Guest Columns

Health Care Opportunities, Challenges With New President, Democrat-Controlled Congress

WASHINGTON - In 2009, we are certain to see an effort to pass comprehensive reform legislation, and all of the players in the health care system (companies, universities, suppliers, economic developers, venture funders and the general public) will be affected. White House Will Lead the Way Health care reform is a top priority for Barack

By |2008-11-20T00:00:00-05:00November 20th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

MichBio Legislative Update – Michigan Business Tax Elimination Of Surcharge

LANSING - Michigan's business tax structure changed radically on January 1, 2008. The new tax created a business income tax of 4.95 percent, a modified gross receipts tax of 0.8 percent, and tax credits for payroll, property, research and development, and other factors. It was intended to increase revenue, while decreasing the tax burden on

By |2008-11-20T00:00:00-05:00November 20th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

9 in 2009: Small Business Survival Tips For A Tough Economy

DETROIT - Tighter budgets, fewer job openings and the lowest capital spending since 1975 have led to one of the longest consecutive readings of low optimism according to the Index of Small Business Optimism commissioned by the National Federation of Independent Business. This year's 88.2 reading is a sign of a depressed economy and outlook,

By |2008-11-14T00:00:00-05:00November 14th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

The Identity Theft Red Flag Rules Are Coming Your Way

ANN ARBOR - Several governmental agencies jointly issued final rules addressing implementation of Section 114 and Section 315 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act). If any of the following agencies have oversight with respect to your business, you may have an affirmative obligation to comply with the Identity Theft

By |2008-10-31T00:00:00-04:00October 31st, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

MichBio CEO Urges Michigan Voters To Support Embryonic Stem Cell R&D

ANN ARBOR - Stephen Rapundalo, CEO of MichBio, Michigan?s life sciences trade association, said Michigan voters should support a ballot proposal on Nov. 4 that would allow the state to use embryonic stem-cells for medical research. In a letter to the editor, Rapundalo said: "Researchers at the University of Michigan are world leaders in one

By |2008-10-30T00:00:00-04:00October 30th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

Yankee Group Identifies 5 Consumer Segments Driving Technology Adoption

BOSTON - Yankee Group has identified five consumer segments that are driving the mass-market adoption of technology products and services. With connectivity at the core of everything they do, Anywhere Consumers are driving a shift in buying behaviors that will have tremendous economic impact during the next five years. Increased understanding of this new marketplace

By |2008-10-09T00:00:00-04:00October 9th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

9-11 Catalyst For Development Of InfraGard

DETROIT - On this month's anniversary of 9/11, it is only fitting that InfraGard takes a moment to reflect on the event that was possibly the single greatest catalyst to the development of the security organization. While there are tons of websites that contain information about the terrorist attacks and subsequent reaction of the United

By |2008-09-19T00:00:00-04:00September 19th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|

Lack of Technological Innovators Threatens Michigan

TRAVERSE CITY - A sharp decline in engineering-school enrollments in Michigan will have an adverse effect on the state's economy and also threatens the long-term recovery of the nation's domestic auto industry. "In the past six years new engineering enrollments at Michigan universities have plummeted by more than 13 percent compared to a nine percent

By |2008-08-12T00:00:00-04:00August 12th, 2008|Archive, Guest Columns|