Stories

Feature Story polo-lowell-AB.jpg

Hockey on Horseback

With a name that conjures up feelings of warmth and greenery, the Meadowview Farm in Lowell seems in hibernation, with snow piled high around its buildings now.  But that image is deceptive: It's time to play polo! 

Feature Story madcap-direct_trade-AB.jpg

Strong Coffee

Ryan Knapp isn't sitting on top of the world, but he's comfortably perched on sacks of coffee beans he hopes will make a world of difference to farmers in Central America.

Feature Story jammies-09-wyce-AB.jpg

G-Sync – The Jammies XI Say A Lot About Us

This is probably the one week where you should really go out of your way to show some local love.  G-Sync's cultural guru Tommy Allen will guide you to the G.

GVSU's energy incubator facility in Muskegon signs Energy Partners as a third tenant

After 42 years of teaching in the classroom, James Wolter is now setting up his own shop at the Muskegon facility he helped establish: the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center of Grand Valley State University.

Walker's new Hangar42 Studios to provide job opportunities in film production

When the huge Lear Corp. automotive parts factory closed its doors in Walker a few years ago, the vacant 68-year-old building could have easily turned into a big white elephant.

MAREC moves another step closer to wind energy research in Lake Michigan

Hopes of conducting a large-scale wind energy research project offshore in Lake Michigan has moved a step closer with news of a $1.36 million energy efficient grant awarded to the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) in Muskegon.

Davenport University first in state to extend college credits for high school career tech classes

Calling it a "landmark agreement," Davenport University and the Michigan Department of Education have agreed to grant Davenport college credit to thousands of high school students enrolled in any of more than 200,000 state-approved career and technical training classes in Michigan.

National award makes sweet music for GVSU's Music Ensemble Director Bill Ryan

Ever since Bill Ryan started the New Music Ensemble at Grand Valley State University in 2006, it quickly gained national attention for its music. Now, the melody got even sweeter for the ensemble director himself.

GVSU moves ahead on proposed $70M campus library without promise of state funding

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Valley State University's board of trustees has decided to move ahead with the construction of a proposed $70 million library for the school's Allendale campus, voting last week to proceed using private and university funding and not wait for possible state funding. GVSU built the current Zumberge Library in 1969 to serve 5,000 students – a projected growth number at that time. GVSU now has more than 24,000 students. "Every year the state asks universities to identify an important capital project for the year, and the library has been at the top of our list for eight years," says Matt McLogan, vice president for university relations. "Right now we can't predict when the state might authorize the project."The state funding source is Michigan's Capital Outlay Fund, which awards amounts up to $40 million for projects selected from among competing projects. The proposed library will seat 1,500 students and feature 30 group study rooms. Students will have ready access to 150,000 shelved books and another 600,000 in an automated storage/retrieval system.The Mary Idema Pew family made the lead donation of an undisclosed amount and the facility is named in her honor as The Mary Idema Pew Library and Information Commons. "Students use a library differently today than they did in 1969," McLogan says. "Not just for books but for collaborative study, for the exchange of information of things that aren't in books. The new library will help students in the way they study today – in small workgroups, in small class sections, which trains them well for the work world where work is collaborative and done in small work groups." GVSU plans to build the library to LEED Platinum specifications. Pioneer Construction is the general manager. The SHW Group, LLC, is the architect/engineer. Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr and Huber, Inc. is the civil engineer. The project breaks ground in spring 2011 and will be completed in 2013.Source: Matthew E. McLogan, Grand Valley State UniversityDeborah 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].

