Stories

Grand Rapids’ thriving art scene a catalyst for new school of performance art

Thursday, August 26, 2010

John Rumery

Twenty-four hours after using Facebook to announce the opening of A and E School of Performance Art, theater veterans Ed Nelson, 48, and Angela Peavey, 31, were delighted to find "enrollment just snowballed," and they needed to add more classes to meet the demand.

After a recent reorganization at the institution where they had taught theater together for the last several years, Nelson and Peavey felt the time was right to leverage their experience and "reputations as quality theater instructors" to launch A and E School of Performance Art.

The school will feature instruction in a wide variety o ftheater arts and will be held at Nelson's home, 117 Freedom in Wyoming, MI, recently remodeled and customized to accommodate performance arts classes.

The first students are scheduled to meet for an hour each week, for five weeks beginning in mid-September. The current classes, designed for children ages 4-17, will initially focus primarily on song, dance and theater skills, but Peavey wants their school to do more than just have students perform. She plans to "really focus on the educational components of performance arts, character analysis andhow to act in front of an camera or audience," believing it makes for a more meaningful theater experience.

Nelson adds that future classes, offered for both children and adults, will be focused on the emerging film industry.

"Auditions for film are completely different than auditioning for theater," says Nelson, whose experience within the film industry includes a role in the cannibal-themed horror movie, Offspring, filmed in Muskegon. Besides auditioning strategies, Nelson will include instruction on developing a film-ready resume, building a portfolio and acting in front of a camera.

With years of experience in local theater, independent films, radio commercials and performance arts instruction, Nelson and Peavey are confident that the Grand Rapids arts community is vibrant enough to support their new venture. Peavey also strongly believes that performance arts training has many ancillary benefits.

"This type of training offers great life skills, such as public speaking, and it can really help build self-confidence," says Peavey.

Prices for the instruction ranges from $30 to $45 per class. Individual lessons are also available. Find out more via the A and E Performance Arts Facebook page or by e-mail at [email protected]. To reach either Nelson or Peavey by phone, dial 616-780-6383.

Sources Ed Nelson and Angela Peavey, A and E Performance Art

John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs editor for RapidGrowth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at[email protected]. For story tips you can e-mail [email protected]

Lunch meeting helps individuals and businesses engage with social media

Thursday, August 26, 2010

John Rumery

Lunch meetings can be as exciting as a peanut butter sandwich on white bread, but the organizers of Grand Rapids Social Media (GRSM)believe their lunches are much more interesting. In fact, they feel they have an opportunity to raise the bar regarding the way local businesses and individuals utilize social media in Grand Rapids.

Ian MacLurg, Social Media Analyst for ArtPrize, and Joel Leo, SEO and Social Media Analyst for Pomegranate Studios, were both impressed with the format and spirit of a monthly lunch meeting, Grand Rapids Tech Lunch, that brought together a diverse community of thought leaders, programmers and software developers to discuss technology-related business issues for the region.

MacLurg and Leo decided to organize a similar event, using the same format, but focusing on creating a business discussion surrounding the use of social media.

"We saw the need to educate and elevate the usages of social media platforms within the city, so we started GRSM lunches as an opportunity to create an ongoing dialogue of these tools and strategies," opine MacLurg and Leo.

The first meeting in March 2009 was held at Founders Brewery, but the series quickly moved to a new home at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, where the luncheons have proven to be very popular, now drawing 40-50 attendees. Not only has attendance been steady, but "with a diverse group of middle managers, business owners and interns," you get a very dynamic networking opportunity, says Leo.

Individuals with specific experiences and responsibilities for managing various social media platforms lead the presentations. Recent speakers have included Sara Lopez, the Social Media Strategist for Stremick's Heritage Food's 8th Continent Soymilk, who discussed creating content for blogs, and Aaron Carriere of Creo Productions on best practices for using video with social media. The meetings are streamed live with the majority of video archived here. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/grsm.

After the 20-30 minute presentation, there is a short question and answer period followed by an opportunity is to break into smaller groups for further discussion and networking. Because of the increased popularity of these events, MacLurg and Leo recruited social media consultant Donna Bova and web developer Doug Kelly to help with the facilitation and ongoing organization.

