The summit is sponsored by The Utopia Foundation, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Northwestern Michigan College. It's designed to provide for-profit and non-profit business leaders, managers and social entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn practical methods of turning good ideas and intentions into solutions that support corporate values and address global economic, social and environmental challenges in our communities and around the world.

CLASS will lead off with Chris Laszlo, Ph.D, whose topic is "Sustainable Value: How the World's Leading Companies Are Doing Well by Doing Good!" Other presenters include author James C. Hunter, Chandran Nair, CEO of Global Institute for Tomorrow, Matthew Neagle (the Community Affairs Lead at Google) and Evan Thomas, NASA Aerospace Engineer and founder of the Engineers Without Borders - Johnson Space Center chapter.

Utopia Foundation Chairman Paul Sutherland says "We believe the first annual Utopia Foundation CLASS will set the stage for decades of profitable and humanitarian collaboration, investment ideas, opportunities and charitable activities. This seminar will be profitable for corporate and social leaders who want to ensure that they have their fingers on the pulse of opportunities that yield both profit and humanitarian good."

About our Sponsor Callouts

The work we do on Absolute Michigan is supported by our sponsors, and we like to highlight what they are doing when we can. We hope you'll check out what they have to offer and patronize them when you can. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please email absolutemichigan@gmail.com!

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.cadillac buildings-detroit. by tEdGuY49 ®

Note: they have a special "no frills" registration for $100 - amazing deal!

Detroit will host the Creative Cities Summit 2.0 (CCS2) on October 12-15, 2008 at the Renaissance Center. CCS2 is an interdisciplinary conference on the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of what makes great cities.

I could talk on and on about the eye-popping agenda they have created and amazing speakers who will attend - headlined by Dr. Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class, John Howkins, author of The Creative Economy, and Charles Landry, author of The Creative City. I could muse about how all the attendees from all over the world might influence the conversation about the re-invention of Detroit and Michigan. I could say that if you can't make it during the week, you might want to check out the Unconference on Sunday @ MOCAD.

However, I think it'll be enough to ask you to watch the videos in our Creative Cities 2.0 playlist below (including a little Detroit easter egg) and tell you to register now! See you there!

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cider by yodraws

Crain's Detroit has a neat "Small Talk" series of videos. One of these is a Q&A with Michigan's Small Business Advocate, Chris Holman. His job is to connect small businesses with services and programs. I had no idea there was even such a position (Chris's page can be found at michigan.org).

Chris is (was?) the host of "Business Today with Chris Holman" on WILX-TV, "The Chris Holman Morning Show" on WILS AM radio and publisher of The Greater Lansing Business Monthly. He says that he's a small business guy and is holding a series of roundtables across the state. I thought it might be cool to have folks in places he may not be able to visit ask him their questions. So, ask away in the comments and we'll pass them along to him!

On an unrelatedly related note, Crain's latest is a video on Parmenter's Northville Cider Mill. It's an interesting look behind the scenes at a business that makes most of its revenue in just a few weeks. Click to visit Parmenter's website, and from there to make cider Michigan's state drink. Works for me.

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Capitol, Landing MI by Irina Vasiliu

Below you'll find a news release from Governor Granholm regarding an agreement to add a 21.9% surcharge to the new Michigan Business Tax to replace the 6% Michigan Service Tax.

The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News have details on the agreement as well.

Granholm, State Lawmakers Agree to Replace Service TaxReplacement Helps State's Fiscal Stability

Protects citizens from massive cuts to public safety, health care, education

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr., Senate Majority Leader Michael D. Bishop, House Speaker Andy Dillon, and Senate Democratic Leader Mark Schauer along with legislative members have agreed to replace the service tax that went into effect at 12:01 a.m. today. Under the agreement, revenue generated by a service tax will be fully replaced by a surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax (MBT).

The State Senate is expected to complete work on the tax package in the early hours of this morning and the State House is expected to approve it later today. Under the agreement businesses will be granted legal protection if they fail to collect the service tax until effective date of the new law.

"This agreement protects health care, public safety and education while replacing revenue from the service tax," said Governor Granholm. "I applaud the members of the business community and the legislators who worked with us to craft this fair and responsible compromise."

Senator Bishop (R-Rochester) offered the following statement: "I appreciate the spirit of compromise to repeal a tax that would have devastated Michigan business. It is only through continued good faith negotiations, compromise and dialog that we can set Michigan on a track for renewed economic prosperity."

"These negotiations were very difficult due to our challenging economic climate, but I am confident that this agreement is a fair compromise that will allow the state to provide the services necessary to support our businesses and attract new businesses to a state that has a tremendous quality of life," said Speaker Dillon (D-Redford Twp.). "I commend Michigan's business community for their willingness to step up and work towards a solution."

"By working with the business community and each other, we reached a compromise that gets rid of the service tax and keeps our promises to fund schools, public safety, and health care," said Senator Schauer (D-Battle Creek). "This is the type of reasonable approach that will protect our priorities and position us for economic growth."

Under the agreement, the replacement for the service tax will phase out under certain economic conditions.

The MBT, which takes effect January 1, provides tax cuts for more than 60 percent of Michigan businesses and provides tax cuts to both small businesses and Michigan's major manufacturers, while encouraging job creation in Michigan.

The MBT helps stimulate Michigan's economy by relying more on profit, providing tax credits to companies that locate or create new jobs in Michigan and tax credits for entrepreneurial and R&D activities. In addition, a significant cut in the personal property tax will help the state's largest employers and commercial businesses.

"With this agreement in place, we can continue working on the economic plan that will help grow our economy and create jobs," said Lt. Governor Cherry.

# # #

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Carousel by jnhkrawczyk

"We've got a shift starting in 36 hours that we've got to charge 6% more on ... and I don't know how to do it."
-John Evans, president of Evans Distribution

Welcome to Michigan, where we somehow seem to be stuck in the Reality TV version of Groundhog Day: Your Government inAction. With just hours remaining before a confusing, unexplained and really random 6% Service Tax goes into effect, everyone who might have to pay the tax is watching the clock and wondering what Lansing will do. Read on for much more...

The Freep's Susan Tompor writes that the new 6% service tax is like one of those bad snowstorms that everybody hoped would skip town. Even the forecasters warned that this thing couldn't last long. This oddly crafted tax on services -- 6% on nails but not hair; 6% on ski lift tickets but not golf -- is so dopey that most expected it ultimately had to be repealed.

Over on Michigan Liberal the editor of a major Michigan web site spars with a long-dead Michigan governor over the much-hatedness of the Service Tax.

An article on the Service Tax Impasse the Detroit News looks at business owners preparing for the tax and also at the state of diplomacy in Lansing:

On Detroit talk radio, House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, pointed fingers at each other for the negotiations breakdown Wednesday over the service tax. The House passed its own plan and then adjourned until Tuesday.

Bishop called "garbage" a House-passed bill that the Senate rejected Wednesday night and chided: "We don't want to let the facts get in the way of the speaker."

Dillon shot back that the so-called "garbage" is backed by a large share of the business community.

Meanwhile, over at the Michigan Treasury, they have posted a disorganized jumble of information about the tax at the top of their page that includes an explanation of services taxed.

Find much more about this issue at 6% of x? Untangling Michigan's Service Tax on Absolute Michigan.

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Tayshaun by radiospike

If you can't afford a hybrid, go PB&J

Via Michigan-based blog Scientific Ink, I learned that A PB&J will slow global warming, reducing your carbon footprint by saving the equivalent of 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over an average animal-based lunch like a hamburger, a tuna sandwich, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets. That's about 40% of what you'd save driving around for the day in a hybrid instead of a standard sedan and it also saves water, land and the fats in PB&J aren't as bad as you might think!

Prince Kicks Down

Sports Illustrated reports in A prince among men that last week Pistons' star Tayshaun Prince and his wife Farah purchased and redecorated a luxury suite at the Palace to donate to Kids Kicking Cancer, a Detroit-based charity that uses martial arts techniques to empower hundreds of children and help them cope with their illness. Great article about a great guy and a program that really looks special (be sure to check out that link - they have an excellent video on their site from TV-4 as well).

Radiospike, Courtside

If you live in Detroit, you might know Spike aka radiospike from Mojo in the Morning. I'm not sure if these awesome courtside seats at the were a perk from that or just from living right, but he sure got some great shots in his Pistons 11-23-07 set like this one of Tayshaun Prince and this one of Chauncey Billups. The cheerleaders seem to have gotten in his way in a lot of the other photos, but I guess that's a hazard of being courtside.

Foreclosure Madness and the Motor City

Easy money, risky loans drive area home losses in the Detroit News is an excellent, in-depth feature probing the causes for the sky-high foreclosure rates of Michigan (particularly Metro Detroit) has as much to do with the mortgage industry as the auto industry in that money remained "incredibly easy to borrow." The result was a very high percentage of subprime loans - 55% in the region and 2 out of 3 in Wayne County. According to the article, the root of the problem (if indeed there is one) is the fact that loans became a Wall Street commodity, and it didn't matter if some loans went bad when the yield was that high. But as Bill Matthews, senior vice president of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors notes: "What the hedge fund manager is missing, is it's destroying communities."

Video from YOUR Town

There's no way that I'm going to feature any Michigan city or town after that story. Instead, I'll call out our new Absolute Michigan group on YouTube. We'd like you to share your videos about all aspects of the Great Lakes State - your hometown, history, fun things to do, good eats, great businesses and places to visit. We'll feature videos from the group here on Absolute Michigan!

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Grand Traverse Resort by danperry.com

Hey there, if you happen to be in the Traverse City area tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov 6) Absolute Michigan will be in the "Tech City" area for the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Business & Technology Expo from 9 - 5 at the Grand Traverse Resort.

We're be giving away a $500 Absolute Michigan sponsorship, so drop by, say hello and enter to win!

(and if for some reason our posts tomorrow are late, you'll know why!!)

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Legislation to Repeal Service Tax Introduced

The Freep reports that although the ink is barely dry on the package that averted a governmental shutdown, legislation was introduced yesterday in the Senate to repeal a key component: the 6% service tax on a strange mix of businesses. The tax, which has drawn fire, is expected to raise about $725 million a year and legislative leaders (including Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop) oppose the repeal as they have no idea how the revenue would be replaced. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has been vocal in their opposition, and Jack Lessenberry has an interview with the chamber's director of tax policy and economic development, Tricia Kinley.

Shutdown II: Jason Returns

Meanwhile, the "new look" Detroit News writes that lawmakers have made no visible progress on hammering out $440 million in budget-balancing cuts as the state is closing in on another shutdown deadline - appropriately scheduled for Halloween. At the present time, the largest "cut" is actually a rollback in promised increases to public schools and universities from 2.5% to 1.5%. Perhaps "cost of living" isn't in Lansing's vocabulary. Read Another shutdown of state looming in the Detroit News.

Richardson All Wet

Proving that he has mastered the art of political speech, New Mexico Governor & Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson executed a quick U-Turn from his statement that there should be a national water summit to find ways water-rich northern states could help the West, issuing a statement that "Richardson believes firmly in keeping water in its basin of origin and of the rights of states to oversee water distribution." Read the rest of the article in the Freep ... and also consider that although he took it back, there's no doubt that other folks in the chronically dry West are eying Great Lakes water. I guess a silver lining of a water-hungry south and west is that there might be some national attention (and funding) for Great Lakes environmental projects.

The Cap by Mario Q

This photo was taken on June 5, 2007, with storm clouds blowing through. Mario lives in the Lansing area and has a number of photos of Michigan's Capitol building and lots of other cool shots. Here's a link for a slideshow of photos of the Michigan Capitol from the Absolute Michigan pool!

Hell, Michigan

It seems cruel to associate any Michigan town with such a gallery of horrors, but there's one Michigan town that glories in such things. According to The Really Long History of Hell from Hell2u.com, Hell was settled by George Reeves, a man who required a bit more elbow room than most. Reeves owned the mill and made the whiskey and when asked on October 13, 1841 by the State of Michigan what to name his town, he purportedly replied, "Call it Hell for all I care, everyone else does." Heck, there's even a Hell, Michigan comic book! Wikipedia's entry on Hell, Michigan lists the population as 266 and the list an alternate and not nearly as colorful reason for Hell's name.

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Half Staff by Apocaplops

UPDATE Oct 25: Carol of ArborLaw.com writes:

I actually have the entire list of services descriptions covered by the law, on my blog at Arborlaw.com. When the law came out, I cross-referenced the NAICS codes (which are incorporated into the new law specifically by reference) with the section numbers from the bill and the expected new numbers for sections in Michigan Compiled Laws. If you want to see this to determine whether your business services are covered, go to http://arborlaw.com/blog/services-tax. (it's a big list!)

Political analyst George Weeks writes that in decades of following how Lansing deals with financial crisis, I have never seen enactment of such a bizarre, crazy quilt, irrational, inexplicable, unfair and — most of all, confusing to taxpayers — tax.

Crain's Detroit Business goes further, calling this The best tax plan lobbyists can buy. Law and accounting services are not taxed, but the broad category of management advice, strategic planning and financial planning and budgeting will be taxed. Hmmm. So a company buying consulting services to help it keep its doors open is making a “discretionary” purchase?

Like many in Michigan, we're wondering which of the services we provide like online publications (probably not), internet consulting (probably so) or graphic design & marketing (who knows??!!) would be subject to the service tax.

Assuming that movements to repeal or change the tax fail, mLive's blog gives some idea of what services might be subject to the tax come December 2007. The nebulous "consulting services" is made a whole lot clearer when you click over to see businesses classified under 5416 Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services. It's surprising to find that in addition the list includes items that are absolutely essential to the development of new businesses in Michigan like site selection, start-up consulting, marketing, and a host of science and technical services.

We invite you to add your thoughts, comments and suggestions for making some sense out of what looks like a fiscal nightmare for Michigan.

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Moon Patrol by powerbooktrance

Each post at Michigan Innovators is a video podcast interview with innovators who can or have had an impact on Michigan's economy. Two professors at the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University, Diana Wong and Bud Gibson, started the site with hopes that it would become a "highly visible repository of stories that showcase the modern, innovate spirit lurking in the Michigan economy" and also to provide material for their classes.

Their features look at the entrepreneurs and companies working in cutting edge technology such as Aaron Crumm's Adaptive Materials (making fuel cells that provide a 10x improvement over battery power, "technology concierge" Bruce McCully of Dynamic Edge, and Linda Girard, who explains how to Find & Convert Web Customers with her company Pure Visibility.

In addition to searches by industry (web communications to medical research) and by people and place, the blog also allows allows searching by themes like Defining New Markets or Technology & Culture, where you can delve into issues the technological and cultural divide between the US & China.

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An appeal to reason by Apocaplops

StateGate seems like it might be nearing its conclusion with an 13th hour deal reached at 4 AM when legislators were apparently too tired to fight anymore. The LSJ reports:

"This budget agreement is the right solution for Michigan," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a news release after the vote. "We prevented massive cuts to public education, health care and public safety while also making extensive government reforms and passing new revenue. With the state back on solid financial footing, we can turn our focus to the critical task of jumpstarting our economy and creating new jobs."

Leaving aside the question (for now) of how much harder it will be to create jobs with a reputation as a state that is financially unstable, let's take a look at what was added to an income tax hike - the "sales tax expansion", a 6% tax on services. The Detroit News lists some of the services that might be taxed in New levy to tax 23 services.

The list appears to make little sense, with ski resorts subject to the tax but not golf course, janitorial service providers but not plumbers, tanning but not haircuts and financial & business consulting but not legal and accounting services. What do you bet that TV ads won't be subject ... and also that we'll be hearing a lot more like this from every industry affected?

