Officials at the Grand Rapids-based Economic Development Foundation say they stand ready to help entrepreneurs throughout Michigan get funding for business expansion and job creation and retention.The Economic Development Foundation helps small businesses apply for low-interest Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans. That assistance has enabled Grand Rapids businesses like Adtegrity, Alternative Mechanical and Baribeau and Sons Jewelry Hospital to obtain loans to purchase buildings and equipment, and spur job growth, says Executive Director Sandy Bloem."We walk the small business through the loan application process, get it approved, get the loan funded and then stay in touch with the small business through the term of its loan," says Bloem. "With any government financing, the loan process can be pretty daunting; with us being in business for 30 years, we can put it all together and then say 'sign here.'"The SBA defines a small business as one with a net worth of $15 million or less and a net income of $5 million or less. SBA 504 loan is a partnership between a bank or credit union, the SBA and the small business: the lender provides 50 percent of the loan amount, the SBA provides 40 percent and the business supplies a 10 percent down payment -- much less than the 20 to 30 percent lenders require.The SBA portion of the loan carries a fixed interest rate for 20 years (for financing a building), a rate that is often lower than a bank's, Bloem says. "It's very common practice to give a loan for 20 years, but after five years the loan will balloon and the bank renegotiates the interest rate," Bloem says. "I don't know how your crystal ball works, but mine doesn't tell me anything about the future of interest rates."The outlook for economic development in West Michigan is good, says Bloem, and adds that growth in manufacturing, hair salons and microbreweries has prompted an increase in loan applications from local businesses in those industries.Source: Sandy Bloem, Economic Development FoundationWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Fifteen years ago, Midland-based Northwood University opened its Grand Rapids location. Now university leaders say that a move to a new downtown, high-tech facility is the best way to put the school on the local radar. That, and the addition of the school's part-time MBA program, the Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management. Northwood, whose Grand Rapids campus serves adult students, recently moved from 1971 E. Beltline Ave. NE to 515 Michigan St. NE, on the corner of Michigan and College Avenue NE. Formerly medical offices, the new 4,000-square-foot facility is now an open-concept classroom and admissions space and nearly doubles the school's capacity."We want a venue that is easily accessible, and is a real showcase that will serve as a regional admissions office for West Michigan," says Matt Bennett, director of admissions. "We really kept it modern; the admissions area is in clear glass offices and there are LCD panels in every classroom as well as the latest technology."In January 2011, the school launches the DeVos Evening MBA Program for adults who want to pursue graduate studies but can only do so on a part-time basis. It's the first time the program is offered in West Michigan, although it's already part of Northwood's curriculum in Midland, Lansing, Troy, West Palm Beach, Fla. and Cedar Hill, Tex.The MBA program complements Northwood's Adult Degree Program, also offered in Grand Rapids, for adults who want to complete their undergraduate degrees. Having both courses of study allows learners to get their degree and then move on to grad school at the same location. "Northwood University is a business school, and we are simply one of many partners in the business community," Bennett says. "We really want to be an active participant in Grand Rapids' entrepreneurial development." Source: Matt Bennett, Northwood UniversityWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

The Grand Rapids Press reports that a local Christian missionary finds himself the owner of an abandoned railroad bridge that will give cyclists a scenic ride across the Grand River, part of a $1.4 million urban bike trail connector.According to excerpts from the story:Bob Cunningham remembers his wife's reaction when he came home from a 1993 bankruptcy auction for the assets of the Penn Central Railroad. "You bought a what?" she asked when Cunningham announced he was the winning bidder for an old railroad bridge that spanned the Grand River and Market Avenue SW on the city's Southwest Side. Cunningham did not have a plan for the structure — it was just too cheap to pass up. But he is proud of the way his impulse purchase has turned out. Today, the old bridge has new life as part of a 1-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail connecting the Black Hills Neighborhood and Roberto Clemente Park to the city's lower West Side and the Kent Trails to the south to Millennium Park and eventually Byron Center. Read the complete story here.

Holland area duo Dan Kuipers and Kyle Denning have started a new company, Sustainable Energy Financing, LLC (SEF). SEF focuses on promoting project financing and financial advisory services for renewable energy projects throughout the world. ?Denning and Kuipers describe the renewable energy industry they work in as incredibly complex, having technical, policy and trade issues all contributing to an environment where developers often have difficulty explaining their plans to potential investors, and vice versa. "There's often times an information gap between those that want to develop and those that want to invest," Denning says. Besides starting this new venture, they are also in the process of acquiring Viability, a wholly owned subsidiary of Viability Ventures. The acquisition includes Viability Africa, which Denning co-founded with Viability Ventures while still an employee there.    Kulpers and Dunning say this acquisition provides them with a great deal of synergy and opportunity, especially with African-based projects. According to the duo, Viability Africa, LLC, based in Nairobi, Kenya, will focus on providing project financing and carbon credit development services for project developers across that continent. Although there are no plans to hire additional employees now, they hope to be able to double their team after six months. For more information you can visit their site here.  Source: Dan Kuipers and Kyle Denning, Managing Partners,  Sustainable Energy Financing, LLC Writer: John Rumery, innovation and jobs editor,

