The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) has developed a road map for the area's long-term transportation needs, outlining projects to improve transit over the next 25 years. The GVMC created the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan to secure federal funding for everything from bike lanes to road resurfacing to bridge repair in Kent and Ottawa counties. The plan involves dozens of objectives, including ways to develop the region's non-motorized transportation network to improve user access to jobs, services and schools. Most of the projects are those that are most critical to public safety, including street and sidewalk resurfacing initiatives and road widening projects. Large-scale projects, like reconfiguring the intersection of I-96 and I-196 for a full range of movement, are included in the plan but won't begin until 2025.The GVMC's Metropolitan Planning Organization is hosting a series of public open houses to gather public sentiment on the plan, with the last two scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20. An afternoon session will be held from 1 – 3 p.m. at Georgetown Township Hall in Jenison, and another from 6 – 8 p.m. at Hudsonville City Hall. The group will accept comments from residents for consideration in the plan until Jan. 30, 2011. "We'll discuss the major features of the transportation system, offer steps and conclusions, and have time for people to give comments," says Andrea Dewey, transportation planner for GVMC, who will be joined by representatives from The Rapid and the Michigan Department of Transportation. "Anyone can come to learn and get a better idea of what is going on."Dewey encourages public involvement and grassroots support because the transportation initiatives outlined in the plan require $26 to $33 million annually, while only about $15 million in federal funding will be provided. The plan does not factor in expansions such as additional routes for The Rapid, non-motorized projects and other initiatives that are based on competitive state funding and grants. Source: Andrea Dewey, Grand Valley Metropolitan CouncilWriter: Kelly Quintanilla

Women entrepreneurs will have another alternative to fund their enterprises thanks to support from the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to excerpts from Mlive: A new pilot program will give micro loans to about a half-dozen women-owned businesses in the Grand Rapids area. Similar programs are being formed for Michigan women. The local program is through the Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, one of three certified Women Business Centers in the state that works in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can read the entire story here.

Area Development Online reports that Amway will move the manufacturing of some nutritional products from California to Michigan after investing $20 million to upgrade an Ada facility. The change could create over 70 Michigan jobs.According to excerpts from the story:Amway is investing $20 million in an expansion of a manufacturing facility in Ada Township, Michigan, the Grand Rapids Press reports. Township trustees have already approved a primary step in tax abatements towards the project. The company will invest in a 55-foot high addition for protein drink powder equipment. It will also convert some existing warehouse space to manufacturing use. Amway will also create 74 jobs at the plant when it moves operations from a California facility to Ada Township. Read the complete story here.

According to Brian Anderson, president and founder of Develomatic, solving problems and finding ways to help people are his prime motivations when developing new technology applications.   In the case of his latest app, Pay It Square, the inspiration came from his experiences as a volunteer in a soccer league. Here, he encountered the inevitable frustrations of trying to collecting money from everyone to pay for field rental, uniforms and various league fees. Sensing an opportunity, Anderson moved to develop an app to help organize and keep track of group payments. With Pay It Square, you can notify your friends, donors, attendees or any group of people from whom you need to collect payments. Payments are then made online through credit cards, bank accounts, or PayPal balances. The software then allows you to track who has paid and who hasn't. With development beginning in 2007, Pay It Square received a big boost this past November when it won the 2010 PayPal Request/Send Money X Award. The award came with a $10,000 prize and, most importantly, "tons of exposure." Anderson points to their strategic decision to align themselves with PayPal as a key to their success and their future growth. Although further development is needed, "the user base and number of transactions are growing." Anderson is very optimistic, especially considering PayPal is in the process of launching a platform of applications specific to their services, which will include Pay it Square. Anderson's advice to local developers is to focus on functionality and to "build, release and then mold over time." For more information, you can visit their website. Source; Brian Anderson, President of Develomatic Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

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 ShabbyPrivate investment group ramps up funding, aims to attract new downtown Zeeland retail

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

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.