By Sharon Hanks

Grand Valley State University has tapped Linda Chamberlain, a director of a Grand Rapids technology incubator, to be the leader of its newly created Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Chamberlain, the executive director of the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative for the past three years, began March 1 on focusing her energies on supporting the region's high-growth entrepreneurs.

"I'm very excited," Chamberlain says, adding that she welcomes "any sort of conversation" with the community regarding ideas to encourage new business and innovation in the region. "I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the community, Grand Valley, students, entrepreneurs and investors to continue our march for entrepreneurship."

In addition to work at WMSTI, for the past eight years Chamberlain has had her own consulting business, Inno Valuation, where she focuses on creating and validating business opportunities. Her career also includes leadership roles in research and product development at both blue-chip and start-up companies, including Shell Chemical in Texas, Allied Signal in New Jersey and Johnson Controls in Holland.

The new director grew up in Grand Rapids, graduated from the city's Creston High School and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University. She completed her post-doctorate work at the University of California-Irvine.

Among her first goals are to help with the selection of an advisory board, introduce new programs focused on synchronizing resources, and complete a plan aimed at identifying new sources of capital. She will also work with the university's faculty and staff to develop additional academic programming for student entrepreneurs-in-training.

In the announcement released this week, GVSU President Thomas J. Haas says the Center will be "part think tank and part resource clearinghouse," with a goal of boosting entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Center will operate within GVSU's Seidman College of Business on the Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

Rick Cook, director of WMSTI's Venture Center, has been named interim executive director for WMSTI, an initiative located in GVSU's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences along Medical Mile in Grand Rapids.

Sources: Linda Chamberlain, executive director of GVSU's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Grand Rapids; Brian J. Bowe, GVSU's News & Information Services

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

A Hope College professor is being lauded by two national organizations for his "ground-breaking work" in the promotion of hearing loops, a technology that allows users who visit buildings installed with a loop system to turn their hearing aids into mini-loudspeakers customized for their own hearing needs.

David Myers has worked since 2002 to expand the use of telecoils in hearing aids in places such as churches, theaters, schools and other public meeting sites after he discovered first-hand how the wireless system enhanced his own hearing.

A telecoil that's installed in more than two-thirds of all hearing aids functions as an antenna, relaying sounds directly into the ear without background noise, much like Wi-Fi connects people to the web.

Myers says he and his wife first learned about telecoil-assisted hearing when they were visiting an abbey in Scotland and noticed a hearing assisted sign. "I couldn't believe what I was hearing," Myers says when he turned on the telecoil in his hearing aid that day. "What I was hearing was a crystal clear voice speaking at the center of my head."

The Hearing Loss Association of America and the American Academy of Audiology both have commended Myers for his crucial role in getting both organizations to endorse a public education campaign called the "Get in the Hearing Loop."

Pat Cricks, president-elect of the Academy, is quoted in a news release as saying "there have been steady increases in accessibility for individuals with hearing loss" due to Myers efforts.

"This is very gratifying," Myers says about national spotlight. "I don't want to take too much credit, but I guess the press release speaks for itself. It was sort of my fantasy that West Michigan could be a model for the nation and I think it is. It's really exciting!"

When Myers first learned about telecoils in Scotland, there was virtually no places in America that had installed the technology. Working with local corporations, Myers obtained grant money and support to help install the loop system in public venues. Today, there are 300 public places in West Michigan that are equipped with a loop, with each site costing from $2,000 to $10,000, Myers says.

In addition to this, Myers has helped spread the magic of the loop through a series of his own personal writings, including a memoir of his own hearing loss. He also established an informational website called www.HearingLoop.org that contains helpful facts for the hard of hearing.

Sources: David Myers, Hope College psychology professor in Holland; HearingLoop.org website; joint press release issued by HLAA and AAA

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Source: Rapid Growth
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While many West Michigan residents have focused on the unsightly aesthetics of erecting a large scale wind farm on Lake Michigan, economic development officials say the potential for creating thousands of much-needed jobs gets nearly lost in the discussion.

Norwegian development company Scandia Wind LLC proposes a 1,000-megawatt Aegir Wind Farm for Lake Michigan off the Oceana-Mason county line.

According to excerpts from the story:

A study found that the West Michigan region could generate 4,000 jobs and an $800 million investment by producing alternative energy components.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Michigan's top private-sector employer, the health care industry, generated nearly 10,000 jobs from 2006 to 2008 in Kent County alone, jumping to 69,473 people and bringing with it an annual $4.53 billion impact on the economy, according to a new report.

In a biannual economic-impact report from the Partnership for Michigan's Health, health care employed more than 900,000 in Michigan by 2008 and became an even bigger force on the state's economy.

According to excerpts from the story:

"This is a time when we can help provide some stability, even at a time when we've seen some huge declines in other employment sectors," said Peter Schonfeld, senior vice president for policy and data services at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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AirTran's recent announcement that it will soon serve the Gerald Ford International Airport has given the region another advantage to attract national business conferences.

According to excerpts from the story:

The only way for Grand Rapids to grow its meetings and conventions industry is for it to play at a national level. To do so requires the region to raise its brand awareness, but also make it easy for visitors and conventioneers to get to town.

In that sense, the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau's job should be somewhat easier now that AirTran announced that it would begin serving Gerald Ford International Airport starting in May. AirTran's arrival will bring a much-needed low-cost networked carrier to the region, as well as place downward pressure on the price of all fares, according to airline and airport officials.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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If passed in the Michigan legislature, several proposed tax breaks for LEED-certified new construction and building rehabs could prompt developers to invest more of their green in green buildings.

According to excerpts from the story:

Even though redevelopment of a former Fifth Third bank site in Eastown is ready to break ground this spring, Bazzani Associates Inc. might hold off awhile. Proposed legislation, expected to hit the floor of the state Senate by spring break, would offer tax breaks for new construction and building rehabilitations that achieve certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED.

"I would probably delay (the building) a bit in waiting for this," said Guy Bazzani, who helped write a package of bills introduced this month by lawmakers, including Sens. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck Township.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Entrepreneurs from around West Michigan met last week with Governor Granholm to voice their experience about the FastTrac program that puts displaced workers in charge of their own small businesses quickly, giving them the opportunity to get back on their feet.

According to excerpts from the story:

After a career in human resources, talent developer Scott Patchin found himself out of work.

"Last April, for the first time in 20 years, I was without a job," Patchin told a crowded room at an entrepreneurial roundtable Wednesday. "Two weeks within losing my job, a friend said, 'I heard about this program.' That's where it all started."

His business, The trU Group LLC, was one of five spotlighted at the roundtable, led by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Patchin said he enlisted in a veritable boot camp for entrepreneurs, the FastTrac program run by the Small Business and Technology Development Council, based at Grand Valley State University. Wednesday's session was in GVSU's DeVos Center downtown. After his experiences working for big auto suppliers, a bank, and a hospital system, Patchin figured he was primed to go out on his own.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Spectrum Health's hopes of performing the first heart transplant in West Michigan picked up steam recently with a state approval to advance plans for admitting patients needing the complicated surgery. But a number of critical steps still need to be completed before the health care system can conduct surgery on its first heart transplant patient.

Last week the Michigan Department of Community Health approved the hospital's certificate of need (CON) application for performing the sophisticated medical procedure at its Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids, making it the third and final program in the state allowed to perform heart and lung transplants.

As a condition of the state's consent, Spectrum must perform the first heart transplant within 18 months from the day it is granted certification, Feb. 18, state officials say. Spectrum also must perform a minimum of 12 heart or heart/lung transplants annually in the second 12-months of operation.

"The clock is ticking," Spectrum Health spokesman Bruce Rossman says. "But there are a number of things involved," he adds, before surgery gets under way at the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center.

"We have to recruit a nationally renowned heart transplant surgeon to help pull a team together," he says. "There's training involved . . . and of course, you can't do a heart transplant unless there is a heart available."

The business plan is expected to be approved next week by Spectrum's board of directors, he says.

Spectrum health leaders are confident the hospital can sustain a transplant program, noting that 19 patients were referred to hospitals on the Eastside of the state or to those in Chicago. They argue that a local program would allow many patients to remain living in the area while undergoing treatment instead of bearing the expense and trouble associated with a temporary move elsewhere to be near an authorized heart transplant hospital.

"We're very pleased with the action," Rossman says about the state's go-ahead with the plan. "We think it's going to be a real positive thing for not only patients in West Michigan but another step in making West Michigan a real destination for health care."

Spectrum's efforts to perform the somewhat rare surgery began in earnest last August after officials from Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit revealed that it was performing heart transplants under a CON shared by the Henry Ford Hospital system.

Since the state's second CON was long ago filled by the University of Michigan Health System, the only other hospital in the state authorized to conduct heart transplants, the administrative discovery opened up the availability of an unused third CON.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Despite the Great Recession, growth at the Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Company continues at bottle-neck speed, with plans on tap this year to hire another dozen workers to accommodate projected sales of $10 million, up from last year's $6.8 million.

Topping off that good news are tentative plans to expand the micro-brewery's manufacturing footprint with additional real estate and equipment by year's end.

"It's been crazy," says Founders Brewing President and cofounder Mike Stevens about the micro-brewery's market that now covers 15 states. "We're proud of how we've grown over the past 13 years to become not just a local name but a serious contender on the regional and national craft brewing scene.

"Our crew is making some of the best beer in America, and that is reflective in the continued growing we're seeing in the local, state and regional marketplace."

In addition to tasty suds, Stevens credits local support among retailers, distributors, restaurants, beer lovers and a great branding campaign for contributing to the success of the company at 235 Grandville Ave. SW where operations are running two shifts. He's also grateful to his great brewers and about 20 other partners who have invested in the company over the years.

Stevens, 42, and his college friend, Dave Engbers, 39, followed their dreams of majoring in large-scale beer production following graduation from Hope College. After establishing their little startup in 1997, sales trended upward to a point 10 years later in which the craft beer makers had outgrown their 8,000-square-foot facility in the then-lifeless Monroe North district. It then relocated to a spacious and renovated 27,000-square-foot site, when employment at the happy hops place at that time was 19 workers instead of the 70-plus workers today. 

"It's been fun," Stevens says with a laugh. "Now there are departments and budgets and structure. The dynamics of the company have really changed."

One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Founders commitment to serving up a consistent quality beer to satisfy a large and diverse beer-lover's palate. In 2010, ratebeer.com ranked Founders as the 4th highest-rated microbrewery in the world. Can you drink to that happy hops success story?

Source: Rapid Growth
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Timeless design and craftsmanship have made Germany the top producer of mechanical clocks, says Dan Winebrenner, owner of the Holland Clock Co.

The new retail shop at 210 College Ave., Holland, will offer a selection of German-made cuckoo clocks, Dutch style clocks that originated in the Netherlands but are now made in Germany, and present a few shelf and mantle styles. Winebrenner's expertise in clock repair and service will be a unique offering of the shop.

Winebrenner's fascination with clocks began early in his life, pretty much when he first became aware of clocks and timekeeping. Five years ago, he learned how to repair them. Shortly after, he launched Winebrenner Clock Service in his Holland home.

"It's been a challenge, but I've seen some pretty encouraging growth in the last year," Winebrenner says. "I started the repair business without the retail because it wasn't as big a financial commitment as having a retail location and an investment in inventory. Now, I'm at the point where I'm ready to add them."

Winebrenner and his teenage children, Ben and Veronica, painted two walls of the small, narrow shop with murals depicting German landscapes and the Black Forest. Inside the front window is a hand-painted map of Germany and surrounding countries.

"Part of the reason I chose the location in downtown Holland is because of the reputation the downtown area has, not only in West Michigan but nationally as a destination for shopping," Winebrenner says. "I sense that it's a growing, busy area and that's where I want my shop to be, where people are going to find it. I think it also fits in well with the cultural identity of the area."
The shop will open March 1, with initial hours from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Source: Rapid Growth
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The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority has launched a new marketing campaign and developed two new grant programs in an effort to attract more retail businesses to the downtown business district. The DDA says that more than 20 businesses opened in downtown last year, but most of them were restaurants and more retail is needed.

A new flipbook brochure notes downtown's unique characteristics: daytime demographics, six distinct business corridors and key entities downtown such as cultural, medical, government and schools. The DDA developed the brochure in collaboration with area brokerage firms to create a tool they would want to use to sell or lease commercial properties downtown.

"We're putting it in their hands so everyone has the same story about Grand Rapids, otherwise everyone looks at the census data and that's missing a lot about downtown Grand Rapids," says Anne Marie Bessette, DDA development specialist.

"We have over 36,000 employees in the central business district, and what, perhaps, is more is interesting is that we have 31,000 college students that attend class within downtown's one square mile," she says. "Those are huge numbers that people don't realize we have and these numbers don't show up in the census numbers."

The brochure, available online at www.grcity.us/departments/dda/flipbook, points readers to a central commercial properties web site where they can view all available downtown properties and the broker contact information.

In addition, to the marketing, the DDA hopes that two new grant programs established late last year will encourage business owners to set up shop downtown by helping them tackle some of the costs associated with remodeling a façade or obtaining signage. The grants vary from $2,000 up to $25,000 depending on the type of business and the project.

"New businesses coming in have a challenge," Bessette says. "Not only do they have to set up shop and have all the merchandising and marketing down, but if they have to renovate the building, it's really a challenge."

Source: Rapid Growth
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Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids is no longer the rundown retail store where the elderly and poor shop for everyday items. Through dedicated efforts, it has grown into a strong community cornerstone in the training and retaining of the area's workforce for green-industry jobs, a natural extension of Goodwill's commitment to sustainability, Goodwill Industries officials say.

Most recently it has built partnerships with two new green-job initiatives that have been awarded federal stimulus Pathways out of Poverty grants, according Jill Wallace, vice president of communications for Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids.

According to excerpts from the story:

"We are looking to assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient so they can lead a sustainable life," Wallace said of the green-training efforts. "Goodwill is also the largest recycler in the world, so, from a green standpoint, we are a very sustainable organization. So it comes full circle. … It makes sense for us to take a look at green jobs."

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Grand Rapids Community College and Holland's Energetx Composites are uniting efforts to train students in the making of composites by introduction of an intense college four-week class starting March 8.

Two-thirds of the 80-hour intensive program will be hands-on lab training on the shop floor at Energetx, the first time school officials say GRCC has used a manufacturing facility as a classroom.

According to excerpts from the story:

Energetx, which expects to create 1,000 new jobs over several years, plans to hire 162 workers this year. Most will be from the pool of students who complete the GRCC program, said Steve Busch, Energetx's human resources director.

Read the complete story here. 

Source: Rapid Growth
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Grand Rapids is one of dozens of cities in the country applying to be a test region for Google Inc.'s proposed experiment to test its super-high-speed broadband network with 50,000 to 500,000 users.

According to excerpts from the story:

Google Inc. is searching for a number of cities to be part of an experiment the company says would make internet access better and faster for everyone. The online media company has announced plans to build super high-speed broadband network for at least 50,000 and up to 500,000.

Grand Rapids is among dozens of U.S. cities applying to be a part of the experimental test market. "This is a good thing for us. This is a good thing for our community. It is a good thing for business and economic development in our region" said Paul Klimas, the Information Technology Director for the city of Grand Rapids.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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A maker of innovative office and marine seating plans to launch a new product line this summer from its new Greenville headquarters and hire 93 workers over the next two years.

According to excerpts from the story:

Things are beginning to take shape at Zero1 LLC. The new specialty office chair manufacturer in Greenville is moving ahead with its plans after the city recently obtained a $930,000 Community Development Block Grant to purchase special tooling and equipment for the company.

Established in 2004, Zero1 specializes in office, residential and marine seating with innovative twists. Some of its designs include adjustable rolling office chairs that collapse forward for handy storage under a desk or table, ideal for confined spaces.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Michigan Department of Community Health officials announced Thursday they have approved Spectrum Health Hospital's request to perform heart and lung t ... Read More ransplants. The green light enables Spectrum to add those transplant procedures to the services available through Spectrum Health and its Meijer Heart Center. It's also another step in solidifying West Michigan as a destination region for world-class cardiac care.

Read the complete story here. View Less

Source: The Grand Rapids Press and Spectrum Health

It may look peaceful when the frontloaders aren't running, but there's always a churning caldron of activity under the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center, where microbes feast on the more than 4 million tons of trash covered by a layer of soil. As they munch on organic matter, the anaerobic bacteria release methane, a colorless and odorless gas that can be cleaned and burned. Kent County and Granger Electric have joined forces to turn the waste methane into electricity -- enough to power more than 1,800 homes. Rapid Growth takes you behind the scenes of how this creative public-private partnership turns a greenhouse gas into a valuable commodity.

Source: Rapid Growth
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And so your friend says, nothing better to break up these long Mid-Michigan winters than a good board game, eh? You start backing away, wondering where your friend got a Canadian accent, while taking quick, anxious glances at your watch. Uh...yeah, you say, boy I didn't realize it was getting this late...

It's not that you hate board games. You used to play Monopoly back in the day. And Candyland when you were a little kid. But, come on, board games? Who does that anymore?

Welcome to the club, or in this case, the Grand Rapids Area Board Gamers (GRAB). It's board gaming -- all grown up.

Game On
David Vander Ark is a player.

Well, actually, he's a gamer, playing new types of board games, ones in which sociability is a major factor and winning isn't always defined by chance or the last person standing.

Vander Ark, 49, is soft-spoken nurse and teacher who quickly points out that he likes all types of games -- yes, even Monopoly -- but that he and a number of friends have grown increasingly fond of a genre of games known as Euro games.

Euro games, or Euros, are marked by several elements that differ from the board games most people may know -- such as Monopoly, Risk, Sorry and the like. Design plays a major role, including game pieces, many of which are fairly intricate. So do mechanics -- how the game is played, turns divided, and points accumulated.

"It comes down to a number of different elements," Vander Ark explains. "Instead of a single strategy, there are usually multiple options available. The themes are different, and so are the game components. There are a lot of high-quality, tactile pieces."

The rules variations also build in nuances that make each game different from the last.

"You can play some of these games 40-50 times or more and not get tired of them," Vander Ark says.

We Can All Just Get Along
Vander Ark owns an estimated 500 games and is a founding member of the GRAB, a group with about 110 members on its mailing list and one that hosts special game events during the year.

He is reluctant to discuss is own gaming passions. Like many boardgamers, he is more interested in what the group is doing and in finding new players. The game events do
this to some extent, but many are also gained through internet sites such as Board Game Geek (BGG). GRAB is a listed on BGG as a member of the larger Geek Guild of West Michigan along with other groups and announcements.

The internet triggered early enthusiasm for Euros in the late 1990s and continues to play a major role, Vander Ark adds. Word of mouth about new games travels fast and has resulted in European manufacturers moving quickly to get their games stateside. Not that long ago, it took as long as two years for a new game to get distributed in the U.S.

The value of the Euro increases
David Posthumus, 26, a long-time boardgamer, began hosting weekly game nights at his Grand Rapids home beginning in high school. On a given night there might be as few as four or five or as many as fifteen gathered around the table. Game choices are determined through a loose democracy, tempered by the experience level and size of the audience. The games often last into the early hours of the next morning.

