DeVos Marriott in GR using furnishings manufact. in China

[MichiganVote]

Furniture production for hotel outsourced to China
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
By Pat Shellenbarger
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- When Alticor was planning its J.W. Marriott Hotel, now rising downtown, company founder Richard DeVos made it clear he wanted the furniture to come from a Michigan manufacturer.

But Hekman Furniture Co., which won the contract, is closing its Grand Rapids factory and plans to have most of the furniture built in China.

Alticor officials are not happy about the decision, but plan to go ahead with the contract.

More...
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-32/115875570225740.xml&coll=6
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Dick DeVos spokesman claims he had nothing to do with this decision. I guess that means DeVos didn't attempt to dissuade Scamway/Alticor executives from continuing to purchase furniture made in China. Or, that Mr. Jobmaker doesn't even have the clout in his own family's business to put a halt to this. Impressive, NOT.

Some job-maker....

[ypsiguy]

1. Say it loud

This needs to be pointed out in at least a half a million commercials in the next two weeks.

[noonwitch]

2. He really does own Grand Rapids, doesn't he?

I didn't know he owned the Marriot, in addition to the Amway Grand Plaza. He owns two of the 4 hospitals (Spectrum owns the former Butterworth and Blodgett hospitals), the only other hospitals are St. Mary's and the Osteopathic one.

[MichiganVote]

3. And two racing yaghts, 4 homes in Michigan and elsewhere,

What the hell does a billionaire have in common with the majority of the people of Michigan?

[EmmitFitzhume]

4. A shared belief in . . .

intelligent design. No, sorry that isn't a common bond either. You got me?

Thanks for posting that article, priceless. You just can't make this stuff up. Also, as this Grand Rapids Press http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-32/115876388645780.xml&coll=6">article
discusses, the whole intelligent design debate is a great inroads to discuss Mr. DeVos' long commitment to education and his impressive attendence record while on the Grand Valley State University Board of Control in the 1990s and the State Board of Education.

[MichiganVote]

5. Well as my 19 year old says....

"I'm glad they (DeVos, Bush, etc.) believe in hell because they're going there..."