The monthly lunches are "brown-bag," although the organizers suggest you support the local eateries surrounding the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. There is no cost to attend and they are typically held the last Thursday of the month. The GRSM bloghttp://grsml.wordpress.com/ identifies the upcoming speaker and also confirms the date of the meeting. Frequent Twitter updates (@GRSML) also provide reminders of upcoming events.

Sources: Joel Leo and Ian MacLurg, founders of the Grand Rapids Social Media Lunch.

John Rumery is the Innovation and Jobs Editor for Rapid Growth Media. He is an educator, board member of AimWest, WYCE music programmer, entrepreneur, raconteur and competitive barbecuer living in Grand Rapids, MI. He can be reached at [email protected]. For story tips you can e-mail [email protected]

Gilmore Furniture hiring 15 more workers for expansion

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Gilmore Furniture, Inc. is adding 15 more employees to its 75-member workforce by November 1 to work at its new addition at 321 Terminal SW in the Grand Rapids/Wyoming area.

New tenant for Grand Rapids' Flat Iron building will take all three upper floors

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe new tenant for the soon-to-be rehabilitated Flat Iron Building in downtown Grand Rapids will lease all available space above the main level, opting for all 25,000 square feet for its interior LEED renovation. Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge announced this week that the firm will move into the building, whose new address will be 100 Monroe Center NE, next summer, following an extensive interior renovation.In 2009, Locus Development purchased the historic four-story Flat Iron, Herkner and Groskopfs buildings that make up the property, and plan to connect the three buildings' interiors on the second through fourth floors and restore the exteriors for LEED certification. The project will run about $4.5 million. "We have been looking for space alternatives for a year and considered staying in the Calder Plaza Building where we've been for the past 25 years," says Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey COO. "Our group coalesced around an adaptive reuse project in an older building and zeroed in on the Flat Iron as a major alternative to where we are."The interior renovation will preserve as much of the original brick and wood as possible, and will incorporate a mix of open floor plans and private offices. An extensive use of interior glass will allow daylight into the office spaces. "This is a significant renovation and a great thing for Grand Rapids, and we're happy to have Smith Haughey as our tenants," says John Green, a partner with Andy Winkel in Locus Development. "The only remaining space is 2,400 square feet in the old Blake's Turkey space. We have received a number of inquiries but we're waiting for the right tenant. We would love to see a bank or a retail shop there."In July, the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority awarded Locus Development three $75,000 Building Reuse and Incentive Program grants to help with the renovation.Design Plus will create the LEED interior design. Wolverine Construction Management will handle interior construction. Cornerstone Architects and Orion Construction will do the core and shell work.Source: Bill Scarbrough, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge; John Green, Locus DevelopmentRelated ArticlesRGTV: Grand Rapids' Flat Iron development to generate 27,000 square feet of downtown office space Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Eastown, City of Grand Rapids test new recycling program for public spaces

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodRecycling in Kent County became easier last month with the introduction of single-stream recycling, and Grand Rapids' Eastown Business Association (EBA) wants to capitalize on that. Beginning this week, six blue and yellow recycle carts are available throughout the Eastown business district where pedestrians can deposit empty plastic water bottles, pop cans or clean paper. For several weeks, the EBA and the Grand Rapids streets and sanitation department will test the public recycling idea with a goal to launch it throughout the Eastown business district. The idea began a couple of years ago when Eastown business Spirit Dreams no longer needed a rented dumpster. Co-owner and EBA President Jaye Van Lenten says she asked the city for trash and recycling pick up at the store. "I was told I couldn't do it because it wasn't the norm and other businesses couldn't do it," Van Lenten says. "Then the Eastown streetscape committee I'm on wanted to have recycling for pedestrians, and city trash and recycle pickup for businesses." The group decided to wait until single-stream recycling began.The six recycling carts are set up next to public trashcans on Wealthy St., Lake Dr. and Robinson Rd. Each cart's lid has a hole in it just large enough to accommodate pop cans and bottles. City workers and the EBA will assess the program's effectiveness and ease of use, then adjust the process as needed. "The goal is to improve and expand it, not to stop it," says Van Lenten. "I certainly got the impression that the city hopes to work out the bugs and make this available in other business districts, but that's up to the streets and sanitation department."Van Lenten adds the EBA met with city officials last Monday to discuss a proposed pilot trash and recycle pickup program for commercial properties, which could be a less expensive option than dumpsters.Source: Jaye Van Lenten, Spirit Dreams and Eastown Business AssociationRelated ArticlesUptown receives Grand Rapids' first Corridor Improvement District designation Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Proposed $2M project aims to build new restaurant, apartments near Grand Rapids' Medical Mile

