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Service company helps ease global market entry

Thursday, February 02, 2012
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Scott WebbGRAND RAPIDS — Fast-track growth that powered the American economy in the 1990s has vanished, but business leaders determined to increase sales and hire more employees can achieve their dreams by “growing global.”

But exporting goods and establishing production and distribution facilities in other lands is a labor-intensive process that most small- and midsized companies don’t have the knowledge to pull off without some expert hand-holding.




Investors see biz plan competitions as way to find, vet new ideas

Wednesday, February 01, 2012
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Light Bulb GuyWEST MICHIGAN — The $100,000 was nice.

But just as valuable to Barry Nowak were the connections he made by participating in the 2011 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, an annual business plan competition that provides capital to young businesses in the state that can prove their mettle to judges.




Diversify? West Michigan same as it ever was

Friday, January 27, 2012
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GRAND RAPIDS — Simple logic says when the economy is down, people and businesses aren’t as likely to spend. This means reduced production, layoffs and all kinds of belt-tightening.

Between the automotive and furniture sectors, West Michigan is highly dependent on the manufacturing industry for economic stability. With the hits manufacturers have taken from the recession, many companies are looking to market diversification to hedge against economic downturns. But despite companies’ best efforts, the region’s reliance on the office furniture and automotive sectors still hasn’t changed much since the recession took effect in 2007, said George Erickcek, senior regional analyst for the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.




LIVE VIDEO - Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.: Business Leaders for Michigan to unveil the 2012 Michigan Turnaround Plan

Monday, January 23, 2012
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Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) will roll out its 2012 Michigan Turnaround Plan (MTP). The MTP is a holistic, fact-based strategy developed by BLM to make Michigan a "top ten" state for job, economic and personal income growth. Each year, BLM develops a work plan outlining the steps to be taken to advance the MTP, typically organized around the five-step structure of the MTP. This year's MTP will include a number of new recommendations and an important new sixth step that will lay out a 10+ year vision for growing the "New Michigan" economy.  Click on headline to watch video.




Q&A: Cathy Brubaker-Clarke

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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Cathy Brubaker-ClarkPlans to update downtown Muskegon with mixed-use land development slowed to a crawl during the recession, but the pace is picking up, said Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, the city’s director of community and economic development. Brubaker-Clarke talked with MiBiz about recent strides and plans to keep Muskegon’s momentum going forward.




Reinvesting in social capital: Second chances for former inmates work to grow skilled workforce

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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Dick OrtegaGRAND RAPIDS — Companies in West Michigan have been increasingly focusing on how to help ex-criminal offenders, some of the region’s most disadvantaged workers, find a path to meaningful employment.




AzulStar solves the wireless mystery for apartment complexes

Friday, December 16, 2011
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Tyler van HouwelingenGRAND RAPIDS — It seems a mystery: When you stay in a hotel, you can get high-speed wireless Internet in your room for the length of your stay. But move into an apartment or condo building, and you’ll likely need a modem, Ethernet cables and a one-year agreement with a phone or cable company.

Grand Haven’s Tyler van Houwelingen has solved that mystery for a West Michigan owner of several large multi-unit residential properties, including The Loft in downtown Grand Rapids. Together, they’ve started offering a connectivity service at The Loft that works just like the Wi-Fi at many high-end hotels, where they charge you for service rather than give it away.




West Michigan earns top marks in government-to-business study

Thursday, December 15, 2011
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WEST MICHIGAN — Local businesses and city governments run side-by-side in every community in Michigan, but it’s much more of a challenge to make sure they work together.

A new study from the University of Michigan-Dearborn shows several West Michigan cities and townships have been succeeding at that challenge. Cities from Grand Haven to Marshall were recognized as four-star and five-star communities by iLabs, UMD’s Center for Innovation Research.




Field of dreams: Commission says sports complex would be economic driver

Tuesday, December 13, 2011
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Chmpionship FieldROCKFORD — “If you build it, they will come” was the premise Kevin Costner was banking on when he built his field of dreams.

For those involved with the “Everyone Wins” campaign, the hope is virtually the same.

The West Michigan Sports Commission and its partners are just $1.7 million shy of the $6 million needed to break ground on a proposed 12-field, championship-caliber baseball and softball complex just west of Rockford off U.S. 131 on 10 Mile Road.




NOVAH: GR Community Foundation dashboard measures performance

Friday, December 09, 2011
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GRAND RAPIDS — When they first starting popping up at tech companies in the mid-2000s, digital dashboards were being hailed as the CEO’s killer app.





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Parting Shots

Parting Shots - Mitten Power

Speaking of action, it is beginning to look like federal leaders should actively turn their solut...

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Forging Ahead

The spirit of entrepreneurism is alive and well

October has been a stellar month for entrepreneurship in Michigan. When the president of the Unite...

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Straight Talk

Follow the money

We have discussed innumerable times how those professing to “protect” or “restore” the mi...

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Mind Capture

My three favorite strategies learned from my business mentor Dan Kennedy

By the time you’ve received this issue I’ll have finished reading yet another brilliant new bo...

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Economic Dev Events

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People

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce names Cindy Locklin

Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce has named Cindy Locklin, President & C...

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Megan Sall to provide retention and expansion assistance to Right Place customers

Grand Rapids, MI (January 31, 2012) – Continuing its efforts to aid growing West Michigan compani...

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Holland board of Public Works selects David G. Koster as General Manager

HOLLAND, MI – The Board of Directors of the Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW) has selected Dav...

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Richard Pappas joins United Way board

GRAND RAPIDS — Heart of West Michigan United Way welcomes Richard Pappas to the 2011/2012 Board ...

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Resource Links

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Business Resources Organizations
SCORE National Web Site
SCORE Michigan Web Site
SCORE Grand Rapids Web Site
SCORE Holland Web Site
SCORE Kalamazoo Web Site
SCORE Muskegon Web Site
Small Business & Technology Development Center
GROW Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women
Calhoun County Clerk’s Office
Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office
Kent County Clerk’s Office
Ottawa County Clerk’s Office
Muskegon County Clerk’s Office
Grand Angels
The Employers’ Association
Grand Rapids Public Library
MI On-line Startup Wizard
MI Economic Development Corporation
MI Dept Consumer & Industry Services
MI Department of Treasury
MI Office of Worker’s Compensation
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
U.S. Export Assistance Center
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
U.S. Copyright Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Johnson Center at GVSU
Nonprofit Good Practice Guide

Western Michigan Area Chambers of Commerce

Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce
Allendale Chamber of Commerce
Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce
Barry County Chamber of Commerce
Belding Area Chamber of Commerce
Branch County Chamber of Commerce
Buchanan Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg
Coloma Area Chamber of Commerce
Coopersville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce
Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce
Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Grandville Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce
Greater Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce
Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce
Hart-Silver Lake-Mears Chamber of Commerce
Holland Area Chamber of Comme
Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce
Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Marshall Chamber of Commerce
Mecosta Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce
Ludington Area Chamber of Commerce
Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce
Pentwater Chamber of Commerce
Vicksburg Area Chamber of Commerce
White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce
Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce