West Michigan economy

Dr. Brian Long, director of supply chain management research at the Institute for Supply Management at Grand Valley State University, issued a new economic report on west Michigan's economy a few weeks ago. Largely, the news is good. Boil it down, and it amounts to a "when will the shoe drop...

"We're outperforming the state economy, the national economy and the world economy right now," so says Dr. Brian Long, director of supply chain management research at Grand Valley State University. Long surveys west Michigan manufacturers for a quarterly reading on the area's economy, gauged by manufacturing orders and output among other factors...

The latest west Michigan economic outlook from Dr. Brian Long, director of supply chain management research at Grand Valley State University, shows something we have continued to see for some time: good paying jobs with no one to fill them...

The city of Battle Creek is working to help its homeless population by rehabbing some foreclosed homes to put a roof over the heads of those who need it. City officials did not immediately support the idea, saying only a percentage of vacant homes in Battle Creek survive the wrecking ball, and only a portion of the ones that don't remain vacant...