GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Crain Communications Inc. has acquired Grand Rapids Business Journal, western Michigan's primary and most-trusted source of local business news. The acquisition was effective Aug. 31.
Crain acquired GRBJ, which launched in 1983, from Gemini Media L.L.C. The brand fits seamlessly as part of Crain's four city-focused brands — Crain's Detroit Business, Crain's Chicago Business, Crain's New York Business and Crain's Cleveland Business.
Detroit-based Crain Communications is the parent of Tire Business, Automotive News and more than 20 other trade and business titles globally.
"The expansion of coverage into the Grand Rapids area is a natural path of growth for us," KC Crain, president and CEO of Crain Communications, said.
"Grand Rapids sits between two of our biggest areas of regional business coverage — Detroit and Chicago — and it's proven to be an area our readers are involved in and want to see more coverage on."
The acquisition of GRBJ marks the expansion of Crain's in Michigan as Crain looks to serve its growing audience outside of the immediate Detroit region. GRBJ will continue to operate as a separate media outlet serving readers and advertisers throughout Michigan's West Side and will tap into additional content and advertising resources from the Crain city brands. The team of 10 reporters and advertising sales executives will continue with GRBJ.
"We are excited to bring Grand Rapids Business Journal into our team of unmatched business journalism already in Michigan,'' Jim Kirk, group publisher of the Crain city brands, said. "With the additional firepower of GRBJ, we are now in a great position to serve our current and new audiences and clients in Michigan even better.''
