Stories

Amway Grand Plaza opens hotel's first spa for guests and walk-ins

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodOver the years, guests of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (AGPH) in Grand Rapids have asked for a full service spa. The hotel answered by building the new Vasaio Life Spa and Salon. The spa occupies the former Grand Salon space in the exhibitor's building. "We are not experts in the spa business, so we wanted to choose someone who has expertise in that. We knew Vasaio from their store (1100 East Paris Ave. SE) and from the experience with them at the J.W. where they operate the spa," says Rick Winn, vice president/managing director of the Amway Hotel Corporation, which owns the AGPH and the J.W. Marriott across the street."We thought we could have better amenities for the hotel customer by providing both hair services and spa services," Winn adds. "We knew there was a demand for spa services because of guest requests, and we served them through in-room services or at the J.W."Besides a menu of relaxing massages and body treatments, the spa offers some decadent choices for the ultimate in pampering: • a 24K Gold Leaf Facial to reduce lines and replace moisture• a Diamond Dust Facial to stimulate regeneration of collagen• and a Royal Blue Tansy Body Wrap, which calms the skin and nervous system and ends with a full body massageVasaio is Italian for potter, and keeping with that theme are the spa's warm, earthy colors that induce a calming atmosphere. Guests can enjoy a complete line of hair care services for men and women, manicures, pedicures and makeup application. "There is demand for this from people downtown, so we see that as a business opportunity," Winn says. "And many convention goers use conventions as a vacation opportunity for their families. The spa rounds us out quite nicely for those people who really want a full service weekend getaway."Source: Rick Winn, Amway Hotel Corporation; Nicole Ruggiero, Quinn & Co.Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Grand Rapids Community College names new $34M campus, preps for main campus renovations

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids Community College DeVos Campus is the new name of the former downtown Grand Rapids Davenport University campus purchased by GRCC in 2009. The DeVos and VanderWeide families contributed substantial gifts to the renovation of the campus, says Steven C. Ender, GRCC president. He did not indicate the amount of the donations.In addition to installing state-of-the-art Steelcase LearnLabs in two classrooms of Sneden Hall on the DeVos Campus, GRCC plans to renovate Warren Hall this winter for faculty offices and has relocated several departments – human resources, payroll, business and financial services, purchasing, and employee professional development and enrichment – to the new campus. That move frees up space in the College Park Plaza building on N. Division Avenue. The college will initially use the space for a staging area during the renovations of several downtown campus buildings, says Vicki Janowiak, executive director of operational planning. An August 25 press release states those buildings are the Peter and Pat Cook Academic Hall, the Main Building, and the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse."We're also going back through the main campus and installing new technology to upgrade the classrooms so faculty will have the type of instructional technology we're encouraging them to use," Janowiak says. "That will bring the entire college's technology up to a new standard level that each classroom should have."GRCC says the DeVos Campus renovation cost $34 million, $1.1 million less than the proposed cost of constructing a new classroom building. GRCC serves 30,000 students on seven Michigan campuses.Source: Vicki Janowiak, Grand Rapids Community College; Press Release from Grand Rapids Community CollegeRelated ArticlesRemodel of former Davenport Grand Rapids campus brings innovative classrooms to GRCC studentsDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Open house might open doors to emerging industries

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Source: Holland Sentinel

A Holland Sentinel report says a Grand Rapids Community College job training opportunity for composite manufacturing has not attracted enough applicants for the jobs that are available. According to excerpts from the story: Grand Rapids Community College is looking for 40 people who want to invest in a future clean energy job. The college is starting another composite technician training class Sept. 13 and is having a hard time finding takers. "We're having a huge problem getting people to sign up for this training," said Elly Bainbridge, of the GRCC workforce training department. "These are jobs that start at $12.50 an hour plus benefits." Read the complete story here.

Inc. Magazine's Inc. 5000 highlights West Michigan's growing companies

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Source: Inc. Magazine

Inc. Magazine has named several West Michigan companies to its 2010 Inc. 5000 list. Companies must be privately held, growing, and generating annual revenue of at least $2 million.According to excerpts from the story:It will probably come as no surprise to savvyInc. readers that it's not as easy to find growing companies as it was a couple years ago. In 2008, the second year of Inc.'s expanded list of 5,000 growing privately-held companies, there was much enthusiasm as firms across the country showed eagerness to be part of our list. The three-year growth rate of the company at the No. 5,000 rank doubled from 20 percent in 2007 to 40 percent in 2008. This year, the enthusiasm was still there, but very often, the growth was not.Read the complete story here.