Posthumus enjoys the nuanced play of the Euro games.

"Basically, the Euros are logic focused," he explains. "You score points. It's more abstract and the theme is usually tacked on. Ameritrash games (a non-pejorative term for conventional Western games) take a theme and build core mechanics around it. They are also more random -- you're moving pieces, you have dice rolls...

"What I really like about hobby games are the topics and themes," he continues. " Tales of Arabian Nights, Twilight Struggle, Power Grid, El Grande...they take you into their own world. I sometimes enjoy the manuals as much as the game."

In fact, the detail and scope of some of the games may be too close to reality for some. Pandemic, for example, is a game in which biological viruses are set loose creating life-threatening crises.

"One of my friends doesn't like to play it," Posthumus says. "It makes him uncomfortable."

Boardgaming Killed the Video Star
Posthumus grew up in an era when video games were increasing in sophistication and popularity. Names such as Nintendo, Sega, and Playstation dominated game play. It would seem unlikely that one could move from that environment into boardgaming.

But that's just what John Kalinowski did.

Kalinowski, 26, is a student at Aquinas College and part of a group -- AQ Meeples -- that meets periodically in homes or on campus to play board games. something he once couldn't have imagined himself doing.

"When I was younger I played a lot of video games to a point where it was probably unhealthy," Kalinowski says. "I just couldn't do it anymore."

Kalinowski started meeting new people and discovered board games along the way.

"I started going to game nights. I liked the social aspect of it," Kalinowski says. "But while I was associating, I could still be critically engaged in a game. It was a very different experience.

I don't even like video games anymore," he adds.
Part of Kalinowski's experience, as it is for Vander Ark and Posthumus, are games in which players do not directly compete with each other.

"A lot the games are less direct," Kalinowski says. "What you do on your turn may not even affect anyone else."

See What's In Store
New board games now come almost as fast as video games, according to Vander Ark, and it is difficult to keep up. Names such as Agricola, Dominion, Puerto Rico, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne are becoming widely known and widely played. But newer games pop up daily and there are now more sources for getting them.

Sites such as Amazon.com, fairplaygames.com, and boardsandbits.com offer quick turnaround on game purchases. There are also local store that carry them -- Rider's Hobby Shop  sells a few select games, Schuler Books & Music  and Barnes & Noble  carry many of the more popular editions, and White Cap Comics also has a good selection. What all are finding, perhaps for the first time, is that boardgaming is becoming profitable.

At least that is the case for Jeff Rietveld, 33, who has turned his love of boardgaming into a business, Out of the Box Games and Puzzles in Zeeland.

"I'm not sure the economy is hurting me at all," Rietveld offers. "People are staying home more, doing more things together. Our business model is based on people buying these games."

Rietveld sells other types games -- including card games, party games, and a number of increasingly popular children's board and card games. The store also regularly hosts game nights for both individuals and families.

And along with White Cap Comics, his business has gained FLGS -- or Friendly Local Game Store -- status and a listing in the West Michigan BGG section.

Chairmen of the Boards
Everyone has their favorites. Board Game Geek offers forums and individual space for people to list their top games. And, thanks to the internet, there are more games to list every day.

The consensus is that the new games are here to stay and that the audience will continue to grow. But that doesn't mean older games will disappear.

"Don't knock Monopoly," warns Vander Ark, who includes the classic two-person game, cribbage, among his favorites. Whatever the game, however, he sees the investment as worthwhile:

"Think about it...you go to dinner and movie and you may have the pleasing feeling for awhile that comes from a good meal and you may or may not enjoy the movie. For the same money, you can buy a game that you can play and enjoy many times over."

Anyone for Ticket to Ride?

G.F. Korreck is a free-lance writer, editor, and voice talent living in West Michigan.

Photos:

Jeff Rietveld owner of Out of the Box (3)

Out of the Box Games and Puzzles (3)

Photographs by Josh Tyron-All Rights Reserved

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

Huntington Bank's announcement last week to allot $750 million for new loans over three years to cash-starved small businesses in West Michigan has drawn "extraordinary interest," says Jim Dunlap, Huntington's regional president of West Michigan based in Grand Rapids and its senior executive vice president of commercial banking overseeing the Michigan market.

"There's an enthusiastic willingness to participate. We're very excited with this initial test," says Dunlap in describing the bank's efforts to revise its underwriting requirements to make it easier for small businesses to access capital. "We're trying to be more innovative and flexible . . . and maybe more realistic."

It's no wonder cheers of relief surrounded the announcement. Small businesses traditionally have been the engine for economic recovery and job growth, but during this Great Recession, their recovery has widely been stymied by more rigorous lending practices and tighter credit.

To push through the $750 million in loans as soon as possible, Dunlap says the bank is quickly bringing on board six new small business bankers in West Michigan. This will double its lending staff to process double the amount of money the Columbus-based bank would historically loan to West Michigan small businesses during three years. The majority of the loans are expected to be made this year.

Though Huntington is the nation's 24th largest bank, its lending volume to small businesses ranked it as the nation's 7th largest lender in 2009. In Michigan, it ranked number one in Small Business Administration loans both in amount and volume last fiscal year.

The bank's announcement is part of a sweeping push to offer $4 billion in small business loans in the Midwest over three years, an amount that could translate to an estimated 27,000 loans.

Dunlap says the commitment follows a troubled year when businesses struggled with the recession and made "significant changes" to accommodate the dynamic economy. "I think we'll all agree that 2009 was an unusual year," the bank executive says.

Now, instead of looking primarily at historic payment patterns while deciding to underwrite a loan, Dunlap says bank lenders will look more closely at a company's current performance and its business plan. "That's a really big change," he says.

He says loans to small businesses -- defined as one with annual sales of $15 million or less -- typically ranges from $150,000 to $1.5 million, depending on a company's business plan. The money will be used for working capital, expansion, new equipment and additional staff.

Sources: Jim Dunlap, Huntington Bank's president of West Michigan operations and senior executive vice president of commercial banking overseeing Michigan.

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Photo:

Jim Dunlap, Huntington's regional president

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks 

Thanks to the growing LED market, SoundOff Signal, Inc. in Hudsonville continues to move forward with plans to hire five to seven more workers this year and expects to bring on board more employees in the next several years.

Chief Financial Officer Tom Roe says the company now employs 94 at its engineering and manufacturing site at 3900 Central Pkwy. That's up from 87 a year ago when the company won a seven-year state tax break to invest $6.1 million, mostly in new equipment and staff, to conduct research. New hires primarily have been technical professionals, such as engineers and others who validate test results, he says.

The company intends to continue hiring and purchasing equipment to meet the growing demand of LED lighting for parking structures, office furniture and contract work for LED illumination, he says. This non-automotive work expands its market beyond its current niche in light bars and warning lights for police vehicles, school busses and commercial vehicles. 

LED lighting is more expensive than traditional lighting, but the technology has advantages over incandescent lighting. "We're replacing a lot of incandescent lighting because LED (lighting) lasts longer -- 10 to 15 times longer -- than an incandescent bulb. It also consumes less energy and there is less maintenance cost (to replace the lights)," Roe says. 

SoundOff Signal also offers consulting, engineering and manufacturing services to companies throughout the United States that want to switch to the more energy-efficient lighting, Roe says.

Sales have been slower than the company anticipated a year ago, but they have started to pick up in recent months. "People seem to have more capital to spend, so that's a good sign," Roe says.

SoundOff Signal has yet to take advantage of high-technology grants of up to $1,000 per job, with a cap at $25,000; however, Roe says the company will probably apply to tap that source later this year. 

Roe expects SoundOff Signal to hire five employees every year for the next three years with an additional 25 during the remaining three years ending in 2016 to take full advantage of the seven-year tax break. 

Source: Tom Roe, SoundOff Signal, Inc.'s chief financial officer, Hudsonville.

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

One of the state's first grassroot efforts to merge communities is moving ahead with plans to ask voters to consolidate Saugatuck Township and the cities of Douglas and Saugatuck.

R. J. Peterson, owner of Tower Marine in Douglas and president of the Saugatuck-Douglas Chamber of Commerce, says the efforts of an eight-member committee is one of the very few times a consolidation request like this will bypass the consideration of political bodies and instead be presented directly before the voters.

As one of the eight committee members, he says paperwork on the formation of the group has been filed with the Allegan County clerk so the committee can now develop and circulate petitions to initiate the consideration.

Studies suggest that taxpayers would save money by consolidating the three governmental units.

Peterson says the committee would like to put the question on the ballot as soon as possible but it might take as long as 18 months due to the complexity of state laws.

Source: R. J. Peterson, owner of Tower Marine in Douglas and president of the Saugatuck-Douglas Chamber of Commerce.

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

Put on a happy face! Forget about the state's crabby naysayers.

Residents living in the Lake Michigan communities of Holland and Grand Haven are the second happiest and healthiest people in the nation. At least, that's what the results indicate from a massive new study of Americans' attitudes.

In interviews with more than 350,000 Americans during 2009, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index asked individuals to assess their emotional and physical health, work environment, health behavior and access to basic needs, such as food, medicine and safe living places.

The mayors of Holland and Grand Haven weren't surprised that the assessment of people living in their communities about their own level of happiness was the second highest in America, just behind residents living in the number one city: Boulder, Colo.

"Without saying 'I knew it all along,' this speaks highly of certainly the West Michigan area because it has to do with the quality of life we enjoy along the lake shore," says Grand Haven Mayor Roger Bergman.

"Because we are near the lake, we have the quality of four seasons but they are moderated to an extent by the lake," he says. Summers are cooler and winters are warmer than weather conditions inland.

In addition to this, the communities, which have a combined area population of 260,360, have beautiful downtowns where there is a sense of community and where people want to be to relax. The Grand Haven mayor is a Holland native who owns a retail shoe store in each of the downtowns.

Equally pleased with the survey results, Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra says "this really confirmed internally that those of us who live in Holland know -- this is a special place. It's nice to be on the medal stands," he added in reference to the Olympics where second place earns a silver medal.

"It's especially gratifying to be ranked higher than Honolulu!" he says, laughing about that Hawaiian city's number three status in the rankings.

Attitudes among people living in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area with a combined population of 776,833 ranked 63 in the well-being index. At the bottom of the list of 161 large and medium-sized metro areas was Huntington, W. Va.

The metro area of Washington, D.C. was the only other community ranked in the top 10 east of the Mississippi River. Rounding off the Top 10 list were four communities in California and two in Utah.

In its report of the survey, USA Today says nine of the 10 cities that fared best on "life evaluation", an assessment of life now and expectations in five years, were home to major institutions that traditionally offers some economic insulation during a recession, such as a major university, state Capitol or large military installation.

Sources: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index; USA Today; Roger Bergman, mayor Grand Haven; and Kurt Dykstra, mayor of Holland.

Sharon Hanks is innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. Please send story ideas and comments for the column to Sharon at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com. She also is owner of The Write Words in Grand Rapids.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Deborah Johnson Wood

Phase 2 of the Reeds Lake Trail will break ground as soon as weather permits, providing an off-street walking and cycling path along the east side of Reeds Lake when completed in July.

The path will connect the existing Reeds Lake Trail at Kate Avenue SE between Reeds Lake and the East Beltline and run 0.75 miles northwest along Reeds Lake Blvd. to Manhattan Road SE. Users can then connect to sidewalks to complete the loop around Reeds Lake.

"This phase involves both East Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Township and has been over five years in the works," says East Grand Rapids City Manager Brian Donovan. "It's taken so long because of fundraising and the wetlands plan."

The wetlands plan involved having to eliminate one-half acre of wetlands along portions of the trail. Donovan says the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality required creation of a full acre of wetlands to replace it. The project will create that acre of wetlands near Waterfront Park on the west side of the lake. The city has five years to make the wetlands changes.

Completion of the trail loop allows users to travel off-street for the entire four-plus miles of the loop around the lake. Just north of the trail along the East Beltline, users can connect with Grand Rapids Township trails. In East Grand Rapids, bike lane markings on Wealthy Street run from Gaslight Village to the west city limits, where Donovan says Grand Rapids officials propose to continue the lane markings to downtown Grand Rapids.

Nearly $600,000 of the trail completion's $790,000 price tag is from private donations. Donovan says the project is within $3,000 of its goal. Those interested in providing a donation can contact the city of East Grand Rapids for more information.

Source: Brian Donovan, City of East Grand Rapids

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Deborah Johnson Wood

Dan Socie is an all-around guy – a freelance graphics and web designer by trade, and an amateur endurance athlete by hobby. And now he's an inventor.

Socie has invented an embrocation for use by runners and cyclists to warm up their muscles before they run outside in cold weather.

An embrocation is a warming liniment that's applied topically. Socie's embrocation consists of shea butter, capsaicin, black pepper and menthol. He and his business partner Geoff Kuyper are marketing it under the brand and business name Soigneur (swan-yer).

"Soigneur is French for 'an assistant,'" Socie says. "In professional cycling, a soigneur is an assistant that gets water, arranges for or does massage therapy, gets the food, and is basically the athlete's personal assistant. I wanted to make a product to take the soigneur role for amateur athletes."

Socie says cyclists who bike in cold weather have used European embrocations, but he plans to market his product to runners and skiers as well. He says athletes apply the embrocation to their legs before running, biking or skiing. The shea butter keeps the product on the skin, and body heat activates the capsaicin that warms the skin. That warmth penetrates to the muscles.

"Your legs are warm and it's nicer to go out in the cold with warm legs," Socie says. "It enhances the experience. When you go for a run or ride in the cold weather, it takes 20 minutes, half an hour to warm up. This product speeds up that process and you can get to the more enjoyable part of your workout sooner."

Socie says he spent the past year working with a Scottsdale, Ariz. laboratory and manufacturer to develop the product.

The embrocation is available for advance order online at www.soigneur.net and will begin shipping at the end of February. A launch party to introduce the product is planned for February 24 at Richard App Gallery from 6 to 10 p.m.

Source: Dan Socie, Soigneur

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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A successful local bar owner is looking to launch two more restaurant-bar establishments along the growing entertainment corridor of Commerce Avenue in Grand Rapids that has seen construction of apartments, condos, and a fine art gallery.

According to excerpts from the story:

The owner of downtown's bustling HopCat beer bar has a couple of new restaurant and bar concepts in the works that should help liven things up on Commerce Avenue SW this spring. Mark Sellers recently purchased a former auto repair place at 53 Commerce Ave. SW with plans to open the two bars there by May.

Stella's Lounge (named for Sellers' two-year-old yellow lab) will feature a 1970s vibe with an entrance off the alley at the rear of the building facing Ionia Avenue SW. He's hired artist Erwin Erkfitz to create works that will hammer home the theme. You may remember Erkfitz from his colorful ArtPrize entries on South Division Avenue and Cherry Street SW.

The second bar, Viceroy, will have a more Art Deco aesthetic, face Commerce and feature work by Kendall College's Jeff Burtle, whom Sellers thinks is one of the city's great unknown talents. Sellers is bullish on the Commerce corridor thanks to 38 Commerce, the mixed-use project across the street which is nearing the final stages of construction, and Gallery on Fulton, which is set to open in September.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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New survey results from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics and the Employers' Association show which occupations tend to have higher average pay in West Michigan. Wages in West Michigan lag between 10 to 12 percent behind Detroit and Chicago in many cases. Pay in the private sector lags that of government workers, and non-union pay is less than union wages.

According to excerpts from the story:

The federal survey is a good starting point for evaluating job offers, said Glenn Triezenberg, director of career development at Calvin.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

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.

But thanks to private investors and generous tax incentives by the city and state, the nearly 500,000-square-foot site has been transformed into Hangar42 Studios, a comprehensive, full-service film production studio that officials say may employ up 1,000 workers within three years.

The sound stages range in size from 1,000 to 300,000 square feet, with a 45-foot ceiling height, making it the largest in the world, studio officials say, and allow for big-budget Hollywood productions.

Owned by a group of local investors, the studio at 2150 Alpine Ave. NW is now actively accepting resumes at its website for 50 to 60 full-time administrative positions. While no job descriptions are posted, workers are encouraged to submit information as to what they could offer the studio.

Once film production heats up, more workers could be needed to provide assistance with a wide range of services, such as hair, costumes, props, filming, sound, grips -- everything one can imagine that a movie producer might need.

The studio also wants to forge strategic partnerships with vendors of services and supplies who can submit information on the website as well.

"We're just excited to get this off the ground," says Rick Hert, executive director of the West Michigan Tourist Association and film commissioner of the West Michigan Film Office. Developers "laid low deliberately" because they wanted to make sure the project was off and running.

"In the past, others have jumped the gun and we didn't want to be in that position," Hert says. "We're just now going out actively to market the studios. We've had significant interest from a number of film producers who are interested in coming to see the space. We'll have some announcements real soon."

Hanger42 is being billed as "Michigan's first full-financed major film studio to open utilizing the infrastructure credit as part of the Michigan Film Credit and is a major milestone in the continued development of the state's film industry."

Hangar42 Studios will offer world-class studio services with production support, pre and post-production space, financial services, office space, screening rooms, storage, cafeteria and concierge services.

The factory was built in 1942 by the U.S. government to manufacture parts for military airplanes and boats. It later was a General Motors parts plant and most recently a Lear seat-trim factory. Local investors invested $45 million to purchase and renovate 450,000 square feet with a 50,000-square-foot mezzanine to be added later.

Sources: Rick Hert, executive director of the West Michigan Tourist Association and film commissioner of the West Michigan Film Office; Tara Powers of Lambert, Edwards & Associates of Grand Rapids; Hangar42 Studio's website.

Sharon Hanks is the innovations and jobs news editor at Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

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.

A retired professor from GVSU, Wolter and his partners have signed an agreement with the university to lease 1,000 square feet of lab and office space in the MAREC business incubator facility at 200 Viridian Dr. in the downtown Muskegon SmartZone.

"Initially we're going to work on using energy storage to enhance the capabilities of power systems," Wolter says of his Energy Partners, LLC, which will first focus on uninterrupted power systems to keep power going in such critical work environments as operating rooms.

Working closely with Coffman Electrical Equipment in Grand Rapids, Wolter says they'll work on commercializing their discoveries with new product offerings Coffman can bring to market. The company will open with one employee, George Jaeger, a Hope college-trained biologist.

"I think renewable energy is an engine of rebirth for not just Michigan, but the U.S. economy," says Wolter, a physicist who retired in December as a professor of business and new market development. "It's an area that represents economic potential, which means jobs creation, and an improvement in our ecological environment. This is all clean energy."

Energy Partners is the third incubator tenant at MAREC, joining Logical Lighting Co. who moved in last October, and Smart Vision Light who has been with MAREC for two years. With the addition of Energy Partners, MAREC's incubator lab space is now two-thirds full.

MAREC is one of 11 SmartZones created by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. in 2001 to promote and attract high-technology business development in the state.

Source: James Wolter of Energy Partners, LCC of Muskegon

Related articles: Fledging Logical Lighting Systems moves to Muskegon's alternative energy center.

Software firm prepares to showcase energy efficiency systems at MAREC

MAREC invents breakthrough residential wind turbine technology


Sharon Hanks is the innovations and job news editor at Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

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.

