Students celebrate year end at GRCC’s Noorthoek Academy
April 26, 2017; WZZM
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – College students with disabilities in Grand Rapids, are celebrating their accomplishments this year.
Students of Noorthoek Academy at Grand Rapids Community College were honored for a successful school year Wednesday, April 26.
As construction industry faces shortage of workers, West Michigan groups innovate to fill gap
April 27, 2017; rapidgrowthmedia.com
The demand for the design and construction of new buildings for housing and mixed-use business applications has been on the rise in Grand Rapids. The influx of residents into the city, as well as the growth of a variety of local industries, from manufacturing to tourism, has created new demand for construction. Yet, the pool of trained and experienced constructions workers has remained static, if not outright shrinking. Area companies are facing unforeseen challenges in meeting the demand for both new construction and for skilled workers, which they are addressing by employing a number of strategies. Included in these strategies are new local training programs and alliances between construction trade associations.
… In addition to the training model developed by the CWDA, another key West Michigan program that delivers construction skills training can be found at the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC), which is part of Grand Rapids Community College.
How coworking spaces are growing an entrepreneurial community in Grand Rapids
April 27, 2017; rapidgrowthmedia.com
The Oxford Dictionary defines coworking as “the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas and knowledge.” According to the 2017 Global Coworking Survey, by year-end, there will be approximately 14,000 operational coworking spaces worldwide. Additionally, the report shows these coworking spaces will be focusing on increasing membership, generating more income, hosting more events and having a stronger sense of community.
… Each coworking space also offers networking and educational opportunities. The Factory has a coLearning program, which offers classes on a variety of topics including: HTML, CSS, design thinking and app development. They also host Coffee With Creators every Wednesday morning, which is open to the public. Through a partnership with Start Garden, Urban LINC periodically hosts 5×5 Nights, providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to connect with others in the community and gain exposure for their business ideas. (Jeremy) DeRoo states Urban LINC has also been working with other local organizations including Grand Rapids Community College, Michigan Works! and Hope Network on a variety of workforce development related initiatives.