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodA proposed $2 million mixed-use project could bring a restaurant, retail shops and apartments to the Belknap Lookout neighborhood in Grand Rapids, just a block north of Michigan Street's Medical Mile. The Grand Rapids Planning Commission approved conditional zoning for the one-third acre property on the northeast corner of Hastings St. and Coit Avenue. The project fits the cottage retail requirements of the Belknap Lookout Area Specific Plan approved by the city in September 2009.Spearheading the project are Rod Horlings of Horlings Land Investments and Angel Gonzalez, a Belknap neighborhood resident and owner of Artesian Group, a real estate development company also in Belknap. The partners plan to raze two houses on the property but first they want to sign on commercial and residential tenants to get bank financing.Plans for the new building's main level include a 4,000-square-foot restaurant space and 2,500 square feet of retail. The second and third floors will have 11 market rate apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. "A lot of neighbors would like to see a Martha's Vineyard-type market in there," says Angel Gonzalez, adding that he's working to also attract a Pot Belly Sandwich Shop. "To be successful, we will need to pull people from the (medical facilities). A flower shop in one of the retail bays would be nice, or a coffee shop."Gonzalez says the project might be the closest restaurant to the medical facilities, directly across the new Coit Street Bridge. He says the neighborhood wants a traffic circle at Hastings and Coit, and has started talks with the city to relocate the Charles Belknap statue from outside Griff's Icehouse, where few people see it, to one of the plaza areas adjacent to the new bridge. "If this location is a success, it could be a catalyst for more development in the neighborhood," Gonzalez says. Concept Design Group is the project architect.Source: Angel Gonzalez, Artesian Group Related ArticlesGrand Rapids Planning Commission sets deadline for Belknap ASP, new consultants move plan forwardDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Grand Rapids outdoor concert venue gets $559K facelift in time for Celebration, ArtPrize

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe stage area in Ah-Nab-Awen Park directly in front of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is too small for many of the performances it hosts, and performers have to bring their own generator to have enough electricity for lighting and equipment. Not anymore. The Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority will invest $559,000 to improve the park, including work to enlarge the stage and supply it with an electrical power panel – all in time for Celebration on the Grand and ArtPrize, both happening in September. The stage is adjacent to the downtown Riverwalk, a multi-mile pedestrian walkway on the banks of the Grand River, and these are just a few of the improvements now underway with the guidance of Nagel Construction, says DDA Executive Director Jay Fowler. "A stretch of the Riverwalk from Bridge Street south to the Gillette Bridge is being replaced with concrete and new lighting," Fowler says. "A retaining wall and some terraces next to the river suffered ice damage several years ago and have been redesigned with handicap access to the river's edge."The design includes a seating wall and platform on the river's edge where anglers can fish or walkers can take a load off and view the city skyline across the river, Fowler says. A walkway around the back of the stage will give people a way to bypass the stage during performances. "This reinvigorates the park as a great venue for downtown events," Fowler says. "A lot of the larger events are too big for Rosa Parks Circle and we wanted to accommodate large events downtown. There's a beautiful view of the city and skyline, and we don't have to close off streets to accommodate crowds in the heart of downtown."Source: Jay Fowler, Grand Rapids Downtown Development AuthorityDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Many West Michigan colleges, universities make the grade for Forbes' Best Colleges list

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: Forbes

Forbes Magazine reports that America's Best Colleges are determined by the students who attend them. Several West Michigan colleges and universities made the grade. According to excerpts from the story:Forbes' list of public and private colleges and universities ranks the best schools--from the students' point of view. The best college in America isn't in Cambridge or Princeton, West Point or Annapolis. It's nestled in the Berkshire Mountains. Williams College, a 217-year-old private liberal arts school, tops our third annual ranking of America's Best Colleges. Our list of more than 600 undergraduate institutions is based on the quality of the education they provide, the experiences of the students and how much they achieve. Read the complete story here.

Giant waterslide event in Grand Rapids draws media attention from New York Times

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: New York Times

The New York Times writes that last weekend's giant waterslide delivered thousands of people to downtown Grand Rapids via a 100-foot drop, some vinyl and a bit of water. According to excerpts from the story:If only the commute downtown could always be this much fun. This weekend thousands of people — provided they are at least 48 inches tall — are expected to descend into the low-lying center of Grand Rapids, Mich., on what promoters of the event believe is the world's longest inflatable water slide. The puffy blue and yellow slide is about 500 feet long, stretching about three city blocks down the Lyon Street hill. It will carry participants — or, rather, sliders — on an elevation drop estimated at 100 feet. Water from a fire hydrant will slick the vinyl track. Read the complete story here.

Sparta man named Apple Man of the Year for efforts promoting industry sales

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: The Grand Rapids Press

The Grand Rapids Press reports that Don Armock of Sparta, co-owner of Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc., was named the national Apple Man of the Year by The Packer, a produce industry newspaper.

His promotion of exports and leadership in packing house technology and food safety earned him the national spotlight.

According to excerpts from the story:

Denise Donohue, director of the Michigan Apple Committee, said Armock's business was the first to sell Michigan apples to Russia in 2008-09 and earlier this year sold to Singapore and India.

Read the complete story here.

Ottawa County launches new website to help kayakers navigate their adventures

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Source: The Holland Sentinel

The Holland Sentinel reports that kayakers will find their adventures on the water easier to navigate when they check out the new Grand River Heritage Water Trail website that includes maps of access points, suggested routes and notable sights along the river.

According to excerpts from the story:

The new website — www.miottawa.org/parksvi/watertrail — shows 17 river access points, 33 notable natural features and 28 historic sites along the 30 miles of the Grand River within the county's border.

Read the complete story here:

Feature Story

Community, Creativity and Commerce: A Look at Ambrose

Matt Vande BunteThursday, August 19, 2010

Ambrose, a creativity venture created by Adam and Jenna Weiler, teaches Holland-area youth to refine artistic skills for the benefit of the broader community. Ambrose uses artists for guest instructors and alternative teaching methods to open minds to the fusion of art and business.

Feature Story

The Hand that Rocks the Ladle: Sunday Soup

J. Bennett RylahThursday, August 19, 2010

For a small donation, you can enjoy delicious, homemade soup, foster community and help support a project all on a Sunday afternoon with Sunday Soup, a mini-grant initiative where everyone wins.

Feature Story

G-Sync – The Gospel of Small Acts

Tommy Allen, Lifestyle EditorThursday, August 19, 2010

While scanning a newsfeed on Facebook, G-Sync's Tommy Allen rediscovers the beauty in small movements.

GR Community Foundation awards four grants; one to help migrant domestic abuse victims

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation has awarded four new grants totaling $213,150 to Kent County organizations, with one to be used for a new outreach program helping domestic abuse victims in the migrant community.

$10M investors fund in Grand Rapids will aid startups in Michigan's growth industries

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodLife sciences and technology, alternative energy and other growth industry startups in Michigan could soon receive an infusion of $10 million to spur business development and jobs. Michigan Accelerator Fund 1, L.P., a new Grand Rapids-based venture capital fund, has received $6 million in seed money from the state's 21st Century Jobs Fund, a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The investment jumpstarts the fund and moves it closer to its goal of having $10 million available for startups in early 2011. "We look for Michigan-based companies to invest in. They must be startups, and must fit into life sciences and technology, homeland security, advanced manufacturing or alternative energy," says Dale Grogan of The Charter Group, managers of the fund. "We'd like to make our first investment the first part of next year, and will be willing to look at the first prospects within the next the 30 days."Grogan credits the successful start of the fund to the collaboration of several regional partners, including Grand Valley State University, Van Andel Research Institute, Hope River Ventures, West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative, Grand Angels, Michigan State University Foundation, Right Place, Inc. and Lakeshore Advantage.Those organizations will help the fund raise the additional $4 million from investors around the state, Grogan says. "We're hopeful that this fund does great things," Grogan says. "We want to create Michigan jobs and we want them to be in the magic four categories, so if we can provide money to start up businesses in Michigan, and they grow and succeed, then we're doing exactly what we're supposed to do."Interested entrepreneurs can contact Grogan at The Charter Group at 616-235-3555, or through the MAF1 web site when it launches online in September.Source: Dale Grogan, The Charter Group and Michigan Accelerator Fund 1, L.P.; Amanda Passage, Lambert, Edwards & AssociatesDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Grand Rapids marketing firm launches custom software company, iPhone app for beach bums

