Face Plant by by Rudy Malmquist

We try to be as positive as possible, but I do hope that everyone (and yes, I'm looking at you elected officials) is preparing to need to do extraordinary things to keep our state and the people in it afloat.

1. Jack Lessenberry spoke with Ismael Ahmed, director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, who worries that Michigan is nearing the cliff, staring down:

...an explosion in poverty, in need, in families slipping below the water line, just at a time when he knows he is going to have to do much, much more with less money...

(Ahmed says) "We've seen a dramatic increase in poverty in the state. More than one-fourth of children are living in poverty. "More than 2 million people are living below the poverty line, and that's still increasing. And when you count people who are working but who just don't make enough to live, that increases to about a third of the state."

2. When we look at our massive deficit, it's instructive to look at what's behind it. Peter Luke at mLive points out that tax cuts have left Michigan unable to invest in itself:

The Headlee amendment to the Michigan Constitution is simple. The state can collect up to 9.49 percent of personal income in taxes and fees approved by the Legislature. Anything over that has to be returned to taxpayers. The aim was to cap the growth of government.

...in funding essential services, state government in 2010 will collect a little more than half -- $14 billion-- of what the father of the modern conservative movement in Michigan thought appropriate.

For all the hand-wringing over how to return to prosperity, Michigan is unable to make long-term investments in its future.

Luke gets bashed in the comments on his article, but the case he makes that we have cut ourselves into a corner is worth a little thought.

3. On the bright side, the Michigan Policy Network says that our corner is nowhere near as dark as California's:

The projected FY2009 budget gap is 672 million dollars. This number is significant, and additional cuts or tax increases are needed to stabilize Michigan’s economy. However, this budget deficit is only 2.9% of the size of the total projected budget, a comparatively small margin. While the situation seems significant, consider California. The nation’s biggest state has an astounding projected deficit of 35.9 billion dollars. That’s 35.5% of the total projected 2009 budget.

4. The Freep takes a look at a few measures designed to spark our sputtering economy.

5. Finally, I'd like to direct you over to Michigan in Pictures where you can see this photo from the pentax hammer bigger and hopefully take a little hope into your day from these words:

In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus

MSU College of Human Medicine by Eridony

Going up

The New York Times reports that in the midst of the darkest economic times Michigan has seen in decades, the University of Michigan is spending billions to grow with nearly three million square feet new buildings for science, medicine, health, art, business, sports, food service and student housing under construction and five others  in the design stage.

wizardkitten at Blogging for Michigan packed a lot of positive economic stories for Michigan into a post about how Obama's "Green New Deal" can create jobs, ease global warming and lessen our dependence on foreign oil all at the same time. She links to a nice article about Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor and also to related stories in the Freep and LA Times and notes that when added to our burgeoning movie industry, those folks out on the west coast might start to think that we are OK after all. Especially if - as she reports elsewhere - Gov. Granholm is tapped for the post of Queen of England.

Fallen by jnhkrawczyk

Going down

Unfortunately, it's not all (or even mostly) good news. Comerica Bank's preliminary November Michigan Business Activity Index (28k PDF) fell 4 points to 79 - the lowest level in 16 years. The November reading was down 13 points from November 2007 and 27% from its October 2003 peak of 108. That decline rivals the largest previous peak- to-trough decline of 33% between September 1978 and June 1980.

Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry notes that while Washington doesn’t have to live within its means and can borrow and borrow and borrow - hello $11,000,000,000,000 national debt - state governments are not so lucky (also check out his interview with Chris Christoff, the Freep's Lansing Bureau chief). Jack notes that every few months, Michigan has a "revenue estimating conference" wherein budget controllers assess expected revenues as compared to budgeted expenditures. When revenues fall short, it's time for cuts. A round of cuts is expected this month, and it likely won't be the last. He says that our elected officials can go to their usual strategy of blaming each other (and solving nothing) or steal a page from the past:

Back in the 1970s, Governor Milliken used to convene regular weekly meetings of what he called the “quadrant,” the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate. They would get together and discuss how best to solve state problems.

Governor Jennifer Granholm should try that. She is in a position to serve as an honest broker. She can’t run again. These are desperate times, and saving the state needs to take top priority.

In a move that seems oddly desperate, General Motors is selling about 200 vehicles from its collection of 1000 vintage GM cars & trucks. They will be sold at Barrett-Jackson's 2009 Scottsdale Auction and could raise as little as $5 million.

And speaking of roller coasters...

Reports suggest that the Tigers are no closer to filling the roll of closer. Rollercoaster Jones, where are you?