Madison Square business incubator has community backing for $1.7M project

Deborah Johnson WoodConverting a century-old building on the corner of Madison Avenue SE and Hall Street SE into a business incubator, nonprofit offices and restaurant will cost about $1.7 million. But Grand Rapids' Lighthouse Communities isn't worried – the nonprofit community development corporation has already received $500,000 in federal and state funding, another $1 million from local foundations and brownfield tax credits, and Huntington Bank has guaranteed the rest. The two-story building at 1167 Madison SE has been in foreclosure twice in the last decade, says Jeremy DeRoo, Lighthouse executive director. But after internal demolition, some shoring up of weakened structural points and the removal of a decrepit addition, construction will commence after the state environmental impact review in late March. "We'll have six business incubator spaces to help entrepreneurs open a business for less than market rate," DeRoo says. "We are expecting to attract primarily retail business because of the location, but not limiting it to retail tenants."The spaces range from 500 to 800 square feet, and are wired for phone and Internet. Rent starts at $250 a month. Startups can lease the spaces for up to three years to establish clientele, and to use the support services offered, such as networking opportunities, business roundtables and to build relationships with banks, accountants, attorneys and other professionals. "When they're ready to move out, we'll help them locate space in the neighborhood," DeRoo says. "The goal is to increase the quality of services available to the neighborhood through the businesses in this incubator space." Lighthouse Communities, now at 1422 Madison, will relocate to the second floor area, doubling its office space. About half of the 5,000-square-foot space will be community meeting rooms.A 1,500-square-foot addition to be built on the north side of the building will house a breakfast restaurant on the main level, owned and operated by Robert Ball, owner of Southern Fish Fry. "We expect to open with at least 35 full-time jobs within the building," DeRoo says, "so it's a great job creation opportunity that will continue to create opportunities for the neighborhood."Source: Jeremy DeRoo, Lighthouse CommunitiesRelated ArticlesBusiness incubators coming to new $1.6M project in Madison SquareDeborah 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].

Investors purchase two historic Grand Rapids buildings, bring new office opportunities downtown

Deborah Johnson WoodTwo historic properties in the heart of Grand Rapids have new owners this week -- owners looking to update portions of the buildings and bring updated office space to Center City. Sixty North Ventures, LLC purchased 87-89 Monroe Center NW and 139 Pearl NW, both on the National Register of Historic Places. The company principals, Matt Steigenga, Mike Peplowski and Jeff Baker hail from Lansing and Grand Rapids and have had their eyes on the properties after purchasing 80 Ottawa in 2009. 80 Ottawa (think Van Hoecks Shoes, Big O' Cafe) and 87-89 Monroe Center (think Grand Rapids Family Credit Union and the walkway to the Monroe Center Parking Ramp) used to be one four-story building. The two addresses still share a common façade. "Moses Aldrich purchased the old St. Andrews church there in 1872 and built the building in 1874," Steigenga says. "The 87-89 Monroe Center portion has no vacancies. At 80 Ottawa, we did a lot of interior work to the common areas and leasing activity has been very good. In terms of total renovation, there are still 10,000 square feet to be leased, the entire second floor."The Rood Building at 139 Pearl NW was built in 1873. Designed by Grand Rapids architect William G. Robinson, who designed many Grand Rapids buildings including The Voigt House, the building is home to Flanagan's Irish Pub. The three upper floors have 12,000 square feet of office space Steigenga says, which is undergoing some interior demolition and cleanup. "We're planning a renovation of the entrance off Pearl to the office space, new common spaces, new elevators, and we can build new tenant accommodations to their specifications to fit their needs," Steigenga says. "That's the beauty of it; it's sort of a blank canvas right now."First Companies, owned by Jeff Baker, will handle the construction.Source: Matt Steigenga, Sixty North Ventures, LLC; David Wiener, CB Richard Ellis; Related ArticlesGrand Rapids' historic Aldrich Place attracts Lansing investorsDeborah 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].

New Eastown head shop features hand-blown glass pipes, wine glasses

Deborah Johnson WoodTwenty years at Otter's Oasis in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek gave Battle Creek native Michael Bowman the itch to open his own head shop. And though he'd lived in Kentwood for a couple of years, he'd never heard of Eastown until a friend suggested it as the perfect place for his shop. On February 1, Bowman opened Mystic Mill in the Windmill Building, 1436 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids. "I was driving around and saw the Windmill Building," says Bowman, 43. "I rented it that day." The building was previously a florist shop. Bowman said it was set up perfectly to display his hand-blown pipes and other goods. All he had to do was bring in some glass display cases and do some cleaning. "The shop sells 98 percent glass which is all hand-blown, and we have hand-blown wine glasses," Bowman says. "We carry dicro jar pipes, spoons, bubblers, water pipes, steamrollers, wizards, scales and vaporizers. You can buy a pipe for $9 all the way up to $450."Bowman's high-end products come from Texas and California. Local glass blower artist Joe Sherry, who owns an artglass shop at 235 S. Division, creates wine glasses designed by Sherry and Bowman. Soon, Bowman plans to offer customers a service to design their own wine glasses and their own pipes. "I sell my products for tobacco use only, but I don't sell tobacco," Bowman says. "There are four other businesses in Eastown that sell tobacco and the Eastown Hookah Lounge. We worked around their inventory before we ordered ours. "This store is all about peace, love and friendship," Bowman says. "I haven't seen a Bohemian lifestyle like this since I was in Amsterdam in 1985 on two-week leave from the service. I've done more good business in this first two weeks than I should have done in my first two months."Mystic Mill is open Monday through Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to whenever. Source: Michael Bowman, Mystic MillDeborah 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].

