Economist expects Grand Rapids economy will continue to grow, slowly, in 2012
The Grand Rapids economy grew faster than predicted this year and economic forecasters say growth will continue into 2012.George Erickcek is an economist at the Upjohn Institute for employment...
View ArticleEconomists expect modest growth in Grand Rapids area will continue
The Grand Rapids area economy will continue to grow at a modest pace in 2012. Economists at Grand Valley State University are predicting employment growth between 1.5 and 2-percent this year.GVSU...
View ArticleMichigan's investment culture must adapt to help new businesses grow
The Next IdeaMichigan’s economy is changing, and our state’s investment culture must change along with it. As we work to diversify by stimulating entrepreneurship, innovation and talent attraction,...
View ArticleLaughFest comic builds show around her "mean mom"
Gilda’s LaughFest 2015 kicks off in Grand Rapids this Thursday (March 5).The 10-day comedic festival will feature stand-up, comedy films, improv, comedy showcases and more all over West Michigan.The...
View ArticleTeens with disabilities cut loose at "Best Prom Ever"
Ten years ago, two women from west Michigan started something called the "Best Prom Ever."They were Sparta High School special education teacher Renne Wyman, and a mother of one of her students, Rhonda...
View ArticleCelebrating West Michigan's Hispanic heritage
The city of Holland in West Michigan has certainly made its Dutch heritage known. If the name alone isn’t enough for you, the city has held an annual Tulip Time Festival, celebrating all things Dutch...
View ArticleTaking dance offstage and onto the screen
West Michigan, you're getting a chance to see unique performance art in the form of music, movement, choreography, film happening Jan. 8-17 at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand...
View ArticleHow the largest gay resort in the Midwest is in Michigan's "Bible belt"
This week Michigan Radio is airing a series called Community Vibe. We’re showcasing one interesting thing about different towns across the state. Today we’ll visit the neighboring communities of...
View ArticleMuskegon officials considering port expansion
The Muskegon port could be expanded to accommodate for larger cargo. The port is one of the only naturally occurring deep water ports, which makes it ideal for bigger ships. The port could be used to...
View Article'Ditch Chicago - Come back to live in Michigan'
That’s the message of a new advertising campaign running through the holiday season. A group of West Michigan employers is behind the effort. More than forty business members make up the group called...
View ArticleIt’s the biggest bar night of the year – wouldn’t you love to move back to...
Tonight is the biggest bar night of the year, with many people visiting family and friends back home in Michigan. It’s a crowd employers in West Michigan are trying to reach. So they’re getting...
View ArticleJob growth is expected in West Michigan, but Detroit will have higher wages
The data and numbers crunchers have been working away, trying to peer into the future to figure out what lies ahead for Michigan over the next 10 years in terms of jobs and pay. And the verdict:...
View ArticleStateside for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014
There are 2,5000 dams in Michigan and more than 90% are going to hit or exceed their design life by 2020. On today's show: How concerned should we be about our aging dams, and is there the money and...
View ArticleIncentive OK'd for filming in southwest Michigan
NEW BUFFALO – A movie filming in southwestern Michigan has been approved for a state incentive. The Michigan Film Office says "The Middle Distance" is being awarded $39,000 on $145,000 of projected...
View ArticleVeteran treasure hunter solves the last 'Wyoming Riddle'
I got some bittersweet news this morning. Bitter because after more than 30 years running, the last “Wyoming Riddler” treasure hunt is over. Sweet because one of the veteran hunters I followed to tell...
View ArticleRe-thinking creativity's role in education
It’s probably pretty stressful being a high school principal, for all kinds of reasons. But Eric Alburtus, principal of Portage Central High School, spends a big chunk of his time worrying about the...
View ArticleMusic event in West Michigan features 80 bands, 40 venues in one weekend
Using music to bring communities together and to help children discover music – that's the idea behind a new foundation called Walk The Beat . There's a big event coming up Saturday in Grand Haven,...
View ArticleSome question aggressive police tactics in West Michigan
Controversy over police force has hit not only Ferguson, Missouri but a small town in West Michigan as well. Some residents in Barry Township, Michigan are getting angry over the build-up of its police...
View ArticleHere are 10 West Michigan trails to explore this fall
The days are getting shorter, but don't resign yourself to settling in for a long, lazy season inside. One of Grand Rapids' greatest assets is the natural beauty that surrounds this mid-size city, with...
View ArticleMichigan's investment culture must adapt to help new businesses grow
The Next Idea Michigan’s economy is changing, and our state’s investment culture must change along with it. As we work to diversify by stimulating entrepreneurship, innovation and talent attraction,...
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