A2 City Reflections by Behind
My Blue Eyes ~~ Stevie Exxxx

Before we go into some positive economic stories from Michigan, here's The Big Fat Auto Bailout Collapse from The Daily Beast and Mitch Albom saying Hey, you senators: Thanks for nothing:

There ought to be a law — against the hypocrisy our government has demonstrated. The speed with which wheelbarrows of money were dumped on Wall Street versus the slow noose hung on the auto companies’ necks is reprehensible. Some of those same banks we bailed out are now saying they won’t extend credit to auto dealers. Wasn’t that why we gave them the money? To loosen credit?

Where’s your tight grip on those funds, senators? Where’s your micromanaging of the wages in banking? Or do you just enjoy having your hands around blue-collared throats?

The carmakers did get a modicum of hope on Saturday, and the Wall Street Journal looks at considerations facing the White House in what appears to the likely granting of funds to the carmakers from the financial bailout package. You can also check out Gov. Granholm, former governor Mitt Romney, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Wal-Mart president Lee Scott and Google CEO Eric Schmidt discussing the auto bailout and the wider economy on Meet the Press (if you want to skip the Rod Blagojevich-fest that leads off, scroll to 20:30).

One of the items lost in the general shroud of gloom hanging over Michigan last week was the news that MSU was awarded $550-million nuclear physics project by US Energy Department. Michigan State University will be the site for a new $550-million research Facility for Rare Isotope Beams that will employ at least 300 people. The equipment:

...would be at least 1,000 times more powerful than the machines now running at MSU's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. In some cases, 100,000 times more. It will be used to provide intense beams of rare isotopes for researchers which will lay the groundwork for study in a number of fields, including treating cancer and providing technology for border security.

Last week also saw the launch of the Keep Michigan Working program, a partnership of state, local and community officials designed to assist workers and businesses with challenges posed by the economic downturn. Head over to mLive to read more about the program that will focus on attracting businesses through financial incentives and developing a workforce to support emerging industries like alternative energy, life sciences and information technology. Be sure to also check out the info on the Keeping Michigan Working site including a list of high-demand jobs & job facilitators in your area of Michigan.

I had hopes yesterday that I'd be able to include the Lions triumphantly fighting off NFL history in this feature. I think we all could have guessed how that turned out. However, even though they moved to 0-15 and a heartbeat from "worst team ever", Lions kicker Jason Hanson set an NFL record for most career field goals over 50 yards. Congratulations to a real class act! Here's Jason Hanson's Wikipedia page and also his player bio from the Detroit Lions.

There's pretty much zero chance that I'm NOT going to post a link to an article titled "Proton beam group forms". More here.

The photo is Attacked by a lamp post (150) by caterpillars. It's part of her Detroit show. Yow.

Hands at Work by detroitsky

Tim Pulice's Pulice Report blog has announced the Arresting Site of the Month for May 2008. The inaugural selection is Michigan Innovators and Tim writes:

I first ran across this terrific online destination last summer, which dovetails perfectly with the spirit of this blog, wherein I look to spotlight Michiganders who display creative zeal. Bud Gibson is doing just that. Along with Diana Wong – who now is in an advisory role – Gibson founded the site in June of 2007, and has compiled an impressive archive of video interviews with business and community leaders across the state, including MicroMax's Rachel McCormack, the Ann Arbor Film Festival’s Donald Harrison, Metro Parent’s Alyssa Martina, Blight Busters' John George, and many others...

Read on and learn how to submit your favorite Michigan web site or blog.

This true story, narrated with present-tense immediacy, begins with John flat on his back in a local health club, gasping for air. It ends thirty-one months and four thousand miles later when he, Barbara, and their two youngest children maneuver their sailboat, Grace, into Schull Harbor, Ireland. A gritty account of their family’s struggle to do better than simply survive, it is also a commentary on how love heals, dreams energize, and trauma can be a wake-up call. From hospital ward to the stormy Atlantic, this hard-edge story will resonate with anyone who has struggled with profound adversity - be it coronary disease, cancer, or the “heavy weather” that unexpectedly blows through every life.

You can hear a podcast interview with John on the sailing show Furled Sails and learn more about the Otterbachers and their travels at their web site.

The Michigan Notable Books program annually selects 20 of the most notable books published in the year. The selections are reflective of Michigan's diverse ethnic, historical, literary, and cultural experience. You can click to view more Notable Books featured on Absolute Michigan and learn more about the program at www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.

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.

# # #

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.

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.

