The Holland Sentinel reports that kayakers will find their adventures on the water easier to navigate when they check out the new Grand River Heritage Water Trail website that includes maps of access points, suggested routes and notable sights along the river.

According to excerpts from the story:

The new website — www.miottawa.org/parksvi/watertrail — shows 17 river access points, 33 notable natural features and 28 historic sites along the 30 miles of the Grand River within the county's border.

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The Grand Rapids Community Foundation has awarded four new grants totaling $213,150 to Kent County organizations, with one to be used for a new outreach program helping domestic abuse victims in the migrant community.

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids-based Steketee Greiner Co. dove headfirst into the digital marketing waters this week with the launch of a new company and the release of an iPhone 4 app for water sports enthusiasts. SGC, formerly ContextMG, 44 Grandville Ave. SW, has formed Catalyst SGC to take over the development of customized software solutions and applications, mobile development and traditional online development for Fortune 1000 clients who want to leverage the digital marketplace. And the iPhone 4 app, Beach Bum, advises users when weather and water conditions are right for fishing, boating, sail boarding and other water sports in any of the Great Lakes or United States coastal regions. "It's tied into national systems and measures air and water temperature, wave height, the UV index and wind speed, and includes a synopsis of the weather forecast," says David Greiner, SGC's chief creative officer. "It has real time radar plus warnings and alerts for severe weather, and is customizable."As for the launch of the new company, Greiner says SGC acquired another Grand Rapids firm, Access Programming Group, Inc., and brought aboard two of its programmers – one experienced in artificial intelligence, the other in application development."SGC has always been focused on the digital marketing space, and kept a small team of creative people and programmers," Greiner says. "It made sense to put that team out on its own as Catalyst SGC and create a new business model independent of Steketee Greiner."Catalyst SGC has eight employees. Greiner says he hopes to build it to 10 in 2011. He says Steketee Greiner hired five people this year and gross sales are up 30 percent over 2009. Beach Bum sells for $1.99 at the iTunes store. Source: David Greiner, Steketee Greiner Company and Catalyst SGCRelated ArticlesSaugatuck marketing firm brings 10 jobs to Grand Rapids, ready to add four moreContextMG adds five jobs, three interns after relocating to Grand RapidsDeborah 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].

Dog owners now have a new place to shop for doggie treats with the opening of Just Dogs Gourmet in downtown Grand Haven.

Deborah Johnson WoodThe development of a proposed $30 million year-round urban market for downtown Grand Rapids is far from sealed and delivered, but the group behind the idea says the project is closer to being signed.The proposed project would convert six historic buildings on Ionia Avenue SW between Wealthy and Logan streets into a 178,000-square-foot mixed-use marketplace. A March 2010 public document, Grand Rapids Urban Market: Background Information, states the initial concept envisions restaurants, indoor vendor stalls for independent owner-operated businesses selling fresh produce, baked goods, cheeses and meats, and a leasable commercial kitchen incubator space. David Frey, co-chair of Grand Action with John Canepa and Dick DeVos, the group that spearheaded the development of the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, says architects are drawing up preliminary plans while crews are busy cleaning up the property.The Downtown Development Authority owns the property, the site of the old Sonneveldt Produce Company. Frey says it "will probably be owned by a newly created nonprofit entity, but it's still in negotiation. There are no guarantees (for development of the market)." Frey estimates the project at $27 million, plus an estimated $3 million for the 3.5-acre parcel."Engineers are determining if the buildings are structurally sound," says Frey. "If you drive by this week you'll see that crews are cleaning up the site so we can see what we have to deal with.""We not only have to design a great facility we can afford to build and run, but we have to be sure the surrounding area is developed with activities compatible with an urban market and not have a contrary purpose or intent," Frey says. "The nearby Kingman's and Baker Furniture buildings would have to be developed in an architecturally- and content-compatible manner." Grand Action hired Design Plus and urban market design expert Hugh Boyd of Montclair, N.J. for the project. Frey expects to see the architects' design concept in early September.Source: David Frey, Grand ActionDeborah 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].

The Grand Rapids Business Journal reports the City of Zeeland's efforts to lure more retail businesses to its Main Street shopping district are working. While a sit-down restaurant with a liquor license, a possibility ever since residents voted in 2006 to end the near-century-long ban on the sale of liquor, remains absent, other shops have warmed to the "Feel the Zee" campaign.

According to excerpts from the story:

Feel the Zee is the name of the marketing campaign the city set up in 2007 with the help of The Image Group, a Holland marketing firm, and Abby deRoo, who was hired as city marketing director. Since the campaign began, she said, about 10 retail businesses have set up shop in the two-block business district of downtown Main Street.

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Mlive.com reports that two Grand Rapids companies expect to create 185 jobs and retain 50 existing jobs thanks to millions in brownfield development tax credits awarded by the State of Michigan. According to excerpts from the story:Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping nine companies grow in Michigan and backing two brownfield redevelopment projects. Gordon Food Service – State brownfield tax credits will support the consolidation of the company's Canadian operations and restructure its Wyoming, Michigan, campus to increase efficiency and provide space for future growth. New jobs: 173, Retained jobs: 50 jobs. (State brownfield tax credits valued at approximately $6 million) City of Grand Rapids – State and local tax capture valued at $561,700 will support a brownfield project to redevelop property at 248 Williams that will allow the Founders Brewing Company to expand its existing facilities. New jobs: 15 Read the complete story here.

A Facebook page for young West Michigan Christians to connect with each other? Why not, wondered roommates Michael Coller and James Leff. Launched July 1, Grand Rapids Christian Connect has grown beyond their expectations garnering more than 700 fans and spinning off plans to launch an international group as well. It is now in the process of becoming a 501c non-profit, they say.