Grand Rapids-based professional services firm, dMStrategists, LLC, has developed Sustainability 360° (SBP360), a combination of web tools and strategic support services that enable companies of all sizes to plan, measure and monitor their internal and external sustainable business practices in real time and across multiple enterprises. According to Tom Melcher, president and CEO, the SBP360 is a platform designed to handle a wide variety of needs, such as  data collection, assessment and compliance. Melcher states that organizations that have begun in sustainability "find it to be a data monster." He goes on to say that SBP360 "can help any organization of any size gain traction in the sustainability marketplace." Their product is especially helpful for companies with multiple facilities and extended supply chains. SBP360 can be purchased with its standard features or customized and branded. Melcher says their product is intended to help organizations "move beyond data collection and focus more on analysis," which he feels will lead to a much higher level of operational efficiency and cost savings.   Melcher and dmStrategists developed Sustainability 360° in partnership with the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College, Cascade Engineering/Quest Sustainable Solutions, and Florida-based NextLife. The product platform is now being rolled out nationally, although Melcher and his team will remain based in Grand Rapids. An online demonstration is available for anyone who is interested in more information. Source:  Tom Melcher, dMStrategists, LLC Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Writer

Four entrepreneurs pitched their ideas for businesses at The Factory on Thursday, Nov. 18, at the fifth in a series of scheduled events to promote entrepreneurism and build a "startup culture" in West Michigan. Dan Ryan pitched Canvas Hosting, a service that Ryan says "helps entrepreneurs focus on their idea by handling the hosting process." Ryan identified their market as primarily as entrepreneurs and non-enterprise "startups." Jason James explained his business, Michigan Film Reel, a site that was started nine months prior at a similar event. James was looking for feedback on structuring his operation as a non-profit. The third person to pitch was Jack Slingerland of CampaignAlytics, an email tracking and analytics service. Having used other campaign services, Slingerland felt his product offered superior analytics at a more affordable price. The eventual "winner" of the evening, as voted by the attendees, was Nathan Bashaw from Lansing. Bashaw pitched Thoughtback, a business launched at the Lansing Startup Weekend only two weeks prior. His concept is a web application that allows a user to capture their thoughts, ideas and  inspirations digitally "when they happen," and then access at a later time for follow-up. At the Startup West Michigan pitch night events, presenters have five minutes to pitch and five minutes for Q & A. For more information you can visit their website. Sources: Jason James, Nathan Bashaw, Jack Slingerland, Dan Ryan Writer: John Rumery

Grand Rapids DJs Chia and DJames have had years of kickin' out the jams at local haunts and they've had it up to here with watching intoxicated patrons stagger out, car keys in hand. That's why Michael "Chia" Kowalczyk and James "DJames" Littell launched GR Safe Ride this week, a service that provides safe passage home for tipsy peeps… in their own cars. "We feel passionately about this service," Kowalczyk says. "We see too many people leave the bar and drive home. And we've taken too many friends back to their cars after taking a taxi home the night before only to find they've gotten a ticket. The cost is really high."Not to mention the extreme costs and complications of receiving a DUI, as well as the dangers a drunk driver poses to themselves and others. GR Safe Ride sends two drivers on every call; Driver 1 takes the client home in the client's own car -- an arrangement that keeps any unexpected "cookie tossing" within the client's own four walls, so to speak. Driver 2 follows the car and picks up Driver 1 after the client arrives safely at his/her destination. Riders can make arrangements in advance, but Kowalczyk says he expects most of the business will come from people who didn't expect to have one too many at an office party or at dinner. Kowalczyk, 34, and Littell, 36, have placed $5-off coupons at various bars and eateries in downtown Grand Rapids. They're getting the word out about the service on their Facebook page and other social media, and they plan to have bumper stickers and T-shirts available soon. Bartenders, bouncers or folks needing a Safe Ride home from anywhere in downtown Grand Rapids can call 616-401-0359. GR Safe Ride will pick up the rider and drive them anywhere within 10 miles of the pickup point for $45 (cash only, for now). Any ride beyond 10 miles is an additional $5 for every three miles. First time riders get $5 off the ride. GR Safe Ride currently employs four drivers. Kowalczyk hopes to expand the service area and the number of drivers throughout West Michigan. Source: Michael Kowalczyk, GR Safe RideWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor