metromode - In The News

Recycling rejuvenates not just paper, but jobs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Create jobs and reduce trash at the same time? Well, what the heck are we waiting for?!

Excerpt:

The report concludes that jobs could be created if Michigan increased its current recycling rate of 20 percent to the 30 percent average of the eight states in the Great Lakes region.

From 1998 to 2008, Michigan�s per-capita recycling rate fell 28 percent from 0.36 to 0.26 tons annually, the report said.

In Indiana, for example, annual per-capita recycling rates increased 150 percent to 0.75 tons from 0.30.

"Michigan has to start thinking in new ways if it wants to stop hemorrhaging jobs," said William Rustem, CEO of Public Sector Consultants, in a statement.

"Recycling is a case in point: Growing the recycling industry and cutting landfill costs for consumers and business has the added benefit of creating millions annually in income for the new workers required," Rustem said.

Read the entire article here.

Another newspaper comes to town

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Extra, Extra! Read all about it! ... in another daily Metro Detroit newspaper. It drops next week and is called the Detroit Daily Press.

Excerpt:

The Stern brothers, who previously published a Detroit Daily Press strike newspaper in the 1960s, will charge 50 cents for their Monday through Saturday editions, and $1 on Sundays.

The operation, which employs a staff of 60, including a number of former editorial and business employees from other newspaper companies in Metro Detroit, is based in leased space at the former Daily Tribune offices in Royal Oak. Mark Stern said the paper will court readers who want seven-day delivery, and advertisers seeking a cut-rate print option. The Detroit News and Free Press reduced their home delivery schedules in March; The News is home-delivered Thursdays and Fridays, and the Free Press Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

"We're a 50-cents paper when the other guys are a dollar," Mark Stern said. "Our ads cost 75 percent less."

Read the entire article here.

Michigan sings the blues: Water is a new frontier

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan is surrounded by lakes. Do you realize that? That's a lot of freaking water. California should be jealous, really jealous. But, seriously, there's a lot of water out there and there is this little thing called the "blue economy." As you've probably already guessed, it has to do with the water. And, recently, a panel was convened to discuss Michigan's future in the blue economy.

Excerpt:

The enormous surplus of water available due to the decline of automotive activity in the region creates a unique opportunity for Michigan's economic recovery and diversification of the manufacturing base to create both blue and white collar jobs.

According to Lt. Cherry and Pezza, efforts are underway to energize the water industry. Dr. Miller discussed the ways in which the state's universities are preparing tomorrow's water industry workers and O'Brien discussed the Rouge Gateway Partnership and industry's efforts to be cleaner water users.

"Today's event on the Blue Economy shows that Michigan has the strategic advantage when it comes to water. Water is a key unifier for our State and the enabler to rebuild our economy," said Skiven. "We extend our thanks to everyone. Problem solving, not fault finding, through collaboration is the answer."

Read the entire article here.

Rally around light rail

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A light rail up Woodward would not just be for Detroit. And a commuter rail from Detroit to Ann Arbor wouldn't just be for those two cities. Mass transit, when done right, could coalesce and serve the entire region.

Excerpt:

"Gas prices hit $4 a gallon last year and will go up again," he said. "If we can make it so that commuter rail is faster and cheaper and you won't have to pay to park your car, then people will definitely ride."

The Detroit Department of Transportation predicts 20,000 daily riders on the Woodward line by 2030, with 11,100 roundtrips per day. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) estimates 5,800 daily riders for the Ann Arbor-Detroit line, with four round trips daily.

Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, whose district includes part of the proposed Woodward Avenue rail route, said it's important for both projects to become a reality. "They are separate plans, but they show regional cooperation."

Businesses would move close to the rail routes and the region would be "more attractive to live, work, and play," he said.

Read the entire article here.

A new crowd in town: Tech, fashion, medical fields are diversifying Metro Detroit economy

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Watch out auto industry, there's a new dog in town. Well, actually, there are a few new dogs in town. Metro Detroit is becoming home to a new set of employers, which are diversifying its economy.

Excerpt:

Coombs and his fellow entrepreneurs cited similar reasons for launching in -- or, in one case, moving to -- metro Detroit.

They appreciate the area's low cost of living, which translates to relatively low overhead costs for businesses. They have access to skilled employees, thanks to Michigan's universities and an automotive talent base that is looking for work. And Detroit Metro Airport remains a major transit hub, putting executives in easy striking of customers outside of Michigan.