Kent County recycling building sports region's first Honeywell wind turbine

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Source: Muskegon Chronicle

The Muskegon Chronicle reports that Kent County's new recycling center will generate a portion of its own power with the area's first beta unit of a Honeywell wind turbine developed by WindTronics of Muskegon.According to excerpts from the story:Looking more like a 6-foot bike wheel with fins, the first Honeywell Wind Turbine in the area now generates electricity at the Kent County Recycling Center. Its developers, WindTronics of Muskegon, claim that the new turbine -- soon to be on the residential market -- is more efficient than others of its size, costing less per kilowatt than any other turbine. "We're pretty optimistic about it," said Kevin Sturtevant, operations manager for West Shore Service in Allendale, which worked with WindTronics for a year as a dealer. "It's a great concept. We're getting great news from all the beta units so far. And we're getting a lot of interest in it. Folks are calling and e-mailing about it, though we've done little advertising."Read the complete story here.

Strong winds make Muskegon wastewater site prime spot for turbines

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Source: Muskegon Chronicle

The Muskegon Chronicle reports the wastewater site might be a perfect fit for wind-energy developers.

According to excerpts from the story:

Muskegon County officials are preparing to seek proposals from wind-energy developers interested in erecting large, commercial wind turbines on the county's 11,000-acre wastewater site.

Citing the strong winds that blow across the property in Egelston and Moorland townships and its lack of nearby neighbors, officials have said they believe it is a prime spot for turbines. A mobile wind-test unit, purchased by the county, has gathered wind-speed data on the site, and the early findings show favorable winds for turbines.

Read the complete story here.

Who is your Bag Daddy?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

John Rumery Although claims are not made that raking leaves will be fun, thanks to The Bag Daddy, it certainly should be a lot easier. The Bag Daddy is essentially a funnel that is placed over a city lawn bag that makes filling the bag with yard waste much faster and easier. The patented product made out of biodegradable material is designed to fold up for convenient storage at the end of the season. Inventor Mike Kolarik, 63, of Grand Rapids, says it will now be much more convenient to buy The Bag Daddy, thanks to a first-time order from Meijer for 159 cases. Although many inventors might have labeled this a success, Kolarik, after years of ups and downs to get The Bag Daddy to market, is bit more cautious. "I'll let the customers decide if it's a success," he says. Like every invention, there is a back story. In the case of The Bag Daddy, Kolarik's first invention, the moment of inspiration came several years ago after trying to empty his leaf mulcher into a city yard bag. Becoming frustrated after the bag would collapse or leaves would spill out, he used an empty box to create his first prototype and began a journey that included a 2-year process to secure a patent, a costly misstep with local firm that promised much but delivered nothing, and his first order by a West Michigan distributor to supply several area hardware stores. Looking back on the entire process Kolarik, a retired Steelcase engineer, has several business lessons he would share with other inventors. As an engineer and a co-inventor on a couple of corporate patents, he has an understanding of how complicated the process can be, so he highly recommends working with a good patent attorney. Kolarik also is an advocate for the Grand Rapids Inventors Network (GRIN). "I had a great experience with GRIN," he states. "Positive people, a positive organization, and great information." He feels strongly that the shared experiences of members of this network help inventors "avoid many pitfalls." "I might have dropped the project without the support of GRIN," Kolarik states. The Bag Daddy is manufactured by WhoDaThought, LLC, a company he formed with his wife, Martha. Although no other products are in the pipeline, Kolarik "has many ideas, but will wait and see what happens with The Bag Daddy" before he develops anything else. Source: Interview with Mike Kolarik and http://thebagdaddyonline.com/ John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs Editor for Rapid Growth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at [email protected] For story tips you can e-mail [email protected]

Feature Story

G-Sync – The Kids Are Alright

Tommy Allen, Lifestyle EditorThursday, August 26, 2010

G-Sync's Tommy Allen always says that the voluminous Sunday New York Times is the best guilt one can let in their home, but he did not expect this week's issue would linger longer touching on a topic that hits close to home for many around him.

Feature Story

Producers of Culture: The Litribune Retools Its Future

Matt Simpson SiegelThursday, August 26, 2010

The restructuring of year-old The Litribune, both a quarterly print publication of original work as well as an organization focusing on education and community action, begins with a campaign to fund their jump to non-profit status.

Feature Story

Geek-Chic Renaissance Man

Daniel SchoonmakerThursday, August 26, 2010

A Grand Rapids entrepreneur and dog sanctuary manager, among other things, Erik Bauer has a career that is equal parts video games, Dungeons & Dragons, pit bulls and hamburger patties.

Oh, the places you'll go (on The Rapid)

Robin LuymesThursday, August 26, 2010

Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go" provides a rousing message for those entering a new stage of life, celebrating the spirit of adventure and the joy of discovery. The Rapid is helping people in the greater Grand Rapids area achieve their life goals and discover what makes them happy.

Grand Rapids’ thriving art scene a catalyst for new school of performance art

Thursday, August 26, 2010

John Rumery

Twenty-four hours after using Facebook to announce the opening of A and E School of Performance Art, theater veterans Ed Nelson, 48, and Angela Peavey, 31, were delighted to find "enrollment just snowballed," and they needed to add more classes to meet the demand.

After a recent reorganization at the institution where they had taught theater together for the last several years, Nelson and Peavey felt the time was right to leverage their experience and "reputations as quality theater instructors" to launch A and E School of Performance Art.

The school will feature instruction in a wide variety o ftheater arts and will be held at Nelson's home, 117 Freedom in Wyoming, MI, recently remodeled and customized to accommodate performance arts classes.

The first students are scheduled to meet for an hour each week, for five weeks beginning in mid-September. The current classes, designed for children ages 4-17, will initially focus primarily on song, dance and theater skills, but Peavey wants their school to do more than just have students perform. She plans to "really focus on the educational components of performance arts, character analysis andhow to act in front of an camera or audience," believing it makes for a more meaningful theater experience.

Nelson adds that future classes, offered for both children and adults, will be focused on the emerging film industry.

"Auditions for film are completely different than auditioning for theater," says Nelson, whose experience within the film industry includes a role in the cannibal-themed horror movie, Offspring, filmed in Muskegon. Besides auditioning strategies, Nelson will include instruction on developing a film-ready resume, building a portfolio and acting in front of a camera.

With years of experience in local theater, independent films, radio commercials and performance arts instruction, Nelson and Peavey are confident that the Grand Rapids arts community is vibrant enough to support their new venture. Peavey also strongly believes that performance arts training has many ancillary benefits.

"This type of training offers great life skills, such as public speaking, and it can really help build self-confidence," says Peavey.

Prices for the instruction ranges from $30 to $45 per class. Individual lessons are also available. Find out more via the A and E Performance Arts Facebook page or by e-mail at [email protected]. To reach either Nelson or Peavey by phone, dial 616-780-6383.

Sources Ed Nelson and Angela Peavey, A and E Performance Art

John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs editor for RapidGrowth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at[email protected]. For story tips you can e-mail [email protected]

Lunch meeting helps individuals and businesses engage with social media

Thursday, August 26, 2010

John Rumery

Lunch meetings can be as exciting as a peanut butter sandwich on white bread, but the organizers of Grand Rapids Social Media (GRSM)believe their lunches are much more interesting. In fact, they feel they have an opportunity to raise the bar regarding the way local businesses and individuals utilize social media in Grand Rapids.

Ian MacLurg, Social Media Analyst for ArtPrize, and Joel Leo, SEO and Social Media Analyst for Pomegranate Studios, were both impressed with the format and spirit of a monthly lunch meeting, Grand Rapids Tech Lunch, that brought together a diverse community of thought leaders, programmers and software developers to discuss technology-related business issues for the region.

MacLurg and Leo decided to organize a similar event, using the same format, but focusing on creating a business discussion surrounding the use of social media.

"We saw the need to educate and elevate the usages of social media platforms within the city, so we started GRSM lunches as an opportunity to create an ongoing dialogue of these tools and strategies," opine MacLurg and Leo.

The first meeting in March 2009 was held at Founders Brewery, but the series quickly moved to a new home at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, where the luncheons have proven to be very popular, now drawing 40-50 attendees. Not only has attendance been steady, but "with a diverse group of middle managers, business owners and interns," you get a very dynamic networking opportunity, says Leo.

Individuals with specific experiences and responsibilities for managing various social media platforms lead the presentations. Recent speakers have included Sara Lopez, the Social Media Strategist for Stremick's Heritage Food's 8th Continent Soymilk, who discussed creating content for blogs, and Aaron Carriere of Creo Productions on best practices for using video with social media. The meetings are streamed live with the majority of video archived here. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/grsm.

After the 20-30 minute presentation, there is a short question and answer period followed by an opportunity is to break into smaller groups for further discussion and networking. Because of the increased popularity of these events, MacLurg and Leo recruited social media consultant Donna Bova and web developer Doug Kelly to help with the facilitation and ongoing organization.

The monthly lunches are "brown-bag," although the organizers suggest you support the local eateries surrounding the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. There is no cost to attend and they are typically held the last Thursday of the month. The GRSM bloghttp://grsml.wordpress.com/ identifies the upcoming speaker and also confirms the date of the meeting. Frequent Twitter updates (@GRSML) also provide reminders of upcoming events.

Sources: Joel Leo and Ian MacLurg, founders of the Grand Rapids Social Media Lunch.

John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs Editor for Rapid Growth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at [email protected]. For story tips you can e-mail [email protected]

Gilmore Furniture hiring 15 more workers for expansion

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Gilmore Furniture, Inc. is adding 15 more employees to its 75-member workforce by November 1 to work at its new addition at 321 Terminal SW in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming area.

New tenant for Grand Rapids' Flat Iron building will take all three upper floors

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe new tenant for the soon-to-be rehabilitated Flat Iron Building in downtown Grand Rapids will lease all available space above the main level, opting for all 25,000 square feet for its interior LEED renovation. Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge announced this week that the firm will move into the building, whose new address will be 100 Monroe Center NE, next summer, following an extensive interior renovation.In 2009, Locus Development purchased the historic four-story Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs buildings that make up the property, and plan to connect the three buildings' interiors on the second through fourth floors and restore the exteriors for LEED certification. The project will run about $4.5 million. "We have been looking for space alternatives for a year and considered staying in the Calder Plaza Building where we've been for the past 25 years," says Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey COO. "Our group coalesced around an adaptive reuse project in an older building and zeroed in on the Flat Iron as a major alternative to where we are."The interior renovation will preserve as much of the original brick and wood as possible, and will incorporate a mix of open floor plans and private offices. An extensive use of interior glass will allow daylight into the office spaces. "This is a significant renovation and a great thing for Grand Rapids, and we're happy to have Smith Haughey as our tenants," says John Green, a partner with Andy Winkel in Locus Development. "The only remaining space is 2,400 square feet in the old Blake's Turkey space. We have received a number of inquiries but we're waiting for the right tenant. We would love to see a bank or a retail shop there."In July, the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority awarded Locus Development three $75,000 Building Reuse and Incentive Program grants to help with the renovation.Design Plus will create the LEED interior design. Wolverine Construction Management will handle interior construction. Cornerstone Architects and Orion Construction will do the core and shell work.Source: Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge; John Green, Locus DevelopmentRelated ArticlesRGTV: Grand Rapids' Flat Iron development to generate 27,000 square feet of downtown office space Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Eastown, City of Grand Rapids test new recycling program for public spaces

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodRecycling in Kent County became easier last month with the introduction of single-stream recycling, and Grand Rapids' Eastown Business Association (EBA) wants to capitalize on that. Beginning this week, six blue and yellow recycle carts are available throughout the Eastown business district where pedestrians can deposit empty plastic water bottles, pop cans or clean paper. For several weeks, the EBA and the Grand Rapids streets and sanitation department will test the public recycling idea with a goal to launch it throughout the Eastown business district. The idea began a couple of years ago when Eastown business Spirit Dreams no longer needed a rented dumpster. Co-owner and EBA President Jaye Van Lenten says she asked the city for trash and recycling pick up at the store. "I was told I couldn't do it because it wasn't the norm and other businesses couldn't do it," Van Lenten says. "Then the Eastown streetscape committee I'm on wanted to have recycling for pedestrians, and city trash and recycle pickup for businesses." The group decided to wait until single-stream recycling began.The six recycling carts are set up next to public trashcans on Wealthy St., Lake Dr. and Robinson Rd. Each cart's lid has a hole in it just large enough to accommodate pop cans and bottles. City workers and the EBA will assess the program's effectiveness and ease of use, then adjust the process as needed. "The goal is to improve and expand it, not to stop it," says Van Lenten. "I certainly got the impression that the city hopes to work out the bugs and make this available in other business districts, but that's up to the streets and sanitation department."Van Lenten adds the EBA met with city officials last Monday to discuss a proposed pilot trash and recycle pickup program for commercial properties, which could be a less expensive option than dumpsters.Source: Jaye Van Lenten, Spirit Dreams and Eastown Business AssociationRelated ArticlesUptown receives Grand Rapids' first Corridor Improvement District designation Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Proposed $2M project aims to build new restaurant, apartments near Grand Rapids' Medical Mile

