If you were looking to rent a grill for a graduation party or a catering event, the last thing you might consider as a possibility would probably be a tricked out 1974 Volkswagen Beetle that moonlights as a grill.   For entrepreneur and artist Bill Veneklasen, the idea to turn a 1974 VW Beetle into a grill came naturally after being involved in the vehicle recycling business where he had created backpacks made from airbags and seat belts and end tables and chairs recycled from steering wheels. "I learned how a car came apart," recalls Veneklasen, founder of Grill-to-Go.com, his new business that not only rents out its unique VW-themed grills, but also uses the unit for vending purposes. When Veneklasen first unveiled his creation, an orange VW Beetle with a grill under the front hood, he was astounded by the reaction. "Kids could not believe it," Vaneklasen says. After that experience, he decided to enter the VW grill in ArtPrize (2010) where it was displayed near GRCC and received enough positive feedback that he was inspired to turn Grill-to-Go.com into a business venture. Currently, Veneklasen has one working model and will be finishing two more grills early this summer. As part of his business, Veneklasen also donates 25% of proceeds to Benjamin's Hope, a nonprofit that supports individuals with autism. For information on rental, vending and investment opportunities, you can visit their website here.   "It's neat to see the reactions and hopefully inspire others to use and recycle a product," Veneklasen concludes. Source: Bill Veneklasen, Grill-to-Go Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

A $1.5M grant through the State of Michigan's Better Buildings for Michigan program is helping residents of six Grand Rapids neighborhoods save money on energy costs by showing homeowners how to make their homes more energy efficient. The grant is part of a $70 million Department of Energy grant that could help improve energy efficiencies in some 11,000 Michigan homes, including up to 3,000 Grand Rapids residences.The City of Grand Rapids hired the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) to conduct "sweeps" in the six neighborhoods to educate homeowners on the low-interest loans available through the Michigan Saves Home Energy Loan Program and various incentives for making their homes more energy efficient. Through the program, homeowners pay $50 for a home energy assessment that determines where the greatest energy costs lay, says Ann Erhardt, WMEAC energy programs manager. In Grand Rapids, state-certified contractors DwellTech Solutions and WellHome conduct the assessments using a blower door and infrared camera to find air leaks and cold spots, and also test for gas leaks and safe combustion around furnaces and water heaters. While on-site, the contractors begin sealing up air leaks, wrapping pipes, and installing energy-efficient light bulbs.The assessment produces a report and infrared photos showing problem areas, then provides a suggested action list ranked by estimated cost savings. If the homeowners choose, they can hire the contractor to fix the problems, or can hire someone else. Erhardt says the advantage to using the state-certified contractors is that they can help homeowners apply for the low-interest loans and state tax incentives. "The assessments really tell you what improvements will help your home the most," Erhardt says. "It might not mean getting new windows, it might mean air sealing your home or insulating your attic."The first sweep wrapped up in Eastown last March. A second is underway through the month of June in Riverside Park. In July, WMEAC will be in Oakdale, followed by three more neighborhoods to be determined. For more information, click here.Source: Ann Erhardt, West Michigan Environmental Council Energy Programs Manager; Jan Patrick, Michigan Biomass Energy ProgramWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

It's been dubbed The Wealthy-Jefferson Project for years, but the proposed multi-million-dollar development at Grand Rapids' southwest gateway encompasses three city blocks, not just one street corner. Last week, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) approved nearly $1.1M in Brownfield Redevelopment Authority tax credits, the final step to moving the decade-old residential/commercial/grocery store project to a point where the property owner, Inner City Christian Federation, a nonprofit affordable-housing developer, could break ground. The ceremony, set for May 31 at 5:30 p.m., could be what proponents call just the beginning of over $17 million in development. The three blocks, bounded by S. Division Avenue (west), Wealthy St. (north), Jefferson Avenue (east) and Buckley St. (south), sit mostly empty after the removal of several outdated buildings years ago. The $7.5M first phase of a massive six-phase undertaking could bring two three-story buildings with 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 8,500 square feet of retail space to the area on the south side of Wealthy, between LaGrave and Sheldon avenues."I believe the $17 million estimate in future development (the amount stated in a May 17 press release from MEGA) is extremely conservative," says Jonathan Bradford, CEO of ICCF. "We anticipate a minimum of 150 housing units, attractive green spaces and 55,000 to 60,000 square feet of retail space, half of which would be a grocery store developed in phase four."Bradford says it's crucial that subsequent phases of the project follow on the heels of this first phase as encouragement for potential investors in the proposed grocery store. "We're talking about changing six decades, since the expressway opened, of disinvestment and relegating this area as one of little or no desire," Bradford says. "If you were a grocer, you would want to know with some high level of confidence that all this other stuff is going to happen, that you're not going to be the lone ranger."Bradford expects phase one to wrap up in March 2012. The project architects are Seth Harry and Integrated Architecture. Rockford Construction is the construction manager. Source: Jonathan Bradford, CEO, Inner City Christian FederationWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesLong awaited $15M Wealthy/Jefferson development project ready to move ahead in Grand Rapids

A Grand Rapids Press article reports that the City of Grand Rapids has released a new online guide to help entrepreneurs set up a new business in the city, choose a location and get help from other resources.According to excerpts from the story:The city has launched a new online guide designed to make it a little bit easier for entrepreneurs to find help and navigate the bureaucracy they could face as they prepare to set-up shop. The guide, created at the request of the Grand Rapids City Commission and city manager, outlines some of the steps needed to prepare to open a business and directs potential business owners to resources geared to help them choose a location, comply with codes and find incentives.Read the complete story here.

It is a much happier celebration this year during manufacturing month for Eagle Alloy as they climb back from difficult times in 2008 and 2009. According to excerpts from MLive: Eagle Alloy has hired back 137 workers since December to reach a group total of 400 employees, and is in the process of hiring another 50, co-owners Mark Fazakerley and John Workman said. The company at 5142 Evanston is planning a $14 million expansion in the second half of this year and can be expected to hire another 150 workers. You can read the complete story here.