The companies we spoke with are located throughout metro Detroit, including nearby suburbs such as Pleasant Ridge and Wixom, as well as Ann Arbor, which has become a hub for technology spin-off companies in Southeast Michigan.

"There is this notion that high-tech belongs at the coasts, or that the 'Rust Belt' is not really the place for this. That's patently untrue," says Ann Marie Sastry, CEO of Sakti3, an Ann Arbor firm working to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Read the entire article here.

Successful Detroit is a successful region

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There isn't a moat around Detroit and the suburbs aren't islands. A healthy Detroit is a healthy Southeast Michigan. A healthy Southeast Michigan is a healthy state. One can't exist without the other and the other.

Excerpt:

That said, Jackson said we in Michigan are too negative when it comes to Detroit. Downtown has many attractive features, drawing 5.6 million entertainment visitors a year. Despite the city's reputation for crime, Jackson said FBI statistics show the city is safer than many other large cities in the United States.

In Livingston County, we need to pay attention to Jackson. The region is defined to outsiders by Detroit. As Jackson says, outside of our immediate area, the Detroit brand is far more recognizable than the Michigan brand.

That brand needs to be a positive one. If Detroit is vital, then the entire region benefits. It's encouraging to see a Detroit leadership that appears to want to work with the rest of the region, rather than demonizing it.

Read the entire article here.

'Man v. Food' host to tackle 190 lb. burger at Southfield restaurant

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The host of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food came to town and boy did he have a challenge at Malie's Bar and Grill in Southfield. Get this: A 190 lb. cheeseburger. President Barack Obama doesn't even weigh that much.

Check out the video of the 190 lb. monster burger put-together here.

Free space in Plymouth! ... (If your business model is profitable)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing is free these days... except class A office space in Plymouth. OK, so it's not that easy. All you need is to do is demonstrate a profitable business model and "Poof" some free space (after a careful application process, of course).

Excerpt:

705 South Main, Plymouth's premiere business incubator and class A office space, said this week that it is accepting proposals for free office leases.

This opportunity is extended to start up ventures that have a great product or service but lack the capital to secure office space.

"There are so many new ventures in the area that could benefit from an office environment like ours," said Trowbridge Realty vice president and property manager Ryan Richmond. "This will allow entrepreneurs to establish a presence in a class A building without the expense."

Read the entire article here.

Survival of the hippest: Temporary shops open in Detroit

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Temporary shops sound silly at first. Stores that come in -- like mercenaries -- set up shop, sell, and leave six months or so later seem like they wouldn't make sense. How could that possibly work or revive retail? Well, apparently it can be done.

Excerpt:

Analysts say that if pop-up stores -- ephemeral outdoor retail spaces used to draw marketing buzz and promote new products -- are a sign of flush times, the temporary store is its counterpoint.

It makes sense that temporary stores, open six months or less, could buoy retail in Detroit at a time when the sector is mired in a historic low.

"The concept of temporary stores is really more realistic for the Michigan market," said Cynthia Kratchman, a broker with Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services in Farmington Hills. In this economy, landlords are more willing to accept shorter term leases and tenants with less business experience, Kratchman said. "They are also willing to do deals on terms that they never would have entertained even a year ago."

Read the entire article here.

Clive Owen acts on UM's campus

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Clive Owen, he's so dreamy... and so British. He's also been on the campus of the University of Michigan, not brushing up on his economics but acting, 'cause that's what he does. Just another reason that the film incentives are good for Michigan -- you get to see Clive Owen.

Excerpt:

The University of Michigan doubled as a movie set earlier this week when exteriors were shot for the movie Trust.

The cast and crew filmed Wednesday on the steps of the Michigan Union and at about a half-dozen sites across campus, according to Lee Doyle, director of the University of Michigan Film Office.

Friends star David Schwimmer is directing the drama and Clive Owen and Catherine Keener are starring in it. According to Variety, Owen and Keener play parents who are stunned to find out that their 14-year-old daughter has been victimized by an adult who posed as a teen in a chat room.

Read the entire article here.

The Salvation Army's Red Kettle drive now takes plastic

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

No cash? No problem. Men and women ringing the bells outside now take plastic. The nostalgic scene will no longer have the sound of change falling into a tin can, but now more of a swipe and a printing receipt sound.

Excerpt:

The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County will kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign with an event beginning at noon on Friday, Nov. 20 inside Briarwood Mall. A giant red kettle measuring 6 feet tall and 6 feet around will be set up in the Celebration Center next to the play area in the JCPenney court.