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodA proposed $2 million mixed-use project could bring a restaurant, retail shops and apartments to the Belknap Lookout neighborhood in Grand Rapids, just a block north of Michigan Street's Medical Mile. The Grand Rapids Planning Commission approved conditional zoning for the one-third acre property on the northeast corner of Hastings St. and Coit Avenue. The project fits the cottage retail requirements of the Belknap Lookout Area Specific Plan approved by the city in September 2009.Spearheading the project are Rod Horlings of Horlings Land Investments and Angel Gonzalez, a Belknap neighborhood resident and owner of Artesian Group, a real estate development company also in Belknap. The partners plan to raze two houses on the property but first they want to sign on commercial and residential tenants to get bank financing.Plans for the new building's main level include a 4,000-square-foot restaurant space and 2,500 square feet of retail. The second and third floors will have 11 market rate apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. "A lot of neighbors would like to see a Martha's Vineyard-type market in there," says Angel Gonzalez, adding that he's working to also attract a Pot Belly Sandwich Shop. "To be successful, we will need to pull people from the (medical facilities). A flower shop in one of the retail bays would be nice, or a coffee shop."Gonzalez says the project might be the closest restaurant to the medical facilities, directly across the new Coit Street Bridge. He says the neighborhood wants a traffic circle at Hastings and Coit, and has started talks with the city to relocate the Charles Belknap statue from outside Griff's Icehouse, where few people see it, to one of the plaza areas adjacent to the new bridge. "If this location is a success, it could be a catalyst for more development in the neighborhood," Gonzalez says. Concept Design Group is the project architect.Source: Angel Gonzalez, Artesian Group Related ArticlesGrand Rapids Planning Commission sets deadline for Belknap ASP, new consultants move plan forwardDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Grand Rapids outdoor concert venue gets $559K facelift in time for Celebration, ArtPrize

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe stage area in Ah-Nab-Awen Park directly in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is too small for many of the performances it hosts, and performers have to bring their own generator to have enough electricity for lighting and equipment. Not anymore. The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority will invest $559,000 to improve the park, including work to enlarge the stage and supply it with an electrical power panel – all in time for Celebration on the Grand and ArtPrize, both happening in September. The stage is adjacent to the downtown Riverwalk, a multi-mile pedestrian walkway on the banks of the Grand River, and these are just a few of the improvements now underway with the guidance of Nagel Construction, says DDA Executive Director Jay Fowler. "A stretch of the Riverwalk from Bridge Street south to the Gillette Bridge is being replaced with concrete and new lighting," Fowler says. "A retaining wall and some terraces next to the river suffered ice damage several years ago and have been redesigned with handicap access to the river's edge."The design includes a seating wall and platform on the river's edge where anglers can fish or walkers can take a load off and view the city skyline across the river, Fowler says. A walkway around the back of the stage will give people a way to bypass the stage during performances. "This reinvigorates the park as a great venue for downtown events," Fowler says. "A lot of the larger events are too big for Rosa Parks Circle and we wanted to accommodate large events downtown. There's a beautiful view of the city and skyline, and we don't have to close off streets to accommodate crowds in the heart of downtown."Source: Jay Fowler, Grand Rapids Downtown Development AuthorityDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Many West Michigan colleges, universities make the grade for Forbes' Best Colleges list

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: Forbes

Forbes Magazine reports that America's Best Colleges are determined by the students who attend them. Several West Michigan colleges and universities made the grade. According to excerpts from the story:Forbes' list of public and private colleges and universities ranks the best schools--from the students' point of view. The best college in America isn't in Cambridge or Princeton, West Point or Annapolis. It's nestled in the Berkshire Mountains. Williams College, a 217-year-old private liberal arts school, tops our third annual ranking of America's Best Colleges. Our list of more than 600 undergraduate institutions is based on the quality of the education they provide, the experiences of the students and how much they achieve. Read the complete story here.

Giant waterslide event in Grand Rapids draws media attention from New York Times

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: New York Times

The New York Times writes that last weekend's giant waterslide delivered thousands of people to downtown Grand Rapids via a 100-foot drop, some vinyl and a bit of water. According to excerpts from the story:If only the commute downtown could always be this much fun. This weekend thousands of people — provided they are at least 48 inches tall — are expected to descend into the low-lying center of Grand Rapids, Mich., on what promoters of the event believe is the world's longest inflatable water slide. The puffy blue and yellow slide is about 500 feet long, stretching about three city blocks down the Lyon Street hill. It will carry participants — or, rather, sliders — on an elevation drop estimated at 100 feet. Water from a fire hydrant will slick the vinyl track. Read the complete story here.

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