GRAND RAPIDS — The autonomous shuttle that runs through downtown could transition to an on-demand format with new vehicles under a proposal before city officials to renew the pilot program that’s set to expire on April 30. The Autonomous Vehicle Initiative led by Mobile GR, Ann Arbor-based May Mobility Inc. and various private sponsors started in July 2019.
ZEELAND — Herman Miller Inc. plans to buy competitor Knoll Inc. in a $1.8 billion cash-and-stock deal that will create a new office furniture industry sales leader. Combining the two office furniture industry icons will create “the preeminent leader in modern design, catalyzing the transformation of the home and office sectors at a time of unprecedented disruption,” according to
GRAND RAPIDS - IMMY Inc. — originally formed in 2002 in Detroit — is developing a display system aimed at curing the typical problems that accompany current head-mounted displays used for virtual and augmented reality. These displays — like Microsoft’s HoloLens, Facebook’s Oculus and MagicLeap — tend to cause eye fatigue, motion sickness and other
MUSKEGON — An 8,000-square-foot food processing business incubator in Muskegon is now open and accepting new tenants. Last Friday, Greater Muskegon Economic Development and the West Michigan Food Processing Association announced that the new Food, Agriculture, Research Manufacturing (FARM) Center is officially open on the campus of Muskegon Community College. The facility includes flexible manufacturing space for commercial
ADA — Global direct selling giant Amway Corp. is cutting 6 percent of its global workforce or about 900 people, most of whom are based at the company’s world headquarters in Ada, MiBiz has learned. A spokesperson confirmed that Amway notified eligible employees today about a “voluntary separation plan” aimed at helping the company to better focus on its
KALAMAZOO — The Kalamazoo City Commission unanimously voted to withdraw $10,000 in annual funding for Southwest Michigan First on the same day former GOP House Speaker Lee Chatfield started as the economic development organization’s CEO. The city has directed the funding to Southwest Michigan First’s Council of 100, a public-private regional economic development initiative, since 2015. City
BENTON HARBOR - As a manufacturer with a reputation for skating the cutting edge of technology, Whirlpool Corp. leverages relationships with organizations and researchers globally to uncover emerging technology capable of transforming its operations. The Benton Harbor-based appliance manufacturer can look closer to home to find these emerging technologies thanks to an Industry 4.0 accelerator program created
GRAND RAPIDS — A West Michigan capital investment fund that involves the family office for Doug and Maria DeVos wants to make long-term investments across a variety of industries with a goal of preserving and growing local companies and jobs. The DeVoses’ Continuum Ventures LLC has partnered with Grand Rapids-based Auxo Investment Partners to manage the new Michigan Opportunity Fund, whose
GRAND RAPIDS — Former Lakeshore Advantage CEO Randy Thelen is returning to West Michigan to lead regional economic development firm The Right Place Inc. Thelen will replace long-time President and CEO Birgit Klohs, who is planning to retire at the end of January after 33 years with the organization. Thelen starts March 1. The Right Place board
GRAND RAPIDS — The new managing partner for Grand Angels looks to tap his statewide contacts to build a bigger presence among early-stage investors. Dale Grogan joined the Grand Rapids-based Grand Angels in late November from Charter Capital Partners, where he worked for 13 year s. At Charter, Grogan helped launch and manage Michigan Accelerator Fund