The grant approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission matches a $1.4 million federal grant awarded last year to MAREC to research the feasibility of deployment of offshore wind technologies in Michigan, officials say. The research would be conducted in partnership with the University of Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute.

The grant brings the total research fund to $2.7 million, "but it's not enough to conduct the offshore research project as to the kind we'd like," says MAREC Director T. Arnold (Arn) Boezaart, noting that officials estimate the research project to cost between $5 million to $6 million. "It's a very big project and this is an important step. There's a lot to be learned out there. We're about two-thirds home with (starting) this project.

"We're hoping to find a third partner or stakeholder for this project," Boezaart says. "Perhaps someone from the private sector would be willing to invest with the two universities."

Boezaart is hoping more funds can be raised so the project could begin within the next 12 months.

Located in the Muskegon Lakeshore SmartZone on Muskegon Lake, MAREC is a business incubator overseen by Grand Valley State University that offers office and laboratory space to start-up technology companies in the alternative and renewable energy fields.

Sources: T. Arnold (Arn) Boezaart, Director of GVSU's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon; Michigan Public Service Commission; and GVSU.

Sharon Hanks is the innovations and job news editor at Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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By Sharon Hanks

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.

Starting this year, high school students can earn up to 40 college credits at career and technical programs that can be transferred this fall to any of the 14 Davenport campuses statewide. More than half of these classes are held at a high school campus, state education officials say.

By next year, with 40 credits under their belt, the deal would allow students to enter Davenport at a status as high as a sophomore.

"We've been working on this for more than two years," says Carol Clark, a Lansing consultant for the Michigan Department of Education's Office of Career and Technical Education. "It's so exciting. I don't think there are any local-control states in the country that have a statewide articulation of this magnitude, especially with a university.

"The whole idea is to get students into college, save the parents and students money, and make sure they are progressing as quickly as they can through the college system," Clark says. "We want to get them into the job market well-trained and well-educated."

In the past, only students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes in high school might be granted college credit at many colleges statewide. But those students enrolled in career and technical education programs were rejected for college credits, even though their programs have become "very rigorous" compared to a generation ago, the consultant says.

The classes cover thousands of programs, including those in health education, public safety and early childhood education that are held either at a high school campus or such places as the Kent Career Technical Center, the Allegan Career Center, and Montcalm Area Career Center.

She says talks of the agreement began when she and Davenport administrator Chris Marx struck up a conversation at an education conference.

"We hope other universities and colleges will step up to the plate and see this as a valuable system for students and contact us with a similar proposal," she says, thereby allowing students to transfer credits to institutions other than Davenport. "This is just the starting point. We've already been contacted by two community colleges."

Source: Carol Clark, Lansing consultant for the Michigan Department of Education's Office of Career and Technical Education; Davenport University

Sharon is the innovations and job news editor at Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at sharon@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Deborah Johnson Wood

Grand 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 University

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Have a development news tip for Rapid Growth? Contact us at info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Converting 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: Rapid Growth
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A company in Holland Township is developing a "Renewable Fuel System" that transforms crops such as apples and corn into ethanol and animal feed. eFarms LLC is looking for about five farmers to test its system this summer with hopes of producing and selling the units later this year, each for less than $100,000.

According to excerpts from the story:

"This is a stand-alone machine that a farmer can put in a 24-by-24 pole barn and run it themselves, getting not only fuel for the farm, but nutritious feed," said eFarms Operations Manager Richard Edmonds, noting any crop with a high sugar content could be used for processing.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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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. He purchased the 10-story waterfront Shoreline Inn and Suites last year, along with related properties.

According to excerpts from the story:

The new Shoreline Inn Conference Center will feature event seating for 368 people — with an additional 177 seats outdoors. The yet-to-be-named restaurant would have another 90 seats. Compared to the former Rafferty's, the conference space will be expanded with a "several hundred-thousand dollar" renovation, Rooks said.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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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.

Source: Rapid Growth
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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.

Source: Rapid Growth
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On a crisp February morning, light streams in the barn windows at Lowell's Meadowview Farm. Despite the snow outside, instructor Katie Johnson leads a small group of horses and riders around the indoor arena, mallets held high.

Right in the midst of the Midwest winter, it's time to learn how to play polo.

"I grew up riding and showing horses, but I had never played polo until college," says Johnson, who graduated from Lowell High School and earned a bachelor's in business administration and master's in business management from Aquinas College. "I was horrible at first, but now I love it."

As her love for the sport grew, Johnson knew Meadowview could play a key role in making polo more accessible to other riders in West Michigan.

"Normally you have to have a truck, trailer, horse, and all your own equipment in order to play," she says. "Here, for $50 a session, you can lease a horse and equipment and come out and play at your convenience." The cost includes all coaching, equipment, and the care and use of a polo horse at each practice session. Meadowview's indoor arena means that players are able to practice and compete year-round.

And people do. Since the polo school began, there's been an increase in awareness that a sport usually associated with East and West Coast cities is available here in metro Grand Rapids.

"This winter we have enough players to have a beginner league of around eight students who come to ride on a regular basis," Johnson says. Practices are held three to five times per week, and summer brings tournaments and travel, often to Toronto, Detroit and Chicago.

Horse Sense
Meadowview Farm, 80 acres of fields and pastures between Ada and Lowell, has been in the Johnson family for 28 years. Johnson's parents, Les and Cathy Johnson, both grew up riding and raised their family on the property while they taught riding lessons as well as showed and boarded horses.

"I grew up skinning my knees in this barn," says Johnson, 28, whose parents still live in the white house surrounded by red barns and fields. And while her parents and extended family are still active in training, riding, and showing horses, it's Johnson who decided to launch a polo school on the property almost three years ago.

Johnson says students range from college students to professionals and come from both riding and non-riding backgrounds.

Her cousin, Matt Johnson, 34, an attorney at Warner, Norcross & Judd who grew up around horses but never rode, learned to ride and play polo at the same time. Matt was a reluctant convert to the sport. "I had all these notions of an aristocratic sport that involved a lot of technical English riding," he says. At his Uncle Les's repeated suggestion, he finally gave in and gave the sport a try.

No Fisticuffs
"I quickly realized that polo is a fun, competitive sport played by people from very different backgrounds and skill levels," Matt Johnson says. "This 'sport of kings' is really like playing hockey on horseback, with a few different rules -- and no fist fights."

Matt Johnson is the president of the Meadowview Farm Polo Club, a not-for-profit arm of the farm that hosts the tournaments and polo club activities that take place there throughout the summer. He also serves as assistant coach to the Michigan State University Polo Club and assists Johnson with teaching the rules of polo as well as game strategy at the beginner's polo school.

Another polo school student, Shannon Reincke, 42, came to the sport differently. Johnson and Reincke met at a monthly wine-tasting dinner at The Schnitz in Ada, hosted by Grand River Grocery. When Johnson discovered that Reincke had grown up riding, she talked her into coming to a polo practice at Meadowview the very next morning.

"I hadn't ridden in 15 years," laughs Reincke, "but even as a kid I had wanted to play polo. It was one of my 'bucket-list' things, but how would you ever do that as a 40-year-old in Grand Rapids?"

Even though she had grown up in Ada and had riding experience, Reincke was thrilled to discover polo at Meadowview. "The thing I was amazed about was, having some connection to the culture, I still never knew this existed here. I think there are other people out there like me, who think of polo as something intimidating, but it's not."

A Cool Way to Escape
Reincke came to that Saturday morning practice, and "now I'm hooked." A graphic designer, parent, and life-long Grand Rapidian, Reincke sees polo as a little escape from real life. "It's just fun. When you're the mom of a teenager, it's hard for your kid to think you're cool, but my kid thinks this is cool."

Reincke also affirms the convenience of playing at Meadowview. "It's easy to be involved. It's low responsibility: everything is here and available, so I can just show up with my boots on and play."

Polo school students begin with a private lesson to assess their riding ability and learn the basics of the swing. At each practice, students ride one of Meadowview's 19 polo horses and wear plenty of safety equipment, including hard helmets with a face mask, knee guards, and boots. As protection against the wooden mallets and balls, even the horses wear protective legwear.

While her parents and sister, Hillary, continue to manage the farm and teach at the riding school, Johnson wants to keep growing the polo school. As one of only two polo clubs in Michigan, Meadowview is poised to figure in the sport's resurgence in the area. Noting that polo flourished in Grand Rapids during the 1980s, with 100 members in the club and regular games at Fallasburg Park, Johnson believes that "the next generation is just getting started again as the torch is passed."

She points out that because metro Grand Rapids is surrounded by rural areas, people with horse backgrounds are not difficult to find, and she thinks those people could be drawn to polo as something new and challenging to do on a horse.

With two outdoor arenas, one 150 by 300 feet and the other 160 by 300 yards, in addition to the indoor arena, Meadowview is making the year-round sport as accessible as possible, a change that Johnson says reflects changes in the culture of the sport, too.

"It's becoming more female-oriented and it's conducive to building relationships. You're an individual, but you're also a part of a team," she says. Students hang back to talk after practice, drinking coffee in the heated observation area.

Johnson also sees the sport becoming more club-like rather than structured around professional competitions. "It has competition and camaraderie. Plus it's family-friendly and a lot of fun to come watch on a beautiful Saturday afternoon with a picnic," which Johnson encourages.

After the Saturday morning polo school students have galloped back and forth in the indoor arena, the horse's breath visible and the barn cat watching lazily, Reincke gives a beginner's take on the sport: "I just like it when I hit the ball."

Stephanie Doublestein writes and blogs about food, business, and parenting, among other things. She lives in East Grand Rapids with her husband and their two young daughters.

Photos:

Meadowview Farm  Lowell

Shannon Reinke

Saddling up for polo

Polo team

Katie Johnson team founder

Polo game in play

Shannon Reinke leads her horse off the field

Photographs by Brian Kelly -All Rights Reserved

Source: Rapid Growth
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It's odd at first to hear plans of a successful coffee shop owner and his partners that encourages people in metro Grand Rapids to make and drink their coffee at home, buying their beans at prices well above supermarket rates.

Nothing about the Direct Trade Coffee Club sounds like the profit-based business model. And you'd be right.

"The purpose is to promote direct trade, not to sell coffee," says Kirby Watson, partner in the DTCC along with MadCap Coffee Co. owner Trevor Corlett, and MadCap employees Chad Morton and Ryan Knapp. Ultimately, joining this club means trying to get more money in the hands of poor coffee farmers in Central America by cutting out the "coyotes," or middlemen.

But as you listen to the underpinnings of the DTCC and another small company called Bean By Bean, it sounds as if individuals in West Michigan are trying to apply the free enterprise model to correct a social problem of not paying people fairly for their labors.

"We support the families that help make your daily brew," says Derrell Jackson of Bean By Bean, a direct trade coffee supplier in Jenison. Jackson and his wife, Missy, both 30, own the company and are part of a new crop of entrepreneurs taking social responsibility to new levels.

When the Jacksons launched Bean By Bean – a combined e-commerce and personal delivery direct trade coffee service – they found a way to draw attention to the poverty of small-scale Central American coffee growers who are in danger of being edged out by large commercial farms: they put photographs of the suppliers, the farmers and their families on the company's packaging and web site.

Like Bean By Bean, DTCC says that regular visits to the growers are a vital aspect of its business.

"We see the needs of the farmer, and trading with them directly allows us to meet the needs," says Corlett, 32. As he reviewed the one-year anniversary of MadCap Coffee in downtown Grand Rapids this past January, Corlett says on MadCap's web site that "the thing that impacted us most as a company was the incorporation of our own direct trade program," the result of hiring Morton in summer last year.

"We don't want to throw fair trade under the bus," says Morton, 35. "But there's a better model and we believe there's a better option to change the lives of the people who grow the coffee."

Morton was a founder of EVO Coffee, a fair trade venture he left that has since been acquired by Fair Haven Ministries. Pastor Doug McClintic says the Hudsonville church intends to rework the EVO Coffee business model and relaunch the concept later this year.  Morton says he is pursuing a different route through DTCC.

"Today's brew at MadCap is Finca de Dios, from the Ellen Prentice farm in Guatemala," Morton says. "We paid over $2 a pound green (beans), paid to Ellen directly.

"Fair trade right now is $1.33 to the co-op, not to the farmer," Morton adds. "In a fair trade transaction, the farmer sells to a co-op below fair trade price and the co-op sells at the fair trade price. Plus there are fees involved to participate."

DTCC and Bean By Bean owners say they pay the farmer directly for the product – DTCC pays at the beginning of the growing season, Bean By Bean pays at harvest – and then the companies handle all freight charges, processing costs, roasting and packaging.

Bean By Bean launched in 2007 with just 150 pounds of green coffee beans from one Guatemalan grower; last year the company purchased 4,000 pounds of beans from four family farms in Guatemala and Nicaragua.

"These small-scale farmers live day-to-day, barely making enough to make it through the season," says Derrell Jackson. "We're paying directly to them so we know that they're getting the money."

The Jacksons import the beans and hire Grand Rapids' Ferris Coffee & Nut to do the roasting in small batches, producing dark, medium and hazelnut roasts. All are available for purchase through the company web site; some orders are shipped, local orders are delivered.

Bean By Bean's packaging center is a room in the Jackson's basement, certified for use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both Jacksons work full-time jobs and operate the coffee business on the side. Several partnerships have opened doors for sales: coffee delivery to area churches, networking at Fair Trade fairs, and a partnership with Trillium Haven Farm to offer the coffee to its members.

The DTCC has a vision for supplying direct trade coffee to customers on a national scale by using roasters from around the U. S. that have established, direct trade coffee roasting businesses. Members buy a 3-, 6-, 9- or 12-month membership and receive a different coffee from a different roaster delivered to their door every month. MadCap and Chicago's Intelligentsia Coffee are the first two roasters in the endeavor.

A secondary goal is establishing a national direct trade standard for all direct trade coffee importers based on DTCC's Direct Trade Pledge, which all of its roasters must use as a basis of operation. The pledge states, in part, that the coffee scores 85 points or above on the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA/CQI) scale, the accepted coffee quality rating system; the roaster visits the farmer at least once annually; and the roaster pays a fair price and helps to educate the farmer on producing quality coffee.

"We are trying to define very specifically what direct trade is and what is involved, who is doing it and who is not doing it," Morton says. "I just got back from Guatemala visiting the farmers, buying pre-harvest, identifying environmental aspects of farming like trimming bushes, composting, making sure they have the resources to do what they can."

"There's no governing body for direct trade," says Watson, 43. "We've been approached by other roasters to be part of the Direct Trade Coffee Club, but their business practices are not direct trade as we've defined them. We've declined three roasters; another dozen we've removed from our list."

The education starts with the DTCC web site; the rest comes in the member welcome kit with the first coffee shipment which includes a booklet on the coffee production process and the origin of the DTCC, suggested brewing methods and a Hario dripper coffee brewer. With every shipment, the roaster includes information about that particular coffee, the grower and the production method.

But if you're looking for an inexpensive brew, your local supermarket brand will suit you better. Through DTCC, a three-month subscription for one pound of coffee a month runs $66. A Bean By Bean Large Sampler of five coffees (total 2.5 lbs.) is $25.

"It all goes back to perceived value," Corlett says. "Nothing breaks my heart more than someone who complains about a $3 cup of coffee when so many hands have touched it. Not only are we trying to be sustainable, but we're paying the growers what they deserve."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

It's only about a month since Christmas, and a good many consumers in metro Grand Rapids are feeling the downside of Santa's largesse.

Now that the flat screen TV is up on the wall for the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics, the old boxy cathode ray tube TV is banished to the corner like a naughty brat. The new Blu-ray DVD player makes the old VCR bear an uncanny resemblance to 8-track tape player. And that old computer is just so slooooow compared with the new 64-bit powerhouse.

It's the hangover from Christmas or just plain obsolesce: mounds of electronics with some life left or bearing components made of nasty stuff -- more than 383 tons of e-waste collected by Kent County last year alone.

But there's hope for anyone who wants a clear conscience, along with a clean corner in the living room. Instead of pitching electronics in the trash, there's places in metro Grand Rapids that take your tired equipment for deconstruction or sale to those who can reuse the devices.

And come April 1, a new state law takes effect requiring manufacturers of new computers and televisions to offer takeback programs that promote e-waste recycling. The new law stipulates that any retailer, even Internet, catalog, or manufacturer direct ones, can only sell "new computers and televisions manufactured by registered manufacturers" that are participants in the program.

While it's too late for the shopping season just passed, the new law should help control e-waste with purchases going forward.

Spring cleaning
Once the weather warms and spring cleaning begins in earnest, the 70 or so employees at Valley City Environmental Services Inc. step into high gear, a pace they likely will not have seen since the Christmas holiday season. Valley City is the region's premier recycler of electronic consumer goods – everything from personal computers to tape recorders to cell phones.

In the shadow of Kent County's massive incinerator on Market Avenue SW, the company operates a 65,000-square-foot waste processing center and a small retail store for used electronics that are deemed of potential use to someone.

Instead of going to landfills or incinerators, the 40-year-old firm dismantles electronic equipment and gives it new life in one form or another.

"Christmas and spring are the traditional time for people to get their recycling hats on, so e-waste falls into that category,'' says Dave Perry, electronics recycling manager for Valley City.

Valley City works with Fortune 500 companies, county and municipal waste departments and rural communities so people can safely dispose of unwanted electronics. This reduces the likelihood of finding e-junk dumped along a country road, Perry notes.

A fleet of more than two dozen trucks collect e-waste throughout the Lower Peninsula. Back in Grand Rapids, workers separate or extract wire, plastic, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other components. Hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, are safely removed.

In all, some three million pounds of electronic waste is processed annually, and "by weight, TVs account for the highest volume of what we recycle,'' Perry says. "We're tied into roughly 40 recycling programs in the Lower Peninsula.''

Yet electronics account for only one-fifth of Valley City's business operations. It primarily handles industrial, hazardous and chemical wastes.

Part of the solution
A fair amount of Valley City's electronic waste stream comes from Kent County, which launched an e-waste collection program in August, 2001.

In the first five months of operation that year, the county collected 50 tons of electronic waste. And while that sounds like a lot, the county handled more than seven times that amount last year, says Dennis Kmiecik, director of solid waste for the Kent County Department of Public Works.

"We try to stay on top and we saw this coming; the emphasis on recycling electronic products," Kmiecik says. "We have three collection spots and people use it, based on tonnage. It requires making a special trip, but the drop-off programs are free and that makes it attractive." Kent County pays for the e-waste recycling program with solid waste disposal fees.

Kent County residents can drop off their e-waste at the North Kent Recycle and Transfer Station west of Rockford, the South Kent Landfill in Byron Center or the downtown recycling facility at 322 Bartlett St. SW. The county's website lists other local operations that take e-waste, include Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids and Comprenew Environmental.

Falling prices and greater availability of flat screen sets generated a spike in older TVs dropped off at Kent's three e-collection sites. "Lots of TVs came in last year and we're anticipating more VCRs as people switch over to DVD players," Kmiecik says.

Valley City accepts e-waste at its 1040 Market Ave. SW site for a fee depending on the item. For instance, TVs are $10 to $15, depending on the size, Perry says. "The point to understand is that there is a cost to recycling; that cost has to be paid by either the person generating it, a municipal program and hopefully soon, the manufacturers.

"More electronics are made less expensively and with the technology upgrades, equipment becomes obsolete so quickly these days,'' Perry says. "With technology rapidly changing, the useful life of many consumer electronics is three to four years.''

Too often, electronic dinosaurs end up overseas for recycling and often were handled in ways that weren't eco-friendly, Perry says. "For us, we decided we wanted to separate ourselves from the competition,'' he explains."We decided we weren't going to send materials overseas for scrapping, but do it internally.''

Workers dismantle and hand-sort thousands of components arriving weekly. Plastics go in one bin, wire in another bin and so on. Compacted material is shipped to businesses that focuses on recovering each raw material contained within the commodities. You don't have to worry about old love letters buried in your hard drive resurfacing. Valley City wipes out hard drives and can also shred them into pieces.

The process of deconstructing electronic goods is not as simple as it sounds – at least when it comes to making it environmentally safe.

Many older home computer monitors and large, bulky television sets are likely to have cathode ray tubes that create the images we see. CRTs often contain phosphors and leaded glass; not the sort of thing you handle haphazardly.

Far less ominous in terms of bulk are non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, copper and even a small amount of precious metals such as palladium -- a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal. Valley City also retrieves gold plating from tiny components such as computer pins and contacts.

Perry says he anticipates more recycling come April when e-waste recycling events start popping up. It is part of a state law requiring manufacturers to provide free and convenient recycling options for Michigan residents if they want to sell products here.

Retail heavy-weights such as Best Buy may have collection points at stores where people buying new computers can drop off their old ones, Kmiecik says, and it is up to the computer makers – not the retailers -- to set up that arrangement, based on his understanding of the law.
"I have to believe the Best Buys will have an arrangement with those companies, but I don't know how they're going to do it," he says. "They could have pallets full of these big, bulky materials."

"It's where we are headed as a society,'' Perry says. "Throwing old computers in the trash or dumping them along the river bank is not acceptable.''

Consumers cash in
Valley City's location across from the Grand River and a short distance from the Market Avenue exit off of Int. 196 makes it relatively easy to find. A sign on the front door directs e-store patrons to the retail entrance.

If you're a computer geek or someone looking for great deals, Valley City is an oasis of second-hand and refurbished wares. The place exudes e-harmony during its limited hours of operation Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Valley City's e-store may have whatever it is you need to build your own computer, fix a computer or to test-drive technology without paying the showroom price.

A complete home computer set-up, sans the operating system, costs about $100. A computer mouse might run $3. Bins hold a large assortment of CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, case fans and USB keyboards.

Another draw is its collection of hard-to-find items that may no longer be carried by chain stores, Perry says, "parts and pieces that are no longer carried or in stock.'' Valley City soon will offer operating systems with some of the computers so people can take them home and start using them immediately.

A fair number of computers have plenty of life left; especially ones that come from large corporations that routinely replace equipment every three to four years, Perry says. "There are some really terrific bargains.''

In addition to walk-in traffic, mom and pop businesses buy computers, install the operating systems and put them up for sale.

It is not unusual for a dozen or so people to be lined up outside the store before doors open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning. Some come to fraternize with other like-minded techies while some want to scope out new arrivals.

"It's a popular place for a certain segment of the population,'' Perry says. "With more and more people fascinated with home electronics, it's an area we expect will grow.'' And that, he says, "is a good problem to have.''

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

A former manufacturing plant is getting a new role to play in West Michigan.

The former Lear Corp. automotive manufacturing plant at 2150 Alpine Av ... Read More e. in Walker is the new home for Hanger42 Studios, which opened for business today.

The new space features the world's largest sound stage and occupies 450,000 square feet of the renovated facility.

Owned by a group of local investors, Hanger42 invested $45 million in the property, making it the latest tenant in the 750,000-square-foot Lear building, rennovated and renamed Avastar Park in 2007.

The building and its surrounding 40 acres is a cornerstone property in GrandWalk, a 1,200-acre redeveloped, sustainable business park created by The Right Place in conjunction with municipal, state and local partners. View Less

Source: Grand Rapids Business Journal/The Right Place

When Mark Van Holstyn moved into a house he bought in September in Grand Rapids, the former owners left behind some items that he didn't want and probably couldn't sell easily -- light fixtures, blinds, marble countertops.

Putting these useful items out with the trash was also out of the question for Van Holstyn, 25. While contributing the items to charitable organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army were an option, he decided to try a new Internet based reuse service called Blue Bin founded by a Holland entrepreneur that aims to make it easy to link givers with takers.

Van Holstyn has gotten mixed results from Blue Bin as the items that he posted are still looking for a new home, but he picked up a countertop radio that he wanted through the system. "Overall it's a been a positive experience and we will keep using BlueBin, " says Van Holstyn, partner and software developer at Mutually Human Software in Grand Rapids.

Reuse instead of refuse
Brandon Keepers thinks there may be a significant untapped market nationally by serving people like Van Holstyn -- computer savvy individuals who are looking for an alternative to Freecycle and other websites that facilitate the reuse and recycing of unwanted items.
So Keepers launched his Blue Bin website last summer to improve upon flaws that he sees in Freecycle model of recycling. Others apparently like his approach. Keepers won the Lakeshore Advantage/Elevator Up Pitch Night Competition last October after he explained the business model of Blue Bin to an audience of about 100 people. Pitch Night serves as a local platform for entrepreneurs to practice their investor "pitch" and get feedback from people in the business community on how to move their business ventures forward.

"Winning the competition really helped," says Keepers, 27, a web application developer at Collective Idea , a Holland-based software development company. "Many folks in the audience were enthused about the concept, which kept me fired up. It also helped keep the momentum going after the initial excitement of the launch only a few months earlier."

Himself a former user of Freecycle, Keepers agrees wholeheartedly with the mission of the grassroots online organization that was founded to promote reuse of items and reduce waste going to landfill. Deron Beal started Freecyle.org in 2003 as a Yahoo! group with less than 30 members to help promote recycling in Tucson, Ariz. After one year, there were a million members, and now the network has nearly 7 million members worldwide that help reuse an estimated 700 tons of material a day.

But he says that the use of Freecycle can be a "painful experience" after listing an item on the service because a person can be inundated with e-mails in response to the posting. On the other side of the equation, a person interested in a particular item may get barraged with e-mails about unrelated goods. "I knew I could make the user experience better," Keepers says.

Reducing clutter
Jodi Schaap, 26, joined Blue Bin about four months ago after she heard about the service from her husband Aaron, who is a founder of the Elevator Up organization that co-sponsored Pitch Night. "He came home and just mentioned that I should check it out," Schaap says. "I'm kind of a Craigslist fiend so he's always looking out for new things to try and telling me about them."

Like the Keepers, Schaap was also active with Freecyle before becoming frustrated with the user experience, which she terms as "terrible." As a believer in recycling and reuse, she uses Craigslist for items that have value in selling, and when time allows, she will also make the cross town drive to a Goodwill location in Holland. However, she thinks that it may be easier and convenient to list items on Blue Bin, reducing household clutter on her own schedule.

"So far I've gotten rid of children's toys and books on Blue Bin," she says. "My overall impression of the site is very good. I'm impressed with the look of the site, compared to the other "free" sites out there -- the user experience is about 1,000 times better. It's easier to read through, browse and the contact back and forth with prospective 'buyers.'"

Blue Bin takes its name from the ubiquitous blue recycling boxes found throughout neighborhoods that are used to recycle paper, plastic and glass items instead of sending them to dumps. According to Keepers, Blue Bin has 515 registered users from more than 70 cities and between 600-700 unique visits per week.

Although the site does not list the number of current members, Keepers is working to add this information in the near future. "My plan to add the number of members in specific communities versus an overall member count. It's one of those things on my 'to-do' list," he says.

Working the web
What differentiates the Blue Bin experience is its web-based design, Keepers says, which allows individuals to post products for exchange without being bombarded with e-mails as they would on Freecycle, thanks to search criteria such as specific items of interest and geographic radius from their homes. They are still are notified by e-mail on Blue Bin, but only on items that fall under the specific search criteria, he says.

Keepers says Blue Bin does not have the on-line traffic to generate income at this point, and the only overhead of running the site is his sweat equity and modest costs for hosting the service. However, he acknowledges that to sustain this venture there will need to be multiple revenue streams.

The current plan is to keep building membership through promoting the site using social media tools such as Facebook. Besides word-of-mouth and social media, Keepers has just begun using Google Adwords for an on-line advertising presence. He also plans to print some flyers and posters to be used locally to promote the service. The overall goal is to build the membership base of Blue Bin so that it can sustain itself, then hopefully add Blue Bin to the Collective Idea family of businesses.

"There are creative advertising models that I will explore when the service takes off, Keepers says. These could range from online advertising to a classified ad business model. In the meantime, Brandon is exploring ways to improve the user experience by developing "some type of reputation tool to help identify top reusers."
 

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

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

"We have a lot of aggressive growth plans both nationally and internationally," GFT's Media Relations Manager Tim Gort says. Sales hit $164.7 million in 2008 when the company hired 94 more workers. Revenues are estimated to be even higher for 2009 when 46 more employees were added to its workforce.

As a world-leading currency trader, GFT now employs 170 and serves customers in more than 120 countries, he says.

The company is actively recruiting several types of knowledge-based workers, including web designers, web developers, writers, project managers, business analysts, and sales representatives, Gort says. GFT has been primarily working with recruiters to fill the positions, but Gort encourages candidates to apply directly by e-mailing their resumes to Joe Force, GFT's vice president of marketing, at jforce@gftforex.com. He expects job descriptions to be posted on Rapid Growth Media's website later this month.

To house the growing workforce, GFT this month completed its move to larger quarters in the Atrium Woods building at 618 Kenmoor Ave. SE. It formerly operated in three offices in the Alten Oaks office complex in the 4000-block along E. Fulton St. near Forest Hills Avenue.

The forex market, also known as the currency market, spot forex or currency trading, is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another in order to gain a profit. Almost anyone with an understanding of market trends and analysis and a willingness to take risks can trade currencies online with GFT.

"It takes a significant amount of investment and time," Gort says, "Our customer is anyone interested in speculation and has the risk capital to do so. It ranges from individuals who have jobs to individuals who make this a fulltime endeavor, and everyone in between. A person can open an account for as little as $200. The significance comes in the amount of time to just understand the market and to trade currencies online. We have a lot of educational tools that help them and a lot of them are free."

Since GFT was established in 1997 in the home of founder and Chief Executive Officer Gary Tilkin in Ada, it has earned numerous awards for its growth, technology and entrepreneurship.

According to its website, GFT was listed in 2009 for the third year in a row by Inc. 500 magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. In 2005, the Edward Lowe Foundation named it as one of Top 50 Companies to Watch in Michigan for Entrepreneurship. And in 2004, Ernst & Young honored Tilkin with its regional Entrepreneur of the Year award, earning him the prestigious status of a national finalist.

In addition to its Grand Rapids headquarters, GFT has offices in New York City, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, and Dubai.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Grand Rapids-based OST (Open Systems Technology) plans to nearly double its revenue from $34 million last year to $60 million by 2012 and add 25 jobs to make that happen.

OST is an information technology services company that provides services ranging from hardware sales to business process consulting in healthcare, manufacturing and finance.

President Dan Behm owes the expected growth to a major shift in geographic operations and the recent addition of an advisory board.

"We previously hired sales reps in Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Detroit and planned to have offices in every major city in the U.S.," Behm says. "Now we're only going to have two hubs – a corporate hub in Grand Rapids, a second hub in Minneapolis. We'll sell specialized solutions nationally and hire the people in Grand Rapids to service them. For example, security assessments. We hire all the sales reps here and our people here will do the assessments and security consulting; they'll go to the clients' sites, but a lot will be done remotely.

"This geographic shift is really a big change for us. It will keep the jobs here in Michigan, but allow us to sell into the rest of the country," he says.

The advisory board consists of two internationally known industry experts: Mac Reynolds, founder of ERL LLC, and Frank J. Feraco, managing partner of Chicago-based Great Lakes Equity Partners.

"The advisory board is a big part of the picture in helping to guide us," Behm says. "Changing the whole geographic expansion came from Frank Feraco. They really are helping us with ideas in terms of making big picture decisions."

OST employs 50, plus 51 contractors. The company hired two sales reps in January and will fill two technology positions in February. The remaining 21 positions will be mostly senior sales people and technical consultants.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

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.

Currently, the one-story building at 1351 Waverly Rd. (M-40) in Allegan County is vacant. Over the next two years, area employment at the Texas-based company is expected to grow to 250 with the possibility of it expanding up to 400 later, he adds. "I think any job is good," Dye says.

Last week, the project moved another step forward when the Allegan County Commission approved NOVO 1's $1 million federal grant application. Funds from the Community Development Block grant is expected to pay for machinery, equipment, job training and working capital at the telephone marketing and answering service.

"It's another step in a multi-step process," Dye says about the approval.

The application now goes before the Michigan Economic Development Corp. which is expected to give its approval later this month. "Once the county and the state sign off on it, then we can start the project," Dye says.

He estimates the hiring process to take between three to four weeks with additional time needed for training, but he did not have further specifics about NOVO 1's hiring program.

Currently, NOVO 1 has five call centers in Wisconsin, Texas and Montana. In 2008, NOVO 1 Outsourced Customer Service Centers ranked among the Top 50 Teleservices providers according to the industry publication, Customer Inter@ction Solutions Magazine.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Allegiant Air, LLC announced this week that recruitment is underway to hire 60 new workers to support the opening of its new base of operations at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.

The low-cost airlines, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., also announced the expansion of its nonstop service from Grand Rapids to a sixth destination -- Myrtle Beach, S.C. -- starting April 30 with twice-a-week flights debuting at $58.88 one way.

Hiring has already started to fill 60 "well-compensated positions," the company announced, including those for pilots, ground handlers, customer service agents, flight attendants and aircraft technicians.

"This is obviously a very good thing for Michigan, considering its economy," says Sabrina Lopiccolo, Allegiant Air's public relations manager in Las Vegas, Nev. "If they go to our website and look for careers, they'll be able to see the open positions there.

"The community has been very responsive to our low-cost service over the past year, so we're very excited to become a community partner," she adds.

The expanded operations in Grand Rapids will start April 27 when the carrier will base two 150-seat jet aircraft at the airport for 34 flights per week.

Since starting nonstop service in February last year from Grand Rapids to Orlando and Tampa Bay, Fla., Allegiant has added service to the Las Vegas, Phoenix-Mesa and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In the past year, Allegiant Air has carried more than 131,000 passengers while leaving or arriving at the Grand Rapids airport, company officials report.

"The new jobs created by this expansion are further evidence that West Michigan is vibrant, successful and growing," Jim Koslosky, executive director of the Grand Rapids airport, said in a news release.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

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.

"It's going really great!" Behm says, noting he and his cousin, Kris Woods, are putting in long hours at the quaint storefront building at 2106 Plainfield Ave. NE in Grand Rapids. "We've got one kettle and its going from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., pretty much non-stop."

To meet the overwhelming demand, Behm's parents, Dan and Barb, and his sister, Jill, are helping make and package the popcorn flavored with a secret family recipe developed years ago by Behm's grandparents.

"We have distributors coming to us that want to distribute it, but we don't have the capacity to do that yet," he says. "They want a lot more than we can even think of producing. But we're working on that this week and next. Our goal is to distribute it statewide.

"We went a through 1,000 bags in 10 days at Forest Hills Foods," Behm says, adding that the grocery store at 4668 Cascade Rd. SE is the only outlet in town besides his retail storefront that carries the gourmet treat.

The shop opened January 6 in a building that also houses Weatherhead & Sons, Inc. In the near future, Behm anticipates leasing out a manufacturing site to house 10 kettles operated by 10 to 12 more workers.

The popular kettle corn is named after his grandparents, Dorothy and Tony "Toto" Meyers, who bought the kettle popcorn business years ago from a man in Arizona. The snowbirds temporarily relocate to Arizona during the winters and sell their kettle corn. During the warmer months, they're back in Michigan where they sell their tasty delights at local farmer's markets.

A recent new addition to the business is a custom label designed by Behm featuring an image of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, a pair made famous by the legendary 1939 movie musical, "The Wizard of Oz." To no surprise, Dorothy's face bears a resemblance to a youthful image of Kyle's grandmother, Dorothy Meyers. "We thought it was a cute idea," Behm says.

Behm, 24, began helping his grandparents with their business after he moved back to Michigan following a job in Florida. His grandparents wanted to retire and Behm, a Michigan State University graduate with a finance background, was looking for a new opportunity.

The three generations like to boast about the popcorn's calorie count: only 120 calories for two cups, with no saturated or trans fat.

Dorothy and Toto's Kettle Corn is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute has attracted another biotechnology initiative to its multi-million-dollar laboratory, designed as a biotechnology business incubator after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer donated the facility to the university.

eFarms, created by four West Michigan partners, needed a laboratory with researchers and animal nutritionists to fully test and produce its proprietary product: an on-site farm system that produces alternative fuel and a nutritional feed source for livestock.

"It's a small system designed for a farmer to process his own corn to make ethanol," says Richard Edmonds, eFarms CEO. "The byproduct is a viable feed source for his animals.

"We know corn will produce the feed source. What we're working on with MSU is to find out if we can use waste produce, like the apples laying on the ground, and see how much it takes to make ethanol for the farmer and see if the byproduct is a viable feedstock. And can we do this with any type of leftover produce? We want to help farmers put the waste to use, but the main thing is to produce the feed source."

Edmonds says eFarms has a prototype in use on a West Michigan farm at an undisclosed location. He says that four tabletop models are in production now for use in the lab.

eFarms has about 900 square feet of lab and office space at the institute and the use of four different hooded lab areas with 15-gallon processing tanks. The tabletop eFarms systems will each produce a gallon of ethanol a week.

"None of us are scientists," Edmonds says of the eFarms partners. "We needed the animal nutrition experts and we're working with Archer Daniels Midland to run nutrition tests on our feedstock.

"Right now we're looking for five or six farmers to test our prototypes that are in production now at a manufacturer in Dutton."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The 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: Rapid Growth
Full article

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. Students begin with a nine-week crash course on the basics at Muskegon Heights Workforce Development Center, 160 E. Barney.

According to excerpts from the story:

Students are predominantly the disenfranchised, minorities and women — groups which tend to be underrepresented in the construction trades in the Muskegon area, according to partner Gloria White Gardner, longtime community civil rights activist and owner of G.W. Gardner and Associates Consulting.

Read the complete story here. 

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest and a network of Michigan SmartZones recently announced a new $100,000 SmartZone award for the 2010 GLEQ Business Plan Competition. Aimed at filling an investment gap for ventures ready for pre-seed funding, this new award is being sponsored by the fifteen SmartZones and is administered through the SmartZones' Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund initiative.

According to excerpts from the story:

The GLEQ competition is open to all Michigan entrepreneurs that register to participate by March 5, but selection to compete for the SmartZone Award requires a SmartZone sponsor. Business plans are due April 23 for the SmartZone Award and May 7 for the New Business Idea and Emerging Company categories. Winners will be announced at the GLEQ SmartZone Awards Event on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Lansing.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Plenty of local restaurants, growers, wineries and microbreweries make the West Michigan lakeshore a prime region for culinary tourism, and a new alliance 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.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

It was late afternoon on Tuesday, and some of the most formidable business competitors in West Michigan collected in a large conference room to discuss -- of all things -- how they could cooperate.

