MIDLAND - Local startup consultant Caryn Shick of Opportunity Analysts is teaming up with Midland Tomorrow, the MidMichigan Innovation Center, Northwood University-Alden B. Dow Creativity Center, and an array of young entrepreneurs from all over the country to bring to mid-Michigan a series of three conferences that will guide those participating through the start-up process
LANSING - Officials in the office of Gov. Jennifer Granholm are refusing to comment on reports she has suggested an increase in the state's beer tax, and possibly the tobacco tax, as one way of helping resolve the 2009-10 budget. The state's beer tax has not been raised in more than 40 years and reports
LANSING - Schools across the country are struggling to meet student needs. But overall, Michigan schools could be the worst off of all, according to analysts reached by Gongwer News Service. Michigan's ongoing economic problems have dragged schools in the state down, and the reliance on the state as a funding source has given them
GRAND RAPIDS ? Lambert, Edwards & Associates, a West Michigan public and investor relations firm, has acquired John Bailey & Associates, a Metro Detroit PR agency, creating Michigan's first coast-to-coast public relations agency. Terms of the deal was not announced. But Lambert, Edwards Managing Partner Jeff Lambert said both entities will retain their brands, since
LANSING - Clean energy systems will help the state rebuild its jobs base, but efforts like Wednesday's expected announcement of grants for battery development are still needed to build both the industry to supply the energy and the demand for it, said Keith Cooley, CEO of NextEnergy, at a press conference promoting investment in the
LANSING - Political leaders must be willing to muster the courage to confront four essential elements - two spending and two revenue issues - to help establish a stable long-term state budget, former top state budget officer Tom Clay said in an interview. The willingness to confront spending in corrections and health care, along with
LANSING - Saline Lectronics received $998,000 Wednesday to back a loan to expand its manufacturing facility, becoming the first participant in the Strategic Fund's Supplier Diversification Fund. The money, part of the 21st Century Jobs Fund, was put in a certificate of deposit at Comerica Bank to act as collateral for the $2 million loan
LANSING - Late Wednesday, Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued a directive implementing a series of recommendations to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in the state by 20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050. The directive, 2009-4, implements the recommendations of the Michigan Climate Action Council. The group, appointed by Granholm in 2007, issued
LANSING - Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Thursday that 46 communities will receive more than $14.1 million in support of public infrastructure projects to create jobs through the Community Development Block Grant funding made available by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "Dynamic communities are the engine of Michigan's continued economic success," Granholm said. "Investment in public
DETROIT - Delphi Corp.'s lenders prevailed in a bankruptcy auction and are poised to take control of the bankrupt auto-parts supplier, beating back a government-orchestrated deal to sell the company to General Motors Co. and a California-based private-equity firm. Delphi's lenders prevailed in the auction by forgiving more than $3.4 billion in debt they are