The Red Kettle Campaign is going high tech this year with the addition of credit card machines at three kettles in Briarwood Mall and one kettle at Sam's Club in Ypsilanti. TSA-WC is the first corps in the state of Michigan, as well as The Salvation Army�s Central Territory, to use credit card machines at its kettles.

"People who don�t tend to carry cash now have a convenient and safe way to donate to our Red Kettle Campaign," said Washtenaw County Coordinator Major John Williams. "The machines don�t hold the credit card data � the data is transmitted through a secure cellular connection."

Read the entire story here.

Wayne County and Detroit land banks look to merge

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sesame Street is now 40 years old. And, in honor of the great children's program, here is a shout-out to cooperation. A bill designed to allow the Detroit and Wayne County land banks to work together was announced with bipartisan support this week.

See, we do learn things from television.

Excerpt:

Bills that would allow land banks operated by Detroit and Wayne County to merge into a redevelopment entity with expanded powers were announced Monday, with bipartisan support.

The legislation would provide for a Detroit/Wayne County Redevelopment Authority that would "enable the city and county to have a cohesive strategy for stabilizing and redeveloping tax-reverted properties," said Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, in a news release.

Read the entire article here.

UM team places 3rd in world in solar powered car race

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A bunch of University of Michigan kids just traveled 1,880 miles through Australia. Not backpacking, however, but powering a solar powered car in an international race. And, as if that wasn't enough, the UM team came up third.

Excerpt:

Though the students who raced Infinium hoped to be the best in the world, or at least the best in UM history, they say they're happy sharing statistics with impressive cars from the past. Michigan finished third in the World Solar Challenge in 1990, 2001, and 2005 and is the reigning North American Solar Challenge champion. The team has won that race five times.

"We still ran a great race," said interim project manager Steve Durbin, a senior aerospace engineering major "We have a reliable car. We didn't meet our overall goal of finishing first, but we proved we are one of the top teams in the world by placing so well in the competition."

Durbin credits the team's dedication and technology for the solid performance. Through the summer, a core of 20 team members worked 80-hour weeks to get the car ready to race. And a state-of-the-art lithium battery donated by A123 Systems helped Infinium achieve a high average speed approaching 60 mph.

Read the entire article here.

Ann Arbor bicyclists and motorists need mutual respect

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bicycles and cars are both vehicles, it's just that one is a lot more lethal than the other. So, as Ann Arbor looks to add another 26 miles of on-road bike lanes over the next few years, car drivers will need to keep an eye out, and an eye on, cyclists.

Excerpt:

On the AnnArbor.com Web site, this has been one of the most commented-on topics, and the discussion has been unsettling in what it has revealed about the lack of tolerance between those who travel on four wheels and those who travel on two.

Given that Ann Arbor plans to add another 26 miles of on-road bicycle lanes over five years, along with other efforts to encourage more bike use, it is essential that we as a community improve our level of bicycle and automobile safety.

If you ride a bike, you need to know the rules of the road, and obey them. The failure to stop at traffic lights or signal before you turn is not only unsafe, but results in ill will by motorists toward all cyclists.

Read the entire article here.

Women's lifestyle magazine launches in Oakland County

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a time when print media seems to be waning, a new mag pops up in Oakland County. It's a women's lifestyle magazine and its latest issue is out on newsstands now.

Excerpt:

Its owner and publisher is Marlanea Chestney of Royal Oak, formerly of the Hillsdale Daily News and Greater Media Detroit.

Maria Galloway of West Bloomfield is the editor and was most recently in advertising with Greater Media Detroit, a subsidiary of a Boston-based radio giant that owns three local stations.

"Our goal is to present a magazine that every woman can pick up and see herself within the pages," Galloway said in a statement today. "During these tough economic times, we count on our attitude and courage to get us through the challenges. We want to provide some positive inspiration to our readers."

Read the entire article here.

University of Michigan has Internet mojo

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Got mojo? The University of Michigan does... on the Internet. In a national analysis of universities, UM beat out some pretty prestigious schools (that's not to say UM isn't prestigious) to get the No. 1 ranking when it comes to net coverage, traffic, and social media shout-outs.

Excerpt:

The University of Michigan has topped Harvard University and all other universities in the United States for the amount of public interest measured by media coverage, Internet traffic and social media mentions, according to an independent national analysis released this week.

Michigan (previously ranked fourth) was followed by MIT, Harvard (previously No. 1), Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the University of California-Berkley, the University of Wisconsin, Stanford University, the University of North Carolina and Cornell University.

