The Right Place

10/15/2026

Yesterday, international technology partner Swoboda Technologies opened its doors to our Manufacturers Council at its Grand Rapids location. Attendees went on guided tours to check out the high-end winding technologies Swoboda has built over the years.

Thank you to Florian Melder and the rest of the Swoboda team for hosting us and walking us through their exceptional facility. It was fascinating to see all the highly automated production lines built and maintained in-house.

Tours like this show what it’s like to be part of the Manufacturers Council, where members see new technologies, share best practices, and connect over shared challenges in the industry. Interested in learning more? Email Rene at [email protected].

10/14/2026

With support from Lakeshore Advantage and MMTC-West, Composite Builders is continuing to build its capabilities and plan for what's next.

Since opening in Holland in 2014, Composite Builders has worked with regional partners to support its growth, from facility improvements and employee training to technology upgrades. Looking ahead, the company is exploring a potential facility expansion, additional technical hires, and opportunities in additive manufacturing.

Read the full manufacturing spotlight to learn more about Composite Builders on our website's news page.

10/08/2026

Grand Rapids has the secret sauce. 🌟

Greater Grand Rapids has been named one of Heartland Forward's three 2026 Secret Sauce Communities, alongside Huntsville and Oklahoma City, recognized at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The honor spotlights cities with their own formula for economic growth, community development and cultural vitality. For our region, that means a diverse, resilient economy, a roughly $77 billion regional GDP, a strong talent pipeline, a high quality of life, and deep collaboration between philanthropy, business and local government.

🎥 Watch the video: https://f.mtr.cool/z2x6b9w3d6
📰 Learn more: https://f.mtr.cool/0r1zir8xdk

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Riveridge Produce Marketing, Mark Kraus and our partners at the Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership for securing a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to support improvements to its cherry packing operations in Grant, MI.

Awarded through MDARD's Value-Added, Regional Food Systems and Supply Chain Grant Program, the funding will add a weigher and batcher to Riveridge's sweet cherry packing line. That means more precise packing, faster turnaround for fresh Michigan fruit, and new jobs in Newaygo County.

It's a strong example of how investing in local food processing strengthens the supply chain connecting West Michigan growers to markets nationwide.

Read more:

Riveridge Produce Marketing has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

10/06/2026

Looking to strengthen your sales approach and better communicate the value you bring to customers?

MMTC-West is hosting an in-person ValueSelling Half-Day Workshop with Doug Von Koenig. This interactive session will help you apply the ValueSelling framework to your own business and develop practical strategies for navigating price pressure, retaining customers, and winning new business.

October 22 | 8:00 AM–12:30 PM | The Right Place

Ready to rewrite your sales approach? Learn more and reserve your spot: https://f.mtr.cool/linlnrzn7p

10/01/2026

We're proud to recognize and thank our new and renewing investors for their continued dedication to our mission.

Your investment fuels strategic initiatives that drive economic growth and lasting prosperity across the Greater Grand Rapids region. Thank you for your continued partnership!

Andy J. Egan Co.
Bank of America
Fifth Third Bank
First Merchants
Grand Rapids Community College
City of Rockford - City Hall
Safety Services, Incorporated

09/30/2026

For West Michigan manufacturers, technology can create opportunities to streamline processes and make everyday work more efficient.

At Change Parts, Inc., an Industry 4.0 Assessment helped identify an opportunity to streamline a month-end accounting process. After upgrading their Global Shop system, the process went from about four hours to an hour and a half, saving an estimated 30 to 35 hours each year.

The goal wasn't just to adopt new technology, but to find a practical use case that could make employees' work more efficient and give them more time to focus on other priorities.

Hear Cody share how the team approached the upgrade and the impact it's already having.

Read the full manufacturing spotlight to learn more about their approach to technology and continuous improvement: https://f.mtr.cool/mbri527bki

09/29/2026

The Right Place, Inc., in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Vergennes Township, announces that Prism Controls plans to invest $3.8 million to double its production facilities and hire 28 employees at its growing Vergennes Township facility over the next five years.

This latest expansion will further solidify the company’s presence in Michigan and build on the state’s leadership in the agriculture industry.

Read more here: https://www.rightplace.org/news/the-right-place-assists-prism-controls

09/22/2026

West Michigan manufacturing is strengthened by the people, partnerships, and community support behind its growing businesses.

At Composite Builders, collaboration is a key part of how the team approaches challenges, solves problems, and meets customer needs. As the company continues to grow, support from the local community and business experts has also played an important role.

Hear more about the team behind Composite Builders and the support that has helped the company move forward.

Read the full manufacturing spotlight to learn more about Composite Builders: https://f.mtr.cool/1teo1wd5ek

09/16/2026

Tech Week Grand Rapids has officially kicked off, and there are plenty of events happening across the region this week. Be sure to add the ArtPrize Opening Celebration to your Tech Week schedule.

The evening starts at Rosa Parks Circle with activities and the ArtPrize Opening Parade, followed by a community celebration at the Pearl Street Bridge.

It’s one of many ways to experience the creativity, technology, and community happening across Grand Rapids this week.

Learn more about the ArtPrize Opening Celebration here: https://f.mtr.cool/c192fwmcsj