Here’s a digest of current business news and topics from Western Michigan:
Grand Rapids Art Museum – GRAM prepares for Aug. 1 re-opening
The Grand Rapids Art Museum will reopen to the public Saturday, Aug. 1. The Museum will be open Tuesdays from Noon to 6 p.m., Thursdays from Noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from Noon to 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to reserve advance timed tickets online and will receive a 10% discount for any online ticket purchases. A few of the new protocols visitors will experience include required face coverings and temperature checks. The Museum will not resume normal programming upon reopening in accordance with social distancing, but may offer select programs that can be done at a safe, contactless distance. Thanks to the generous support of Meijer, guests are invited to enjoy free admission to the Museum on Meijer Free Tuesdays from noon – 6 p.m. and Thursday nights from 5 – 9 p.m. Click here to learn more about GRAM’s re-opening plans.
TrackMIBallot – Lansing/Walker city clerk’s hoping for smooth mail-in election ballots using GR company’s ballot tracking software
Grand Rapids-based mail service provider Kent Communications, Inc. is the first company in Michigan to work with local election officials to add a critical layer of integrity and accountability to the vote-by-mail process. The product, TrackMIBallot, uses a service from the United States Postal Service to track each piece of ballot mail as it travels through the postal system. TrackMIBallot will track ballots being mailed to the voter and the ballot coming back into the election office. So far, four municipalities have signed on to use TrackMIBallot in upcoming elections: City of Walker, City of Lansing, and the suburban Grand Rapids townships Grand Rapids Township and Cannon Township. Product founder Brian Quist can be made available for interviews by contacting me.
OrVance – GR company develops product that allows dental patients to replace missing teeth
Grand Rapids-based oral care product developer OrVance has developed the first product in the $30 billion oral care market specifically designed to allow dental patients to fill the space of missing or partially missing teeth in clear aligner trays and retainer. OrVance Aligner Pontics eliminates the time and cost required by dental and orthodontic practices to customize trays with fabricated pontics (artificial tooth) by allowing the patient to insert into their aligner or retainer. Company officials along with leading orthodontists are available for interviews on the topic. Click here to learn more about OrVance Aligner Pontics.
Ferris State University – Ferris outlines plans for in person instruction starting Aug. 31
As fall semester nears, Ferris State University continues to work toward providing in person instruction. Full details on the University’s re-engagement plans are available by clicking here. Interviews with University leaders can be made available.
Creston Industrial Sales – 60-year old company implements an aggressive strategic growth plan during pandemic
Grand Rapids tooling services company Creston Industrial Sales has a 60-year history of providing stellar customer service with a healthy balance sheet, solid customer and vendor relationships, and a talented employee roster – all things company leaders are proud to have maintained these past few months, and also the reason for their belief that Creston will achieve a strategic growth plan coming out of this pandemic. The privately-held tooling services provider has big plans to double its annual sales in five years, thanks to a recently acquired second building adjacent to its Front Avenue headquarters just north of downtown Grand Rapids. The company, which has more than 700 customers throughout West Michigan, has a multipoint plan to expand its geographic reach through a well-balanced mix of organic growth and acquisition activity. The time is right, and they are perfectly positioned to tackle the challenges that the industry faces. Company leaders can explain more about their recent hiring spree and headquarters expansion.
SoundOff Signal – West Michigan vehicle lighting manufacturer expands into fire market
Hudsonville-based SoundOff Signal, a global leader in vehicle lighting, control systems and electronic warning solutions for the law enforcement, amber, and government markets announces it has created its first products for the fire apparatus market with additions to its mpower silicone lights and lightbar product lines. The company has long been known as an innovator of lighting and electronic warning solutions for the law enforcement industry, so the move to the fire market was a natural next step. These products have been designed specifically for the fire market and aim to provide new innovative options to improve fire apparatus visibility and styling. Click here to learn more about SoundOff Signal’s fire market products.
OrVance – GR company leads charge to rid industry of noncompliant dental wax
Grand Rapids-based oral care product developer OrVance has convinced a leading dental wax supplier to buy back all traditional (unlabeled, non-hygienically packaged) dental wax from its orthodontic and dentist clients and replace with the hygienically-packaged, tamper-evident OrthoDots CLEAR. This is the first in a few major moves OrVance has going aimed at getting the industry to begin complying with Food and Drug Administration rules to give consumers more information on where dental wax is coming from, and ensuring that the product is hygienically-packaged. Click here to learn more about this story.
Trillium Institute – Organization aims to increase understanding of end-of-life medical care
Grand Rapids-based Trillium Institute, one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated exclusively to helping medical professionals and families of people with life-defining illnesses to navigate the complex end-of-life medical and emotional options, announces that hospice and palliative care physician Dr. Jason R. Beckrow is joining the Institute’s associated physician faculty. He will join nationally recognized palliative care physician John Mulder, M.D., Trillium Institute’s co-founder and medical director, to provide education on end of life issues as well as engage in a collaboration with Michigan State University for palliative medicine education. Click here to learn more about Dr. Beckrow.
OrVance – FDA, FTC and U.S. Customs reviewing trade complaint made by GR company
Shortly after GR-based dental products manufacturer OrVance, along with 100+ dentists and orthodontists, filed trade complaints to FDA, FTC and U.S. Customs regarding misbranded dental wax, the agencies have responded acknowledging they intend to investigate/follow up in some capacity. The company and the complaint supporters are expressing concern about the importing, repackaging and distribution of misbranded dental wax, which is commonly-used by individuals who wear braces. The coalition is seeking authorities to investigate certain companies (listed in this letter) responsible to ensure they comply with regulations and are not misleading consumers or causing them harm. Click here to read the trade complaint and list of supporters.
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