Category Archives: Fresh Thoughts

We’re hiring!

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 29, 2011
FULL-TIME OPENINGS FOR OUTREACH COORDINATORS The Center for Michigan has immediate job openings for individuals with excellent communications and organizational skills and a track record of high achievement. If you care about the future of our state and have strong public speaking and networking skills and a working knowledge of current events, we may have an [...]
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Flint enjoys ‘Diplomat’-ic initiative

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 28, 2011
By Jo Collins Mathis Flint is home to the largest privately held specialty pharmacy in the United States. Didn’t think you would ever read that sentence, did you? But Flint is indeed home to Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, a firm with more than 500 employees that is winning national business growth awards as well as the adoration of [...]
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SmartZones near 20,000 in job creation, MEDC says

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 28, 2011
By Mike Brennan In 2002, Michigan created 11 SmartZones, which provide geographical locations where technology-based companies, entrepreneurs and researchers locate in close proximity to all of the community assets that assist them build businesses, and ultimately high paying jobs. The number has since grown to 15 statewide. SmartZone technology clusters promote resource collaborations among universities, industry, research [...]
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Immigration is important policy piece for Michigan

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 28, 2011
By Kurt Metzger Editor’s note: The Center continues a series of comments from Kurt Metzger of Data Driven Detroit on what the 2010 census results mean for Michigan today, and tomorrow. Metzger worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for 15 years and has been studying demographic data and issues in Michigan for three decades. Immigration and diversity [...]
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Land O Links

By Derek Melot | Published: July 28, 2011
“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them” — writer — and muttonchops lover — Isaac Asimov. * MSN selects Kalamazoo-Portage as one of its “10 Best Places for Starting Over.” “MSN Real Estate and Local Market Monitor selected 10 midsize to large cities with the best job prospects [...]
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Guest column: Shift higher-ed funds into student vouchers

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 28, 2011
by Lou Glazer Unfortunately, after decades of building a world-class higher education system, Michigan has been under-investing in our universities and community colleges for years. Both parties. In her eight years, Gov. Jennifer Granholm cut state funding for universities by 18 percent. In his first year Governor Snyder added another 15 percent reduction. We are now [...]
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Immigrants can energize Detroit

By Phil Power | Published: July 28, 2011
Whatever you think of Detroit, it is hard to imagine Michigan thriving if our largest city isn’t on some kind of road to prosperity. And plenty of folks, both business-oriented (think DTE Energy, Business Leaders for Michigan) and philanthropic (think the Kresge, Skillman and Hudson-Webber Foundations) are committed to and heavily invested in the city’s success. Then [...]
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Talking taxes with Brian Calley, part II

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 21, 2011
By Susan J. Demas Fans of a service tax in Michigan will be disappointed. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley stressed again in an interview this month that the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder has little interest in a service tax, arguing it would be far more complex to implement than most people imagine. “I don’t think many appreciate the [...]
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Where did that road sign come from?

By Derek Melot | Published: July 21, 2011
In March, facing a $1.4 billion deficit for the coming budget year and an executive budget proposal that fundamentally altered state policy on business taxes, pension taxes and education funding, the Michigan Senate found time to state that, yes, Mark Ingram was a darn good running back — and student — for the University of [...]
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Michigan better get senior-active

By The Center for Michigan | Published: July 21, 2011
By Kurt Metzger Editor’s note: The Center continues a series of comments from Kurt Metzger of Data Driven Detroit on what the 2010 census results mean for Michigan today, and tomorrow. Metzger worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for 15 years and has been studying demographic data and issues in Michigan for three decades. A recent report [...]
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