The survey was part of Austin, Texas-based Global Language Monitor's newest Predictive Qualities Indicator survey using word analysis to measure media trends and "buzz.''

Global Language Monitor President Paul Payack attributed the shift in public sentiment to the 2008 financial markets meltdown that cost Harvard's endowment $11 billion, forcing Harvard and other elite privates that relied on endowments to make major cuts in 2009.

"There's been a flight to quality with increased interest in the Public Ivies like Michigan and Wisconsin as well as more interest in technology, which helped MIT climb from 16th in the previous survey,'' Payack said. "We look at this as a branding analysis, looking at the perceived attributes people are most interested in."

Read the entire article here.

Michigan film incentives worth fighting for

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There are people on both sides of the Michigan film incentive issue, but the bottom line for Michigan is that they've been successful. The Michigan Daily sits down with director Mike Manasseri to talk about what these incentives are worth to the state.

Excerpt:

Michigan's Film Tax Incentive is a provocative piece of legislation that has incited passion in many film buffs -- friends and enemies alike. The incentive's 40-percent tax-refundable credit for filmmakers is currently the highest offered in any state and has attracted many Hollywood-based and local productions. Famously, Clint Eastwood's film Gran Torino was shot in Michigan after the incentives were passed. Drew Barrymore's Whip It, a more recent example, was filmed in the greater Detroit area as well.

Some lawmakers, however, claim the state can't afford to keep making big payouts to filmmakers. There's a possibility that the incentive could be decreased or capped to curb state spending. Advocates of the bill in its original form argue that changes will only flaunt Michigan's economic instability, which could cause Hollywood to look for greener pastures.

Michigan director and producer Mike Manasseri shares these sentiments. But what sets him apart from other voices in the debate is his unmatched devotion to a simple cause: keep the incentive from changing.

Read the entire article here.

Applications for Kresge Artist fellowships now available

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Step right up, step right up! Are you a performing artist? Are you involved with literary arts? Well the Kresge Artist Fellowship is just for you... if you apply... and if you're accepted. Emerging or established artists in Metro Detroit can now apply for one of 18 $25,000 fellowships administered by the College for Creative Studies. Get your art on and apply.

For more information go here.

'Red Dawn' producer says films are good for business

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Who needs California or New York when you have Michigan? Sure the winters are better on the west coast and the nightlife is dialed in at ten over in New York, but for a film production, Michigan has it all: Water, four seasons, rural, urban, and, more importantly, filming coupons (so to speak).

Excerpt:

It may surprise some people that filmmakers would want to shoot a movie in Michigan, instead of California or New York, though producers say the state's four seasons, great lakes and big city setting, make it an ideal location. But the biggest incentive: Cash. In April of last year, the state of Michigan enacted a special tax rebate of 42%, the largest in the country. Since then, the Michigan Film Office says business is booming. That means jobs--hundreds of them--both as part of making the films, or in supportive ways, such as set design, catering, or security.

"I think there is a big financial impact that we have on any location we're in. Whenever you bring in a couple hundred people with disposable income to a city, it's going to have an impact. Our people go to restaurants, they go to bars, they go to grocery store, they go to the mall on the weekends. They spend money and aside from that, we also employ people." says Tripp Vinson, Red Dawn's producer. Jobs are something the city of Detroit desperately needs right now, as the auto industry winds down. While Vinson wouldn't say exactly how much money is being saved by the tax incentive, he did admit that its in the millions.

Michigan Film Office Director Janet Lockwood says that's a major draw. "In 2007 when we did not have any incentives worth mentioning we took in perhaps, with creative mathematics, 2-million dollars for feature films. In 2008, in the 9 months that the incentives were in place, 125-million dollars"

Read the entire article here.

Baltimore Sun discovers Metro Detroit is not a food desert

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Baltimore Sun writer visits Detroit and finds more than this empty city plastered across headlines. He saw restaurant after restaurant piled upon each other and discovered there is no food desert here.

Excerpt:

I went into Detroit, however, expecting to see much worse. I wasn't expecting to see crowded museums, or rush hour traffic in a city with such high unemployment, or restaurants of all types filled with diners. Nevertheless, that's what I saw. ...

It was probably the filled restaurants that surprised me the most. A lot has been written about how Detroit is a food desert, insofar as the city has no grocery stores. I figured a city that couldn't support grocery stores probably couldn't support its restaurants. But I visited restaurants throughout the city, the suburbs and the countryside. Every place I went had decent crowds.

