Article Archive |
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2012 |
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January |
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January 30 |
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Bridging the gaps with innovation
David Ollila and his Marquette Backcountry Ski atop Mount Hood in Oregon.For David Ollila of Marquette, his invitation to the White House in January to meet President Barack Obama had a lot to do with the help he got from Twisthink in Holland.
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City moves residential project forward
Even before city commissioners held public hearings on four brownfield requests last week to convert four vacant elementary schools into apartment houses, they approved terms sheets with the developer that would allow a portion of each property to be used as a city park and playground.
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Consultant: County should run city’s golf course
Grand Rapids city commissioners find themselves so deeply in the rough regarding the Indian Trails Golf Course that even a strong seven-iron likely won’t get them to the “green” — as in money.
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Delphi is ready to cut the cord
While Delphi is developing a wireless in-car charging system for mobile devices, the company also is producing a wireless charging system for everyone’s largest mobile device: their automobile.
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Employee involvement: maximizing a company resource
A couple of years ago I wrote an article (“Use employees as a resource to make business succeed,” July 27, 2009) about how managing employees has evolved over the years. I noted that our culture can often be a function of the economic times, and we ought to utilize and manage employees in a prudent manner like we do with other corporate assets. I believe all that still holds true. However, I thought it might be good to take another look at the topic with a perspective shaped by a three-year economic downturn.
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Entrepreneurial path leads back to banking
Rob Dwortz said he is impressed with The Bank Of Holland’s ability to steer through the economic downturn.
Rob Dwortz once experienced one of those awkward career moments when he and his boss met in what was supposedly a routine one-on-one update meeting.
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Grants up to $50K for emerging companies available at MAREC
Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon is now part of a state grant program to help growing, high-tech Michigan companies access accelerator services designed to leverage business development and job growth.
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More changes ahead for economic development programs
The election of Gov. Snyder and strong Republican majorities in both houses of the Legislature brought significant changes to many economic development programs in 2011. The governor’s opposition to tax credits — which he has called “hidden appropriations” — is a driving force behind many of these changes.
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More education is good, but not duplication of services
Michigan House Bill 4496, debated last week by the Senate Education Committee, would allow community colleges to grant four-year baccalaureate degrees in nursing, cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology and culinary arts.
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No one’s tilting at Muskegon wind farm idea
One is a proposed wind farm; the other is already under construction. One is in Mason County, the other about 50 miles south in Muskegon County — but the local reactions are very different.
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Public Record
MORTGAGESSelected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds
OTTENWESS, Nathan et al, Amera Mortgage Corp., Planters Row No. 4, Lot 159, $211,248
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Renewable Energy Ren Zones are useful
While the initial groundbreaking Renaissance Zone completed its 15-year journey at the end of last year, a related, nearly tax-free, state-approved effort for advanced energy companies continues.
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Selling recycling
Organicycle isn’t just recycling the garbage; it’s also selling a marketing concept.
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Skip the peanut butter and get to the meat
Within a week’s time, the business community collectively has been pointedly a focus for state, national and local political initiatives in annual speeches by elected leaders. The State of the State, State of the Union, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell’s State of the City speeches — even the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting theme — all were underscored by pointed “asks” of business leaders. Those business leaders — and the city, state and nation — are best served as business owners and leaders continue to mine company profits and lead innovation of new products and services.
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Survey: office furniture stays steady
The Michael A. Dunlap & Associates survey of office furniture companies and their suppliers in January has generated an index of 54.46, compared to 56.36 in October.
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The achievement formula that works for you
I am sick of goals and goal experts. You know, the people that spam you around the first of the year proclaiming they are the ones who can “help you” get to the next level. They have the magic “goal achievement formula.”
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The state of the city’s children
At his ninth State of the City address last Saturday, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell cited the city’s success at tackling sustainability, bringing employee benefits in line with the private sector and saving taxpayers millions of dollars by changing the way the city delivers its services.
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Urban Market cleanup to begin
Last summer, the Grand Rapids Economic Development Office wrote a grant application to the state’s Department of Environmental Quality and asked the agency to give it $1 million for the remediation of 3.5 acres of underdeveloped land on the southeast fringe of downtown.
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