Annual economic forecast revealed Jan. 16

GVSU: Annual economic forecast revealed Jan. 16

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In 2008, the national economy was wracked by a crisis of historic proportions — and Michigan has been particularly hard-hit. What does the regional economy hold in store for 2009? Hari Singh, chair of 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 16.

The 2009 annual West Michigan Economic and Commercial Real Estate Forecast Breakfast will be Friday, January 16, 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 series of breakout sessions at 9:30 covering the industrial, office, retail, investment, and residential markets.

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 2008 across sectors. The report has become a much-anticipated annual benchmark of the local market. Singh will be joined by Robert Bach, senior vice president and chief economist for Grubb & Ellis/Paramount, who will speak of the national outlook. There will also be a summary of the regional commercial real estate market. Other speakers include Duke Suwyn, president and CEO of Grubb & Ellis/Paramount Commerce and Seidman College of Business Dean H. James Williams.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. RSVP by e-mail, [email protected] or call (616) 331-7100 by Friday, January 9. Parking is available in the DeVos Place parking lot or across the street in the Government parking lot. Parking rates are posted at ramps.