Category Archives: Government

Michigan seeks to use Land Banks for redevelopment

Abandoned Richardsonian Romanesque House in Detroit
( Former James Scott Mansion )
by Derek Farr
Michigan has 29 land bank authorities - more than any state. The Detroit News reports that Michigan is going to try to use these land banks to spur redevelopment and garner nearly $300 million:
With the federal money expected to come in January, cities [...]

The Conference on Michigan's Future

Wind farm in Ubly Michigan by Ray Dumas
The 2nd annual Conference on Michigan's Future will be held Friday November 13 through Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Crystal Mountain Resort near Traverse City.
The conference will explores visions of a sustainable future for Michigan, from the critical challenges facing our economy to strategies for developing a [...]

Growing Stupidity: Will MSU Extension Be Shuttered?

Pumpkin Patch by Larry the Biker
In his essay Threatening Agriculture, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that it looks as if Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will veto funding for agricultural extension programs after witholding the October payment for extension. He quotes dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University Jeffrey [...]

Michigan Wind Energy Zones & Windmills in the Water

167|365 ride the wind by nicole st. john
The Huron Daily Tribune noted last week in Final report: Wind potential high that the final report issued Thursday by the Michigan Wind Energy Resource Zone Board (view PDF) identified key regions for wind energy generation and a potential annual energy output of an eye-popping 17,720,522 megawatts! [...]

November Michigan Event Calendar 2009

November by Karen from Michigan
Here's a bunch Michigan festivals & events for the month of November. As usual, there's no way to get them all, so please add links and information about the one's we've missed (or reviews of ones we have here) in the comments below.
November Fast Facts

The Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak [...]

Weird Wednesday: The Pierson Beavers – a Dam Shame

The last Wednesday of every month is a "Weird Wednesday" on Absolute Michigan, when Linda Godfrey gives you a sample of what's weird in the Wolverine State. You can listen to Linda's latest podcasts and read her blog at uncannyworld.com and also check out her books including Weird Michigan & Strange Michigan.
The [...]

Report from the 2009 Michigan Downtown Conference

Michigan downtowns, courtesy the photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool.

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Today I'm at the Michigan Downtown Conference in Lansing. This morning I'll be posting some updates from the conference as I'm able. This afternoon I'm on a panel with Julielyn Gibbons, Ryan Knott and Bigby Coffee co-founder Bob Fish, talking about [...]

Seeking Michigan: Hot dogs, Strohs and the President

by Bob Garrett, Archives of Michigan, courtesy Seeking Michigan. The goal of Seeking Michigan is simple: to connect you to the stories of this great state. Visit them regularly for a dynamic & evolving look at Michigan’s cultural heritage.
On September 1, 1980, Emil and Mary Petri hosted a Labor Day picnic to remember. Their guests [...]

Michigan Rated #1 in Social Media Tourism Promotion

Travel Michigan has announced that it has earned the top-ranking amongst the 50 official US tourism office Web sites in the use of social media. In a recent study, How Social is Your State DMO (national break down pdf), How Social is Your State DMO (Michigan by city break down pdf) conducted by Gammet Interactive, [...]

Michitwitter Rewind August 2009

Saline Summer Sunflower Super Set...Sweet by Andy Tanguay
Throughout each month we post items of Michicentric interest to our Michitwitter page. In case you missed them here is a look back at just a few of those items for the month of August. If you find these interesting there are plenty more for you to check [...]