Three titans in the office furniture industry -- Haworth, Herman Miller , Steelcase -- were there. So were legal powerhouses Varnum Riddering and Warner Norcross & Judd. Local healthcare monolith Spectrum Health met there with Trinity Health West Michigan.

But this isn't a story about price-fixing in a smoke-filled backroom. The only thing that needed fixing, they agreed, was the way West Michigan presents itself to attract mid-career talent and to keep them here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

By Sharon Hanks

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.

"'Pure Michigan Living' is dedicated to sharing the quality of life stories in Michigan communities," says Joe Borgstrom, a division director with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, one of the site's sponsors. The site was inspired by the Travel Michigan's award-winning Pure Michigan promotional campaign.

Borgstrom says MSHDA and the site's other sponsor, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, also want to raise the visibility of new economic opportunities in the state and to highlight the people who choose to live in Michigan and are shaping its transformation. Issue Media Group, the parent corporation of Rapid Growth and other online publications, is working with MSHDA to launch the "Pure Michigan Living" campaign.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

By Sharon Hanks

Sales at INRAD Inc. in Kentwood could double this year if three new medical devices are as successful as company officials predict.

Ryan Goosen, president of INRAD, says the company just launched SelectCore, a hypodermic needle with moving parts to remove samples from soft tissue. Another product for taking core biopsies in critical tissue area, PreciseCore, will be introduced within weeks. And a third device, Revolution, a needle used to perform a breast biopsy, will be launched in the spring.

"As they ramp up, that's when we'll have to add bodies," says Goosen, referring to his workforce now of about 20. "It could be a couple of positions at the end of the year. It depends on how many of these things we sell."

He is especially optimistic about the future sales for SelectCore because it combines all of the features of existing products into one device.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Over the next six months, 53 percent of computer consultants expect to increase their staff. The hiring in West Michigan is likely the result of pent-up demand from companies that put off hiring during the recession or are now beginning to bring back positions after a prior downsizing.

According to excerpts from the story:

Overall, 26 percent of the West Michigan companies surveyed by the Holland-based Paragon Recruiting said they planned to increase their I.T. staffs during the next six months. Sixty-nine percent of respondents planned to maintain I.T. staffs at present levels and just 5 percent said they would reduce staffing.

Read the complete story here:

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

As Ford gears up to produce a 2012 hybrid plug-in vehicle, Holland's Johnson Controls/Saft is making plans to make the batteries for it and to invest $200 million in a manufacturing facility.

According to excerpts from the story:

You may never have heard of one of the biggest players in batteries for electric cars, but chances are you've been touched by one of its products. Bought aSears Diehard battery recently? Chances are it was actually made by Johnson Controls, the world's leading battery maker.

Other company car batteries are issued under such familiar names as NAPAand Pep Boys. This is not a small company: From a humble beginning making what was arguably the world's first thermostat (hence the name) Johnson Controls has grown into a $30 billion business (it was $38 billion before the recession) and 75,000 employees (6,000 of them engineers and designers). Johnson Controls' auto business takes in instrument panels, seating, door and overhead systems and automotive electronics. But it's batteries we're talking about here.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (January 27, 2010) – Dick DeVos today launched the Regional Air Alliance
of West Michigan (RAAWM), a private sector initiative ... Read More dedicated to providing best in class air service to
the region.

Led by DeVos, RAAWM is a consortium of regional business leaders -- including The Right Place -- formed in 2008 to understand, evaluate and implement initiatives that would serve as catalysts for improved commercial air service in West Michigan.

“Our region is faced with a serious problem – poor air service market conditions. West Michigan has the
second highest commercial airfares in the country and we’re experiencing a declining frequency of air service, shrinking seat inventory and regional passengers abandoning the market,” said RAAWM Chairman Dick DeVos. “These issues call for immediate action. RAAWM is part of the solution.”

DeVos added: “Our goal is to position West Michigan commercial air service as both ‘best in class’ and as the strategic regional asset necessary to support the continued economic growth and quality of life for the businesses and residents of West Michigan.”

To achieve this goal, RAAWM established five strategic initiatives, including:
• Airport service quality survey
• Airport performance survey
• Regional airport economic impact study
• Improved service and pricing from existing carriers
• Recruitment of a “network” low cost carrier

As a result of RAAWM’s work, the community will realize significant benefits:
• The Gerald R. Ford International Airport will experience an increase in passenger volume.
• West Michigan business, leisure and convention travelers will enjoy reduced air transportation costs.
• The retention of nearly $100 million in funds that would have otherwise gone to the airline industry.
• High quality, low-cost commercial air service will enable current and prospective businesses to more easily launch, expand and relocate their operations in West Michigan.

“Air service plays a critical role in attracting and retaining businesses,” said Birgit Klohs, president and
CEO of The Right Place, Inc. “We are proud to support the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan and its work to strengthen our region’s commitment toward achieving world-class air service. Better quality air
service will greatly improve our ability to attract and retain businesses.” View Less

Source: Wondergem Consulting, Inc., The Right Place

West Michigan will gain a new discount airline in May thanks to the combined efforts of local community, airport and business leaders.

Officials fr ... Read More om AirTran Airways, announced today that the airline will begin service out of Grand Rapids in May, offering two flights a day to Baltimore and one to Orlando.

According to excerpts from the story:

The news follows the launching of a new group -- the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan -- devoted to attracting low-cost air service to Grand Rapids.

DeVos said AirTran has considered Grand Rapids before, but were concerned about being able to fill airplanes in this market.

"What they had not seen was a regional perspective and we gave them some assurance (that business leaders were willing to help them be successful," DeVos said.
View Less

Source: Grand Rapids Press
Full article

A new company created to diversify Holland-based S2Yachts, Inc. will design and build win ... Read More d turbine blades under a new license agreement with with Spain-based Aeroblade, owned by the Aernnova Group. Under the new partnership, Energetx Composites expects to create up to 1,300 jobs for West Michigan.

According to excerpts from the story:

Eventually, production could hit 1,000 blades a year, Energetx vice president Kelly Slikkers said. At that rate, Energetx expects to hire 300 in 2011, as production ramps up, and up to 1,000 by 2014. The young company attracted $3.5 million in a state clean-energy grant and another $27 million in tax breaks from the state.

Energetx, founded by Slikkers in 2008 to diversify the family business, S2Yachts Inc., already makes medium-scale blades for wind power generators. But the deal to supply North American utility-grade wind turbine companies could mean big business. View Less

Source: The Grand Rapids Press
Full article

By Sharon Hanks

"Absolutely thrilled" is the way Grand Rapids Community College's Judith Larsen described her reaction last week when she learned the college was one of only 30 applicants among hundreds in the nation to receive a coveted "local" $4 million grant to train urban residents for "green" jobs of the future.

The federal stimulus "Pathways out of Poverty" grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will be used to train an estimated 1,000 low-income Grand Rapids residents for high-growth "green" industry jobs, such as those in energy efficient building construction and retrofit, renewable energy, energy efficiency, green facilities management and advanced battery manufacturing.

Grants totaling $150 million were made possible after President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to preserve and create jobs, promote the nation's economy recovery and assist those most impacted by the recession.

"It's really a significant amount of money," says Larsen, the college's director of grant and resource development who was very involved in the application process. "We knew this was a highly competitive program. Only seven (grants) went to a community college so we're one of a select group. I think it speaks well to the strength of our partnerships. It's a substantial investment in our community."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Science magazine, a widely regarded publication in the science world, has cited plant biology research conducted at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids as one the Top 10 breakthroughs in 2009. Results of the research could set off important new developments in the raising of crops, especially in areas where water shortages can be acute.

According to excerpts from the story:

Scientific investigators Eric Xu and Karsten Melcher were lead authors on the published report about their lab discovery, which showed how the plant stress hormone, abscisic acid, helps plants survive harsh environmental conditions such as drought. Educators and scientists say the findings could help stem or reverse food shortages globally.

Read the complete story here.

  

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

An outreach initiative by a Grand Rapids economic development organization generated 31 percent more new business prospects for the region than last year. That translates into millions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs for the area.

According to excerpts from the story:

Stepping up outreach to consultants who help corporations decide where to locate new facilities generated increased inquiries for The Right Place Inc. last year.

The economic development organization worked with 117 prospects in 2009, a 31 percent increase from the 89 prospects in 2008.

Fifteen of the 117 prospects ultimately made a decision to remain in the area or to locate a facility here, generating investments of $213.4 million, retaining 555 jobs and creating 3,643 new positions in 2009, Right Place Business Development Manager George Bosnjak said.


Read the complete story here.here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

By Sharon Hanks

Forget the soft cover directory. The newly released 2010 Minority- and Women-Owned Regional Business Directory published by the West Michigan Chamber Coalition is now available online only.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Got an innovative Web-based business idea you're sure will make money, but unsure how to successfully launch it? There is help for such would-be tech entrepreneurs through Momentum, a West Michigan investment and training program.

Started by Rick DeVos last year, Momentum is gearing up to select and groom the next group of aspiring entrepreneurs who have innovative web technology and applications ideas, but need help getting started.

Applicants have until Feb. 12 to submit their ideas in hopes of being one of up to five budding company owners selected to receive $20,000 in pre-seed capital and attend a rigorous 12-week training program in Holland. 

DeVos, CEO of Pomegranate Studios, helped launch the program with two other West Michigan groups:  The Windquest Group and the economic development group Lakeshore Advantage, "to discover new startup ideas in Michigan and keep our creative capital here."

"We're shooting to get about 100 (applications)," says Bill Holsinger-Robinson, director of Momentum and president of Pomegranate Studios.  "We're trying to stimulate that entrepreneurial thinking but we have to flush them (aspiring entrepreneurs) out and get them to sign up."

Holsinger-Robinson says applicants can hail from any part of the country, but if they are among the potentially five companies selected to participate, they will have to move to the Holland area for the spring and summer.  Once settled, Momentum will introduce them to experts who will help them further develop their technology and business models and provide them with office space and networking opportunities.  The goal is to position the companies with access to additional capital and to successfully launch their companies into the marketplace.

Another obvious goal is to persuade the entrepreneurs to stay in Michigan, but even if they chose not to, Holsinger-Robinson believes that their risk-taking attitude will be contagious and help nurture other entrepreneurs. "The notion is that this energy can be infectious," he says.

Last year Momentum received nearly 30 applications and funded three startups: Downstream, Public Collections and Revetto. Momentum continues to support the developing companies with business advice and help to on-going capital resources.

This year, Holsinger-Robinson says the selection process will be more rigorous, but will also include a more selective pairing of mentors, more education that's customized for each startup and greater flexibility.

Ideal candidates are college graduates with some business background with an inventive idea and a passion for starting their own company, he adds.

"Last year some came in with no development plans, but they had ideas that tried to solve a particular problem," he notes.  "What we got for them was resources . . . . and funding."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

If you are one of the hundreds of West Michigan salaried professionals that has been handed the dreaded pink slip, join the party.  Literally.

A group of staffing and human resources managers is organizing Pink Slip Party West Michigan  to help job seekers network with potential employers and recruiters. The free event will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, January 18 at the Grand Rapids Crown Plaza Hotel, 5700 28th St. SE.

Ray Saxe, one of the organizers who is himself a displaced human resources manager, says the party is similar to a job fair, but there are no employer booths.  Employers and recruiters have a chance to mingle with job seekers in a relaxed social environment that includes casual clothes and a cash bar.

"I'm a fairly good networker, but I've observed some of my friends that weren't so good at it," Saxe says. "And more than 75 percent of all jobs are found through networking. If the response is as positive as we hope, we'd like to do another one. A lot of people are glad we're doing this."

A few months ago, Saxe and a few other colleagues came across the Pink Slip party concept, a networking effort that started decades ago when laid-off workers gathered to commiserate their struggles.  The name "pink slip" emerged because it was once standard practice for companies to issue "separation notices" that were printed on pink slips of paper. The phrase "getting a pink slip" stuck. Saxe says they are patterning the party after other Pink Slip parties sponsored in Detroit several times a year.

Job seekers and employers are highly encouraged to register online by going here. The website also has a list of frequently asked questions about the event here, including tips on what to wear and other helpful links.
About 25 employers are expected to attend, including those from Spectrum Health, Haworth, Inc., Priority Health, Otterbase, Hope Network and Fishbeck Thompson Carr and Huber Inc.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

After more than two years of construction, the Van Andel Institute's $178 million addition was completed last month, opening the doors for more research and coveted jobs for downtown Grand Rapids.

Situated atop Medical Mile at Michigan Street and Bostwick Avenue NE, the Institute currently employs 250. Over the next several years, employment at the VAI is expected to grow to about 800, most of them highly-paid research scientists recruited from all over the world.

There will be at least some opportunities for local talent, including college students who may apply for an intense 10-week research experience during the summer, according to VAI Vice President of Communications Joe Gavan.

Gavan expects to see "a great amount of activity" over the next 18 months. "We've already had a number of recruits come and visit Grand Rapids and we've hired several people in key positions, so the process is underway. We look for the best and brightest in the world.  But the process of hiring could take several years."

The interview process is time-consuming because when a top scientist is hired, he or she may want to bring along his or her own team, Gavan says. "That means there is a great deal of relocation involved." Sometimes though, VAI will hire a principal investigator -- a lead scientist - who will build his or her team with area talent so that could translate into a few opportunities for local individuals.

According to the Institute's website, resumes are accepted only in response to job openings posted on its website. Unsolicited resumes are not accepted. This week features 11 open positions, all requiring college degrees and in most cases a doctorate in the field.

The Frederik and Lena Meijer Student Internship Program is open to undergraduate college students who are mentored by professionals in their chosen field.  This year, the program expects to support 10-15 interns, depending on the needs of the scientific investigators.

The goal is to expose aspiring researchers and clinicians to advances in biomedical sciences and to help them define their career paths. Gavan says the Institute expects between 60  to 100 students to apply.  Application materials must be received by Friday, Feb. 12. Further information can be found on the VAI website.

In addition to more jobs, the medical research institute's 240,000-square-foot Phase II expansion allows the Institute to triple its laboratories to more than 50. Eventually its annual budget could grow to $125 million and pump more than $300 million a year into the local economy, Institute officials say.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Former Perrigo Co. Chairman and CEO Mike Jandernoa is leading efforts to launch a new mentoring initiative to help entrepreneurs of small businesses expand their companies.

Jandernoa says he has formed Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring to "help successful entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level."

Jandernoa told Rapid Growth Media that small business owners need more intense guidance than in the past because of the challenges they face in deciding their next moves.  "It's such a tougher environment than it was just a couple of years ago."

In Washington, uncertainty swirls around health care and tax issues, adds Jandernoa, co-founder of Bridge Street Capital Partners LLC of Grand Rapids and former board member of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.  Banks that have been hit with heavy losses in the past few years have raised lending requirements needed capital. 

"It hasn't been a welcoming environment," Jandernoa says.  "We need to help them work through those issues . . .  and look at ways to mitigate those risks."

To qualify for the three-year program, mentees' organizations must have at least $1 million in annual sales, employ at least five workers and agree to contribute $3,500 each year toward the program.

Jandernoa says he will step down from some of the civic and community boards where he serves to dedicate the time needed to launch JEM.  He and his wife, Sue, will provide a $100,000 startup grant to fund the program's development.

He will start by qualifying mentors, developing a training program, establishing requirements and defining the application process for mentees. About 10 business leaders have stepped forward so far to serve as mentees, he says.  Others will be recruited by other business leaders who will agree to serve as a coach, problem-solver and sounding board.

JEM will be based in Grand Rapids and serve the West Michigan region. Hopes are to have 36 mentors matched up with mentees by late summer or early fall. 

The launch is partly a result of Jandernoa's role as co-chair of Business Leaders for Michigan  who are working on a Michigan Turnaround Plan to accelerate job growth. JEM will be modeled after the well-established Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program in Kansas City, MO.

Those interested in being a mentor or mentee can request more information by e-mailing JEM at info@jandernoamentoring.org.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

When Norman Christopher was thumbing through a new guide to green jobs he received in the mail over the holidays, he was pleasantly taken aback to find Grand Valley State University among the top schools in the country with outstanding sustainability academic programs and green campus practices.

Peterson's "Green Jobs for a New Economy: The Career Guide to Emerging Opportunities"  listed GVSU and the University of Michigan as the two Michigan schools among what editors called "top 50 four-year schools with great green programs" in the nation.

"I was surprised," says Christopher, executive director of GVSU's Sustainable Community Development Initiative. "We've been blessed because we've been noted in three or four guides like this before."

Peterson's is a New Jersey-based search provider of colleges and universities, graduate schools, private schools and study guides for students.

The paperback lauds the university for its Sustainability Community Development initiative, green campus projects and organizations, and large number of academic programs that focus on sustainability.  GVSU also was praised for its efforts in RecycleMania, a nationwide program in which colleges compete to recycle the most campus waste.

In all eight of the university's colleges, Christopher says the university offers some 200 sustainability-theme courses which focus or at least incorporate into its curriculum a sustainability viewpoint.

"This shows that Grand Valley has made a commitment to sustainability, both inside and outside the classroom," he says. The guide can be very useful to students investigating schools with highly ranked green programs or for job seekers wanting to learn and be part of the new "green" economy that spans across many industries, he adds.

In addition to Peterson's rating, the 2009 Kaplan College Guide has ranked GVSU as one of 25 cutting-edge green and environmentally responsible colleges in the nation, GVSU officials report. The Princeton Review's annual report also awarded GVSU its highest "green" rating among Michigan colleges and universities.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

They call it a "work cottage" even though it's in an urban environment close to restaurants, coffee shops and right next door to Jersey Junction, a premier ice cream establishment. The warm, friendly environment of East Grand Rapids' 654 Croswell attracts business folk of all kinds who are looking for a place to get serious work done outside the office.

The 1,800-square-foot space operated and outfitted by Steelcase provides a large common work area with café-style seating in the middle of the house, three meeting rooms, plus smaller areas called the den, the study and the porch.

Amenities include a kitchen with coffee, tea and soft drinks, video conference capabilities with Skype and other technologies, lockers, comfy couches and a fireplace, and a room set aside for a phone call area so as not to disturb others.

For $100 a month on a month-by-month basis, or $10 a half-day and $20 a full day, users can drop in and don't need to sign a long-term contract. The cottage is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with fingerprint access available for those who need 24/7 access.

"We are not designed from a work perspective where it would be a permanent office space with your own desk," says John Malnor, VP of Steelcase's growth initiatives. "That's partly because we totally reconfigure the public space for events."

Those events might be conferences, but might just as easily be art events because the space is also an art gallery.

"We saw this trend of co-working and it's kind of a natural fit for Steelcase to learn how work is changing," Malnor says.

"Historically, it's only recently that we separated work from life," says Laate Olukotun, experience designer with Steelcase. "That was during the industrial revolution. Co-working and telecommuting lets us return to something that's closing that work-life gap."

