Two Muskegon artists are trying to organize that city's first Lake Michigan Art Walk this summer that would lure art lovers, art buyers and artists to downtown, fueling efforts to recharge and liven up the area

Deborah Johnson WoodIt was once a struggling metal stamping plant that had laid off some 150 employees two years ago. Now it's a 40,000-square-foot, clean technology electronics facility that has hired back many of its displaced workers. Like many other companies that lost business when the automotive industry tanked, Grand Haven-based GHSP took a major hit. But company leaders saw it as an opportunity to transform the metal stamper into a manufacturer of mechatronics controls – controls that integrate mechanics, electronics and computer software. Its primary customer is still the auto industry, but the company has positioned itself for a wave of change company leaders say is not only shaping the future, but is here already – lighter, safer, fuel efficient and electric vehicles."With the automotive vehicle moving more and more to electrification, we started looking at changing our product portfolio as well as our skill sets," says Jeff Smith, COO. "The vision is that more and more of the vehicle manufacturers will be looking at products for better fuel economy, lighter weight, better safety."Eighty jobs opened up when GHSP closed its Troy electronics facility. The company filled the majority of those jobs by calling back workers laid off in 2008. Smith says GHSP has created an additional 20 new positions worldwide."Going forward, our products will have more and more mechatronic parts," he says. "Everything we're doing going forward will be part of the new products and will require skill sets in mechanical, electronics and software production."GHSP's focus has been creating shift systems, but as it eyes growth outside the automotive market, it continues to develop two new product lines: electronic controls and smart actuators. The company landed its first non-automotive contract to design and manufacture mechatronic controls for a maker of high-end kitchen appliances. Smith declined to name the client citing confidentiality. GHSP employs 850 around the world, including 262 in Grand Haven. The company has operations in Detroit, Hart, and Madison Heights, Mich; Dayton, Ohio; Mexico, Japan, Germany and other countries. Source: Jeff Smith, GHSP; Randy Boileau, Boileau Communications Management, LLCRelated ArticlesGrand Haven's GHSP to bring 70 jobs to West MichiganDeborah 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].

Deborah Johnson WoodThe development of a skate park in Grand Rapids got the signal to start rolling when the Grand Rapids City Commission approved the proposal at Tuesday's commission meeting. A committee of the Sixth Street Bridge Community Coalition worked for several months with the city's Parks & Recreation department to develop the proposed Clemente Skate Park in an underused area of Clemente Park, 546 Rumsey SW. "The part of the park near B Street has a tennis court that hasn't been used for probably 10 years," says Chris Gray, committee chair of the coalition. "It's close enough to downtown and it's just unused, with lots of trees."Gray is quick to point out that the north portion of Clemente Park will remain as is, with actively used soccer fields. He also notes that skate park plans are in the beginning stages and the planning group still needs to raise some $350,000 for the project. Preliminary plans are to incorporate different styles of skate parks by connecting paved paths that stretch over rolling, shaded terrain to pods of activity, such as ramps and a concrete bowl. "One of the big parts of our plan is to keep the area as is by not removing any of the living trees," he says. "We want to keep it really wooded to keep it a unique park, and we want it to be a park that people want to go to for other things like biking and walking."Gray, a photographer and artist, designs apparel for Premier Skateboarding, a supporter of his work with the skate park. He hopes to feature urban art in the park. Another aspect could include providing a small garden space for nearby Southwest Community Campus school. Construction on the park could begin in early 2011.A June 20 kickoff celebration at Rosa Parks Circle will include skateboard competitions, giveaways and opportunities for participants and spectators to contribute toward the skate park's development fund.Source: Chris Gray, Clemente Skate ParkDeborah 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].

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids' Madison Square Church is in the throes of renovating a $1.3 million former caster factory into a space where its youth group can give musical and dramatic performances and spend time socializing in a casual, Christian environment.The building at 1401 Madison Ave. SE, dubbed Madison Place, is just a few doors north of the church. Communications Manager Bill Wiarda says the undertaking is in answer to God's call for the church community to take the gospel to the city. "Our pastor David Beelen took a sabbatical in 2006 to do some planning, and when he came back, we developed this idea we call Making Room – New Faces, New Places to meet people where they are. There was a lot of redevelopment and revitalization in the neighborhood at that time, so we bought the building."Volunteers from the congregation worked together to demolish parts of the interior. Wiarda says that once construction is finished, the 8,500-square-foot main level will feature a multipurpose room complete with a stage, sound system, lighting and projection for the youth group; a game room; offices for the youth department; and a kitchen that will supplement the full service kitchen in the church, when needed. A food pantry, currently housed at Restorers, Inc., 1413 Madison Ave. SE, will have a dedicated space with greater food storage capacity, freezers and refrigerators and direct access from outside. One surprising feature is a planned woodworking shop for the church's Cadets group of fourth through sixth grade boys. "They meet once a week to do woodworking projects," Wiarda says. "Right now they meet in the church office basement, which is really cramped. The new space will have equipment and improved ventilation."Source: Bill Wiarda, Madison Square ChurchDeborah 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].

A Muskegon Chronicle report indicates that after years of controversy, the push by Muskegon County leaders for a more extensive environmental cleanup of the former Whitehall Leather Co. tannery site draws closer to victory. According to excerpts from the story:An environmental cleanup plan for one of Muskegon County's most contaminated sites is on the verge of being finalized, potentially bringing to end years of negotiations. It also would signify a victory for local leaders and residents who pushed for a more extensive cleanup than the site's owner had earlier proposed. Genesco, the former owner of the Whitehall Leather Co. tannery, has proposed a consent judgment outlining the scope of a cleanup of the 33-acre site, including removal of contaminated sediments in the site's former lagoons. The company is being held financially responsible for cleanup of the White Lake shoreline site contaminated by more than a century of leather-tanning operations.Read the complete story here.

Grand Valley State University will offer a master's program starting in August in biomedical engineering, a welcome addition that supports efforts to grow the Medical Mile along Michigan Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids.