DETROIT—Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index rose 1 percent in February to a level of 104.0, from 102.9 in January. Economic activity in the year 2012 is equal to 100 on the index. The index is comprised of nine variables—nonfarm payroll employment, continuing claims for unemployment insurance, housing starts, house price index, industrial electricity sales,
ANN ARBOR—The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan will host its annual Positive Business Conference — an event aimed at informing and discussing topics related to improving workplace culture and delivering tangible business results — on May 13 and 14. The theme for this year’s virtual conference is “Meaningful Engagement in a Fragmented
DETROIT—Bedrock, Detroit’s largest real-estate developer, announced its continued commitment to reduce overall carbon emissions across its portfolio through an agreement with DTE Energy to acquire approximately 22 million kilowatt hours—or 22,000 megawatt hours—of Michigan-generated clean energy annually through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower voluntary renewable energy program. “As the city’s largest real-estate operator, we believe that it
JACKSON—Officials at the Jackson-based electric and gas utility Consumers Energy said the company would celebrate Earth Week by announcing it has now built the backbone for its growing fast charging network for electric vehicles across Michigan. Charging stations that allow emissions-free EVs to power up quickly are in place in 24 locations, reaching 250 miles
PLYMOUTH —The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced the purchase of a 45,000-square-foot building in Plymouth to be used as a second SEMA Garage, where manufacturers will have access to advanced product-development tools and equipment, an emissions testing lab, an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) research and development center, and expert technicians who will help
ROCHESTER HILLS—FANUC America Corp., the factory automation provider, and Pine Brook, N.J.-based Doosan Machine Tools America, announced an education project to build the next generation of machinists. The FANUC Certified CNC Training Program now offers manufacturing skills development using Doosan machine tools. The new offering adds to the depth and breadth of FANUC’s CNC training tools and allows operators
JACKSON–Michigan communities in Oscoda, Livingston and Gratiot counties are receiving a total of $50,000 for projects designed to make smaller Michigan communities better places to live and work after winning the Consumers Energy Foundation’s 2021 “Put Your Town on the Map” competition. Comins Township in Oscoda County received $25,000 for first place, Pinckney received $15,000
DETROIT—The Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN) is now seeking 100 civilians and companies in Metro Detroit for inclusion in the Operation Next advanced manufacturing training program. The hybrid training, developed by LIFT, the Detroit-based Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute, combines self-directed virtual learning with hands-on lab work to provide foundational knowledge,
SOUTHFIELD—The team from St. John Lutheran School in Rochester won a fourth place finish in the national tournament of Future City. Future City is a project-based learning program where students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades imagine, research, design, and build cities set at least 100 years in the future. The competition’s theme changes every
SOUTHFIELD—The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan Chapter has become a sponsor of Lawrence Technological University’s team in a global competition for autonomous vehicles in which LTU is three-time defending global champion. “In our efforts to both promote STEM (Science , Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and connect the defense industry with academia, we were
