EAST LANSING - Michigan's economic outlook brightened as the state elected new leaders and celebrated the conclusion of one decade and the approach of another, Michigan State University's year-ending State of the State Survey reveals. Despite the renewing confidence, those who answered the telephone survey continued to express their disappointment in Michigan?s outgoing governor and
LANSING - While many leaders throw around taxation and the Michigan Business Tax as major impediments to attracting new business to Michigan, the slowdown in approvals of incentives is actually a much larger roadblock to making the state attractive to new companies, newly appointed Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Michael Finney said last week. He
GRAND RAPIDS ? The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center has won a $1,622,560 grant to expand access to programs to help entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses and create jobs. The head of Michigan?s program, Carol Lopucki, said the grant will be a big help to that state?s Small Business and Technology Development
TROY - Automation Alley is accepting applications for an upcoming trade mission to China with an optional visit to Taiwan. The mission is scheduled for May 13-20 with an extension to May 24 for those interested in traveling to Taiwan. Participation is limited to 10 companies; registration deadline is March 21. Cities that will be
LANSING ? Gov. Rick Snyder will soon announce the break-up of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and movement of economic development functions to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Gongwer News Service has learned. Multiple sources told Gongwer of the impending changes to one of the state's largest and most critical departments. Snyder
LANSING ? Michigan is on its way to spending $25 million a year on the popular "Pure Michigan" advertising campaign after a bill using 21st Century Jobs Fund money passed a House committee unanimously on Tuesday. Clean Water Action reacted to the vote by saying lawmakers should be just as dedicated financially to cleaning up
AUBURN HILLS ? In a Southeast Michigan economy still struggling to dig itself out of a prolonged recession, Plex Systems remains an exception. The manufacturing ERP software maker posted a 27 percent revenue growth in 2010 over 2009, President and CEO Mark Symonds predicts another 25 percent revenue increase this year. While the privately held
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. - Becton, Dickinson and Company, which paid $275 million to buy Ann Arbor's HandyLab in November 2009, on Monday said it would buy another Ann Arbor company, Accuri Cytometers. Terms were not announced other than it will be an all cash deal. The fate of Accuri?s 85 employees remains unknown. The company
GRAND RAPIDS - Technologist Keith Brophy will provide his annual forecast of what technologies will change our lives on Feb. 16 at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids. The event is again sponsored by aimWest. This year?s Tech Trends event will feature an American Idol-style panel of judges, who will rate Brophy?s technology predictions and
LANSING - Public employees in the state are generally paid about market wages, but most state employees are below those market rates, according to a study released Thursday by Citizens for Accountability and Reform and the union-backed Economic Policy Institute. The study, done on the heels of a report from Governor Rick Snyder on Monday