"Any service tax should be across the board on all services and not single out specific areas of the economy," Stephen Kircher, president of Boyne USA Resorts' eastern operations, said in a statement.

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Rocks off Pyramid Point by Matt Callow

In Bishop's Pawns in the Metro Times, columnist Jack Lessenberry warns that Michigan is heading for a smashup of titanic proportions that will have a huge and devastating effect on your quality of life. Unlike the Federal government, who can pass debt along to taxpayers yet unborn, Michigan is required to have a balanced budget on October 1st. Although our shortfall has been mounting every year, Lessenberry - who spares nobody from his ire - rhetorically notes:

What did our lawmakers do about that? Ducked responsibility, that's what. They raided whatever savings and "rainy day funds" the state had. They shoved the problem over into future years. Last May, in a move that should have gotten the legislators all impeached or shot for dereliction of duty, they sold off money the state was due to get in future years for an outrageous fraction of its worth.

According to the national settlement against the tobacco companies, every state gets a pot load of money every year to compensate for medical expenses incurred by the millions of people tobacco kills. Michigan's irresponsible lawmakers traded $900 million in future payments for $400 million right then.

That was, again, to avoid dealing with this year's budget problem. They also shoved a lot of the deficit into next year's budget. Now, the party's over.

There are no more funds to loot — not enough, anyway, to come up with the money needed. Now, the cupboard is just about bare, and the state starts out with a deficit of $1.8 billion. Not million, billion.

I really hope that you read this article, and also that you put pressure on your elected officials to grow a little backbone and act like they were elected to solve Michigan's problems rather than hide them in a closet and hope they'll go away.

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Freaky Capitol by Andy McFarlane

One of the things in the Center for Michigan's weekly email last Friday was a link to Model D's interview with Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt following his talk at Wayne State University.

When we talk about Michigan's economy you hear a lot of terms like one-state recession. There are a lot of problems being presented as problems unique to Michigan. As if it's one separate from the other 49 states. How true do you feel this is? What other indicators are there out there that might say that is or isn't the case?

The problems Michigan faces are certainly the same problems that are facing all of the Midwest and parts of the Northeast. It's not unique ... In large part it comes down to having people in government who can think about economics intelligently. Many of the most important questions on the horizon are economic questions and navigating your way through economic change. That's not what politicians are typically good at or elected for and yet I think that is something that is incredibly important.

Read more of Michigan Freakonomics in Model D.

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In his accompanying essay, Jack writes:

It's often tempting to bash Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. He has taken cheap shots at Detroit for decades, and is our state's number one unapologetic proponent of urban sprawl.

Yet he is a complicated man, and has had some good ideas. Automation Alley was one of the best. Even ten years ago, Patterson understood that we needed a different economic model. He told me then that he wanted to change the entire image of the region to that of a high-tech capital that could rival Silicon Valley or the research laboratories of Boston. That sounded fantastic – but Automation Alley has grown faster than most believed possible. Six hundred and fifty companies have joined, and the alley has spread to cover eight counties in Southeast Michigan, stretching from the Toledo border up to Flint and over to Ann Arbor.

Visit the Automation Alley web site.

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Under the People Mover by suesue2

If you've been paying attention to Absolute Michigan over the last few months, you are probably aware of Grow Detroit due to the fact that we always seem to be linking to stories over there. Their diverse team provides the real stories impacting Michigan's largest city and suburbs along with strategies for businesses to succeed there, all with a refreshing lack of "woe-is-me".

