LANSING - While legislative leaders and the administration of Governor Jennifer Granholm are working through the two-week break to develop agreements on the 2009-10 budget, their colleagues across the nation are struggling to bring their various budget issues to heel. Wednesday was the first day of the 2009-10 fiscal year for most states in the
BOSTON - The bad news: first-quarter spending on computing technology was worse than forecast. The good news: growth could resume earlier, according to a report Forrester Research released Tuesday. The analyst firm reduced its forecast for 2009 information technology spending from a 3 percent decline to a 10.6 percent decline, but it's the hitting bottom,
KALAMAZOO - TGap Ventures, a Kalamazoo-based venture capital company, has closed its second fund, the now $26 million TGap Venture Capital II. TGap invests in Midwestern technology, information technology, medical device and and medical services companies. TGap Venture Capital II drew investments from individuals in Indiana, Texas, Nebraska, Montana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota and Florida,
DETROIT - The Financial Times reports GM's talks to sell part of Opel to Magna have hit a snag. The FT says Magna's Russian partners want access to GM's global technology so they can build Opel's in Russia, which GM isn't too keen to see happen. Also, GM wants a clause to be able to
LANSING - With most of the state's electric and natural gas utilities launching their energy efficiency programs over the coming month, the Public Service Commission on Monday invited those utilities and related contractors to join in an effort to improve those programs. PSC Chair Orijakor Isiogu said it would take some work to get the
LANSING - A revised bill intended to retain the North American International Auto Show by extending regional taxes to support the expansion and modernization of Cobo Center won final approval of the Legislature early Friday, completing a tortured path of a proposal that again exposed deep schisms in the metro Detroit area. This time, new
BIRMINGHAM ? General Electric will build a $100 million green energy manufacturing technology center in Wayne County's Van Buren Township that will eventually employ more than 1,200 workers, the company announced Friday. The new facility will cost $100 million to build, the Associated Press reports, and the state of Michigan will provide $60 million in
ONEKAMA ? Despite a brilliant Michigan day, the crowds during the first day of the 4th annual Michigan Energy Fair were smaller than a year ago for more than 100 exhibitors who showed off the latest technology in wind and solar power, plus a host of energy efficient building materials and heating plants. Both Energy
LANSING - Enacting a series of what Republicans acknowledged were unpleasant cuts, the Michigan Senate approved some of the largest budgets for the 2009-10 fiscal year, putting them into position for action in conference committee. The budget for the Department of Community Health (HB 4436 , passed 20-16) became the focus of Democratic efforts to
LANSING - With four investments approved Wednesday, the Michigan Strategic Fund Board has invested all of the $109 million in the 21st Century Investment Fund. The board approved $35.5 million in investments recommended by officials from Credit Suisse, which has overseen providing money to various investment funds. The board also approved the final regulations for