Annual economic forecast revealed Jan. 15

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The national and regional economies have been on the ropes since the crisis of late 2008, with Michigan taking a particularly hard beating. Lately, the West Michigan economy has been showing signs of improvement. So what does the regional economy hold in store for 2010? Hari Singh, professor in the Economics Department in Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University, will discuss the year ahead when he unveils his annual economic forecast for the regional economy on January 15.

The 2010 annual West Michigan Economic and Commercial Real Estate Forecast Breakfast will be Friday, January 15, 2009 at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. The event is sponsored by the Seidman College of Business Alumni Association and Grubb & Ellis/Paramount Commerce. The event begins at 7:15 a.m. with breakfast. The presentation begins at 8:15 a.m. and will be followed by a Q&A session at 9:30 covering the industrial, office, retail, investment, and residential real estate markets. MEDIA NOTE: Coverage of the event is welcomed.

Singh will reveal the results of his annual confidence survey for the greater Grand Rapids economy, including Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan counties. The survey was conducted in November 2009 across sectors. The report has become a much-anticipated annual benchmark of the local economy.

Opening remarks will be made by Derek Hunderman, managing partner of Grubb & Ellis /Paramount and H. James Williams, dean of Seidman College of Business. Robert Bach, senior vice president and chief economist for Grubb & Ellis/Paramount,  will discuss the national outlook. There will also be a summary of the regional commercial real estate market given by Grubb & Ellis/Paramount presenters Duke Suwyn, Scott Morgan, Mike Murray and Chad Barton.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call (616) 331-7100. Parking is available in the DeVos Place parking lot or across the street in the Government parking lot. Parking rates are posted at ramps.