"So I was watching TV the other day and I happened to hear rambunctious former basketball player Charles Barkley mention that he's never been to Detroit before ... That got me to thinking: How would you entertain a talented, strong-willed, hyperactive, outspoken compulsive gambler in Detroit?"
-Ali on Me in the D: A night on the town with Charles Barkley

"Detroit is home to six of the fastest-growing central-city companies in the United States, more than any other city ... National coverage about businesses that are growing by leaps and bounds in Detroit is what this city needs. Reports like this provide encouragement for other businesses to give the city a second look or a look at all when considering a place to not only start up a business, but relocate one."
-LCharow on Detroit Has 6 of the Fastest Growing Businesses in US

"Perhaps the most notable component of this move is that the location of the building is a part of Birmingham's overlay district, which requires a portion of any first floor space to be available as a retail outlet ... As a result it is expected that Google will own and manage some type of retail setting."
-Mike Scott on Google moves in (to Birmingham)

Add Grow Detroit to your daily feed and feel better about Motown.

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Perch Fishing on the Breakwall
at Sundown by simply, Diann

The Detroit News reports that hunting fees would double and fishing license fees would almost double under a $115 million package of fee increases proposed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Rep. Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch, chairman of the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee is quoted as saying:

"The public will see some sort of increase, but probably not what has been proposed. We don't want to price these licenses beyond the reach of people, but some kind of increase is needed or they're going to lay off conservation officers. Very few legislators want to vote for any fee increase. It's not popular, but it might be responsible."

According to the article, fee increases are proposed for liquor licenses, commercial mobile radio systems, air emissions, corporation papers, land and water permits, solid waste surcharge, securities, groundwater discharge permits, hazardous waste users, pollution prevention programs, local judiciary users, teacher certifications and state police fingerprints.

Eric Sharp over at the Freep is of the opinion that the DNR's fee-hike plan really isn't out of line. What do you think? Raise fees? Cut services? Continue to blame each other?

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Everyday Leadership

The book offers several very candid stories of Dan's journey as a father, a bussinessman, and a supportive husband to Michigan's own Governor Jennifer Granholm. Consider Everyday Leadership an excellent guide to navigate your journey of effective leadership through all of life's moments.

In the months leading up to the convention, I, too, had a sense of purposeful and powerful service, for I was helping Jennifer achieve something great. During this lead-up, I had also found myself wrestling with my jealous ego as I watched Jennifer cast in the limelight. But now I was flushed with pride and joy as she delivered a great speech. And this great speech delivered her well down the path to victory. I walked her offstage, exulting, smiling, swollen happily in the moment.

The lesson of service was about to become more graphic. Our girls, Kate, eight years old, and Cece, who was seven, beamed at Jennifer. The crowd was howling, hooting, and loving this little family, and it swept us up. Jack, a couple months shy of one year old, was not impressed. Neither was he impressed when the main actor, Geoffrey Fieger, the nominee for governor, strode to the stage to the laborpacked crowd's wild applause. In fact, Jack was crying, and, let me put it plainly, he stunk. Like any self-respecting parent, I could predict the hideous color and utter liquidity of what was inside this poor baby's diaper. And with him in this condition it just didn't seem right to foist him on my mom and younger sister, who were helping out. Much as I wanted to hear Fieger's speech, Jack was not about to wait, so we ducked out through the heavy black curtains behind the stage. After what seemed like a quarter-mile walk, I found a bathroom, pulled out the plastic mat, got down on the tiled floor and took care of the ugly green business. In that little hall of mirrors, I could see this odd reflection of myself and didn't know what to think. I was proud of Jennifer and my work in support of her; on the other hand, I was frustrated and—I'm not proud to say this—a little bitter over the way I was experiencing this historic moment in our family's life. I figured I had missed Fieger's speech by now. And there was Jack, oblivious and wonderful, as babies are. I started laughing at the absurdity of it all, felt myself lighten up, and watched a smile spread across Jack's face. Or is memory tricking me: was Jack the one who lightened up and I followed his lead?

In the eight years since that day, I have often reflected on the gift of that moment. It was as if life, or God if you please, was saying, “I am trying to help you see that you can serve and lead in a really different way than you might think you want to, think you should, or even think you can. Be present. Right here. Pay attention, right now, in the middle of the little stuff.” This was by no means a once and for all lesson. Instead, especially in my supportive role with my governor-wife, I have had to learn that lesson over and over again. But that time with Jack offered a singular moment and taught me about the unusual three-way intersection where leading, serving, and being human meet.

