Article Archive |
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2008 |
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May |
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May 12 |
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A Cherished Two-Way Street
When the U.S. Department of Commerce honored Kindel Furniture Co. last week for its recent success at entering the Japanese market — part of a World Trade Week-West Michigan VIP gala reception Monday night at Gerald R. Ford Museum — some insightful comments were aired by Kindel President Jonathan Smith. Smith accepted the Export Achievement Certificate, an award created by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service, to recognize small and medium-sized enterprises for successfully entering a new international market.
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A Well-Rounded Cattleman
Gary Voogt, a former civil engineer with a Grand Rapids firm, is the 2009 president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.MARNE — "I've always had two jobs," said Gary C. Voogt.
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Amway Charges Dismissed
ADA — A British court has dismissed all government claims against Amway (UK) Ltd., ending a lengthy dispute over the way Amway’s independent business owners conduct business.
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DDA May Do Kitchen Duty
GRAND RAPIDS — Members of the Downtown Development Authority will decide Wednesday whether to pay for a catering kitchen for the Public Museum of Grand Rapids.
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Foundation Cites Rodgers,
Enright For Achievements
GRAND RAPIDS — The Michigan Women’s Foundation last week honored two Grand Rapids area residents and business and community leaders: Mary Ellen Rodgers, U.S. managing partner, Field Operations, Deloitte LLP, and Jean Enright, former executive assistant to the president of Grand Valley State University. They are among five of this year’s Women of Achievement and Courage honorees.
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Haworth Distinguished As 'World Trader'
HOLLAND — Haworth Inc. has been honored as the 2008 World Trader of the Year, an annual award that recognizes a business, organization or individual in West Michigan that has “demonstrated a commitment to international trade.”
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Is It A Kiss Of Death?
GRAND RAPIDS — Although the proposed statewide tax plan would eliminate most of the levies businesses currently pay — including the much abhorred Michigan Business Tax — the state's largest and most powerful business association recently expressed a strong opposition to the Fair Tax.
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Kendall Honors New Haworth Headquarters
The renovation and expansion of One Haworth Center includes three levels of "bookend" space off the building's west end.
Chicago Designer Eva Maddox Receives Honorary Doctorate.GRAND RAPIDS — Phase 1 of One Haworth Center, the company's new headquarters in Holland, is complete and already occupied, and the building will be formally dedicated May 21.
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MSU Surveys State Confidence Levels
EAST LANSING — Michigan State University recently completed its State of the State Survey, “a quarterly measure of the state’s trust and confidence in consumer, political and policy issues.”
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Northern Air Expands Service
Chuck Cox says Northern Air’s Company Jet service doesn’t replace the airlines; it supplements what the airline companies can offer.
GRAND RAPIDS — Northern Air has seen a steady surge in both its charter business and in the purchase of fractional ownership in private corporate aircraft, a trend the company attributes to business travelers’ growing frustrations with the airlines.
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Parking Rates May Increase
GRAND RAPIDS — Parking commissioners agreed last week to lease spaces to Moch International for a new extended-stay hotel the father-and-son team plan to build in the Monroe North Business District, and also agreed to bump up monthly parking rates at city-owned lots and ramps.
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Preserve Energy Alternatives’ Momentum
On May Day the governor of Ohio signed into law renewable energy legislation, making the Buckeye State the 26th in the nation prepared to compete for related jobs and new business; reduced residential, commercial and industrial energy costs; and capture of an estimated $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion in new renewable energy investments.
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Spartan Stores' Earnings Hit Record Highs
BYRON CENTER —The acquisition of the Felpausch grocery chain helped Spartan Stores Inc. produce a strong fourth quarter to finish fiscal 2008 with a 36.4 percent increase in net earnings, the company said.
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Wind Energy Group Opposes
Michigan Energy Legislation
The American Wind Energy Association and seven of its members, including a world-wide developer of commercial wind farms that is leasing wind rights in northern Kent and Ottawa counties, have told Michigan government leaders that the energy legislation before the Michigan Senate will "jeopardize at least $2 billion of new investment in wind energy projects under development in the state."
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Wind Power Ordinances Take Shape
WALKER — Wind-generated electricity isn't exactly a gold rush in northern Kent and Ottawa counties, but there is definitely a rush on. The rushing is by city, township and county officials trying to get a handle on what will be allowed within their jurisdictions, even as they field a growing number of requests from people and companies interested in installing electricity-producing wind turbines, known as WECS: wind energy conversion systems.
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