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.

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.

(not) Getting the job done

Countdown to Chaos notes that if the Legislature and Governor fail to pass a balanced budget by Oct. 1, they will have failed to perform the only job that Michigan's Constitution requires them to do. You can click over there, read about what will be affected and (if you want) send a message to your elected officials. Does anyone else get the feeling that those on both sides of the aisle are perpetually surprised that what they do has an actual impact on Michigan?

Ben Franklin was a smart dude

Following up on the theme of "you can't expect to live in a place that's worth a darn if you don't invest in it" comes this feature from Celeste at Our Michigan titled Mr. Franklin's advice for Michigan. It's the best thing I read this week ... so go read it.

One, two, three strikes and the Tigers are out

Short of a giant meteor changing the pennant race, I have to agree with the Freep's Michael Rosenberg that the Cleveland's sweep of Detroit makes it time to look at why the Tigers missed the playoffs in 2007. He thinks it comes down to two main factors: not enough pitching and too many injuries and quotes Tiger third baseman Brandon Inge as saying: "To get to the playoffs, first off you have to have a lot of talent, which we do. Secondly, you have to stay healthy, which we did not. It makes it tough."

She blinded me with Science (blogs)

Bootstrap Analysis (of my favorite blogs) notes that The Scientist magazine is asking folks to vote for their favorite life sciences blogs. They're hoping to compile a list of the best life science blogs and with topics ranging from partial immortalization to pharma gossip to cephalopod sex, you're guaranteed to learn something. So click over, cast a comment for a favorite and find some new blogs! (I found Jacks of Science to be delightfully strange)

Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan

I got to the end and realized that in the two months since the last Five Things post, I had forgotten two of the required items: something about the photo and a profile of a place in Michigan. Using my amazing powers of wrapping stuff up in a neat package, I'm going to say that Universities count as places and give you a link to Grand Valley State University. GVSU is a four-year public university that was established in 1960 and provides a fully accredited liberal arts undergraduate and graduate education to more than 22,000 students in all kinds of programs including Health Sciences, which are taught in the GVSU Health Sciences Bldg that was so brilliantly photographed by Paul Harwood. Paul has a lot of great pics that give you a look at everyday life in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.

Summer Night in Old Town by sabatoa

The Model D empire continues its inexorable march to talk about what's going right in Michigan cities with Lansing Area Capital Gains. The first issue includes a feature by managing editor Brad Garmon on the resurgence of Michigan's Capital City that begins:

It doesn't take an urban planner or a census taker to tell you that Lansing has turned some subtle but significant corner on its transformative journey to thriving cityhood. All it takes is a Thursday visit to the corner of Michigan Avenue and Larch Street on a hot summer night when the Lansing Lugnuts are in town...

As with other Model D productions, they blend well written articles with excellent photography and neighborhood profiles (Old Town is their first feature) to deliver a two-fisted uppercut to the jaw to the Michigan's moaning mainstream media.

Watch Sicko online ... if you want

After I read this interview with Michigan's most controversial filmmaker Michael Moore where he says he has no idea how his new documentary about the health care industry got on the internet, and that he's "...just happy that people get to see my movies," I figured it would be OK to link to a site where you can watch Sicko online. Here's the link to the official Sicko web site and also Absolute Michigan keyword theater (if you want to watch it with someone else making the popcorn).

The Birds of Brush Park

Bootstrap Analysis takes a visit to Detroit's Brush Park neighborhood to survey for birds and feed an interest in Detroit history. In addition to picking up some surprising birds - a Cooper's Hawk being pursued by an American Kestrel, and two different Gray Catbirds defending their territories - there's also a lot of photos and information on what was once the city's most posh neighborhood.

Brush Park - 291 Edmund Place

While I was tempted to trot out the ever-popular Old Slumpy today, I thought it best to choose a photo that shows the revitalization of Brush Park. The condos pictured are available to rent at edmundplace.com. Zunzuncito has a set of Brush park photos and also runs the blog Urban Dragon Hunters (about dragonflies of SE Michigan).

Michigan wines are a growth industry

In her new Michigan Grapevine blog, Cari Noga says that rather than counting the number of wineries in the state (50 or so), the best measure of success and growth is the total amount of wine these wineries are producing. In 1996, Michigan wineries made about 82,000 cases. 10 years later, we've seen almost a tenfold increase, up to 404,276 cases. She also notes that Michigan's share of wine sold within the state is increasing as well (though not at the rate of overall production). Read How much wine are we talking about, anyway?.

