If passed in the Michigan legislature, several proposed tax breaks for LEED-certified new construction and building rehabs could prompt developers to invest more of their green in green buildings. According to excerpts from the story:Even though redevelopment of a former Fifth Third bank site in Eastown is ready to break ground this spring, Bazzani Associates Inc. might hold off awhile. Proposed legislation, expected to hit the floor of the state Senate by spring break, would offer tax breaks for new construction and building rehabilitations that achieve certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED. "I would probably delay (the building) a bit in waiting for this," said Guy Bazzani, who helped write a package of bills introduced this month by lawmakers, including Sens. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck Township.Read the complete story here.

Parents worrying about the safety of their teenagers behind the wheel now have a new training tool that will monitor driving behavior on the road in real-time.

Despite the Great Recession, growth at the Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Company continues at bottle-neck speed, with plans on tap this year to hire another dozen workers to accommodate projected sales of $10 million, up from last year's $6.8 million.

Deborah Johnson WoodTimeless design and craftsmanship has made Germany the top producer of mechanical clocks says Dan Winebrenner, owner of the Holland Clock Co. The new retail shop at 210 College Ave., Holland, will offer a selection of German-made cuckoo clocks, Dutch style clocks that originated in the Netherlands but are now made in Germany, and a few shelf and mantle styles. Winebrenner's expertise in clock repair and service will be a unique offering of the shop. Winebrenner's fascination with clocks began early in his life, pretty much when he first became aware of clocks and timekeeping. Five years ago, he learned how to repair them. Shortly after, he launched Winebrenner Clock Service in his Holland home."It's been a challenge, but I've seen some pretty encouraging growth in the last year," Winebrenner says. "I started the repair business without the retail because it wasn't as big a financial commitment as having a retail location and an investment in inventory. Now I'm at the point where I'm ready to add them."Winebrenner and his teenage children Ben and Veronica painted two walls of the small, narrow shop with murals depicting German landscapes and the Black Forest. Inside the front window is a hand-painted map of Germany and surrounding countries. "Part of the reason I chose the location in downtown Holland is because of the reputation the downtown area has, not only in West Michigan but nationally as a destination for shopping," Winebrenner says. "I sense that it's a growing, busy area and that's where I want my shop to be, where people are going to find it. I think it also fits in well with the cultural identity of the area." The shop will open March 1, with initial hours from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.Source: Dan Winebrenner, Holland Clock Company; Mimi Fritz, Downtown Holland Principal Shopping DistrictDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at [email protected].

Deborah Johnson WoodThe new Thistle Gallery opening next week in downtown Holland is more than three times the size of its former location in Douglas, and owner Mary Glinski intends to fill the extra space with original works from some 75 artists – a third more than she's ever been able to show. All of the works in the 2,500-square-foot gallery at 26 East 8th St. are original, handmade pieces from artists in the United States and Canada. "We'll have a space in the back of the store, about 500 square feet, that will be a changing exhibit of fine art," Glinski says. Called The Studio At Thistle Gallery, the space will spotlight two or three artists who work in one medium, such as watercolor, oil or metal sculpture, and will change about every 60 days. "We also have hand-painted silk, photography, textiles, some felting," Glinski says. "We have more jewelry than anything else because so many artists make jewelry, and we have some really, really cool pottery. We have an artist from Minnesota, Kerry Brooks, who's the only artist I know that does glass and pottery mixed together; we've carried her work for three years."Glinski is a glass fuser and sells her own dishes, jewelry and other pieces at the gallery."Douglas is a great town with great merchants, but it's very seasonal and it's very difficult to have a year-round business," Glinski says. "I had outgrown my space and didn't have anywhere to grow. I'm really looking forward to the move and my employees are looking forward to the change. It's going to be a new energy for us."The Studio At Thistle Gallery opens March 5. Source: Mary Glinski, Thistle Gallery; Mimi Fritz, Holland Principal Shopping DistrictDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at [email protected].

Deborah Johnson WoodThe Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority has launched a new marketing campaign and developed two new grant programs in an effort to attract more retail businesses to the downtown business district. The DDA says that more than 20 businesses opened in downtown last year, but most of them were restaurants and more retail is needed. A new flipbook brochure notes downtown's unique characteristics: daytime demographics, six distinct business corridors and key entities downtown such as cultural, medical, government and schools. The DDA developed the brochure in collaboration with area brokerage firms to create a tool they would want to use to sell or lease commercial properties downtown. "We're putting it in their hands so everyone has the same story about Grand Rapids, otherwise everyone looks at the census data and that's missing a lot about downtown Grand Rapids," says Anne Marie Bessette, DDA development specialist. "We have over 36,000 employees in the central business district, and what, perhaps, is more is interesting is that we have 31,000 college students that attend class within downtown's one square mile," she says. "Those are huge numbers that people don't realize we have and these numbers don't show up in the census numbers."The brochure, available online at www.grcity.us/departments/dda/flipbook, points readers to a central commercial properties web site where they can view all available downtown properties and the broker contact information. In addition, to the marketing, the DDA hopes that two new grant programs established late last year will encourage business owners to set up shop downtown by helping them tackle some of the costs associated with remodeling a façade or obtaining signage. The grants vary from $2,000 up to $25,000 depending on the type of business and the project. "New businesses coming in have a challenge," Bessette says. "Not only do they have to set up shop and have all the merchandising and marketing down, but if they have to renovate the building, it's really a challenge."Source: Anne Marie Bessette, Grand Rapids Downtown Development AuthorityDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at [email protected].

Grand Rapids is one of dozens of cities in the country applying to be a test region for Google Inc.'s proposed experiment to test its super-high-speed broadband network with 50,000 to 500,000 users. According to excerpts from the story:Google Inc. is searching for a number of cities to be part of an experiment the company says would make internet access better and faster for everyone. The online media company has announced plans to build super high-speed broadband network for at least 50,000 and up to 500,000. Grand Rapids is among dozens of U.S. cities applying to be a part of the experimental test market. "This is a good thing for us. This is a good thing for our community. It is a good thing for business and economic development in our region" said Paul Klimas, the Information Technology Director for the city of Grand Rapids.Read the complete story here.