“The so-called Sons and Daughters Program was nothing more than bribery by another name,” -Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. Today the Department of Justice issued a Press Release – JP Morgan’s Investment Bank in Hong Kong has agreed to pay a $72 Million Penalty for Corrupt Hiring Scheme in China. Yikes. A couple of thoughts: 1.Continue reading “Big Bank Troubles and Trending Towards Community Banking or Fintech?”
Category Archives: community development
Update on Community Development and Affordable Housing: Is an Answer Found in Social Enterprise?
Today the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund released its five year Strategic Plan If you are not familiar with the CDFI, the CDFI “works to spur economic growth and opportunity in many of our nation’s most distressed communities.“ “The CDFI Fund’s mission is to expand economic opportunity for underserved people and communities by supporting theContinue reading “Update on Community Development and Affordable Housing: Is an Answer Found in Social Enterprise?”
Real Estate Investors Bidding at Foreclosure Sale: If You Pay Less than owed on the Mortgage, there is no Surplus.
Real estate investors and lenders are under pressure to “get it right” when bidding at sheriff sales, especially in a market where good deals are getting harder to come by. Some lenders/investors have tried some creative methods of recovery and made some interesting legal arguments in order to maximize their profit at or after foreclosureContinue reading “Real Estate Investors Bidding at Foreclosure Sale: If You Pay Less than owed on the Mortgage, there is no Surplus.”
Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: Update on Michigan’s Benefit Corporation Legislation.
House Bills 5710, 5711 & 5712 were introduced on May 31, that would allow BCorps to be formed under Michigan Law. Although the State House has taken no formal action since June 1, in late September the House Fiscal Agency issued a Fiscal Analysis on the BCorp bills, check it out here. The AnalysisContinue reading “Trending Towards Social Entrepreneurship: Update on Michigan’s Benefit Corporation Legislation.”
News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.
Here’s a profound truth those in the real estate industry will readily acknowledge: Owning and Managing Real Estate is challenging. I hear it from my Property Owner/Manager clients. I experience it when I am involved in negotiating in landlord/tenant disputes. Some of the pitfalls property owners have to watch out for are illustrated in a recentFederalContinue reading “News for Residential Real Estate Investors: Michigan Landlord Settles with DOJ for Allegations of Fair Housing Violations.”
Reflections on the Guy with the Jack Hammer…
This morning I was making my commute to work on the highway – traffic was backed up and at a stand still. Eventually, all cars started to roll along slowly (at this point, I was happy that at least traffic was moving). Fifteen minutes and a few miles later I slowly passed the root cause of theContinue reading “Reflections on the Guy with the Jack Hammer…”
Community Development: The Tension Between Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families In Affordable Housing.
This morning I read a MIBiz article by Nick Manes titled: “Hungry investors seek Grand Rapids housing deals, rankling longtime residents” The article does a good job of addressing the “tension” that I wrote about in a previous post. New investment in downtown Grand Rapids is exciting. But, as Nick Manes puts it, the flip-side ofContinue reading “Community Development: The Tension Between Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Keeping Families In Affordable Housing.”
Another West Michigan Business becomes a Certified B Corp
Happy Friday! Yesterday MIBiz reported on the latest West Michigan Business to obtain B -Corp Certification The Highland Group becomes certified B Corp. I’ve previously posted on West Michigan’s Thriving Culture of Social Entrepreneurship in Michigan, the biggest concentration of the B-Corp businesses are in the Grand Rapids area, where there are 11 — twice as manyContinue reading “Another West Michigan Business becomes a Certified B Corp”
About Propaganda Doughnuts’ Closing and West Michigan Business. Working to Build a Better Community.
A few days ago MLIVE posted about Propaganda Doughnuts’ closing on South Division in Downtown Grand Rapids. I was a fan of Propaganda Doughnuts. Occasionally on Sundays after church my family would pick up some doughnuts and go to a park with some friends. I am sorry that I won’t be able to do that any more.Continue reading “About Propaganda Doughnuts’ Closing and West Michigan Business. Working to Build a Better Community.”
Lessons of Grace Found at Mel Trotter Ministries.
If you’re reading this post you may be aware that one of the “hats I wear” is Board Chair at Mel Trotter Ministries (“MTM”). Yesterday I was at MTM for a “Meet the Mission Luncheon” – our board and staff extend regular invitations to business/community leaders, churches, and anyone interested in learning about what we doContinue reading “Lessons of Grace Found at Mel Trotter Ministries.”
Purpose Driven General Counsel 