest facilities. "We saved about two months off the project by using precast for the parking structure, which is a new product in this area," he adds.Bialik says the 430-space parking structure is 80 percent complete, and the two-level healthcare facility that sits atop it will soon sport exterior walls with façade surfaces of stone, metal panels and a glass curtain wall. To qualify for the projected LEED Silver certification, the project includes a white roof system to reflect summer heat, five inches of insulation rather than the usual three, and in-floor heating in a 10-foot-wide perimeter of the building, which Bialik says will increase heating efficiency by 20 to 30 percent. Besides the three partners, the complex -- bounded by Sheldon Avenue (west), Cherry St. (north), LaGrave Avenue (east) and the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese (south) -- will house a number of nonprofit healthcare providers, including Grand Rapids Pediatrics and the Ferguson Adult Center.Source: Justin Bialik, Pioneer Construction; Heart of the City Health Center web siteWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesHeartside's $30M Heart of the City Health Center breaks ground on national healthcare model

Michigan becoming national leader in rail-to-trail development

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Source: Grand Rapids Press

Progressing from only 78 miles in rail trails sixteen years ago, Michigan is now home to almost 2500 mlles. According to excerpts from The Grand Rapids Press: Michigan recently became No. 1 in the nation with 2,478 miles on the ground and open. Those are the figures shown by the national Rails to Trails Conservancy. Minnesota is a close second with 2,309 open miles of trail. Wisconsin is third with 1,788 miles. Wyoming and Utah are at the bottom of the list. Each has 1 mile. You can read the entire story here.

Services expected to lead the way in job growth in 2011

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Source: MLive.com

Many companies with employment needs will continue to rely on temporary positions and job-placement companies, according economist George Erickcek. According to excerpts in the story in Business Review West Michigan: Some job growth will return in Grand Rapids during 2011 via the services sector, though economist George Erickcek sees a further, small decline in permanent production jobs. Any new jobs that do come at companies in the goods-producing sector will largely occur through temporary positions with job-placement companies, as manufacturers use temp workers to handle increasing volumes. You can read the entire story here:

Whitehall Tannery lakeside development begins, years of contamination on its way out

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Source: Muskegon Chronicle

The Muskegon Chronicle reports that excavation of decades-worth of contaminated soil has begun at the site of the former Whitehall Leather Tannery. Could the promised multi-million-dollar lakeside residential development actually be on its way?According to excerpts from the story:Heavy-duty excavating equipment is digging up contaminated soils at the site of the former Whitehall Leather Co. tannery — raising hopes a long-awaited redevelopment is finally near. The ongoing transformation of the tannery site — now clear of the buildings that used to house a high-employment industry and community gathering place — is in the environmental cleanup stage. The next step, likely 2012 at the earliest, would be construction of a residential development. Cleanup activities started in October, and Whitehall City Manager Scott Huebler said the plan is to have as much as possible of the contaminated soils removed from the site this year.Read the complete story here.

Rockford Sportsman's Club targets development of Olympic-style archery, air gun facility

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Source: Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids Press reports that a $500,000 state grant will spur development of an Olympic-style archery and air gun facility in Algoma Township.According to excerpts from the story:Rockford Sportsman's Club members anticipate hitting the bull's-eye in 2011.The club recently was notified of a recommendation by the state's Natural Resources Trust Fund board to give Algoma Township a $500,000 grant to help build a 9,500-square-foot Olympic-style archery and air gun facility on land donated by the club."We are geeked," said Josh Zuiderveen, whose company, Streamworks LLC, has been facilitating the project. Zuiderveen said the project could break ground as early as the summer of 2011, assuming the Michigan Legislature approves the recommendations in January.Read the complete story here.

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