Hi, it's Troy. Did that windy, rainy fall storm Thursday night rattle your windows too? The Weather Service says frost is possible this weekend, so it might be time to bring in the sidewalk sign and the patio plants.
This week's AI tip: let AI do your homework before you email a customer
Before you reach out to a new customer, vendor or partner, have an AI assistant research them and draft a personal note for you. It takes about 5 minutes.
Steps:
- Open an AI assistant that can search the web (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, etc.).
- Copy and paste this, filling in the brackets:
I own [your business] in Grand Rapids. I want to email [their business name] at [their website]. 1. Look at their website and any recent news. Give me 3 short, specific facts about them, with a link for each. 2. Then write a friendly email under 120 words from me to them about [what you want: a partnership / a quote / a thank-you / an introduction]. 3. Mention ONE of those facts naturally in the first line. No hype, no buzzwords, no exclamation points. 4. End with one simple question they can answer in a sentence.
- Click the links it gives you and check every fact yourself. AI can get things wrong, so never send something you haven't verified.
- Change anything that doesn't sound like you, then send it from your own email.
Why it works: a note that shows you actually looked at someone's business reads like it came from a person, not a mail merge.
Being a business in Grand Rapids
1. Michigan sales, use and withholding taxes due Tuesday, Oct. 20
If you file monthly, your September return is due on or before the 20th. If you file quarterly, your July–September return is due the same day. The state's late penalty starts at 5% of the unpaid tax.
Source: Michigan Department of Treasury, https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/due/filing-deadlines-2
2. Downtown businesses: up to $10,000 for holiday events, but apply 5 weeks ahead
Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.'s Experiential Retail Grant helps Downtown businesses put on free, public events that bring in shoppers (pop-ups, maker markets and similar). Awards are capped at $10,000 per applicant. Applications are rolling, and DGRI asks that you apply at least 5 weeks before the event. If you're planning anything for the holidays, now's the time.
Source: DGRI, https://downtowngr.org/business-support/business-grants
Policy PDF: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downtowngr.org/general/Customer-Engagement-Grant-FY27-1.pdf
3. City Commission's final vote on Acrisure Amphitheater noise rules is Oct. 27
The Commission advanced an ordinance that would keep the new amphitheater under its Special Land Use permit from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the City Manager able to grant extensions in some circumstances. Final adoption is set for the Oct. 27 meeting. If you have a view as a nearby business, the Chamber lists Commission emails and says to copy clerk@grcity.us to get your comment into the official record.
Source: Grand Rapids Chamber, Local Government update (Oct. 12), https://grandrapids.org/news/local-government-whats-happening-oct-9/
4. Openings and closings
- Opened: Independent Bank opened its new downtown headquarters at 98 Ottawa Ave. NW. It includes a meeting space for qualifying business and community meetings of up to 40 people. Source: independentbank.com
- Closing: Fido & Stitch's Grand Rapids pet store and grooming shop at 820 Monroe Ave. NW has its last day on Oct. 28, after opening in 2015. The owner cited road construction, parking and rising costs. The Rockford store stays open. Source: WOOD TV8 via Yahoo News
5. Networking: next Chamber Business Exchange Luncheon is Nov. 19
This is the Chamber's facilitated networking lunch: expo tables, a buffet, then three 20-minute rounds of structured networking. It runs 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport, 5700 28th St SE. Want something sooner? Chamber Happy Hour is Wednesday, Oct. 28, 4–5 p.m. at the Chamber (250 Monroe Ave NW).
Source: Grand Rapids Chamber events, https://grandrapids.org/events/
P.S. If you ever want help setting up any of this for your business, just hit reply.
Troy
The Grand Brief
Information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Always check the linked source.