Global Forex Trading (GFT), a global foreign exchange provider based in Grand Rapids, expects to increase its workforce by about 20 employees this year following a significant hiring spree last year to accommodate the company's rapid growth.

Holland Community Development Director Joel Dye predicts the initial hiring of 125 workers at the proposed NOVO 1 Outsourced Customer Service Center in Holland could begin in March if all goes well, with an opening in May.

 Ever since Dorothy & Toto's Gourmet Kettle Corn opened its doors for business last month, Kyle Behm is so busy poppin' the light, fluffy stuff that he hardly thinks of going home

Deborah Johnson WoodJob losses and a struggling housing market are just a couple of the reasons a growing number of families are opting to lease a home or condo rather than buy one, says Kurt Seyferth, owner of The Home Rental Company LLC, a free home rental locater service in West Michigan. Another reason is that people moving into an unfamiliar area often like to "try on" a neighborhood or city before buying. Seyferth and his wife, Lyndsay, launched the business last fall from their Fulton Heights Neighborhood home with a focus on helping families find rental houses and condos that suit their needs. Kurt Seyferth, 33, is a licensed real estate broker with five years' experience in the mortgage industry. "Renters fill out the form on the web site telling us what size house they need and the school district," Seyferth says. "We try to get back to them in 24 hours to get clarification on some things, such as if they are not realistic about the rents in the school districts they want." In a case like that, Seyferth may ask if they would choose a different school district or pay a higher rent.Seyferth matches the renters with rental homes and condos in his database. If he doesn't have any that fit the criteria, he finds rentals on the Internet or by driving the desired neighborhood to find what they need. The service is free to renters; homeowners and landlords compensate Seyferth. The company offers two contract options: exclusive, where Home Rental does all the advertising, handles the inquiries, showings and vets the credit applications; or non-exclusive, where the homeowner/landlord handles advertising and inquiries. Source: Kurt Seyferth, The Home Rental Company LLCwww.thehomerentalcompanyllc.comDeborah 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 recipe for rebuilding Little Mexico Cafe has involved a lot of "cooks"—architects, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, masons and others—and in their midst are two quiet leaders who might rest a bit easier after the Tuesday, February 9 reopening: Enrique and Consuelo Ayala. The Ayalas owned the restaurant at 401 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids for 11 years before it burned down in September 2008 after some kitchen equipment caught fire. They have been rebuilding for the past 14 months."At first I was in shock, I didn't know if we'd rebuild," says Consuelo through translator Yuri Zamudio, a manager at the restaurant. "But afterward I realized that to lose it would be hard and we liked it too much. We wanted to reopen for us, for our customers and for our employees."Inside the new cafe, customers will find the walls painted with colorful murals by Mexican-born artist Roli Mancera. Mancera has completed murals depicting Aztec history predating the founding of The Gran Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. To be completed are an Aztec calendar along the stairwell walls and, in the second-floor bar, a depiction of the making of tequila. There are few changes to the menu, a tried-and-true recipe for success that includes wet burritos, chimichangas, red and green enchiladas, chili rellenos and homemade salsa. "The secret is in the sauce," says Enrique Ayala through translator Rosa Dull in an earlier interview. "The recipes came from Mexico, from family recipes."Consuelo smiled when she noted that 30 of the 35 former employees are returning. Some have been out of work since the restaurant burned. The restaurant will open in stages as the second level is finished. Once it's in full operation, it will employ about 60.Hours will be Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with a live Mariachi band every Saturday night. Source: Enrique and Consuelo Ayala, Little Mexico Cafe Related ArticlesGrand Rapids' Little Mexico Cafe moves steadily toward November completionLittle Mexico to spice up West Side diningDeborah 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].

Thanks to grants and partnerships, Muskegon's unemployed can now enroll in a training program that guarantees them a paid two-year apprenticeship learning energy efficient building techniques.

Plenty of local restaurants, growers, wineries and microbreweries make the West Michigan lakeshore a prime region for culinary tourism, and a new allance has formed to market those businesses to dining tourists. According to excerpts from the story:A pinch of produce from Allegan and Ottawa county farms. A dash of Dutch ambiance with a glass of Lake Michigan view on the side. Mix it together and you've got a successful recipe to bring more tourists to town. "It's a growing trend to experience cuisine when you travel. We need to bring that home to Michigan," said Linda Jones, program manager of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. Jones is leading the development of the Michigan Culinary Tourism Alliance, a new project funded by a $24,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and matching funds from the wine council. Read the complete story here.

Efforts to record oral histories and create driving tours of Michigan's outstanding works of modern architecture could put the state on the map. Architecture buffs will find open doors to most of the state's design masterpieces. According to excerpts from the story:Stop by the Minoru Yamasaki-designed McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University in Detroit and its halls are open for a stroll through what's considered a masterpiece from the World Trade Center architect. Across the state in Muskegon, at St. Francis De Sales church, a visit most days can get you a guided tour from the head of maintenance at the massive, poured concrete structure from architect Marcel Breuer. Better known for its Great Lakes beaches for summertime escapes and wintertime destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, Michigan also is a repository of modern architecture. Read the complete story here.

A new website called PureMichiganLiving.com was launched this week to highlight the people, places and things that make Michigan a great place to live, work and play.