Deborah Johnson WoodWhat was once a 1950s receiving dock at Bissell Inc. is now a $9 million state-of-the-art research and development facility and headquarters for the company's industrial design and marketing divisions. The renovation transformed the warehouse into a two-level, 32,000-square-foot building equipped for video conferencing with Bissell's three other R&D facilities in South Korea and China. The 134-year-old company at 2345 Walker Ave., Walker, produces floor care machines and products for a worldwide market. "We added new chemistry labs and equipment just prior to this development," says Jim Krzeminski, executive vice president and chief customer officer. "We received a MEGA (Michigan Economic Growth Authority) grant of $2.4 million over 10-year period, and part of that grant was to create 106 jobs. We have about one-third of those positions filled."Krzeminski says Bissell aims to fill the remaining positions for R&D engineers, chemists, test technicians, advanced development engineers and others over the coming months. Part of the job growth is due to the company in-sourcing development of the Bissell and Woolite brands of carpet cleaning chemicals in 2009, Krzeminski says."Over time as our business model is changing, we make the proper investments to make innovative products worldwide," says Krzeminski. "The space is indicative of our overall investment in the community and in the innovation at Bissell." Source: Jim Krzeminski, Bissell Inc.Related ArticlesBissell goes green with eco-friendly cleaning products, recycled plasticsDeborah 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].

In partnership with a Grand Rapids company, the local Rotary International District 6290 is leading an international Rotarian effort to buy water filters for Haitians devastated by the January 12 earthquake. The campaign called Thirsting to Serve seeks donations from fellow Rotarians and friends from around the world to purchase HydrAid BioSand Water Filters in Grand Rapids for Haitian victims in desperate need of clean, safe drinking water.

Do you fancy yourself as a fashion designer? Are you a footwear fan? If so, you now have a chance to translate your most creative design ideas into an opportunity to make some extra money and maybe launch a meteoric design career with the new Hush Puppies Shoe Design Challenge contest.

Deborah Johnson WoodPizza Hut has returned to Grand Rapids' Eastown business district after an 18-month hiatus, this time with a $500,000 investment in a 65-seat restaurant designed with Eastown's unique personality in mind. The international pizza chain moved out of its former Lake Drive location in October 2008 when the landlords wanted to expand their own restaurant, Bombay Cuisine. Pizza Hut reopened this week at 1433 Wealthy St. SE, a once-vacant storefront next to Billy's."It took us this long to find a new location because we wanted to add a dining room," says Brian Cronkrite, vice president of marketing for St. Joseph-based Trigo Hospitality, the Pizza Hut franchisee. "We looked for an architectural design to celebrate the fact that Eastown is very unique and different; we didn't want the place to look like a cookie-cutter restaurant."The eclectic décor mixes corrugated metal wainscoting, galvanized metal tabletops, oak tabletops and benches with historic photos of Eastown in the '50s and '60s and four flat-screen TVs. The place also offers wireless Internet access and a corner with a leather couch and chairs for casual dining. During construction, workers removed three separate drop ceilings. Cronkrite says a pleasant surprise was finding that someone recycled the wood joists from the building's original foundation into ceiling beams years ago.Besides pizza, salads, soups and sandwiches, the eatery also has Pizza Hut's Wing Street menu of chicken wings and specialty sauces. And ice cream lovers can indulge in sundaes and root beer floats. The restaurant brings 50 jobs to the business district. Store hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday – Thursday, closing at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. "Although we bring a national brand, we have brought it to the neighborhood in a way that celebrates the Eastown neighborhood," Cronkrite says. "We certainly did not drop in here with something garish and plastic that would offend the neighborhood." Source: Brian Cronkrite, Trigo HospitalityDeborah 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].