Latest News & Blogs

The Right Place, Inc. announced that it has hired a new president & CEO to lead West Michigan’s premier economic development organization. After a national search that produced an extraordinarily talented pool of candidates, Randy Thelen, stood out and has been chosen by The Right Place Board of Directors as the new top executive.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated its epidemic order today to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, as this has been scientifically shown to slow the virus. This includes in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Casinos, bowling centers and movie theatres will be allowed to reopen with total capacity capped at 100; food and drink concessions closed; and social distancing requirements in place.

After nearly six years serving as The Right Place, Inc.’s Business Development Coordinator for Montcalm County, Kathy Jo VanderLaan has announced her retirement, effective December 31, 2020.

Michigan-based small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus may submit their applications for grants of up to $15,000 through the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST tomorrow, Tuesday, December 15.

Today, regional economic development organization The Right Place, Inc. hosted its 24^th annual Economic Outlook for West Michigan. The virtual event featured a year-in-review presentation by The Right Place, Inc. President and CEO Birgit Klohs as well as an in-depth economic analysis and forecast for West Michigan in 2021 by Jim Robey and the W.E. Upjohn Institute.

To better serve travelers and the West Michigan community, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport has partnered with TACKL Health to host a new COVID-19 testing site beginning Thursday, Dec. 10 – one of the first airports in the nation to do so.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has extended by 12 days the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities. The additional 12 days will allow the department to determine the full impact of the Thanksgiving holiday on the spread of COVID-19 across Michigan.

The City of Grand Rapids and a host of community partners have started what they hope becomes a viral campaign to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season. The campaign includes self-recorded videos that showcase local businesses and a challenge to multiple friends to do the same.

Dr. Adam London, administrative health officer at the Kent County Health Department, has issued a public health warning and strong guidelines aimed at curbing community-wide spread of the coronavirus in Kent County and preventing another economic shutdown.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a new emergency order that enacts a three-week pause targeting indoor social gatherings and other group activities in an effort to curb rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rates. The order takes effect on November 18, 2020 at 12:01 AM and remains in effect through December 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM.