GRAND RAPIDS - Say goodbye to the cell phone allowance because within three years, technology analysts at Gartner Group estimate, half of employers will require employees to bring their own devices to work. Rather than the company buying the devices or paying the employee a direct subsidy for personal communications devices used on the job,
LANSING - Michigan has been making educational improvements since the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, but at one of the slowest rates in the nation, a new report said. The study by Education Sector showed Michigan with the fifth lowest improvement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress of the 50
LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder has long enjoyed rock-solid support from the Republican Party, but the move by several prominent tea party activists to urge conservatives to "sit out" Snyder's anticipated 2014 re-election campaign puts into question whether Snyder can rely on a robust GOP turnout. Snyder has never been a tea party favorite, not
LANSING - The broadband availability gap in Michigan is shrinking, a new reports shows, with 97.33 percent of Michigan residents now having access to broadband, up from 96.45 percent last October. ?Michigan continues to see marked improvements in broadband access?, said Eric Frederick, Connect Michigan state program manager. ?The proliferation of infrastructure coupled with energetic
MONROE - Monroe County has activated an interactive communication and mass notification system to be used during severe weather emergencies. Monroe County already has a well-developed outdoor warning siren system, but was looking for an alternative in less populated areas. Key criteria included reliability, redundancy, cost effectiveness, use of web-based technology, ease of use, and
LANSING - The Michigan Film Office announced today that two feature film projects have been approved for film incentives from the state. A Matter of Faith will film over the next month in Grand Rapids and Dogman 2: Wrath of the Litter will film in Benzie County this fall. ?These projects tap into the crew
HOLLAND - Information technology workers remain in high demand in West Michigan for summer and fall 2013, according to a new survey. More than 60 percent of all the responding companies plan to hire tech staffers in the next half-year, continuing at the high levels of the past eighteen months. Three-quarters of small companies (fewer
ANN ARBOR - Augment Ventures announced Monday it was part of a recent $2 million Series A investment in Santa Clara, Calif-based Mercatus, which develops origination and syndication management technology for the energy project finance industry. The round was led by Vision Ridge Partners and also included Shah Capital. Of the investment, Augment Ventures founder
DETROIT - The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan is launching a statewide Mobile Security Advisory Committee to develop resources, events, educational, networking and business development opportunities to create national and international engagement with Michigan companies in the mobile security sector. The committee will consist of members who: * Work in the security sector of the
DETROIT ? One-quarter of Michigan employers expect to hire new employees during the third quarter of 2013, lead by the 28 percent of employers in the Grand Rapids metropolitan statistical area. Statewide, from July to September, 24 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while a mere 4 percent expect to reduce