Source: John Malnor and Laate Olukotun, Steelcase and 654 Croswell

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The owner of Grand Rapids' Electric Cheetah restaurant once again plans to light up the growing Wealthy Street business district with an eclectic eatery, The Electric Eel, an Asian-influenced noodle bar and sushi restaurant.

Cory DeMint is well into the renovation of 1133 Wealthy, former home of The Rib Crib, bringing his unusual taste for décor, and food, to the 600-square-foot storefront.

"On one wall Beth Jacobson of Grand Rapids Mural Company will create a 3-D scene from a very famous movie, we're keeping which movie a secret, and we'll light each layer," DeMint says.

The menu includes a variety of noodles, such as rice noodles or ramen. Customers will select the noodles they want, top it with a homemade sauce like chili, fish sauce or peanut sauce and choose a meat or seafood. The restaurant will have seating for about 20 patrons, but is intended to be a takeout and will have a pickup window.

"One type of noodle we've been researching but don't have it decided yet," says DeMint, "but we'll make it in-house. We're thinking of building a drying rack for the front window so when you drive by you'll see the noodles drying in the window."

DeMint plans to start slow with the sushi menu and build it over time. He also plans to offer homemade ice cream at a walk-up window in the summer months.

"We're planning to bring an old ice cream dipping cabinet from the Cheetah which is just up the street, and put it in the front window where we'll scoop ice cream by the cone," he says.

DeMint hopes to open The Electric Eel sometime in February.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The new Rockpile Surf & Sport shop in Spring Lake could soon be a shopping paradise for water sports enthusiasts and skateboarders.

The shop opened in November at 114 W. Savidge Street, adjacent to what used to be Chapter 11 Sports owned by Ned Silverman. Silverman now manages the new store and feels right at home. The owner, TWC Surf & Sport in Sylvan Lake, Michigan wanted a lakeshore presence on the west side of the state.

Silverman says the shop is in the 600-square-foot area that used to be his wife's clothing boutique, The Channel, but will expand into the former Chapter 11 space by spring.

The plan is to offer skateboards, wakeboards, surfboards and possibly bikes after the expansion, and to service and tune the equipment. In addition, the shop will offer beachwear and accessories, with an eye to attracting female customers to what's historically a male-oriented industry.

"We opened in November because we wanted to catch Christmas and the visibility that brings," Silverman says. "We have some remodeling done and we're still figuring out the product mix. We want to focus on things that don't require a heavy investment in inventory."

The building sat empty for about eight months after Silverman closed Chapter 11 Sports and Linda closed The Channel due to bankruptcy. Chapter 11 had operated for 20 years, and Silverman still has a heart for the business.

"We had no source of income and it was devastating," Silverman says. "Building up this business, we have to be sensitive because a lot of our customers are hurting in this economy, too. You've got to really be creative and find a way to make it work. To be an entrepreneur you have to ignore the reality to overcome the odds."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Pizza lovers will feel like they are in paradise when they visit a new pizzeria that opened last month in downtown Grand Rapids. Georgio's features 54 different pizzas, including gourmet choices such as black bean, meat lasagna and gyro pizzas. About 30 selections will be displayed in the pizzeria's food case for careful inspection.

Located at 15 Ionia Ave. SW between HopCat and Bar Divani, Georgio's will primarily feature pizza-by-the-slice, according to Chris Wooldridge, pizzeria manager. "We really want to feed on that late-night crowd, so in our opinion, this is the block to be," he says.

"We've got the Van Andel Arena in our backyard, and in our immediate block, there are several bars and restaurants," says Wooldridge, a former manager of Morning Star Café in Grand Haven.  "We feel there is a need for what we provide in the downtown area."

Tasos Alimanos started the business in East Lansing about 15 years ago where he now operates two Georgio's pizzerias.  They are popular among Michigan State University students for satisfying late-night munchies with gourmet pizza by the slice. 

By signing a lease with C W D Real Estate Investment to occupy an empty storefront in Grand Rapids, Alimanos and other local investors hope the success spreads to this side of the state. The 2,000-square-foot eatery seats about 50 diners.

Wooldridge says the pizzeria will feature different promotions, such as buy one slice and get the second one at half-price.

Georgio's is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Prices start at $2.50 per slice, with most signature slices going for $3.75 a piece.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Despite the cold weather, 30,000 people packed Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids to ring in the New Year with live entertainment, big-screen shots of the crowd and stage and images projected on the sides of buildings. Organizers say next year's plans are already in the works.

According to excerpts from the story:

Ringing in the New Year was a festive, multi-generational, no-drama event for an estimated 30,000 people who packed Rosa Parks Circle and an organizer says "you can bet the house" it will be held again next year. Citadel Broadcasting leaders said Friday that Thursday's event exceeded its expectations for safety, turnout, economic activity and, well, fun.

"For years everybody's spent New Year's Eve in their living watching the ball drop in New York City on TV," said Marcus Bradman, Citadel Broadcasting's director of events and promotions. "We wanted to bring Grand Rapids together around a free, national act and I think it was a first-class event. You can bet the house we'll do it again."

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

As part of an ongoing effort of sustainability and eco-stewarship, Haworth has achieved the goal of zero landfill trash for 10 of its manufacturing facilities and one distribution center. Now the company turns its focus to recycling even more waste and composting.

According to excerpts from the story:

Bill Gurn has lofty goals.
The facilities manager at Haworth Inc. was behind the move to get the company’s 10 U.S. manufacturing facilities and one distribution center to zero-landfill status.

That status is the tip of a sustainability iceberg that ends at the holy grail of environmentalism: zero waste.
For that, the 7,000-employee office furniture manufacturer would, simply, produce no trash. Only it wouldn’t be simple.

“I probably won’t live to see that day,” Gurn said.

But since April he’s been able to say he got 11 plants to stop sending trash to a landfill.


Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Grand Valley State University's L.V. Eberhard Center has earned the Green Venues Michigan Leader certification from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, the center is among the first four venues in the state to earn this new voluntary, non-regulatory certification.

The program is designed to encourage and assist facilities to adopt cost saving, green practices which conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.

According to excerpts from the story:

Green Venues Michigan encourages entertainment venues, convention centers, and similar facilities to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving "green" practices to conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in environmentally preferred purchasing.

"This accreditation is the mark of environmental responsibility of venues which are committed to ‘green' business practices that make environmental and economic goals their top priority," said DELEG Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss. "Green Venues Michigan is also helping to ensure the viability of our venues and the thousands of jobs related to Michigan's hospitality industry."

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Plans for a $5 million expansion of The B.O.B, a popular entertainment and dining complex in downtown Grand Rapids, include an incubator space for prospective would-be restaurateurs where they could learn more about the business.

Greg Gilmore is contemplating part of the expansion to include food wagons or carts operated by 15 to 25 hopeful new restaurant owners who want to gain a foothold in the industry. Once they prove themselves, they could advance to a kiosk or space in The B.O.B. to run their own dining establishment.

According to excerpts from the story:

“It will be a very easy entryway into the marketplace for somebody,” said Gilmore, who sees the concept as one way to add niche or ethnic offerings at The B.O.B. “I’ve always wanted to help managers and chefs if they wanted to do something,” Gilmore said as he showed off plans for the creation of what for now is called “BOB-ville” adjacent to The B.O.B.

The idea is to create a “food emporium, in a lot of respects” that’s built around a large, multi-story plaza that could host events such as concerts or large receptions, even a farmer’s market on weekends.

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The joint venture between Holland's Johnson Controls Inc. and French manufacturer Saft is ramping up to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid cars that are expected to generate 550 well-paying jobs by 2014.

The company is hiring now for its engineering team and expects to bring on board the first skeleton team of production workers by the end of this year.

According to excerpts from the story:

“Everywhere I go, somebody says, ’I need to talk to you,’” plant manager Elizabeth Rolinski said last week in her first Press interview on the project.

The battery operation will start small. By the end of the year, the five-member staff at the Meadowbrook plant at 36 W. 48th St. will grow to 25. But eventually, it will have 300 workers, with another 250 at other local JCI facilities producing parts for the operation.

That means a lot in a region where manufacturing has been hit hard by layoffs in both the automotive and office furniture industries. Ottawa County’s most recent jobless rate was 12.8 percent.

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The Rapid mass transit system based in Grand Rapids will break ground this year on a $32.4 million expansion of its operations center and bus garage, a long overdue project kick-started with the help of $10.6 million in federal stimulus funds.

Located at 333 Wealthy St. SW, the center's bus capacity will grow from about 100 buses to up to 170 when the two-year project is completed. The Rapid's center was built in the 1970s and is now bursting at the seams with a fleet of 122 buses. 

According to excerpts from the story:

"We have a young fleet, the average age is 4.6 years," said Peter Varga, executive director of the agency that runs The Rapid. "Previously, we had to store up to 10 buses outside."

The money we got from stimulus was the reason why we could advance this project earlier," Varga said. Without the money, the project would be another two years out, he said

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

 Directors of school food services in West Michigan want to buy fresh foods from local farmers to serve in their campus cafeterias, but they say area farmers need to be more aggressive with meeting their needs.

In a recent panel discussion sponsored by Michigan State University's Farm to School program, Paul Baumgartner and other school food service directors agreed more education and cooperation was needed to help bring local foods to the schools' menus.

According to excerpts from the story:

"Everybody talks about farm-to-school. Where are the farmers?" said Baumgartner, director of nutrition services at Grand Rapids Public Schools. "Nobody's knocking on my door. I've got demand, but where's my pea grower?"

"(We're) always thinking six months in advance," Baumgartner said. "Right now, I'm thinking about summer programming. This is the time to talk about (next school year). Don't come to us in the fall."

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

At Trillium Haven Farm off Maplewood Drive in Jenison, dozens of people arrive throughout the day to pick up bags filled with freshly-harvested produce culled from the rich soil indigenous to Ottawa County’s “Salad Bowl’’ region.

A similar event unfolds in a working class neighborhood on Grand Rapids’ Southwest Side. Scores of people head to a building on Godfrey Avenue at Hall Street SW rented by West Michigan Co-Op for sweet cherries, frozen beef and farm-fresh eggs.

It is not another charitable give-away for people stung by hard economic times, though the people are certainly buying in bulk.

Rather it's a sampling of the bounty that metro Grand Rapids residents can enjoy when it comes to convenient ways to get fresh, organic produce for their tables.

Different Strokes for Different Folks
In some cases, participants pull weeds in exchange for produce. Others fire-up the home computer and place food orders on-line.  The end result is the same: fresh food boasting flavor unlike anything you’re likely to buy from grocers that get produce trucked in from Texas or California.

“A lot of people are interested in getting fresh vegetables, and the nice thing about it is you build a relationship with people growing your food,’’ says Kris Van Haitsma, owner of Mud Lake Farm near Hudsonville, where hydroponic lettuce grows year-round.

“You also get to know what is in season and when,’’ Van Haitsma says. “There’s a progression of fruits and vegetables available and we’ve sort of lost that; in the grocery store it is available all the time.’’

So if you’re looking for locally-grown watermelon in May or asparagus in August, the co-ops are not your best bet.  If, however, you’re looking for hard-shell squash to use in the winter, or need several pounds of tomatoes for canning, the co-ops make sense based on economies of scale.

In addition to co-ops, metro Grand Rapids residents have a wide variety of other sources of fresh produce such as backyard gardens, community gardens and farmer’s markets.

There’s no shortage of the latter, certainly. Coopersville, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Holland, Rockford, Sparta and Plainfield Township are among communities in Kent and Ottawa counties with farmer’s markets.

Then there are myriad community gardens sprouting up from Eastown to core city neighborhoods. Neighbors pitch in, get to know one another and reap the rewards of their labor – assuming raccoons and ground hogs haven’t gotten there first.

Co-ops on the Web 
But along with farmers markets, probably co-ops have made the most inroads due to the Internet.  Plans for a food co-op tied to the Web took root five years ago when a food cooperative in the Eastown district of Grand Rapids closed due to high overhead costs.

Launched about three years ago, West Michigan Co-Op lets customers make selections on-line from about 30 participating vendors.

“We are more popular than we thought we’d be, so it’s a good problem to have,’’ says Paul DeLeeuw, one of four partners in the West Michigan Co-Op. 

“We’ve been setting records with the number of shoppers using us and also with the volume of food sold,’’ DeLeeuw says. Paid memberships in July topped 300.

Here’s how it works: After paying a $35 membership fee, members for one week can place food orders on the co-op website. Once the 7-day order period ends, food requests are placed with participating growers.

Growers then have nearly two weeks to fill the orders and then, usually on a Wednesday evening, farmers and customers meet at Hall Street and Godfrey Avenue SW for the exchange. Orders placed in early July are ready for pick up July 22. “It’s like one big farmer’s market,’’ DeLeeuw says.

He’d like to see more farmers participate, especially growers of in-season fruits and vegetables. 

Support Your Agriculture
Another avenue for getting fresh produce is through Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, such as Mud Lake Farm in Hudsonville and Trillium Haven in Jenison. They are among nearly 90 CSA farms in Michigan, which includes eight in the metro Grand Rapids area.

Trillium Haven is a 50-acre farm launched in 2001 by Anga Mast and Michael VanderBrug where produce is harvested from June through October, ranging from lettuce to pumpkins. Participants pay $450 in exchange for fresh produce grown during that season.

Though memberships for this season are sold out, Trillium Haven is among dozens of organic operations offering fresh produce at Fulton Street Farmers Market.

The way it works, people buy a share in the CSA, which may even require participants to provide a few hours of labor each month.

In return, shareholders each week cart home grocery bags or boxes filled with in-season produce.  CSA, long popular in Europe and Japan due to limited garden space, took hold in the U.S. more than 20 years ago and continues to grow.

Mud Lake Farm outside of Hudsonville grows 45 varieties of lettuce year-round to keep its broad client base, including area restaurants, in the green.

Growing lettuce without soil makes the niche business especially popular in winter, says Van Haitsma, who started the business in 2005.

“We pick, wash it and bag it and it is ready for pick-up or we deliver,’’ she says. “Business is down a bit in the summer when people are going to fresh markets, but in the winter it is the only place you can get fresh greens.’’

CSA got its start in Kent County nearly two decades ago, thanks to efforts by Helen Lundberg, who, with husband Dave, opened Ingraberg Farms outside of Rockford.

They are no longer a CSA due to burgeoning demand from the food service industry for its organic produce. But insights gleaned from the early 1990s indicated the movement was more than a fad.

“Many of the people who came here were cancer patients who says they felt much better and had more energy after eating organically-grown food,’’ Dave Lundberg says. "There’s no question you get more nutritional value out of freshly-harvested produce because of the availability of trace minerals still in the product.’’

Lundberg has stepped away from day-to-day operations, turning it over to Helen and sons, Mike and Jason. He serves more as the farm’s marketing arm. “I’ve seen over the last 20 years more and more people taking an interest in where their food comes from,’’ Dave Lundberg says. “It’s pretty much followed the curve of organics with people playing a greater role in how they put food on the table.’’

For information on Community Supported Agriculture, farm markets and U-pick locations, visit these websites:
 www.sustainabletable.org, www.localharvest.org and www.pickyourown.org.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The West Michigan Science &Technology Initiative recently leased 6,500 square feet of laboratory space to expand its Venture Center incubator, and half of that space is dedicated to medical device development.

WMSTI seized the opportunity to develop lab space at 1345 Monroe NW, space vacated by Spectrum Health's diagnostic laboratory when it relocated to the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion. New incubator tenants will have access to individual labs ranging from 300 to 1,500 square feet.

"We're sort of establishing sub units that have individual doors and security, and that will help residents maintain confidentiality of product development and make their space their own," says Linda Chamberlain, executive director.

"We've been talking to companies about how to set up the space for medical device development. Residents will have everything they need to take a
product from development to producing the prototype, and we're now showing the space to several interested parties."

WMSTI bases lab lease rates on a sliding scale. Participating companies must agree to remain in Kent County after leaving the incubator.

Besides access to expensive testing equipment many startups can't afford, tenants will have access to WMSTI's virtual company alliance, which includes experts in business law, intellectual property law and marketing services.

"We view incubation as a community asset, and want to help develop businesses that are growing up and growing out and creating jobs, and businesses that are a value to our community," Chamberlain says.

According to information supplied by the WMSTI, since 2003 the original Venture Center in Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences has housed 12 companies, created 650 high-technology jobs in West Michigan and generated over $100 million in investment.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

At a time when technology firms are
downsizing, one Grand Rapids company is expanding three of its service
areas and hiring employees and contractors. OST – recently named one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
– attributes the hiring of 11 employees last year and a projected eight
new jobs and 10 contractor positions this year to the company's growth
momentum.

"Given the economy, our revenue numbers
are down because hardware and software sales are down," says Dan Behm,
president. "Last year we did $33 million. Overall revenues will be
down, but we'll still be able to maintain a decent profit. Services are
up."

Because sales of software and hardware
took a dive, OST leaders decided to turn up the heat under the
company's three most promising service areas: IT security assessments,
managed services and application development. And that push is
generating jobs.

IT security is a CIO's biggest concern,
Behm says. OST plans to grow its security division by 1200 percent, and
that means attracting out-of-state clients. Behm plans to do that with
the company's proprietary product SARA (Security Access for Remote
Assessments), a high-tech product that clients simply plug into their
IT systems.

"We build the team in Michigan and
perform the assessments remotely by sending SARA to the location," Behm
says. "All they do is plug it in. We present the results remotely as
well; they just plug the projector into SARA and we do the
presentation."

The push is on to expand two other
service areas: managed services, where OST provides remote day-to-day
administration of clients' IT systems, and application development for
clients needing web sites, custom applications and the like.

OST currently has 46 employees and 40 contractors.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

A Grand Rapids pharmaceutical research firm announced this week that preliminary data from its Phase IIa clinical trials indicate its lead compound, MSDC-0160, lowers blood glucose levels without the side effects of weight gain or edema – common side effects of medications currently on the market.

Metabolic Solutions Development Co., which has offices in Grand Rapids and a laboratory in Kalamazoo, conducted the nationwide tests on nearly 100 diabetics over a 28-day period.

"This was our first study with the lead compound in a diabetic population," says Mark Olesnavage, CEO. "It significantly lowered blood glucose versus a placebo and it was very nice to see a nice rise in HDL cholesterol. We used Actos as a comparator, HDL rises with Actos as well, and those patients did have some weight gain."

In addition, MSDC-0160 did not decrease circulating blood cell levels, unlike Actos.

"We can't draw conclusions with this
number of people over this short period of time, but Phase IIb will be
longer and will involve between 250 and 300 people," Olesnavage says.
"Phase IIb will begin by the end of the year, and might include international sites."

One of the complications with diabetes
is cardiovascular disease and most patients succumb to the disease due to cardiovascular issues. Metabolic must show that the compound is not going to increase cardiovascular disease.

Metabolic began developing the compound in 2006. Olesnavage points out that the drug, as yet unnamed, is many years and many millions of dollars from market, if favorable test results continue to move development forward.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The $98 million overhaul and a 162,000-square-foot expansion of Blodgett Hospital at 1840 Wealthy Street SE is on schedule for a November 2010 opening.

When it's all done, 284 private patient rooms with family gathering space in each will bring a new dimension to patient care. The plan is to close existing patient beds in buildings built in 1916, the '50s and the '60s. To make up for that loss, the new five-story expansion includes 131 private patient rooms, as well as eight state-of-the-art operating rooms.

"The investment we're making here at Blodgett is a lot more than just the buildings and renovations," says Jim Wilson, president. "We are updating to state-of-the-art technologies all of the imaging modalities we have."

Those include two CT scanners installed last year, upgrades to nuclear medicine and fluoroscopy technologies, the addition of a second MRI machine, and an upgrade to digital mammography last year.

A renovation of the emergency room
involves new patient care rooms, an already-reconstructed clinical core
area, and renovation of the examination rooms.

All public spaces—lobbies, conference
rooms, an auditorium, restrooms, kitchen/cafeteria—are also on the
drawing board for upgrades.

Infrastructure revamps include ongoing improvements -- some began two years ago -- to the parking deck and replacement of all the elevators in the hospital's 11 elevator banks.

The Blodgett campus, part of the Spectrum Health system, provides 1,800 full-time-equivalent jobs just inside the East Grand Rapids city boundaries.

"We're excited to make this investment so Blodgett hospital continues to be a very viable part of the East Grand Rapids business community," Wilson says. "We take that commitment very seriously."

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

The convergence of research opportunities, cardiac care facilities and a medical school has renewed discussions of establishing a cardiac institute in Grand Rapids that would provide total cardiac care, including heart transplants.  The opportunity comes just as several cardiac osteopaths look to leave West Michigan Heart in order to strengthen ties to Metro Health.

According to excerpts from the story:

Discussions about establishing a cardiology institute have intensified this year between West Michigan Heart and Spectrum Health, sources said last week. Most of the cardiologists who now comprise the private group of 34 physicians would become members of the cardiology institute, which would tie together clinical practice, research and teaching activities at the Meijer Heart Center, Van Andel Institute and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, WHM CEO Suzette Jeskie said.

Jeskie said the idea for the institute has been floating around since the heart tower was built. With 330,000 square feet, eight floors and 164 patient beds, it opened next to Butterworth Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids in 2004. “That’s a huge part of our relationship. That’s where our relationship would be centered,” Jeskie said. “I hope its time has come.”

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

A University of Michigan professor and Hollywood screenwriter says this year is the first year his screenwriting students have stayed in the state after graduation, and credits the state's burgeoning film industry. Opportunities to film television series will bring steady income to industry workers and create more jobs.

According to excerpts from the story:

Jim Burnstein, University of Michigan professor and Hollywood screenwriter, was one of the main architects of Michigan's tax incentives for the film industry that has brought more than $125 million in film production spending since April 2008.  Burstein said with investments in training and infrastructure - and the patience to let the incentives work - Michigan could become the film and television headquarters of the Midwest. And the potential for television series to start shooting in Michigan could bring more steady employment than the intermittent schedules of feature films provide, he added. Burnstein is vice-chair of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Committee.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

Expansion plans and upgrades for Holland's airport have airport leaders scouting for the prime location to construct a proposed $7 million terminal. Land acquisition and an environmental impact study head the list of priorities.

According to excerpts from the story:

Tulip City Airport has plans for a new terminal that could cost more than $7 million, while its current operator has a new pact. Tulip City Air Service Inc., will continue overseeing day-to-day operations of the airport under an agreement approved by the West Michigan Airport Authority. The 20-year agreement calls for Tulip City Air to continue to offer a variety of services, including maintenance, charter operations and flight lessons. According to a 10-year capital improvement plan approved separately by the airport authority, engineering and design work and an environmental review of the site could exceed $450,000, with $925,000 for land acquisition, $2.1 million for site preparation and construction costs topping $3.5 million.

Read the complete story here.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

Last Monday, the $60 million Hauenstein Center at Saint Mary’s opened its doors to patients after nearly three years of construction. The center, 220 Cherry St. SE, Grand Rapids, is the latest comprehensive care center on the Saint Mary’s Health Care campus.

“All the neuroscience providers are under one roof and all on one floor, where before they were on four different sites across the campus,” says Leanna Krukowski, clinical service director. “Now if a patient comes into, for instance, the spine center and we need a surgeon to look at them, all we have to do is go get the surgeon. Before, the patient had to leave the spine center and maybe drive to the other part of the campus.”

The facility contains all seven ambulatory clinics: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, general neurology, neuro-ophthalmalogy, the spine center, epilepsy clinic and neurosurgery.

In addition, a new state-of-the-art emergency department occupies a portion of the building. The ER includes a 64-slice CT scanner so patients can stay right in the ER for emergency scans. A patient can be loaded into the machine, scanned and unloaded in just five minutes.

A leading-edge ICU contains 32 private rooms equipped for acuity care, so as patients progress through their care they can stay in the room and have the same caregivers.

“Neurology patients had to drive to Ann Arbor, Detroit or Chicago for treatment and they don’t have to anymore,” Krukowski says.

All art inside the facility features Michigan landscapes by Michigan artists.

Saint Mary’s plans to apply for silver LEED certification.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

Grand Rapids Community College
(GRCC) officials were prepared to build a new $35 million facility for
the college's health care program, but before they could break ground
another opportunity came up – the opportunity to purchase Davenport University's former Grand Rapids campus for $9.5 million.

With
150,000 square feet and numerous buildings that front along Fulton
Street from College to Prospect, GRCC now has plenty of space for its
programs and an extraordinary opportunity to increase enrollment.

"We're place bound on the current
campus and turned away over 1,000 students last year," says Anne
Mulder, interim president. "This could give us the possibility to add
3,000 students between the Grand Rapids campuses and our locations
throughout Kent and Ottawa counties. Given the economy and the times,
this will be the college of choice for most families that can't afford
more expensive colleges for the first two years."

Faculty and administration have yet to
decide which programs will relocate to what Mulder calls the East
Campus. After juggling departmental moves, she expects the downtown
campus's Peter and Pat Cook Academic Hall's
top four floors for an estimated $10 million. The college will ask the
state to pay for half the cost, a path GRCC planned to take when the
$35 million health care building was still on the table, thereby
reducing the state's portion from $17.5 million to $5 million.

Some Davenport offices will remain in
place for some months until its Caledonia campus can accommodate staff
and programs. During that time the East Campus, an easy walk from
GRCC's main campus, requires some renovation which will start
immediately.

"It's in amazingly good shape," Mulder
says. "The Cook administration building was completely renovated in
2005 and it's magnificent inside. The oldest building is probably
Warren Hall and that was originally a furniture museum."

Source: Anne Mulder, Grand Rapids Community College

Photo:

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) new East Campus.

Photos by Joshua Tyron -All Rights Reserved

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

After more than two years of planning and construction, Kent County Public Works and Granger Electric of Byron Center recently cut the ribbon on a new biomass electrical plant at the South Kent Landfill, 300 100^th St. SW, Byron Center. The 3.2 megawatt plant converts landfill gas to electricity that can power some 2,000 typical homes.

"The plant takes the landfill gas, which is about 50 percent methane, and fuels two 1.6 megawatt internal combustion engines which turn electrical generators to produce electricity," says Joel Zylstra, COO of Granger's Energy Division who constructed and operates the plant.

"We're making money and we're destroying carbon," says Doug Wood, director, Kent County Public Works.
"Granger sells the electricity to Consumers Energy and we get a
percentage of the sales. We'll also sell the carbon credits, so that
will give us two revenue streams."

The credits will be available for purchase after the county is approved for The Climate Registry, probably sometime in July.

The landfill contains 24 interconnected
wells that pull the gas out of the landfill and direct it to the biomass conversion plant. The plant compresses the gas, filters it and
removes the moisture to make a clean burning fuel to power the electric generators.

"Overall, these projects typically cost about $1.5 million per megawatt. The payback depends on how quickly we can grow the plant," Zylstra says. "As long as waste continues to flow into the landfill, more and more gas will be produced and we'll probably add another engine in three to five years."

About 150 acres of the 352-acre landfill site is actual landfill. It's currently at 44 percent capacity, containing some 3.5 million tons of waste. At the current disposal rate, the landfill will be at capacity in 2029.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

For 20 years, Kent County government leaders have wanted to construct a facility where county residents can access a variety of human services in one location. Last week, the waiting ended when the $27 million Kent County Human Services Complex, 121 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids, opened for business.

At the complex, Kent County residents can now visit a number of county agencies that used to be scattered throughout Greater Grand Rapids: ACSET-Michigan Works, the Sheldon Health Clinic, Department of Human Services, Child ren's Protective Services and Adult Protective Services.

Services range from job training and Hispanic Senior Meals to daycare vouchers and emergency utility services.

"We did a geo-map study prior to presenting the plan to the board of commissioners in Lansing, to identify where the client base is located. Seventy percent are within a three-mile radius of the former Human Services location, 415 Franklin, just two blocks away," says Wayman Britt, assistant Kent County administrator.

The added convenience means that many clients are now within walking distance, and two bus routes bring clients within two blocks of the complex.

A permanent nine-foot-tall, 16-foot-long glass exhibit inside the north lobby honors 30 of Kent County leaders who have " have led efforts to improve the human condition of Kent County residents," Britt says.

"We had a 20-year wait for this facility because of a big bottleneck between us and the State of Michigan that we finally overcame," he adds. "At a time like this when we have more people out of work and a greater demand for services, it couldn't have come at a better time."

The complex is the first LEED certified building constructed by Kent County.

Source: Wayman Britt, Kent County; Kate Washburn, Wondergem Consulting

Related Articles
Kent County’s $27M human services complex rises in Southtown

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Photo:

Kent County's Human Services building 121 Franklin ST SE

Photograph by Joshua Tyron -All Rights Reserved

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

After nearly eight years of anticipation, Opera Grand Rapids (OGR) broke ground yesterday on its first rehearsal hall since the organization's inception 42 years ago. The $2.25 million Betty Van Andel Opera Center (BVAOC) is a 14,000-square-foot facility that will finally give the opera company a place to rehearse, store props, create and store costumes and establish permanent offices.

OGR adopted a nomadic style when it came to rehearsal space, moving stage props, musicians and instruments in and out of any location that was large enough and available.
"For the last two performances, they rehearsed at the empty Dunham's Sports store next to the mall on 28th Street," says Executive Director Michael Havlicek. "If you went to look at it, you'd say 'Whoa!' The first time I went, the place was full of lawn chairs they'd brought with them to have a place to sit instead of on the floor."

The BVAOC at Carlton and Fulton NE provides a basic 60-foot by 80-foot rehearsal space with a two-story-high ceiling, a flat floor and no stage. Portable seating accommodates up to 300 people.

An adjacent costume shop provides a convenient place to alter, repair and store costumes. OGR offices, a large meeting room and three practice rooms for vocalists occupy the rest of the building.

"These are difficult times, and we held our own feet to the fire and said we aren't going to start construction until every penny of the $2,250,000 has been raised, and we've raised it," Havlicek says.

OGR named the center for Betty Van Andel, a nine-year OGR board member. Nearly eight years ago, Betty and her husband, Jay, pledged $1 million for the project.

Beta Design designed the facility. McGraw Construction is the construction manager. OGR hopes to achieve Silver LEED certification.

Source: Michael Havlicek, Opera Grand Rapids

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Source: Rapid Growth
Full article

When John Evans began creating a video to document the heroism of the Dutch resistance during WWII, he knew it had to be more than just a historical or academic lesson. His mother and other members of his Jewish family living in the Netherlands lived through horrendous events under a Nazi regime.

There was an important story to tell before memories faded and history lost. Evans was on a mission.

"My mother was taken from her family and put into hiding and her family was one of the few to totally survive (the concentration camps)," says Evans. "There were so many involved in the resistance, even as young children, and I wanted to tell their stories. It was my way of saying if these unselfish acts hadn't happened, I wouldn't be here today; my kids wouldn't be here today."

Directed by Evans, "The Reckoning: Remembering the Dutch Resistance," has had widespread distribution and many accolades since its release in 2006. The 90-minute documentary placed second in the 2007 New York City Film Festival and has been featured at several other festivals. The film also is part of the Holocaust Museum's library in Washington D.C.

The Soul of Story
Presenting visual images a viewer will long remember is a life's passion for Evans, 46, and his business partner Corey Niemchick, 45, a longtime friend. They own Storytelling Pictures, a Grand Rapids company that produces everything from music videos and TV/web spots to biographies, documentaries and public service announcements for clients around the world.

"We work with large companies and non-profits, but we particularly like storytelling when it comes to issues," Niemchick says. "It works both ways for us. We can impact lives, but bring a storytelling approach to commercial projects, too."

Evans started the company in his home in 1997 after he lost the job he held for 10 years as a result of cutbacks in Amway Corp.'s audio-visual department. He jumped at the chance to pursue a desire to use his video skills on interesting stories. In the first 14 months after losing his job, Evans made 8 trips to Africa to film in the Saharawi refugee camps for some foundations.

"I wanted to show (a voice) not just in words, but with pictures, and that's where the name of the company came from," Evans recalls. "I went into this blind, but after Africa, I started getting more clients, both corporate and non-profit."

That included the Peter Cook Foundation, Meijer Inc. and Amway.

Finding a Partner
As Storytelling Pictures grew, Evans persuaded Niemchick in 2003 to leave his vice president's position at Lumbermens Inc., a $150 million building materials wholesaler, to provide the marketing and administrative skills the company needed.

"I had always admired John's work because he is an extremely gifted and talented cinematographer," Niemchick says. "John says: 'Let's do something crazy and form this partnership,' and this was all about my doing something different that would impact lives and help affect change. It was very appealing to me, so we put together a business plan and six years later here we are."

The company at 801 Broadway Ave. NW now consists of four additional employees involved in the consultation, development, writing, directing and production of each piece. Niemchick now is involved in the creative side of the business as well. Clients include the city of Grand Rapids, Doritos brand tortilla chips, Bissell, GFS (Gordon's Food Service), Kuyper College, Children's Hospital of Michigan, The Grand Rapids Diocese and several foundations.

One of the latest projects is Dove Spotlight, a collaboration between The Dove Foundation, Zondervan Corp. and Storytelling Pictures. The program will provide family-friendly DVD, video game and movie reviews nationwide, once funding is established through the foundation. The pilot aired locally in October on WOTV-Channel 4 and sister station WXSP-Channel 15. Hosts are Rachael Ruiz, who also hosts parent company WOOD TV-Channel 8's new daytime program eightWest, along with Terri DeBoer.

In addition to Ruiz, other local talent for Dove Spotlight includes Brian Burch and Derek Emerson, with their take on what families need to consider in entertainment content and ratings.

"The pilot was very successful and was broadcast in 30 million homes on a host of channels," says Niemchick. "There appears to be a lot of national broadcast interest."

Ruiz, who previously served as a reporter and anchor for WOOD, says she covered some of the projects produced by Storytelling Pictures, including The Reckoning, and has always admired the work. She auditioned for Dove Spotlight and was impressed with the sincerity and attention to detail by Evans and Niemchick.

"They are very intricate and perfectionists (who) strive for the highest quality product," she adds. "They have amazing ideas and the sky's the limit. They get very excited about something that hasn't been done and that was great to be a part of."

If the program gets picked up, WOTV possibly could be the local host station, Ruiz says. "Corey and John have an amazing product and the pilot had great reviews," she says. "We already have talked about ideas that will take it one step beyond."

The Creative Class
A year ago, the city of Grand Rapids hired Storytelling Pictures to come up with a video narrative to address "the creative class" of residents , new arrivals and people moving back to Grand Rapids. The idea is help get them involved or re-engaged in activities viewed as essential toward the health of the community.

"It's not about any specific demographic, but rather a psychographic and people who embrace a certain mindset," Niemchick says. "We're looking at how to appeal to these people in ways that the EDC (Economic Development Corporation) cannot."

Evans says the company will be working with Family Life Today, a non-profit based in Little Rock, Ark. to produce six, 40-minute films related to marriage and family. He and Niemchick last week returned from a motorcycle trip (another of their passions) to Little Rock, where they ironed out details for the production. Another work-in-progress is a video in honor of local philanthropist and businessman Peter Wege's 90th birthday, to be celebrated on Feb. 20.

In the developmental stages is a public education documentary with a working title of "Disparity of Health Care." The discussions involve physicians and experts from the University of Michigan Medical Center and other prestigious health care facilities around the country, as well as federal government health care commissions. Evans and Niemchick will weave the information into a compelling visual narrative.

For any project, "we go in and we want to hear what they want, while in the process we let them know what we do and tell them what they need," Evans says. "It's extremely important to hit the mark and tell their story."

Going to News Lengths
The two men are interested in full length feature film making and have "rubbed shoulders" with other production companies to share creative juices. Storytelling Pictures in August hosted the first Grand Rapids Film Festival, which focused film industry workshops and about 30 films of all genres from around the world.

"That went very well and we will do it again, even bigger and better," Niemchick says. "We love movies and the recent tax incentives for film makers makes West Michigan an important place. We're trying to raise our hand in the back of the class and say 'consider us.' "

The company seeks out local talent for much of its work, Evans says. That includes school children who may not have a clue why they're in front of a camera, but fit the bill when it comes to telling the story. There might even be an unexpected perk or two.

"Most of our first graders were involved in a couple of promotional pieces, and John and Corey gave them a free tour of the (Van Andel) public museum," says Marita DeJong, director of development for Northpointe Christian Schools. "They are so flexible with the kids and relate to them very well. And that's because they took the time to learn about the school and its faith focus."

Northpointe hired Storytelling Pictures to produce a promotional DVD included in information packets for interested families. "They are great at communicating, and utilize everything," DeJonge adds. "They spend a great deal of time learning about you and your background and create the narrative and stories around the verbiage you give them."

DeJonge says Evans and Niemchick made the school feel like it was the only client they had, despite other valuable customers on the schedule.

"They weren't the least expensive of what we chose, but the quality of their work pays for itself 10 times over," she says. "We wanted some staying power in the promotion so we wouldn't have to create something completely new every year, and they did that perfectly. We've already started working on the next promotional piece."

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News junkies now have a new venue to get their fix on West Michigan news. Reporter Dustin Dwyer of Michigan Radio introduced last month a new podcast called "West Side Stories" that focuses on local news. The program can be heard every Tuesday at WVGR 104.1 FM.

"I just wanted a way to offer local stories. I kind of figured they'd go for it," Dwyer says, referring to his editors in Ann Arbor where Michigan Radio is based.

The 28-year-old Dwyer is not sure what kind of stories he'll cover other than saying it'll be "lifestyle" news. "I'm kind of hoping people will help me with that," says the reporter who has been with NPR since 2003.  "What's cool? What's interesting? I'm still looking for input from people as to how it should be."  

The podcast's "first official episode"  on Nov. 11 features two recent college grads from Grand Rapids who are trying to establish a new business called Six Stone Jars.  The couple, Kelsey Duda and Patrick VanderKolk, want to place their Six Stone Jars label on selected Michigan wines, sell the wine, and donate 86 percent of the profits to a charity which supplies clean water to developing nations. Why 86 percent? Wine is 86 percent water, the couple tells Dwyer.

