With latest distribution expansion, Bell’s beer is now available in 49 states
By Abby Poirier, Grand Rapids Business JournalBell’s Brewery Inc. is heading into the Pacific Northwest and Utah as it continues expanding its distribution footprint following its 2021 sale to an international beverage company.
Pure Michigan freshens up campaign with new voices, faces
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessThe state’s tourism office is taking the Pure Michigan advertising campaign in a “fresh” direction heading into the peak tourism season.
Democrats brew up big changes to employer rules — including wage disclosure
By David Eggert, Crain’s Detroit BusinessLANSING — House Democrats on Thursday began considering new bills that would make broad changes to Michigan employment law, including altering the definition of independent contractors and requiring employers to tell employees the wages of similarly situated co-workers upon request.
Major health systems dropping mask mandates in ‘momentous’ shift of pandemic policy
Written by Mark SanchezSeveral Michigan health systems are mostly dropping mask mandates that they imposed three years ago early in the pandemic, citing a dramatic decline in COVID-19 patients, vaccines and readily available treatments.
Returning artists, newcomers fill 2023 Meijer Gardens summer concert series lineup
Written by MiBiz StaffGRAND RAPIDS TWP. — The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park today announced a slate of newcomers as well as returning artists for its 30-show summer concert series.
Samaritas to sell 5 Michigan facilities as it exits operation of senior communities
By Sherri Welch, Crain’s Detroit BusinessDetroit-based Samaritas is bowing out of senior living communities after more than 50 years of operating sites around the state.
Legislators OK $410 million for Ford, Our Next Energy plants; Gotion project still waits
By David Eggert, Crain’s Detroit BusinessLANSING — Michigan will give companies $410 million to open two electric vehicle battery plants following approval of transfers by a legislative panel on Wednesday.
New MDARD director eyes opportunities to boost resilience of Michigan farms
By Abby Poirier, Grand Rapids Business JournalSixth-generation farmer Tim Boring is bringing firsthand knowledge of the industry to his new position in Lansing as director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Michigan venture capital investment activity falls 25% in first quarter
By Mark Sanchez and Nick ManesVenture capital investing declined in Michigan in the first quarter, following along with a steep drop-off in deal flow nationally.
Western Michigan University partners with 3 tribes on graduate tribal governance certificate
Written by Margot AmouyalKALAMAZOO — Western Michigan University, in coordination with three local tribal nations, will begin offering a graduate certificate program in tribal governance in early 2023.
Hagerty specialty auto insurer trims 83 more jobs to cut costs
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessTraverse City-based specialty auto insurer Hagerty Inc. is cutting an additional 4 percent of its workforce just months after a 6 percent cut as it seeks cost savings.
The owner and operator of a shuttered Southwest Michigan nuclear power plant may ask for about $300 million in state funding to help reopen the facility.
A West Michigan-based grocery supplier has expanded a recall to include all products sold under its name to a variety of retailers and distributors in the Midwest.
Economic developers work to build public trust in massive manufacturing projects
By Kayleigh Van Wyk, Grand Rapids Business JournalAfter spending months behind the scenes on complex negotiations and crafting incentive packages to lure major advanced manufacturers, Michigan economic development organizations now face another challenge to landing projects: public sentiment.
Factory Yards developer to seek up to $103M in ‘transformational brownfield’ funding for Grand Rapids project
Written by Kate CarlsonGRAND RAPIDS — Developers behind the $150 million Factory Yards redevelopment south of downtown Grand Rapids plan to seek rarely used state tax incentives to offset substantial costs of the project.
Michigan organizations receive $34.3M in federal funds to lend in low- and moderate-income communities
Written by Mark SanchezFifteen Michigan organizations are receiving $34.3 million in federal funding to support lending in low- and moderate-income markets that are still recovering from the pandemic.
Tribal gaming authority settles dispute with casino developers
By Kurt Nagl, Crain’s Detroit BusinessKewadin Casinos Gaming Authority has agreed to pay developers up to $35 million to settle a dispute over failed casino projects in Michigan.
Michigan’s banking sector remains in good shape, despite the high-profile collapse last month of Silicon Valley Bank in California and New York’s Signature Bank that gave rise to concern about the state of the industry.
Lakewood Construction acquires Royal Glass, aims to grow construction footprint
Written by Kate CarlsonHOLLAND — Lakewood Construction Co. plans to learn from a recently acquired glazing business to expand its project scope and its footprint into new geographies.
Private equity-backed packaging company cuts 60 jobs amid ‘reduced business’
By Kayleigh Van Wyk, Grand Rapids Business JournalBYRON TWP. — A Grand Rapids-area packaging company has permanently laid off 60 employees amid reduced business.
Schuler’s nears opening of boutique hotel above historic restaurant in Marshall
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessMARSHALL — Rooms above the historic Schuler’s Restaurant in downtown Marshall that served as storage space for the past 50 years have been converted to lodging once again.
MiBiz on WOOD-TV8: Survey shows spike in Michigan nurses seeking to quit within first year
Written by MiBiz StaffThe COVID-19 pandemic and resulting staff shortages at Michigan hospitals is driving up the number of nurses who want to quit within their first year.
Tribal economic development firm diversifying with two new consultancies
Written by Andy BalaskovitzMOUNT PLEASANT — The economic development subsidiary of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan has launched two new consulting firms that aim to further diversify the tribe’s holdings and also support similar strategies for other tribes and non-tribally owned businesses.
In 1995, Bob Fish thought he had come up with a creative play on words for the name of his new East Lansing coffee shop. It wasn’t until after opening that he learned it was also a slur.
While Michigan hospitals had problems retaining nurses even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation grew much worse in the first two years of the public health crisis.
