A news report in the White Lake Beacon states that a new West Michigan entrepreneur network will gather and coordinate resources, programs and services all in one place for innovators looking to start or grow their own businesses. According to excerpts from the story:Current business entrepreneurs or those considering starting their own company can now access resources through the newly announced "e-merge" entrepreneur network on Michigan's West Coast. A press conference was held last Wednesday morning on the Frauenthal Center stage to publicly kick off the effort which will coordinate current resources for entrepreneurs, organize new programs, promote entrepreneurial services and promote the benefits of entrepreneurship to the community.. Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids has three cultural attractions that were in the top 10 most visited destinations in the state in 2010. According to excerpts from MLive: Three area attractions were recognized this week as being among Michigan's largest cultural institutions, based on attendance figures from 2010. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the John Ball Zoological Garden ranked third and fourth on the Crain's Detroit Business' list. The Grand Rapids Art Museum earned eighth place. You can read the complete story here:

Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF), low income families of Grand Rapids will have improved access to Michigan-grown fresh fruit and vegetables and many Michigan farmers will have access to a new market segment. According to Kate Luckert Schmid, GRCF program director, Grand Rapids will be one of several Michigan cities participating in a pilot program led by  Fair Food Network, a national nonprofit based out of Ann Arbor.    The program incentivizes food stamp users to buy Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables at local farmers' markets by offering "Double Up" tokens, which can be used to purchase Michigan produce.   "(The program) is an intersection of a number of our funding priorities," Luckert Schmid says, citing the increased access to healthy foods, improved food security in low income homes and support for local farmers. At this time, the participating farmers' markets have not been announced, but Luckert Schmid is confident that several area markets will be on board when the spring season begins. The funding for the pilot program will be spread out over three years in order to accurately measure its impact. Besides helping low-income families have more options to purchase fresh produce, Luckert Schmid is also hopeful that this program will encourage more farmers' markets to accept bridge cards. For more information about this program, you can visit the Fair Food Networks website here. Source: Kate Luckert Schmid, GRCF Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor

The empty former St. Andrew Elementary School and the long-vacant Eerdman's Publishing building could soon be rubble, a next step toward completing the vision of building an attractive gateway to both the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese's new Cathedral Square and to a proposed new entrance to Saint Mary's Health Care. The diocese, which owns the school building (corner of Sheldon and Maple SE), and Saint Mary's, owner of the publishing building (corner of Maple and Jefferson SE), have submitted joint plans to the Grand Rapids Planning Commission to level both buildings. This would create an unobstructed view across several acres of land stretching along Jefferson and Maple streets between Saint Mary's Hospital (200 Jefferson St. SE) and the Cathedral of St. Andrew (265 Sheldon SE). The proposed result is a lighted, pedestrian-friendly plaza along Maple St. SE, incorporating pedestrian and automobile access to and from points in-between. The project, the Maple Street Improvement Plan, wraps up construction of the diocese's $22 million Cathedral Square development. In addition, Saint Mary's will develop the west side of Jefferson directly in front of the hospital. "Our front parking lot will be reconstructed and will include a sculptural centerpiece and more green space, but leaving room for parking on either side," says Micki Benz, Saint Mary's VP of public relations. "It will lead right into the new boulevard on the west side (of Jefferson). Saint Mary's had this in our master campus plan we presented to the city in 2006; this is the second phase of implementation.The first phase was completing the Hauenstein Center." Benz says the project has generated some interest from physicians and developers that could result in a mixed-use development on the west side of Jefferson, but that is several years off. A news release dated Feb. 6, 2011 states that the planning commission will review the plans in March. No demolition or construction dates have been set. Source: Micki Benz, Saint Mary's Health Care; Diocese of Grand RapidsWriter: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News EditorRelated ArticlesHeartside's $22M Cathedral Square on track for July completionRGTV - After three years, $60M Hauenstein Center at Saint Mary's receives first patientsSaint Mary's Health Care expansion integrates proposed Bus Rapid Transit

Arnie's, an iconic Grand Rapids bakery and restaurant is getting ready to start construction on their new building after the devastating fire in 2007. According to excerpts from MLive: Plans call for beginning construction on the $500,000 project as early as April and completing it in the summer. The company's former two-story headquarters on the site will be incorporated into the new restaurant. That old headquarters will be expanded with a 4,100 square-foot addition, creating a 7,600-square-foot restaurant and bakery. The new Arnie's will be about the same size as the previous 150-seat restaurant, Erik Fahlen, the Fahlen's brother and the Arnie's Inc.‚ vice-president. Rebuilding on the original 1.5 acre site is a reversal of plans announced last summer when the company made a deal with a pair of Chicago businessmen to redevelop the acreage with a mix of retail and offices. At that time, the family planned to add on to its bakery plant farther down Leonard, where its corporate offices are now located. You can read the entire story here.

Along with dozens of comedy stars, WZZM-13 reports that LaughFest has signed the internationally renowned homeboys, The Verve Pipe, for musical entertainment on what the event has dubbed Super Saturday.According to excerpts from the story:The Verve Pipe, featuring local musician Brian VanderArk, will be playing at LaughFest this spring, according to festival organizers.The band will be playing during the March 19 Super Saturdays event at Ford Fieldhouse.Gilda's LaughFest runs from March 10 - March 20 at dozens of locations around Grand Rapids. Along with several regular comedy shows, there will be more than 100 free events during the ten-day event that benefits Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids.Read the complete story here.

Grand Rapids-based IT consulting firm, C/D/H, is growing, having added nine new hires in the past eight months. They are continuing to look for more talent. According to Sarah Woodruff, marketing manager, there is an increased demand from in the marketplace for their services as "businesses are more positive and budgets are opening up." Woodruff indicates it was difficult for awhile to find qualified and talented people, but the talent pool is deeper now. "Our staff needs to have technical expertise and business acumen," she says. "They need to be able to have a conversation about technology and business issues."   Woodruff indicates this "well-rounded" skill set is critical as their firm views IT as tool for innovation and "not just a cost center." For individuals looking to build a career around technology, Woodruff recommends that anyone coming out of school to secure an internship. She also recommends doing "a lot of reading," citing the need "to be able to communicate technology in business terms." For information on career opportunities at C/D/H, you can visit their site here. Source: Sarah Woodruff. C/D/H Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor