Events/Announcements

New Medical Marijuana Law Produces Dazed And Confused Public Hearing

LANSING - Proposed rules to regulate the state's new medical marijuana law run counter to that law and are too onerous to be able to help individuals who need medicinal marijuana, witnesses told regulatory officials with the Department of Community Health at a public hearing on Monday. Dozens of witnesses blasted proposals calling for marijuana

By |2009-01-05T00:00:00-05:00January 5th, 2009|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Stiffer Penalities For Retailers That Collect Deposit On Out-State Containers

LANSING - Schemes to take advantage of Michigan's relatively high beverage deposit law by returning containers bought in other states are history with the signing by Governor Jennifer Granholm of a package imposing stiffer penalties and requiring retailers along and near the border to install machines that limit refunds to the in-state containers. Another law

By |2008-12-30T00:00:00-05:00December 30th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Customer Choice Coalition To Keep Close Eye On Gas, Electric Rates

LANSING - The electric restructuring legislation passed this year in Michigan provided little for alternative electric providers and their customers to like. They predicted throughout the process that the bills as structured would mean substantially higher electric rates and little actual development of alternative energy. Legislators can expect to hear from them if those predictions

By |2008-12-30T00:00:00-05:00December 30th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Developing World Entrepreneurs Say Credit Crunch Dampening Business

NEW YORK - Eighty-nine entrepreneurs from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay reported that the current credit crunch has led to reduced sales, a rise in input costs and difficulty in accessing financing. In the coming year, 55 percent of these entrepreneurs expect that it will be much more difficult to

By |2008-12-29T00:00:00-05:00December 29th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

2009 VC Forecast – Difficult Times Ahead For Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. venture capitalists are forecasting a difficult 2009 for the country's economy, the capital markets, and the venture industry as the global financial crisis takes its toll on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This bad news was contained in the third annual National Venture Capital Association Predictions Survey, which predicts the coming year will

By |2008-12-29T00:00:00-05:00December 29th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Angel Capital Investments Decline In 2008, Expected To Decline In 2009

KANSAS CITY - Angel group leaders report in a recent survey by the Angel Capital Association that investments have decreased this year and will decline as well in 2009 compared to 2007 due to the current recession. However, some angel groups have increased their investment activity this year and believe they will make additional investments

By |2008-12-27T00:00:00-05:00December 27th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Venture Capital’s Coming Collapse

SAN JOSE, Ca. - Three years ago Venture Capitalist Timothy Draper graced the cover of a financial-industry trade magazine wearing a wide grin and a Captain America costume. Draper, the tagline said, had joined the "League of Extraordinary VCs" for his smart investments in Chinese search service Baidu and free PC phone service Skype. Both

By |2008-12-27T00:00:00-05:00December 27th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|

Fed Grants GMAC’s Request To Become Bank-Holding Company

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Christmas Eve approved GMAC Financial Services' application to become a bank-holding company, a status that would give the auto-financing arm of General Motors Corp. access to government bailout dollars and the Fed's discount window. The move complements a $17.4 billion emergency loan package the government extended to GM

By |2008-12-27T00:00:00-05:00December 27th, 2008|Archive, Events/Announcements|