More indictments likely to come tied to Michigan’s early cannabis ‘gold rush’
By Dustin Walsh, Crain’s Detroit BusinessThe federal corruption charges announced Thursday against former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson and three others likely signal a beginning, not an end.
Michigan health insurers keeping preventative care coverage despite Texas court ruling
Written by Mark SanchezPriority Health and several other health plans in Michigan intend to maintain full coverage for preventative care for now.
Lovingly renovated ‘slow flip’ on the market for $1.55 million in Grand Rapids
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGRAND RAPIDS — When Jean Stoffer stepped into a beautiful but neglected 1931 Colonial on Woodward Lane in Grand Rapids two years ago, her mouth dropped open and she knew she would buy it — and flip it.
‘There is no communist plot’: Gotion responds to Big Rapids-area battery plant criticism
By Kurt Nagl, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGotion Inc.’s top North American executive said Wednesday that the Chinese company is targeting July to start construction on a planned $2.4 billion battery parts plant in the Big Rapids area.
West Michigan private jet provider merging with Florida company to expand offerings
Written by Mark Sanchez
CASCADE TWP. — West Michigan private jet service provider Northern Jet Management Inc. plans to merge into a Florida company to create a top-20 private air service provider in the U.S.
MillerKnoll shedding 162 jobs with closure of Wisconsin manufacturing plant
By Kayleigh Van Wyk, Grand Rapids Business JournalMillerKnoll Inc. will permanently lay off 162 employees as the company prepares to close a furniture manufacturing plant in Sheboygan, Wis.
Feds charger former Michigan House speaker in marijuana investigation
By David Eggert and Dustin Walsh, Crain’s Detroit BusinessLANSING — Federal prosecutors announced corruption charges Thursday against former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson and three others in connection to bribes paid for marijuana licenses.
Housing developers find their next big opportunity at golf courses
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGRAND RAPIDS — Developers across West Michigan are seizing a prime opportunity to turn the region’s abundance of golf courses into badly needed housing.
Venture capital-backed startups face tighter credit, but not ‘the end of the world’
Written by Mark Sanchez
Silicon Valley Bank’s epic collapse further tightens the environment for venture capital-backed companies planning to raise additional and larger capital rounds in the near future, local investors say.
Michigan Medicine, Sparrow ease COVID masking requirements at hospitals
By DUSTIN WALSH, CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESSUniversity of Michigan's Michigan Medicine and Sparrow Health System are dropping many of the mask requirements imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blue Cross Blue Shield proposes scaled-back 1% rate increase for small business plans
Written by Mark SanchezBlue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wants to scale back a planned rate increase for small businesses that renew their employee health policies in the latter half of the year.
This banking crisis is nothing like 2009. Small businesses are contingency planning anyway.
By Cara Eisenpress, Katherine Davis, Nick Manes, Ally Marotti, Jeremy Nobile, John Pletz and Mark SanchezIt’s a painful memory: In 2009 the banking crisis and housing recession led to a credit crunch, and business owners suddenly couldn’t access the capital they needed to operate and grow.
Acrisure acquires Polish insurance distributor to enter Central, Eastern European market
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGRAND RAPIDS — Acrisure LLC has acquired a major insurance distribution platform in Central and Eastern Europe.
Tribally owned Mno-Bmadsen’s acquisition of Indiana real estate firm built on years of collaboration
Written by Kate CarlsonDOWAGIAC — Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of an Indiana commercial real estate firm.
Whitmer vows to protect preventative care access after Texas court ruling
By Dustin Walsh, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking state regulators to protect health insurance coverage for preventative services under the Affordable Care Act.
Global insurance company Aon downsizes its offices in Grand Rapids, Southfield
By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGRAND RAPIDS — A global insurance consultancy is following in the footsteps of many other businesses post-pandemic and “right-sizing” its office footprint to reflect the new hybrid reality of work.
Grand Rapids architect going ‘back to my roots’ with purchase of Leonard Street building
Written by Kate CarlsonGRAND RAPIDS — A Grand Rapids architect plans to relocate his firm to a corridor near his childhood home on the city’s northwest side that he sees as the next bustling district in the city.
Michigan Medicine finalizes $800 million deal to acquire Sparrow Health
By Dustin Walsh, Crain’s Detroit BusinessUniversity of Michigan’s Michigan Medicine finalized the acquisition of Lansing-based Sparrow Health System on Saturday, following receiving regulatory approvals.
West Michigan manufacturer cuts nearly a quarter of its staff amid new automation focus
By Kayleigh Van Wyk, Grand Rapids Business JournalWALKER — A Grand Rapids-area manufacturer has laid off nearly a quarter of its workforce as the company shifts its focus from tool and die operations to solely automation solutions.
Physicians at Holland Hospital form JV to improve care for Medicare Advantage patients
Written by Mark Sanchez
HOLLAND — Doctors at Holland Hospital are taking a deeper dive into value-based care through a joint venture with a Texas company.
HOLLAND — A May ballot initiative in which city voters will determine a potential land swap will make or break decades-long efforts to redevelop industrial waterfront property near downtown Holland.
Grand Rapids med device maker SunMed buys airway management, operative care business unit
By SARAH KOMINEK, Plastics NewsGrand Rapids, Mich.-based anesthesia and respiratory medical device manufacturer SunMed Group Holdings LLC has agreed to buy Vyaire Medical Inc.'s consumables unit.
Inventory tech and $3 million power SxanPro health care startup
By By Rachel Watson, Crain’s Detroit BusinessGRAND RAPIDS — Three years ago, Ashlea Souffrou saw an opportunity to develop a barcode scanning app that manages hospital surplus inventory, and she seized it. The result was SxanPro, a company that’s been profitable from day one.