Dwyer, who moved here in May with his wife, Metta, has lived in several communities, so he should bring a fresh perspective to the program. The 2003 graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa was born in Colorado, but has since lived in California, Oregon, Florida and Washington, D.C. He and Metta moved after she received an offer from Warner Norcross & Judd upon graduation from law school at the University of Michigan.

"My wife and I could have moved wherever we wanted,"  Dwyer says about their decision to move to Grand Rapids. "But we wanted to be here. We lived here last summer when she was an intern (at WNJ).  

"I love it," Dwyer says.  "The seasons are great. It's a beautiful state with beautiful beaches and a great city.  California is too crowded; Florida is hot, too new and crowded."

He, his wife and their black cat, Buzz, have settled into a house they purchased in Fulton Heights.
 To subscribe for West Side Stories podcasts, go to this site.

Source: Rapid Growth
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"American Idol" does it. ArtPrize does it.  So does "Dancing with the Stars."   So, why not ask the public to select one more thing with this interactive way of getting the public involved?  Which charity in your community deserves a slice of $5 million?

JP Morgan Chase Bank is asking its Facebook fans to select which of more than 500,000 non-profit organizations nationwide listed on its Facebook page deserves a cut of $5 million the bank will give away to charity.  There are more than 50 local organizations from which to choose in the Chase Community Giving contest.  Viewers are encouraged to add other charities as long as they are 501(c) (3) organizations and have an annual operating budget of less than $10 million.

Each fan is allotted 20 votes until the first round of voting ends Dec. 11.  The top 100 vote-getters will each be awarded $25,000. From the 100 finalists, Facebook fans will be able to select from Jan. 15 through Jan. 22 their top five choices. The winner will be awarded the grand prize of $1 million and the five runners up will each be given $100,000.  Winners will be announced Feb. 8.

"We thought what a great idea!" says Brenda Stringer, the executive director of the John Ball Zoo Society.  She says a co-worker heard about the give-away and went online to discover the Society was already on the Chase Community Giving list. "I think it's an interesting way for a large business like that to do some of their giving.  Obviously, its philanthropic marketing that will benefit themselves as well. The whole idea is to go viral.

"Normally when you ask for a contribution or apply for a grant, you have to prove yourselves, have a structured request, and earn it," Stringer says. "This is really like the American Idol way of giving.  It's odd. But certainly, I don't think there is any charity that would turn this down."

"You decide what matters," the Chase website says.  "A new way forward for giving." 

Source: Rapid Growth
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Universal Mind, an enterprise-level rich Internet application developer for the web, desktop and mobile devices, has opened its first development hub dedicated to user experience design. The new office, located in the Brass Works Building in Grand Rapids' Monroe North business district, began operations November 1.

The Westfield, Massachusetts-based company's client list includes technology leaders Adobe, Verizon Wireless, Kodak and JibJab, says Erik Loehfelm, director of user experience design and head of the Grand Rapids office.

One popular application developed by the company in conjunction with Adobe is the Verizon Media Store.

"We build the software in a user-centric way," Loehfelm says. "We determine who the users will be and design interactive software around those users in a beautiful, simple, elegant way.

"We consider Grand Rapids a center of design thought, especially as it relates to user design and interactive design, so it seems likes a good place to be a center of excellence," he says. "We like to call it the Silicon Mitten as opposed to the Silicon Valley."

Loehfelm has lived in Grand Rapids for seven years; the other four designers on the team are lifelong residents. All have worked together in the past and are active in a variety of technology-centric organizations, including Design West Michigan, AimWest and MichiganXD.

Loehfelm expects to add another 10 positions in the next six months and will use the office as a meeting space to bring clients from around the country for face-to-face meetings.

Universal Mind has offices in Massachusetts, Golden, Colo. and San Francisco. The company employs 50 fulltime workers and 70 fulltime contractors. Loehfelm says all of the company's resources work remotely, with the exception of the new Grand Rapids office which accommodates 15 people and is the company's largest location.
  

Source: Rapid Growth
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No such thing as a free lunch? Think again. Michigan farmers are offering residents a chance to win enough money for a person to enjoy a free breakfast, lunch and dinner every day for a year through its innovative and interactive sweepstakes, "Free Groceries for a Year!"

Michigan residents can register for a chance to win one of three prizes, each worth $5,000 in groceries, by watching videos at the Michigan Farmers Feed Us site. The site features apples, cattle, corn, dairy, egg, hog, vegetable, sheep, and soybean farmers from across the state, each sharing information about his or her farm and family.

In addition to guiding visitors at the site through their registration for free groceries, each of the 10 farmers offer viewers a bit of trivia about their farm and a brief video tour where contestants can learn how each farmer produces safe, nutritious and affordable food.

"The goal is to connect the farmers to the consumers directly (with information about the source of food) because there are so many people that are generations removed from a working farm," says Annie Link, a third-generation farmer who works on her family's homestead, SwissLane Dairy Farm, in Alto and is among the featured farmers.

"If the farmers aren't doing this, there are opportunities for myths and misunderstandings. That's not good," says Link, who's great-grandfather, Switzerland-born Fredrick Oesch, started the farm on 84th Street with a purchase of 91 acres in 1911. "I think this program is a step in the right direction to connect the consumers to the farmers and get this information. We're very excited about it. It's getting quite a buzz."

In addition to educating the public, contest sponsors hope to increase the public's awareness of the important role agriculture plays in Michigan's economy. Most people don't realize the industry is the second leading industry in Michigan, second only to manufacturing, and contributes over $71 billion to our state’s economy, Link says. "It gets overlooked. I think a contest like this is going to really help it (gain a greater profile)."

Consumers can register with each of the 10 featured farmers daily through the end of the 90-day program on Feb. 12. At the sweepstakes' conclusion, three winners will be randomly selected with one winner each chosen from Detroit and Grand Rapids and a third winner from outside both of those cities.

The contest is sponsored by a coalition of about a dozen organizations who will work with each winner to determine their preferred grocery store, and then purchase $5,000 in grocery gift cards from those stores.

Source: Rapid Growth
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After getting a college degree and investing 12 years in the corporate marketing world, Heidi Cook found herself without a job – her employer went out of business. For Cook, it was the second time it had happened – first with a jet sales company and then with Encore Market Realty.

So Cook, 31, launched Studio Bindi Graphics from her home near Grand Rapids' East Hills business district, deciding to depend on her experience as a marketer and her skills as a graphic designer.

"The response I've gotten blows me away," she says. "I've worked with Muse Boutique, some Realtors, social marketing, Peppino's downtown, Monte's, Rockwell's, Republic and O'Toole's. I just did a massive web site for Bauer Power out of Marshall."

Cook does what larger marketing agencies do: she develops branding campaigns, designs logos, business cards and web sites and manages the information posted on clients' social media sites.

But Cook says an advantage to being a one-person shop is her ability to develop personal relationships with clients.

"Most of my clients end up becoming my friends, which is great," she says. "Now it's not that I have to go to work and do day-to-day stuff, it's that I get to work and create fun and interesting things for people who are my friends."

Cook credits postings on Facebook and Twitter for garnering out of state clients for her. She also says she's making more money than she did when she had an employer.

"Michigan's having a lot of problems, but Grand Rapids is doing great," she says. "I love the downtown life and I can't imagine living anywhere else. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive in Grand Rapids. You don't have to depend on somebody else for your paycheck; you can do it yourself. I'm living proof."

Source: Rapid Growth
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A decade-old company that used to operate from the owner's Grand Rapids home is one of the first shops in the new International Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence on Grand Rapids' southwest side.

The center, developed by Eastern Floral owner Bing Goei, occupies part of the former Kindel Furniture factory at 818 Butterworth SW and is set up to provide collaborative support space for eight women- or minority-owned small businesses. Eastern Floral occupies a portion of the building.

RSVP Events, owned by Nancy Dobry, moved in November 1.

"Our office area is about 10 feet by 12 feet with a privacy door, and we have space outside the office that will be divided by large plants where we can meet with clients," says Valerie Smies, RSVP spokesperson.

RSVP Events provides full wedding and reception coordination, day-of coordination and event planning and coordination for fundraisers and civic galas. Besides specialty linens and chair covers, the company also offers event décor items for rent.

"For weddings, we can do everything from the wedding invitations to the reception," Smies says. "We meet with the client, we know their budget and we go with them to meet with the florists, photographers, caterers and other vendors."

As for the reason for the move, the opportunity to collaborate with other business owners and the location both played a part.

"We wanted to be close to downtown because we work with a lot of downtown vendors," Smies says. "What really excited us is working with so many businesses in the building. We're so excited about the change. It's going to be great."

Source: Rapid Growth
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The young customers of Aberdeen's Clothing for Children have at least one growth spurt in their lifetime, and now the store is having one too. Besides a positive sales record, the Grand Haven store recently expanded, adding about 50 percent more space.

Aberdeen's is 10 years old, but current owner Megan Needham has been at the helm for just over two years. Since she took over, she says the store has been doing better and better each season. This year she expects business to be up 15 percent or more.

With Aberdeen's growth in sales, Needham knew she could handle a larger inventory. When the store directly behind Aberdeen's became available, Needham expanded the store.

"When that space became available, it was a no-brainer," Needham says. "I knew Aberdeen's could handle that amount of space."

The store, 207 Washington Ave., sells children's clothing, preemie through size 10/12, offering brands like Hartstrings, Haute Baby and LeTop. The shop also carries accessories like blankets, shoes, books, banks, christening items, frames, hats and raingear. Needham says the store expansion allows for more baby accessories like strollers and crib bedding, and for older children's items to be spaced out more. The store also has room to carry First Communion items.

"Aberdeen's strives to create a relationship with our customers, and always tries to go above and beyond to find what our customers are looking for," says Needham.

The store's web site also shows many of the items available as well as the number in stock.

Needham says she hasn't added any employees, but she's looking at that as a possibility in the spring.

Source: Rapid Growth
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When Angie Austin opened her fashion boutique on Grand Rapids' west side last February, she had no idea that just eight months later she'd take on a business partner, triple the size of the shop and add an entire bridal boutique.

The original Renee Austin Boutique, 444 Bridge Street, now includes Renee Austin Wedding at 442 Bridge, a bridal boutique managed by Austin's new business partner Maggie Torongo. The two women, both in their 20s, met through a mutual friend. Their shared passion for retail and fashion opened the door for a budding partnership resulting in the expanded shop.

"Renee Austin Wedding has wedding gowns, mother of the bride dresses, bridesmaids' dresses, veils, accessories and shoes, and we rent tuxedos and shoes for the grooms," Torongo says. "We have all types of dresses, including tea length and long, and we have jackets and boleros, too."

Austin chimes in, "We try not to carry matronly dresses," she says. "A lot of moms come in and say 'I don't want to look like a grandma' so we carry elegant and classy styles."

Those styles come in sizes ranging from 4 to 22. For the spring fashions, sizes will range up to size 30.

"I think people like it here because we're real people, too," Austin says. "We get to know the girls, we get to know their families and everybody says it feels like this is their living room.

"A bride and her mom came in after they had been a lot of places and couldn't find a gown," Austin continues. "We found eight dresses for the bride to try and she bought one. The mom said 'thank you so much for making my daughter so happy' and they were both teary. Maggie and I just looked at each other and said this is why we do what we do."

Source: Rapid Growth
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Classics, literature and hard-to-find titles line the bookshelves at downtown Holland's Book Village 2, an expansion of the used bookstore Book Village on Holland's north side.

The focus of the new store, located near Hope College, is to sell older books not offered in mainstream bookstores.

"Our books are more obscure," says store owner Tom Kohl. "I don't want to be a miniature Barnes & Noble. You are going to find things here that you aren't going to find someplace else."

Kohl has owned the original Book Village since 2003, and although the store is on a busy road, he says it's hard to draw people in because there's no foot traffic. He decided to try downtown, hoping to attract a different crowd than his north side store.

He opened the downtown location on College Avenue in August, then moved two doors down to a larger space at 214 College in October.

Kohl kept the previous occupant's distinctive leopard print carpeting and some artwork painted by a local artist, but invested about $3,500 in bookshelves, nearly 1,000 books, a couch and comfortable chairs. The store also has a keyboard for anyone who wants to play it. College students work at the downtown shop.

"The atmosphere really fits in with the stores around it," says Kohl, referring to the coffee shop and record store on either side. "This little area is like the San Francisco of Holland."

Kohl collects used books to sell in his stores from book sales all over the state, estate sales and thrift stores. He finds unique editions that he says will appeal to book collectors and serious readers, but he says he doesn't buy any books from online sources.

"It's the thrill of the hunt," he says.

Source: Rapid Growth
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Though the summer was cool and rainy, tourism leaders say vacationers still flocked to the lakeshore this year in healthy numbers.  They credit the state's award-winning Pure Michigan national ad campaign for bringing in a greater mix of visitors, including those from Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

After the Pure Michigan campaign launched nationally in April, hits on the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau's website jumped 81 percent, according to Sally Laukitis, the bureau's executive director. Occupancy rates at Holland area hotels and bed and breakfasts were up almost 9 percent in August, 6.5 percent in July and 4.4 percent in June

According to excerpts from the story:
"That was a huge boon in terms of awareness. Obviously the message resonated with people," Laukitis told MiBiz. Holland has teamed up with eight other communities for the Michigan Beach Towns public relations campaign tied to the Pure Michigan campaign that advertises in the Chicago market. Laukitis said the radio and television messages of Pure Michigan create nostalgia and a lot of interest to bring in many new visitors to West Michigan.

Read the complete story here

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Founders Brewing Co.  has earned fifth place in a ranking of the 25 best American breweries of the past decade by a leading monthly music and entertainment magazine, Paste.  In its November issue, the Decatur, Ga.-based publication praises the company's founders, Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, for following their dreams when they established the Grand Rapids micro-brewery in 1997. Its favorite Founders beers: Breakfast Stout and KBS.

According to excerpts from the story:
Despite making nothing but the worst mass-produced horse swill for the half-century that followed Prohibition, the U.S. is now the greatest nation on earth when it comes to beer. The craft brewing movement that picked up steam throughout the ’90s came to beautiful fruition this past decade, and no where else on earth will you find the variety of beers to match the quality.

Read the complete storyhere

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The first Downtown Turkey Throwdown, which drew almost 100 people to a downtown Grand Rapids potluck turkey dinner the Monday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, became a good example of the power of social media spreading information like lightening to the public.

Danny Beckett conceived of the idea the week before Thanksgiving as a way of building upon the thankful spirit of the holiday, twittered it to others, and helped transform the idea into reality when followers Cindy Grace and Lisa Lehmann joined the organizational effort. News spread when others twittered about the event or posted information about it on their Facebook page.  A Citizen Journalist posted the announcement Nov. 18 on The Rapidian webpage.

According to excerpts from a video:

"I think it's amazing," Cindy Grace told The Rapidian during an interview at the event. "It's not like we had 12 people show up and we shared a meal.  It would be an insignificant event. It's way beyond what we had anticipated."

Watch a video of the Throwdown here

Source: Rapid Growth
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Grand Rapids area businesses and organizations have begun dreaming up ways to attract and maximize their opportunities when huge crowds are expected for the second ArtPrize planned for Sept. 22 through Oct. 10 next year.

ArtPrize Director Bill Holsinger-Robinson says he expects the community to become more involved with next year's event, now that businesses see the possibilities created by the art competition. Hosting and sponsoring venues and artists are two ways to maximize on the opportunity, but only imagination is the limit. 

According to excerpts from the story:

“Ultimately, underlying the core of ArtPrize is this spirit of, “How do we as a region better enable entrepreneurialism?” It’s something we wholeheartedly believe in,” Holsinger-Robinson said.

ArtPrize organizers have been asked in the past month or so “how much more control you guys are going to take” and “what kind of tighter programming are you guys going to do,” he said.  People are “asking us to take more of a command-and-control approach, which is something that we just aren’t going to do.”

Read the complete story here

Source: Rapid Growth
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A new study will evaluate one of West Michigan's economic "anchors" -- the agriculture industry -- and develop a plan to cultivate its growth and raise its economic profile.

Michigan State University Land Policy Institute and the West Michigan Strategic Alliance have begun developing a report on the status and conditions of the region's agriculture to serve as a foundation for development of a regional agricultural plan, according to the Institute's Coordinator, Melissa Gibson.

According to excerpts from the story:

While agriculture is an "anchor, a key part of our economy," many people look at agriculture as a temporary use of the land that just hasn't been developed yet, Gibson said. The report aims to change that.

"(Agriculture) is a vital use," she said. "One of the critical challenges it faces is the limited appreciation by the public. Part of the reason for the report was so the public knows the true value of agriculture."

Read the story here

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Since its opening five months ago, the chairman of Grand River Bank in Grandville, says the start-up's healthy loan and deposit base indicates success in the future. "We're all very pleased," says Chairman Robert Bilotti. 

Grand River Commerce Inc., the parent company of Grand River Bank, had total loans of $5.7 million and $11.0 million in deposits as of Sept. 30, according to a quarterly regulatory filing. Assets total $23.9 million, including $17.0 million in startup capital raised from investors.  Grand River Commerce’s key strategy to lure commercial clients is to take advantage of the tight credit environment other lending institutions put into place when the economy began falling.

According to excerpts from the story:

“We are seeing a fair amount of shopping,” Bilotti said. “The company believes the recent curtailment of lending activities by many financial institutions with which the company competes has provided an opportunity to populate the balance sheet with healthy credits, while maintaining conservative underwriting practices and pricing at profitable levels,” Grand River Commerce stated in its third-quarter financial filing.

Read the complete story here

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Huntington Bank says its focus on lending to small growing businesses a few years ago has been paying off.  It is now one of leading lenders to small businesses in the country.  It made 184 loans totaling $24.2 million in Michigan and 992 loans totaling $141 million nationwide last fiscal year.

Craig Street, Huntington's national director for Small Business Administration lending, is pleased with the results. Business has been so brisk, he says, the bank hired Mike Moraw as a West Michigan SBA product specialist. 

According to excerpts from the story:

"Small business lending is an area where banks our size have an opportunity to distinguish themselves," Street said. "Mortgage lending is mortgage lending. It's a homogeneous type of business. But when a company makes a commitment to small business … in the SBA program, we have an opportunity to differentiate ourselves from the competition."

Moraw said the bank sees SBA lending as a way to target markets the bank wouldn't otherwise get into and create long-term customers that might need to get into a conventional loan in a couple of years.

Read the complete story here

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Tanglefoot Co., an iconic name and historic building on the southwest side of Grand Rapids, was sold to a British Columbia company, Contech Enterprises in October.  But the company's former owner, Joseph G. Skendzel, will remain as a consultant for the landmark place that was once the world's largest producer of fly ribbons, the adhesive fly-catching strips that are attached to the ceilings in homes.  It now markets non-toxic products for controlling insect and animal pests.

According to excerpts from the story:

Contech describes itself as a "green technology company" that develops and markets environmentally friendly products to control garden pests and pets. Contech lines include insect traps, tree care and animal repellents. It was interested in Tanglefoot because the Grand Rapids company was selling similar products to city park managers, urban forestry departments and nurseries, in addition to consumers.

“Effective, green pest management and bio-pesticides are the future of the industry,” said Contech President and CEO Mark Grambart. “Tanglefoot has been a leader in the green pest management market since before most companies even knew the market existed."

Read the complete story here

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