Holland Township venture developing a system that turns crops into ethanol and animal feed

A company in Holland Township is developing a "Renewable Fuel System" that transforms crops such as apples and corn into ethanol and animal feed.

Vendors ask Muskegon Main Street if they can sell in downtown area

Private on-street vendors hawking everything from hot dogs to hot pretzels are asking the Muskegon Main Street, a downtown development and promotional organization, about the possibility of setting up shop in selected areas of downtown Muskegon, according to Muskegon Main Street Manager Dan Rinsema-Sybenga.

Muskegon's former Rafferty Restaurant to reopen with new name, expanded conference center

Grand Rapids Real Estate Developer Jon Rooks says he intends to reopen the former Rafferty's Dockside Restaurant at the Terrace Pointe Development in Muskegon this spring with a new name, expanded dining area and a larger conference center.

Collective effort to improve Eastown neighborhood spearheaded by international faith movement

An international faith movement with a regional office in Grand Rapids is ready to launch a neighborhood revitalization effort focused on improving a neighborhood within the Eastown community using resources and collaborations from across the city.According to excerpts from the story:Valerie Mossman-Celestin has been working for more than a decade to bring about change in Haiti — and she is using the organizational skills she has mastered to help bring a new type of social development to Grand Rapids. The United Methodist Church's Communities of Shalom, an 18-year-old mission, this month is making its first move in Michigan. Starting Feb. 19, monthly trainings are scheduled through June to assemble partners, evaluate their strengths and align them in a collective effort to improve the Eastown area near Trinity United Methodist Church, 1100 Lake Drive SE. "It's an intentional strengthening of collaboration among local partners so we can assess one another's strengths and utilize those strengths to accomplish what none of us could do individually," said Mossman-Celestin, who works in the regional United Methodist Church office, at 11 Fuller Ave. SE, and also has started an economic development ministry for women in Haiti. "There's a lot of people out there making great individual efforts, and this is a way to pull people together into an integrated effort. It takes a community of partners." Read the complete story here.

High capacity battery manufacturing could boost Midwest economy significantly, says U of M report

Strong policies by the federal government that tip the scale toward the use of alternative energy and high capacity batteries could mean significant financial gain for the Midwest's manufacturing base, according to a new report just released by Climate Group and the University of Michigan. According to excerpts from the story:If the federal government implements strong energy policies that encourage alternative energy and use of cutting edge high-capacity batteries, the Midwest's manufacturing hub stands to gain significantly, according to a report by the nonprofit Climate Group and the University of Michigan. "American Innovation: Manufacturing Low Carbon Technologies in the Midwest" looks at the impacts on wind turbine, hybrid powertrain and advanced battery manufacturing. The study anticipates three factors – a $17 per ton price on carbon, a green economic stimulus program, and a 20 percent federal renewable electricity standard by 2020.Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids genetics lab may help create macular degeneration test

Sequenom Inc.'s lab in California aims to develop early diagnostic testing for macular degeneration, then may pass completion of the test's development to its Grand Rapids laboratory. According to excerpts from the story:Licensing the rights to develop a genetic diagnostic test for an eye disease that can lead to blindness means more work for Sequenom Inc.'s lab in Grand Rapids.The San Diego-based Sequenom today said it has signed a global licensing deal to use intellectual property developed by Optherion Inc. in New Haven, Conn., to develop a genetic test for late stage age-related macular degeneration.The company will conduct early development of the new diagnostic test in San Diego and transition the work later this year to its Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine lab in Grand Rapids.Read the complete story here.

Feature Story Blue-Bin-37-AB.jpg

Give and Take

It's not a stretch to reuse things instead of pitching them in the trash, says Brandon Keepers, creator of a new website called Blue Bin that hopes to link the haves with the have-nots. 

Feature Story e-recycle-8-ab.jpg

E-Wasting Away

There's power in reusing things -- literally. These power sources for computers were salvaged at Valley City Environmental Services in Grand Rapids to be sold and reused by people who build or repair their own equipment.