Read the entire article here.

Businesses are buying from Michigan farmers

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan farmers seem to be the belle of the ball these days as more and more are buying their foods - and not just local schmos but everybody.

Excerpt:

Food companies big and small are buying ingredients from Michigan farmers for their products, and state agencies are reporting increased calls from others that want to do so.

Experts say there are many reasons for the uptick: The state's location -- in the middle of the country and relative closeness to the large East Coast market -- makes transportation costs cheaper; Michigan-based processing companies' are loyal to local businesses; and increasing consumer demand for locally grown food.

An exact figure for how much of Michigan's $71.3 billion agribusiness industry comes from sales of Michigan farm products to food companies is unavailable. But Christine Lietzau of the Michigan Department of Agriculture said the industry's 12 percent revenue growth from 2006 to 2007 can be attributed, at least partly, to more companies buying food from local farmers.

Read the entire article here.

Film incentives are driving Hollywood

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Though Michigan isn't the only state that has tax breaks for filmmakers, it does have some of the highest. There are people who feel that the breaks go too deep and they should be scaled back... but... this piece in the Wall Street Journal points out that tax incentives are taking on a bigger and bigger role when it comes to the production. We don't want to lose that, do we?

Excerpt:

In recent years, many countries, plus several states around the U.S., have ramped up tax incentives and subsidies, competing with each other to attract film-production dollars in hope of boosting the local economy.

Michigan offers credits for as much as 42% of a film's in-state budget, and Utah and North Carolina have both recently increased their incentives to stay competitive. France recently enacted a new law that creates a 20% rebate for foreign productions shot in the country that have ties with French culture.

The incentives have become critical for many independent producers, who have found it increasingly difficult to raise film financing through the usual channels, including loans and pre-sales to distributors abroad.

While Mr. Vollkammer is an independent producer whose prior movies include thrillers such as Grace, One Way and Walled In, major studios haven't shied from taking advantage of such incentives. Warner Bros. shot Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino in Detroit after Michigan enacted its tax credits.

Read the entire article here.

Wood is green, LTU panel says

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How green is wood? Well, pretty dang green, says the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers. They were part of a panel at Lawrence Tech University discussing the greenness of wood structures.

Excerpt:

It turns out wood is the greener choice, speakers said at "Wood: the More Sustainable Structural System," a presentation of Lawrence Tech, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, the Detroit Regional Chapter of the United States Green Building Council and WWJ Newsradio 950.

"How many building materials are solar powered CO2 sucking machines with a beautiful appearance?" asked Peter Moonen, sustainability and special projects coordinator for British Columbia Wood Works, an initiative of the Canadian Wood Council. "Wood is a carbon sink, renewable, recyclable, reusable and organic."

And yet the typical image of the timber industry, he said, is "a guy with a chain saw going into the woods to kill trees."

Read the entire article here.

Zagat survey ranks The Lark restaurant No. 1 in metro area

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The acclaimed New York-based national restaurant-rating service Zagat did a little survey of the top restaurants in 45 cities across the nation. West Bloomfield's The Lark was at the top of the heap for Metro Detroit. Check out the others.

Excerpt:

Zagat, the New York-based national restaurant-rating service, released its 2010 America's Top Restaurants survey today for 45 U.S. cities, reporting the Lark in West Bloomfield as the No. 1 choice of metro Detroit diners for food quality.

The Zagat ratings are compiled from online votes cast by diners, who rate restaurants on food, decor, service and cost. Some 145,000 people cast votes for the 2010 survey, the company said.

Rounding out metro Detroit's top five spots were, in order, Bacco in Southfield, Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, Tribute -- which closed last month -- in Farmington Hills and the Beverly Hills Grill in Beverly Hills.

Read the entire article here.

Ann Arbor's South Main Street is a Great Place

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What makes a great place may be relative, differing from person to person, but if you talk to the American Planning Association they'll point you toward Ann Arbor's South Main Street.

Excerpt:

So, what makes a great place? Perhaps unsurprisingly, the APA thinks it's the ability to provide for the pedestrian and bring a community together. It's also about creating a sense of local identity. South Main Street in Ann Arbor, Mich. makes the list of Great Streets because of its diverse range of locally-owned businesses and restaurants housed in architecturally interesting, mixed-use buildings. It's an appealing environment that encourages walking rather than driving; you won't find many surface parking lots here. It's all about creating a space for the surrounding community to socialize, and not in a forced way. Ann Arbor residents now enjoy sidewalk seating at cafes, dozens of market days and street fairs per year, and easy access to public transportation.

