Grand Rapids' Mayor Heartwell and GRPS School Superintendent Bernard Taylor recently got to "hang out" with leaders from nine other cities after being invited to attend a conference hosted by Robert Redford in Sundance, Utah.  Grand Rapids was one of a handful of cities chosen because of its work with LEED-certified school buildings. According to experts to excerpts from the story in Mlive; Grand Rapids Schools Superintendent Bernard Taylor and Mayor George Heartwell hung out with movie legend Robert Redford last week at the "Greening of America's School Summit" in Sundance, Utah. Taylor and Heartwell were among leaders from 10 U.S. cities invited to the 2-day event hosted by Redford, a noted environmentalist. Grand Rapids LEED-certified school buildings were well-regarded at the conference, Taylor said. You can read the entire story here.

WZZM13 reports that eight months of road construction that has hampered Grand Rapids commuters has wrapped up one day ahead of the deadline. According to excerpts from the story:Eight months of driving frustration is finally over for drivers in West Michigan. All the ramp closures, detours and construction on Interstate 196 has caused nothing but headaches. But now, the $40 million "Fix" is finally over. Sunday was the deadline for crews to wrap up the project. As you drive on highways near I-196, you'll see street signs telling drivers that on-ramps to I-196 are now open. That's eye-candy to West Michigan commuters. "The fix on I-196 is all wrapped up, " says John Richard, spokesperson for MDOT. "All things had to be wrapped up today; all things were actually wrapped up yesterday, so they made it [deadline] by a day. Had they not met Sunday's deadline, they would have lost out on $250,000 worth of incentives." Read the complete story here.

Tis the season to be thankful and riders of The Rapid have many reasons to express gratitude. From cost savings and convenience to environmental and economic advantages, Greater Grand Rapids' transit system already receives good grades from its users, although many hope to see even more happy returns in the years ahead.

The first of four monthly forums presented by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) will examine what is one of the most discussed alternative energy issues in West Michigan: offshore wind energy development.  WMEAC and the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College will present "The What, Where and How of Lake Michigan Wind Turbines: Balancing Sustainable Energy with Lakeside Living and Natural Resources" Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Aquinas College's Donnelly Center at 7 p.m. The objective of the full series is to create a conversation on a wide variety of alternative energy issues and "prepare West Michigan for what can happen next -- much of which will be up for significant debate," says Daniel Schoonmaker, member services director of WMEAC.  Schoonmaker is pragmatic about the forums, acknowledging that some issues can be polarizing, but hopes the series will transcend the political debate and create a level of civic engagement where the discussion becomes focused on not whether to move forward with alternative energy, but how businesses, professionals and communities can find a balance while still advancing. "At some level, alternative energy policies will move forward," he says. The first forum will feature a panel of area experts. Topics such as reducing regional energy demand and investment in emerging energy technologies like solar, biomass, hydro and nuclear energy will be highlighted in future events. For more details on the first forum, panelists and future events, you can visit the WMEAC website. Source:  Daniel Schoonmaker, WMEAC Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

What people will see when traveling down the new Commerce Avenue SW are neat brick-lined sidewalks, 50 freshly planted trees, new bike racks and attractive decorative lighting. Commerce Avenue reopened last week after six months of intensive reconstruction and it's more than just a pretty face."Commerce (Avenue) was literally the worst street in the city; the potholes looked like craters on the moon," says Jay Fowler, executive director of the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority. "When we started doing this kind of work, so much of the infrastructure downtown was very much antiquated. We can't really expect private investors to invest in downtown when we don't improve the infrastructure."The section of Commerce between Cherry and Wealthy streets, plus Williams St. SW and Bartlett St. SW between Ionia and Commerce underwent $2.4 million of vital upgrades that include a new water main and water services to properties, new storm sewers and sanitary sewers, and new curbs, gutters and sidewalks.New street surfaces include asphalt on Commerce and brick pavers over concrete on Williams and Bartlett. The street reconstruction comes at a time when developers are wrapping up construction on investments of some $60 million for the new 38 (38 Commerce SW) and The Gallery apartments (Commerce SW and W. Fulton) and are seeking commercial and residential tenants. Recent investments of millions more created nightspots Stella's Lounge and The Viceroy (both at 53 Commerce SW), and new digs for Lambert, Edwards and Associates (47 Commerce SW) with plans for another nightspot and concert venue, The Pyramid Scheme, at 68 Commerce SW. The DDA contributed $1.2 million to fund the streetscaping portion of the project; the City of Grand Rapids funded the rest of the project. Dykema Excavators handled the excavation.Source: Jay Fowler, Downtown Development Authority; Tiiu Arrak, Public Information Administrator, City of Grand RapidsWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Five years ago a neighborhood charrette called for the creation of quality housing and commercial development in Grand Rapids' Madison Square business district, part of a greater Southtown objective that includes revitalization of business districts at Franklin and Hall streets and S. Division Avenue. Now, after tens of millions of dollars in public and private investments in infrastructure, streets and lighting, new townhomes, commercial spaces, and the Lighthouse Communities Development Center (1167 Madison Ave. SE), nonprofit Lighthouse Communities, Inc. plans to continue the vision with Southtown Square, a proposed $5.5 million LEED-certified development. Lighthouse has an option to buy the former TJ's Appliance Store (413 Hall St. SE), across from Duthler's Family Foods. The plan is to raze it and construct a four-story mixed use building with 6,600 square feet of commercial space on the main level and 21 affordable-rate apartments above. "What makes this exciting is that it's not a stand-alone project, but it's connected to the development of the entire neighborhood," says Jeremy DeRoo, Lighthouse co-director with Darel Ross. "We will have approximately 20 percent of each new commercial development devoted as incubator space for startup retail or services businesses that can function within the district long-term," Ross adds. The incubators include access to free or discounted business services such as attorneys, insurance agents and accountants, and qualify for training and business plan development through Lighthouse Communities, Ross says. "We will close on the property once the state approves our application for low-income housing tax credits, which represent over 50 percent of the funding," DeRoo says. "I'm hopeful those will be approved within the next 30 days. If we're not selected, there will be another round for applications and we'll move up the line for approval."DeRoo says Lighthouse has applied for Brownfield Redevelopment tax credits for remediation of chemical contaminants from a former dry cleaner on the property. The architect for the project is Grand Rapids-based Isaac V. Norris & Associates.Source: Jeremy DeRoo and Darel Ross, Lighthouse Communities, Inc.Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesLighthouse Communities' $1.7M development center brings co-working to Grand Rapids' Madison SquareMadison Square lands CID, stakeholders aim to attract new businesses to continue revitalizationMadison Square plans for parks, walking, and new business

Rick Snyder has selected Mark Murray, current president of Meijer, as part of his transition team as he prepares to become Michigan's next Governor.According to the story in the Detroit News:Governor-elect Rick Snyder is dipping into the business community to help in his transition after the sweeping Republican win in Michigan, tapping former state economic development director and current Business Leaders for Michigan President and CEO Doug Rothwell to run his transition team.Rothwell will be assisted by former Gov. John Engler Chief of Staff Sharon Rothwell, who besides working as vice president for corporate affairs at Masco Corp. in Taylor is Rothwell's wife. Rounding out the team is former budget director and state treasurer Mark Murray, now president of the Meijer Corp. in Grand Rapids.You can read the complete story here.