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids-based Steketee Greiner Co. dove headfirst into the digital marketing waters this week with the launch of a new company and the release of an iPhone 4 app for water sports enthusiasts. SGC, formerly ContextMG, 44 Grandville Ave. SW, has formed Catalyst SGC to take over the development of customized software solutions and applications, mobile development and traditional online development for Fortune 1000 clients who want to leverage the digital marketplace. And the iPhone 4 app, Beach Bum, advises users when weather and water conditions are right for fishing, boating, sail boarding and other water sports in any of the Great Lakes or United States coastal regions. "It's tied into national systems and measures air and water temperature, wave height, the UV index and wind speed, and includes a synopsis of the weather forecast," says David Greiner, SGC's chief creative officer. "It has real time radar plus warnings and alerts for severe weather, and is customizable."As for the launch of the new company, Greiner says SGC acquired another Grand Rapids firm, Access Programming Group, Inc., and brought aboard two of its programmers – one experienced in artificial intelligence, the other in application development."SGC has always been focused on the digital marketing space, and kept a small team of creative people and programmers," Greiner says. "It made sense to put that team out on its own as Catalyst SGC and create a new business model independent of Steketee Greiner."Catalyst SGC has eight employees. Greiner says he hopes to build it to 10 in 2011. He says Steketee Greiner hired five people this year and gross sales are up 30 percent over 2009. Beach Bum sells for $1.99 at the iTunes store. Source: David Greiner, Steketee Greiner Company and Catalyst SGCRelated ArticlesSaugatuck marketing firm brings 10 jobs to Grand Rapids, ready to add four more ContextMG adds five jobs, three interns after relocating to Grand RapidsDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

Seven Steps Up Event and Banquet Center opens in renovated historic Spring Lake Masonic Temple

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A Spring Lake couple is breathing new life into the historic former Masonic Temple in downtown Spring Lake. Nine years were spent transforming the empty three-story structure into the charming Seven Steps Up Event & Banquet Center, complete with a loft upstairs for their own living quarters.

Just Dogs Gourmet, a pooch's favorite new digs for treats, opens in downtown Grand Haven

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dog owners now have a new place to shop for doggie treats with the opening of Just Dogs Gourmet in downtown Grand Haven.

Grand Valley, DeVries Development come to terms on Grand Rapids property for Seidman College

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Valley State University and DeVries Development Properties, Inc. have come to terms regarding the purchase of property in downtown Grand Rapids for GVSU's Seidman College of Business. The Board of Trustees approved a $4.42 million buy/sell agreement for the property and building at 22 and 38 Front Ave.An existing building on the property is in poor condition and will be demolished. A state-of-the-art facility will take its place.Seidman College of Business has 3,500 students and 140 faculty members, says Dean H. James Williams. The college shares a crowded space with other departments in the Richard M. DeVos Center on GVSU's Pew Campus. "This will give us a front door to the community," Williams says. "They'll recognize that it's the Seidman College of Business, and that helps us move to the next level in quality."We plan to include a trading room with the technology to allow students to trade stocks and bonds in real time," he says. "We also want classrooms set up for team collaboration so when students go out into the working world they'll know how to work in collaboration."The Small Business and Technology Development Center, Van Andel Global Trades, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and other groups will share space so they can "recognize some synergies they otherwise wouldn't be able to recognize," Williams says. The new facility will honor the legacy of L. William Seidman, GVSU's founder, who died in May of 2009. The college launched a $35 million capital campaign in September. The project architects are Integrated Architecture and Robert A. M. Stern Architects.Construction begins next year with proposed completion in 2013. Source: H. James Williams, Seidman College of Business; GVnow.comDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].

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