A Georgia producer of material handling automation systems and software plans to close two West Michigan production facilities and consolidate the operations in Kentucky.  MHS Conveyor Corp., a part of Atlanta-based Fortna Inc., plans to end manufacturing operations beginning June 28 at production facilities at 1300 E. Mount Garfield Road in Norton Shores and 3501 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW in Walker. The plant closings will result in the loss of 102 production and support jobs between the two facilities.  Fortna plans to maintain about 80 professional positions in Norton Shores, according ..read more

A veteran Grand Rapids restaurateur has added a new grab-and-go restaurant in Bridgewater Place to her growing portfolio.  Cindy Lotterman-Schneider, the owner of San Chez Bistro, Beacon Corner Bar and Roam, opened San Chez Express in early April, catering to office workers and nearby residents looking for quick, easy eats.  The new, 900-square-foot restaurant, located in unit 240 within Bridgewater Place at 333 Bridge St. NW, offers breakfast and deli-style lunch options. The grab-and-go restaurant is a new model for Lotterman-Schneider, whose other restaurants focus on elevating in ..read more

The Acrisure Amphitheater is set to break ground on May 21, and multinational entertainment company Live Nation is expected to serve as the venue’s principal booker. The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) board approved a term sheet with Live Nation this morning, when local officials also announced the groundbreaking date. The CAA  — which will eventually take ownership of the amphitheater and also administers DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena — amended its board meeting agenda today to include a resolution for the Live Nation agreement. The re ..read more

The corporation that owns the former Trendway Corp. in Holland Township will begin winding down operations and laying off employees by the end of this month before permanently eliminating 117 positions.  Employee terminations will occur in six phases, starting May 30 or within two weeks afterward with 17 employees, and continue through October, according to a recent WARN Act notice filed with the state. The notice was also sent to local elected officials.  Itasca, Ill.-based Fellowes Brands Inc., which acquired Trendway in 2019, intends to terminate another 30 employees around July 1 ..read more

Observers and longtime beneficiaries of the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation say the entity’s dissolution comes amid a challenging climate for philanthropy that is keeping nonprofits on their toes. The children of Richard and Helen DeVos — Dick, Dan, Cheri and Doug — announced May 1 that they are sunsetting their late parents’ foundation, which gave more than $1.1 billion to 1,044 nonprofits since its formation in 1969. Some of the foundation’s key funding priorities included arts and entertainment, health care, education, faith-based causes and economic development. In an interview with Cra ..read more

The National Labor Relations Board wants a federal judge to force Trinity Health Grand Haven to recognize an employee labor union and bargain in good faith.  The federal agency seeks a preliminary injunction against Trinity Health Grand Haven, which last fall withdrew recognition of a union representing employees, SEIU Healthcare Michigan. The NLRB argues that the Grand Haven hospital move was illegal.  In a court filing this week, the NLRB asks a judge to issue a preliminary injunction ordering Trinity Health Grand Haven to “cease and desist from interfering with, restraining, or co ..read more

Kent County voters will determine in the Aug. 6 primary whether the county’s lodging tax can be increased to potentially fund projects including the Acrisure Amphitheater, a soccer stadium and an aquarium under consideration. The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted 15-3 today to put the proposed lodging tax hike on the ballot. If approved by voters, the board of commissioners would then consider amending the lodging ordinance and raising the tax beyond 5%, up to 8%, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Under new legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on April 2, Kent County is on ..read more

The city of Grand Rapids will soon be on its third economic development department leader within the past year. Jono Klooster, the city’s interim economic development director, is stepping down from his role this summer after working in the department for about 14 years.  Klooster has no immediate plans after he leaves the city, and will assist in helping new department leadership transition into the role in his last months before he leaves in June. The city is now working to hire a new assistant director for economic development, which was Klooster’s role before he became interim directo ..read more

Crain’s Grand Rapids Business hosted its 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan event at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids on Thursday. A panel of three Grand Rapids business leaders, moderated by WGVU Media host and producer Shelley Irwin, discussed the changes they’ve seen in their years in the West Michigan business community, the challenges they faced along the way and what’s kept them invested in their city. The panelists included: Birgit Klohs, executive chair of the New Community Transformation Fund Jody Vanderwel, managing partner at Michigan Capital Network Michelle Van Dyke, presiden ..read more

Last year, when United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties’ president and CEO Brian Gaggin left the nonprofit, its board and staff began exploring a merger with the organization’s much larger sister chapter in Kent County. As of Tuesday, Heart of West Michigan United Way and United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties received approval from the state attorney general’s office to combine into one nonprofit that will serve Kent, Ottawa and Allegan counties. The merger is expected to be finalized this summer. The green light from the state follows the merger approval from both entities’ boards late ..read more