WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama rolled out a proposed $30 billion small-business lending program Tuesday, the next in a series of administration efforts to jump-start hiring by the nation's small businesses. The program, which Obama will detail at an appearance in Nashua, N.H., Tuesday, would invest $30 billion from the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program
ROYAL OAK ? Information security consultant Intelligent Connections has renamed its company, Sequris Group - to reflect the fact it has opened offices in Grand Rapids, Phoenix and Atlanta, and is now serving clients throughout the Midwest, Southwest and Southeast in a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, technology, and research and development. Sequris
LANSING - The Michigan House overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday ending the health care benefits lawmakers receive once they reach age 55, but Democrats backed away from earlier statements that the bill would affect those currently serving. Instead, in passing HB 4194 on a 103-1 vote, the bill would end the benefits for people starting with
ROCHESTER HILLS - MichiganMall.com announced a partnership Tuesday with Workfly, a community Incubator in Pontiac, creating one central location for businesses to post and update Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter accounts and YouTube presentations. "MichiganMall.com, working with Workfly will complete the full circle approach to connect local, county and state into one nicely wrapped social media package",
LANSING ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm unveiled a reform plan Friday with a major focus on curbing the cost of state employees' retirement and health insurance benefits that, in concert with legislative reform proposals, indicates 2010 could see the long-anticipated reshaping of government. In the first of what she said would be three major speeches in
DETROIT - Toyota says it has a fix for its sticking gas pedals, the government approved it, and the company is sending repair kits to dealers. But Toyota's problems are far from over. The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raised concerns over sticking throttles in 2007, but Toyota said there
AUBURN HILLS ? ERP software provider Plex Systems said its total revenue grew 14 percent in 2009 over 2008, and its profitability by 21 percent year-over-year. But the private company declined to disclose figures for revenue and profitability. The company also announced that 29 new customers chose Plex Online, the leading software as a service
WASHINGTON DC - Washington wants to know: Why can't technology protect consumers' privacy instead of violating it? The Federal Trade Commission met today in Berkeley, Calif., with corporate technology leaders and privacy advocates, challenging them to create ways to protect consumer privacy online. The FTC is encouraging technology companies like as Facebook and Apple to
LANSING - Officials in the administration of President Barack Obama and three Great Lakes governors, including Gov Jennifer Granholm, will meet to discuss the threat of the Asian carp to the Great Lakes on February 8. The summit will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the White House and include Nancy Sutley, chair of the White
LANSING - The Midwest received a substantial portion of the $8 billion in American Recovery and Redevelopment Act funds targeted to high-speed rail improvements, but Michigan saw only a small percentage of that under grants announced Thursday. The $40 million in grants to Michigan will make improvements to three rail stations across the state, but