Economic Development

The Right Place, Lakeshore Advantage, Southwest First and others

ARTICLES

Manufacturers plan 182 jobs and $34.2M expansions in West Michigan

May 23, 2013
More than 1,000 out of work Michigan residents could soon have jobs. Read More

Live Video: Start Garden-backed ideas present at May Update Night

May 23, 2013
Start Garden is scheduled to stream live video of its monthly Update Night presentations — tonight from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Read More

Metabolic Solutions breaks through at life sciences incubator

May 21, 2013
Breakthrough research on a type 2 diabetes drug target by Metabolic Solutions Development Co. in Kalamazoo underscores the key role of a life sciences incubator, according to local industry leaders. Read More

Start Garden invests in gunfire detector and entertainment-venue app

May 20, 2013
Amid America’s raging gun debate, one startup has developed an idea that could step across the political divide and save lives. Read More

Cooking up new business

Changing food trends lead to winners and losers.

May 17, 2013
Jeff Grogg, a Battle Creek consultant to the food industry across the U.S., sees potential trouble ahead for the sugar industry but lots of new opportunities for the growers and processors of fruits and vegetables. Read More

GR building permit volume soars in April

Figure may indicate commercial construction and local economy have rebounded.

May 17, 2013
The monetary value of the building permits that were applied for and granted just in Grand Rapids, and only in April, totaled a nearly unbelievable $77 million — a figure that breaks out to a daily average of $3.5 million for each of the month’s 22 business days. Read More

Michigan eyes $483M more in tax revenue than expected

May 15, 2013
| By AP
Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers have hundreds of millions of dollars more than expected when working to finalize Michigan's next budget. Read More

Where's the productivity?

May 15, 2013
In spite of headlines pointing to emerging signs of recovery, the economy continues to perform poorly. Jobs and hours worked are a poor guide to the economy’s health. More important is productivity, which determines living standards. Read More

Grand Rapids reigns as BeerCity, U.S.A.

May 13, 2013
The results are in — and Grand Rapids has overwhelmingly retained its title as BeerCity, U.S.A. Read More

DDA has development guidelines for downtown sector

Board agrees to a purchase option for a parking lot near the arena.

May 10, 2013
The Arena South Visioning Plan was adopted by the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority last week and the board will use the 75-page report as a guidebook for projects that are proposed for five parking lots situated south of Van Andel Arena, which is at Fulton Street and Ottawa Avenue. Read More