GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) _ Midwest retailer Meijer Inc. plans to hire more than 9,000 new employees in five states in the coming months.
 
  MLive.com reports the Grand Rapids-based company says the hiring is because of growth and preparation for fall and holiday seasons.
 
  Meijer says it wants to hire 4,400 in Michigan, 1,800 in Indiana, 1,600 in Ohio, 900 in Illinois and 500 in Kentucky.
 
  Meijer has opened five new stores this year, including one in Detroit, and plans one more this year. It has nine scheduled to open in 2014.
 
  The retailer says most of the new positions will be part-time.