Fremont, Michigan

As with most of Michigan, the Fremont forecast calls for a good chance of much-needed rain. The City of Fremont (pop. 4200 or so) is located less than an hour from Grand Rapids and the Lake Michigan shore (view Google map). The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce says that Fremont is home to the world's largest baby food company, Gerber Products. In fact, they have a National Babyfood Festival every July which Absolute Michigan keyword Fremont thinks is the coolest thing to do. For the insatiably curious, Wikipedia's Fremont entry describes how Fremont became home to Gerber Products.

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.

Bridge by Kathy

The Center for Michigan sends a weekly email newsletter that takes a look at Michigan's problems AND potential solutions from a perspective that is neither Republican nor Democrat - ie. the approach that will probably be required to get our partisanly polarized political process back on the rails.

Rather than weigh you down with yet another list of reasons that we are doomed, Fresh Thoughts for Michigan Moderates offers brief summaries and great links for everything from a call by Nolan Finley to make Michigan a Right to Work state to some no-nonsense recommendations by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network:

Michigan's State government is lurching from one political crisis to the next. Imagine better politics. Imagine a better functioning democracy where every voice has equal standing, and every citizen feels the full responsibility of citizenship. Better politics should lead to better public policies and a clearer, more purposeful course for our future.

A Case for Political Reform in Michigan includes rationale for 33 political reforms in the areas of campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, term limits, redistricting, election administration, judicial independence and enforce.

This is quite simply the best email I receive and I cannot recommend it enough - register right here.

The High by DA2Brian

From the Silver Lining Department: GROW Detroit called out this Detroit Free Press article (Michigan does good job of preparing kids for college, survey finds) saying that Michigan was cited as one of the three states (along with Kentucky and Indiana) most closely aligning state curriculum with college expectations (view Michigan's new mandated curriculum). The ACT National Curriculum Survey asked middle school, high school and post-secondary teachers what they think students need to learn for work or college.

The survey found that a 30-year gap in what is taught and what students need for college persists, despite a national trend in states working on curriculum standards, suggesting that fewer and more targeted state standards may be preferable to standards that touch on a multitude of topics.

This seems like a good time to give a shout out to Did You Know, a pretty eye-opening presentation on education as it relates to the future. The fact that the top 10 in-demand jobs for 2010 didn't even exist in 2004 should be enough to say to anyone that we need to look a little harder at what we are teaching and how we will learn through life.

Click here to view the embedded video.

GVSU Cook-DeVos Center for
Health Sciences by docksidepress

The Great Lakes IT Reports says that the Van Andel Institute and Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids have formed a new joint venture, the Center for Molecular Medicine. The Center will offer molecular technologies for investigation of complex diseases like cancer, heart disease, mental illness and other conditions at the DNA, RNA and protein levels.

Daniel H. Farkas, Ph.D., a nationally respected leader in the field of molecular diagnostics, has been named Executive Director of the CMM. Richard C. Breon, President & CEO, Spectrum Health said:

"The Center for Molecular Medicine is an investment in the future of health care. It accelerates the drive toward personalized medicine – the tailoring of treatment based on molecular make-up. We are very fortunate to have an individual of Dan Farkas' caliber on board as we work to offer physicians and their patients the most advanced diagnostic treatment options available - options typically offered only at the nation's largest academic medical research centers."

More information at the Center for Molecular Medicine web site (also check out the news release).

On the Road Again by docksidepress

Ford to Offer Small Bonuses
This first bit of news is brought to you by the letters W, T & F. The Freep is reporting that despite buyouts and a $12.7-billion loss last year, Ford Motor Co. announced bonuses yesterday - between $300-800 for salaried workers or more for management.
Read All Ford workers will get bonuses

Alternative Energy & Fuel Standard Fighting
Speaking of cars - or at least what powers them - Jeremy & Dave over at GROW Detroit are doing great work on covering alternative energy developments in Michigan. Most recently, a new bio-diesel plant in Milan and a "Green Generation" program that is producing electricity from a landfill north of Marshall. They also look at growing congressional impatience with foot-dragging on new fuel economy standards and offer a healthy dose of perspective:

Just as a matter of historical perspective, it is worth noting that Ford's Model T got 21 mpg and was a "flex-fuel" vehicle capable of running on gasoline or ethanol. The Model A released in 1927 got 30 mpg — which is comparable or better than Ford's entire 2007 line!

Check out Energy Series–Part 5: New Michigan initiatives prove commitment and The Worst Gridlock is in Our Heads, Michigan from GROW.

