ANN ARBOR - Six teams moved on to the semi-final round of judging in the Clean Energy Prize competition, which will be held Feb. 18. The surviving teams are pitching new, clean-energy business ideas that range from a new way to finance energy efficiency upgrades for municipal buildings to a new model for the biomass
SOUTHFIELD - Governor Snyder, in keeping with his campaign promise to promptly address the current Michigan Business Tax, released a draft of his administration's corporate tax plan for Michigan businesses. Below are some of the key highlights from UHY Advisors Tax and Business Consultants: Effective date appears to be January 1, 2012 A 6 percent
WASHINGTON ? The U.S. Small Business Administration Friday published a package of final rules that will revise regulations to strengthen its 8(a) Business Development program to better ensure that the benefits flow to the intended recipients and help prevent waste, fraud and abuse. The rules were published in The Federal Register and will become effective
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
WASHINGTON ? Lenders who participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Preferred Lender Program can approve loans through the agency's new Small Loan Advantage program beginning Feb. 15. At the same time, the agency will begin accepting applications from community-based, mission-focused lenders who are interested in making SBA-guaranteed loans through the new Community Advantage program.
SOUTHFIELD - Joe LaFeir has been promoted to senior vice president and chief information officer of the Polk business unit at R. L. Polk & Co., the company announced Thursday. In this role, LaFeir will be the strategic leader responsible for directing Polk?s information services and technology functions. He will determine Polk?s long-term information technology
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
LANSING - More responsiveness to the needs of struggling Michigan businesses and greater transparency were calls Republican lawmakers made to Michigan Economic Development Corporation officials on Tuesday. With the state struggling economically over the past 10 years, Rep. Jeff Farrington (R-Utica) put it straight to the new CEO Michael Finney by asking what the MEDC