By Kristia Postma
West Michigan is celebrated nationally for its breweries.
From the lakeshore breweries that line the coast of Lake Michigan to the downtown breweries that have made Grand Rapids the self-proclaimed “Beer City USA,” breweries are a staple of West Michigan.
Last year was difficult for West Michigan breweries.
Two of them, Tibbs Brewing Co. in Kalamazoo and Craft Beer Cellar in Grand Rapids, closed permanently as the COVID-19 pandemic hurt them financially.
But state grants are helping keep other breweries open.
Osgood Brewing in Grandville has suffered from a lack of sales brought on by the pandemic, owner Ronald Denning said. The company received a $15,000 Michigan Economic Development Corp., a government agency that helps businesses grow through investment in businesses and communities.
Whirlpool s Jeff Noel temporarily takes reins at MEDC as CEO search continues
Jeff Noel
A veteran Whirlpool Corp. executive has voluntarily taken the reins as interim CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. while the quasi-governmental agency s governing board deliberates over hiring a new chief executive.
Jeff Noel, corporate vice president of communications and public affairs for Whirlpool, has taken on the role of serving as the legally required CEO of the MEDC.
Noel, vice chairman of the MEDC s executive committee, will make day-to-day decisions for the economic development agency in concurrence with Awenate Cobbina, chairman of the executive committee, according to an MEDC news release.
gneese@mininggazette.com
HOUGHTON The Houghton City Council heard an update Wednesday on a $3.5 million project for renovations at Mattila Square in downtown Houghton, including a pier capable of handling cruise ships.
Houghton had initially pitched the project in 2017, and received an offer of funding from Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) in 2019. However, that was recalled in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEDC approached the city with a new funding opportunity last fall.
“We had a public hearing previously with the other funding source,” City Manager Eric Waara said. “But given that this is a different funding source, it has to have its own hearing.”