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 - Rep. George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) is floating a proposal that he says could save the state budget $2 billion while both addressing the problem of uncompensated care and access to health care. Cushingberry said he is pitching his proposal as legislative leaders and the governor work out 2009-10 budget targets, but the savings
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 - Prosecutors would have to maintain any electronic recordings used in a trial as long as there are appeals left under a rule being considered by the Michigan Supreme Court. Under the proposal, submitted by the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly, any electronic recordings made by a governmental agency not available during a
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 - With municipalities like Macomb County "scrapping for every dime we can get," Finance Director Dave Diegel told the Michigan House Tax Policy Committee is makes sense to look at what economic development incentives aren't working. Diegel's comments came after the Michigan Association of Counties testified Wednesday about the impact tax policy changes in
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
JACKSON - Consumers Energy launched this week an energy efficiency program designed to help residential customers save energy and save money. Consumers Energy Saving Solutions offers a wide range of incentives to help customers reduce their utility bills by using energy more efficiently. Those incentives include discounts on compact fluorescent light bulbs at participating retailers
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