Special thanks to the University of Michigan Press for the permission to reprint this exclusive excerpt.

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Michigan's First Gentleman

I chose this title for a few reasons. First, other male spouses had already claimed the fun names: first hunk, first dude, and first coach. Seriously, I learned from my Irish grandmother's repeated instructions, that gentleman meant something, and most important it meant that you showed respect to ladies, and a special fidelity to your lady. I am proud and humbled to serve my wife. As "first lady" connotes a respect for her husband and her governor, it seems like "first gentleman" is an appropriate mirror image that conveys respect to the leader of the state. Second, I chose the title with the thought that it might help to inject this word back into our vocabulary. I think all men should strive to be "gentlemen," a word, and perhaps therefore a style, that has unfortunately lost meaning in our culture. We have lost appreciation for the humility and civility that the word connotes. So, I see the title as something I try to earn every day, by showing respect to my elders, love for my wife, kindness to children.

In addition to be a father of three, supportive partner to Governor Jennifer Granholm, and a successful businessman, Dan has taken up the role of champion of state volunteerism and community service. He currently chairs the Michigan Community Service Commission, and the Honorary Vice-Chair of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.

His real passion lies in Mentor Michigan, a program started by Dan and the Governor when she was Attorney General. The program aims to ensure that all of our youth have ongoing relationships with stable, caring individuals. The current goal for the program is to match 10,000 youth across Michigan with mentors.

The First Gentleman also has his own website, and blog, Reading for Leading. In his weekly updates with podcasts, Dan offers different stories and examples across Michigan, and always encouraging everyone to lead with their best self.

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The current version of Introduce Your Michigan Business or Organization is right there.

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Shapiro Geometry by anikarenina

Issue Media Group (publishers of Model D and other emagazines) have launched their latest internet publication, metromode. The publication delivers engaging articles, videos and excellent photography on Ann Arbor and Michigan's new tech corridor.

ePrize, based in the Royal Oak area, is the largest internet promotion agency in the world. In the video below, company founder Josh Linkner says there is phenomenal talent in the Detroit region and talks about how the company is helping to create a "reverse brain drain" by creating a tangible success story and attracting employees to the region.

Visit the ePrize web site.

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Country Schoolhouse by nomm de photo

The Detroit News reports that some Democrats, Republicans and public policy experts are saying Michigan needs to take a look at extending the sales tax to cover more services and (perhaps) lowering the sales tax overall by a penny (6 ¢ to 5 ¢) to help offset a projected half billion dollar budget deficit. While a tax on all services would generate close to $9 billion, business-to-business services (engineering, legal services, accounting) would likely be exempt due to the adverse impact that could have on economic development. Likewise, medical services would probably be off limits as well reducing the overall revenue to just under $3 billion.

Michigan taxes 26 of 168 services (ranking 39th in the US) and increasing taxes on services is opposed by most business groups including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce who say it's a "very bad idea" and that a service tax could lead to reduced competitiveness with neighboring states. Thomas Clay of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan says:

Our tax structure is archaic, obsolete. All that economic activity in the service area is not connected to the tax system. If you had a tax on personal services, you could reduce the rate and have sales tax revenue that would grow in the future.

Read Michigan may tax services in the Detroit News and tell us what you think about such a measure in the comments.

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First National Bank Building by Allan M

Today's Freep has a nice feature on Ann Arbor's exploding high-tech job scene that says Google is not the only company planning to bring jobs to the city and Washtenaw County. Google, Toyota, Hyundai and others have committed to creating 2,500 jobs in the region over the next five years. That doesn't include a couple dozen start-ups that expect to add more jobs.

The secret? "You really have to be aggressive in selling the assets of your region," said Michael Finney, CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. SPARK was launched by university, business and civic leaders to attract so-called knowledge-based sectors, such as alternative energy and biotechnology. (also check out the Ann Arbor SPARK blog for some great links to entrepreneur resources in the region!)

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