Development News

Michigan’s first virtual charter school selects downtown Grand Rapids site, accepting applications

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July 29, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodA virtual charter school sponsored by Grand Valley State University will welcome its first students on September 7 at what school leaders say is its first Michigan location – a former office space at 678 Front Ave. NW. Michigan Virtual Charter Academy, operated by Herndon, Va.-based K12, Inc., will launch with a curriculum geared for high school dropouts ages 17 to 21, offering onsite and online learning in half-day formats. "It's a hybrid blend of onsite and online learning, and we'll have two shifts of students," says Randall Greenway, vice president of school development. "This was a promising location and it's close to where we believe our students reside and work. It also has public transportation nearby, and that's a big part of it."Greenway says the school is not a GED program. Students can select the morning or afternoon shift, they will work at individual computer stations, in a group format and one-on-one with teachers. There will also be counseling and social services onsite."[K12] is the nation's largest provider of online learning and services for public schools in the country," Greenway says. "We currently have over 70,000 students enrolled in the high schools where we're providing services."K12, Inc. will review student applications and school transcripts, then will select qualifying students by lottery. According to the K12 web site, students must:• Currently reside within the state of Michigan, and be• Identified in the Michigan student data system as a student under the age of 21 who has dropped out of high school and can attend the learning center five days a week for site-based instruction (grades 9-12 only).The school is accepting applications now. Click here for more information or to apply. Source: Randall Greenway, K12, Inc. Related ArticlesGVSU trustees approve state's first cyber academy for grades K-12Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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Grand Rapids engine parts wholesaler will stay, expand headquarters on S. Division

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Development

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July 29, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodRon McKey says his engine parts wholesale business at 728 S. Division Ave. has vacant buildings on all sides and a plot of polluted land to the north where American Cleaners used to be. But he's decided to keep the business where it's been since 1984 and keep jobs in the urban core by adding a 3,000-square-foot expansion. The Perfit Corp., which operates under the trade name Engine Pro Distribution Center, specializes in engine components only. The company's Grand Rapids headquarters is currently 19,000 square feet. With locations in Livonia and Cincinnati, Ohio, Perfit employs 27 workers company-wide."Business is good and we need more room," McKey said, following this week's Grand Rapids Planning Commission meeting where the expansion was approved. "We could put the money into moving to a real nice location and we could probably come out better financially," he says. "But we've been there for a long time and our customers know where we are."McKey told planning commissioners that he spent $10,000 in 2009 alone, painting over gang tags on the property – and the effects only lasted about a month. But he's determined to stay and keep the jobs in the city. "We've been struggling for a long time in that neighborhood to make it down there and we're comfortable there," McKey says. McKey and his wife and business partner, Susan, did not speculate if the expansion will mean more jobs. Source: Ron and Susan McKey, The Perfit CorporationDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Holland restaurant offers intimate dining paired with a walk-in wine cellar

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Development

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July 29, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodA walk-in wine cellar greets diners as soon as they walk through the doors of Theodore's, but the aroma of gourmet dishes for vegans and meat-lovers alike is what beckons them in to enjoy an intimate dining experience. Theodore's at 217 E. 24th St. is a new addition to Baker Lofts, which also houses Baker Lofts Events Center banquet facility and Deli Joe's – all owned by Scott Bosgraaf. Executive Chef Eric Fick is the mastermind behind the menu, with creations that include shared plates, the house specialty chicken pâté that changes daily, and delectable entrées like bourbon braised filet mignon and rack of lamb with pomegranate glaze. Vegetarian offerings include eggplant with puff pastry and tomato saffron sauce. "We have a walk-in wine cellar, but we're not a high-end pretentious place," Fick says. "I have cooked for two people on a Wednesday night for a 30th wedding anniversary. We have vegan offerings and will cook anything to order."As for the wine selection, sommelier Michael Sweeney says he has "30 wines by the glass from $5 to $8.50 a glass, and bottles in those categories from $20 to $34." Number of wines to choose from? Right now, about 600.The cellar list features a number of '89, '94 and 2000 Bordeaux, a '96 Dom Pérignon which Sweeney say is "one of the best vintages of the century for Dom Pérignon" and retails at $400, and a "big group of California Cabernet 'cult wines' like Harlan, which sells for $2,500 a bottle."Hours are Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 7 p.m. with a wine tasting and a limited menu of shared plates; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight with a full menu. Source: Eric Fick and Michael Sweeney, Theodore'sDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Crossroads Blueberry Market opens in West Olive

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Development News

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July 22, 2010

After owning their blueberry farm for 10 years, Dave and Kelley Reenders have decided to expand to retail customers with the summer opening of Crossroads Blueberry Market in West Olive.

Professional actor opens acting studio in Holland

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Arts & Culture

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July 22, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodKurt Dreyer says his career as a model gave him fashion experiences all over the world, working with French Vogue, Perry Ellis, Giorgio Armani – and even Grand Rapids' former Rogers Department Store where he got his start. But after the acting bug bit, he turned all his energy into writing, acting and producing films. Now the thespian who received his training at the elite Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles has returned to his hometown of Holland and opened the Kurt Dreyer Acting Studio, 496 Lincoln Ave., Holland.The studio launched its first 12-week series of teen/adult acting classes on June 16, and Dreyer says there are just a few slots open in the upcoming fall classes. Dreyer wrote, produced and starred in "Underestimating Jake," a film that garnered several Indie filmmaking awards. But it was Michigan's tax incentives for filmmakers that got him back to West Michigan to produce "Blue Sky," a film he created and wrote. Blue Sky is on the shelf for now, but coming home to West Michigan inspired Dreyer. "We had over 250 actors come to auditions with great looks and great talent, but none had any training," he says. "They really are trying to work, but a lot of them won't have a shot other than as extras. Because of the film incentive program, one of the things you recognize in L.A. is that a lot of films are being shot in Michigan. So I decided to open the studio."Dreyer says his training centers around realism: emotional recalls, personal transferences and body-mind connectivity. His class, Comprehensive Techniques, teaches the techniques of actors Uta Hagen and Howard Fine. "It's really scary for first timers when they come into a studio, so we're developing this as a really safe place," Dreyer says. "We're locking the rest of the world outside and we're all here to be open to what our craft is and what our job is."Source: Kurt Dreyer, Kurt Dreyer Acting Studio Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Eastside Tattoos’ new, compact digs allows Grand Rapids tattooist to focus on the art

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Arts & Culture

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July 15, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodTattooist Andy Zylstra says his new store at 856 Michigan St. NE is one-tenth the size of his old place on Wealthy Street, but the uncluttered atmosphere helps him focus on his art. Eastside Tattoos offers only tattooing – much of which is custom artwork by Zylstra, who has 12 years' experience as a tattoo artist and is also a watercolor artist."We have lots of flash (tattoo designs), we have hundreds, maybe thousands," says Zylstra. "But I mostly do custom stuff. People usually come in with an idea or a drawing or something printed off the computer. Other people just trust me and I do my own artwork; that's my favorite thing to do."Zylstra "can do pretty much any color" of ink, but his personal preference is to work in black and gray. "Black and gray goes with everything, it looks good, it weathers nicely," he says. "Lots of colors fade, but as black and gray fades it looks better and better."Most of Eastside Tattoos' customers are women, Zylstra says, so he does a lot of flowers, but also does Japanese designs and skulls. His most popular request is medieval-style script writing. A special thermal fax machine allows him to print outlines of images he transfers to customers' skin so they can see how a tattoo looks before making the commitment. Zylstra says his shop is licensed by the state of Michigan, complies with the requirements of the Kent County Health Department and has received an award of completion on blood borne pathogens from the Alliance of Professional Tattooists. "Everything gets sterilized, everything comes of out packages," he says. "Nothing is stored all together outside of its packaging like it was in the 1930s. That would be horrific."Store hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays and Tuesdays.Source: Andy Zylstra, Eastside TattoosDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Helping low income kids prompts Muskegon entrepreneurs to open downtown clothing store

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Development

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July 15, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodWorlie Johnson wasn't making the kind of money he used to make, and he and his wife Mary had to cut back on their charitable giving. So they launched SPELLBOUND, a men's and women's clothing and shoe store at 942 Terrace in Muskegon. The Johnsons began SPELLBOUND several years ago as a program promoting history and spelling bees in schools, and awarded prizes to the winners. The new storefront allows them to continue providing for kids' basic needs: free haircuts, clothing, shoes, and funding for small scholarships for track athletes and for beauty schools. "I worked at Pete's Shoebox and learned the business," says Worlie Johnson. "I was earning money for the scholarships. After the economy got bad, I took what I had saved up and got an account for 48 pair of shoes with Stacy Adams." The store also sells designer clothing – men's suits, women's dresses – and clergy shirts, carrying enough inventory for customers to find what they want. Most items are custom ordered and delivered in three to five days, says Johnson. Discounts are given to anyone who brings in a ticket stub showing they supported a school event, receipts from certain barbershops in town, or who say they belong to a worship community. One way or another, the couple has funded free haircuts for school kids since 2005, says Johnson. The latest method is a deal through the store for free shoes for barbers providing the haircuts. Johnson says many of the barbers give the free haircuts and don't bother collecting on the free shoes. "We started this to be a help to the community," Johnson says. "We wanted to do whatever we could do to alleviate the pain for the kids."Source: Worlie Johnson, SPELLBOUND; Ed Garner, Muskegon Area FirstDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Dave’s Alterations opens for business on Leonard Street NW in Grand Rapids

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Development News

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July 1, 2010

A Jamaican native extensively trained as a professional tailor has opened his own business at 937 Leonard St. NW in Grand Rapids called Dave's Alterations.

Java Junkies & Deli opens in former Herkimer Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids

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Development News

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June 24, 2010

Two women whose love for cooking led them to start their own catering business are now expanding into the restaurant business.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation awards grants to urban market, other programs

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Arts & Culture

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June 24, 2010

The Grand Rapids Urban Market was selected to receive a $150,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in its latest round of funding for 10 organizations that totals $1.5 million.