Hanging by Lars Jensen

Walking the Lake Superior Shore in Winter
The Mining Journal has a story about Ed Shively, a Minnesota man who is attempting to walk the ice on the southern shore of Lake Superior from the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie to Duluth, MN to promote his software (which sounds kind of cool). Shively wears snowshoes to disperse his weight over the ice, a dry suit in case he breaks through the ice (which he has) and an ice pick to get out (which he has as well). He's also blogging his trip by satellite phone, so check it out!
See Minnesota man tries walk across lake ice in the Mining Journal

Free Climate Change Symposium at MSU
Speaking of cool blogs, WWJ Newsradio says that the Michigan State University Environmental Science and Policy Program will host a free international symposium on climate change. Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region: Decision Making Under Uncertainty will take place March 15-16 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.
MSU to host international climate change symposium

Retired Detroit Police & Firefighter Sue for Benefits
The Detroit News reports that retired Detroit police officers, firefighters and their families are in a court battle over city-imposed cuts to their health care benefits. Detroit has a retiree health care tab of almost $200 million that could approach $300 million by 2009. The city's precarious finances would become much more so if they are forced to restore benefits for thenearly 8,000 affected and the whole issue raises the question of what responsibility employers have to honor their promises to retired employees.
8,000 city retirees fight benefit cuts in the DN.

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

Downtown Kalamazoo by Paladin27

Pfizer Inc. announced Monday afternoon that will close its enormous Ann Arbor research facilities and part of its operations in Kalamazoo, leaving 2,410 of its Michigan employees unemployed. The layoffs will occur between now and the end of 2008 and are part of a larger "streamlining" that will eventually result in 10,000 jobs cut globally.

Governor Jennifer Granholm met with press and city leaders this afternoon following the announcement. “We’re going to have a whole ‘Stick Around Ann Arbor’ campaign for these employees, because we want them to stay here,” Granholm said. The Governor admits that she was caught off guard as life sciences was one of the areas that Michigan had been heavily recruiting both companies and employees through economic development incentives and groups like Ann Arbor Spark.

Ann Arbor based Edward Vielmetti's Vaccum has an excellent roundup of analysis and local reaction. As proof that pretty much anything can be viewed through blue or red colored glasses, That's Saul, folks and Michigan Liberal offer opposing views and reaction from folks across the state. Also see Bitter Pill in the Detroit News.

UPDATE JAN 24: in No rescue for Pfizer is good thing, Freep columnist Brian Dickerson writes:

We can despair over (Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey) Kindler's insistence that there was nothing Granholm could have done to dissuade his company from quitting Ann Arbor.

Or we can be grateful the governor wasn't tempted to squander any more of Michigan's scarce capital in a doomed try to postpone yet another bloated, uncompetitive company's collision with economic reality.

Because really, haven't we done enough to bail out employers who weren't smart enough, nimble enough, or lucky enough to see the future barreling down on them?

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.

U-M Spiral Staircase by Ryan Munson

The Detroit Free Press reports that yesterday the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University announced an agreement to share research and researchers between the three schools.

In the last five years, the state's three research universities have averaged a patent a day and led to 500 new agreements to license patents or other research for other entities - largely private companies - to use. By sharing research and talent, the universities say they are likely to develop even more marketable technologies, and help Michigan compete when it comes to attracting business and industry.

"We have an absolute responsibility to the state to help transform an economy that is flagging," U-M President Mary Sue Coleman said in a press release. "Together we have achieved much. But we must set our sights higher and do even more to turn ideas into action."

Read U-M, MSU, Wayne launch University Research Corridor in the Freep (some good links there) and also visit the Michigan University Research Corridor web site.

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!)

In his accompanying essay, Jack writes:

...Most of all, the economist says, "we need a new set of attitudes -- creative, highly skilled, flexible and entrepreneurial." The situation is far from hopeless. We have a vibrant higher-tech manufacturing sector. We have an industrial work force, much of which is capable of being retrained and retolled.

Professor Ballard feels strongly that, "If we can make the transition to a new mindset, we really can achieve a vibrant economic future for Michigan." But if that is to happen, it���s clear that we do need to think outside the box. Charles Ballard���s eminently sensible suggestions violate the dogmas of both our fossilized political parties.

Democrats are not going to like some of his suggestions about public employee pensions and health benefits. Republicans will be shocked by his suggestions about taxes. But it all makes sense.

Click for more on Michigan's Economic Future by Charles Ballard and published by MSU Press.

Also see Spartan Podcast's interview with Charles Ballard.