Read the entire article here.

Can Metro Detroit really go green?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The race to green-tech supremacy is a competitive one but Michigan is making a push -- though it's a late start. Yet, despite the foot-dragging, it has a lot of weapons that other states don't -- a large, skilled workforce looking for jobs.

Excerpt:

But Detroit's transition to greener automaking is by no means assured. U.S. battery firms are late to the race. Even if their technology wins, there's no guarantee that Detroit would beat out California or other states vying for supremacy.

Michigan does retain one advantage: a skilled workforce that knows a thing or two about mass-producing cars and car parts. "Those folks are some of the best workers the world has ever seen, and they deserve to have jobs," says Keith Cooley, CEO of NextEnergy, a Detroit-based nonprofit research facility and business incubator for alternative-energy companies.

A six-minute drive from Ford Motor's original plant sits NextEnergy's 45,000-square-foot headquarters and research labs. The nonprofit is a key player in Michigan's efforts to reinvent the auto industry and, by extension, itself.

NextEnergy is working with nearby Wayne State University as well as Macomb Community College to train workers for advanced electric-drive work via a $5 million Department of Energy grant awarded in August. The organization has also helped state officials vet alternative-energy companies that want to do business in Michigan, such as A123 Systems Inc., which won $249 million in stimulus money to make battery packs for hybrid and electric vehicles at two Michigan locations. In September, the Watertown, Mass., company went public and saw its stock soar 50 percent on its first trading day.

Read the entire article here.

Detroit-Ann Arbor ranks No. 14 in nation for clean-tech employment

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There's room to grow, that's for sure, but ranking No. 14 is still commendable considering the clean-tech industry is a growing sector.

Excerpt:

The Detroit-Ann Arbor region ranks No. 14 nationally in clean-tech job activity in a new "Clean Tech Job Trends 2009" report from Clean Edge Inc.

The ranking is both encouraging, given Michigan's massive job losses in other sectors, and a reminder that we're still far from the top of the heap in the hypercompetitive green jobs race. The ranking seems likely to rise in subsequent years given the amount of high-profile recent activity, including the planned redevelopment of the abandoned Ford Wixom plant for renewable energy manufacturing and a $100 million clean-energy research facility that GE is opening near Belleville.

Read the entire article here.

Michigan hopefuls make it in movies

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new hope (just like Luke Skywalker) is emerging in Michigan's film industry by creating opportunity and jobs for those in an array of fields.

Excerpt:

According to career experts in Michigan, there are budding opportunities in the area, thanks to an increasing number of film projects there.

"Michigan has been gaining a lot of film projects based on tax breaks that have been offered" explained Janet Beckstrom, owner of Word Crafter, a résumé service in Flint, Mich. And with that have come job opportunities, she added.

For job seekers interested in pursuing that path, Career Coach Deborah Schuster, who owns The Lettersmith in Troy, Mich., recommends identifying transferable skills for starters. For example, construction workers could have many skills related to set building.

Schuster says applicants interested in switching industries should streamline their résumé to keep it relevant to their goal. "Leave out things that are irrelevant and focus on things that are," she said.

Read the entire article here.

Top employers in Metro Detroit

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Detroit Free Press conducted a survey looking for the top work places in Southeast Michigan. Do you work for one of these top dogs? Check out the paper's findings below.

Excerpt:

Cooking employees a surprise Belgian waffle breakfast. Honoring a sales success story every month. Holding a "funky shoe day" for all workers.

These are just a few of the things top-ranked employers in this year's Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces survey are doing to boost employee morale during one of the most severe economic downturns the state has seen.

Though some of these top workplaces in southeast Michigan have had to cut costs and lay off workers because of the recession, they all recognize the importance of keeping employees' spirits up. Most are using creative, low-cost ways to keep workers motivated, even if they can't reward them with big wage increases or bonuses.

Read the entire article here.

Michigan economy factors into higher education enrollment

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan's big three, no, the other big three -- the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University -- have increased enrollment for the fall semester.

Excerpt:

The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University are reporting higher fall enrollments.

The growth at Michigan's top three research institutions comes despite or possibly in response to the state's serious economic problems.

The University of Michigan announced Tuesday that fall enrollment at its main campus in Ann Arbor rose 1.6 percent, from 41,028 in 2008 to 41,674 this year. The school says it raised undergraduate financial aid 11.7 percent in the face of the economic downturn.

Read the entire article here.