Grand Rapids Economy and Job Market -- Bucking the State Trend?

[Wabbit]

With all the talk about the Amway bucks we definitely
have to give Fred his props. Though he may not catch his Dutch
compatriots he has really come on in the last few years.
Good article about who has given what to G.R. here:

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/giving19.aspx

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Wabbit

With all the talk about the Amway bucks we definitely
have to give Fred his props. Though he may not catch his Dutch
compatriots he has really come on in the last few years.
Good article about who has given what to G.R. here:

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/giving19.aspx

Wabbit,

Since there isn't a GR section here, we'll make this our own little Grand Rapids section. Hope you don't mind Bhaalspawn?

Van Andel Institute researchers in Grand Rapids, working with a team at Dartmouth, have announced they believe they have found the protein that causes cancer to spread. Identifying proteins and genes is a huge step toward treatments. This is huge news!

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/in...340.xml&coll=6

The institute is in process of building their 280,000 square foot Phase II addition, which will add approximately 400 new researchers by 2008. Grants to the institute have grown from $680,000 in 2000 to over $35 Million in 2006, and involve joint projects with 96 different institutions in 16 different countries, and over 160 studies underway.

http://www.vai.org/News/News.aspx?year=2007&page=all

Phase II

[Wabbit]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!
Now that's the way to make a city proud.

[magellan]

A few items from today:

Wolverine marches through records

ROCKFORD -- Wolverine World Wide Inc. notched its 19th consecutive quarter of record sales and earnings per share today, fueled by brands such as Merrell, Sebago, CAT and Harley-Davidson.

http://www.mlive.com/business/grpres...160.xml&coll=6


Haworth headquarters expansion goes green

HOLLAND -- When completed at the end of 2008, Haworth Inc. will have one of the greenest headquarters in West Michigan.

The company is reworking and expanding its headquarters off M-40 into a 300,000-square-foot showplace where customers will be able to see Haworth products in use by employees.

Just as sustainability is the focus of the Holland company's product lines of office furniture and systems, that was the approach in updating the headquarters.

http://www.mlive.com/business/grpres...810.xml&coll=6

I think the main ingredient to these companies' phenomenal growth is their national and international markets penetration.

[call93]

Hi - my husband and I are moving to Grand Rapids this summer to sell alarm systems. Everyone keeps telling us we are crazy and won't make any money because the economy there is so bad. Is it a good idea for us to go there this summer and sell?