HOLLAND - By December, 26 percent of the companies in West Michigan will hire additional information technology staff, lead by computer consulting companies, the fall/winter Paragon Recruiting Employment Survey, another signal that the Michigan economy is on its way back up. Some twice as many computer consulting companies (70 percent) will be hiring in the
WASHINGTON - U.S. job losses softened markedly last month, sending one of the strongest signals yet that the severe recession may be winding down. Still, another jump in the unemployment rate to a fresh 25-year high served as a sober reminder that even if the economy does stabilize in coming weeks, a rapid return to
LANSING - The Wind Energy Resource Board has named four regions, all in the Lower Peninsula, which will be most likely to provide both the wind and the land for utility-scale wind farms. The board is now seeking comment from those communities on both its findings and on the potential effect of new transmission capacity
LANSING - While the proposal to increase the state's fuel taxes and registration fees would raise a substantial amount of money, the hit to individual motorists' pocketbooks would be small, Transportation Director Kirk Steudle told a joint meeting of the House and Senate Transportation committees. Given the current range of vehicle mileage and commuting distances,
TROY - Walsh College and Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services have teamed up on June 8 to offer a new series of Walsh College's Take Charge workshops for the unemployed. The new round of workshops features more days, more topics and expanded career content. All are provided at no cost to participants. Walsh
DETROIT - If you are looking to get involved in entrepreneurship opportunities in the clean tech, medical technology and logistics industries, come to TechTown's First Friday on June 5 and hear a panel discussion giving a preview of FastTrac to a New Detroit. The New Economy Initiative recently partnered with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
MACKINAC ISLAND - Voters could be asked in a November statewide election to approve parts of a wholesale tax-restructuring plan that would include doing away with the Michigan Business Tax surcharge, House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township) said Friday. The issue arose at a session with legislative leaders who pledged to resolve transportation funding issues
DETROIT - A settlement between the state of Michigan and New Chrysler to protect benefits paid to the company's injured workers was announced on Friday. The state had challenged the bankruptcy and sale of Chrysler to Fiat Sp.A. (which remains pending in federal bankruptcy court in New York City) because of the potential effect it
MACKINAC ISLAND - Obstacles that sunk a first plan to facilitate modernization and expansion of Detroit's Cobo Hall through a regional authority are close to being resolved, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said Friday. The two said there is agreement that the authority would get control through a long-term lease
MACKINAC ISLAND - The Renaissance Center that is home to General Motors would be completely covered with a tax-exempt rich renaissance zone designation under a plan aired Friday to keep the automaker in downtown Detroit. The total tax exemption status would counter an offer from Warren for a 30-year property tax abatement if GM, which