A model of collaboration between business, government and allied organizations dedicated to quality of life improvements is gaining high marks from those who measure and promote regionalism.
Kudos came for The West Michigan Strategic Alliance prior to celebration of its 10th anniversary at its annual State of the Region event, with findings on how West Michigan measures up against 26 other regions and is a model national case study of regional collaboration.
WMSA was formed in 2000 by a group of community leaders from across West Michigan who viewed collaboration among businesses and institutions and across municipal and county lines to be a key to the quality of life in the region. WMSA's pursuit of its mission “to be a catalyst for regional collaboration” and resulted in a number of successful initiatives, including: Green Infrastructure, WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development), West Michigan Internship Initiative, Regional Indicators, Regional Sustainable Manufacturing, and Clean Cities.
“Over the past decade, we've formed thousands of trusting relationships across the region and across government, business and institutional sectors,” said James Brooks, the Holland businessman who is one of the WMSA founders. “Our capacity to work together to respond to common challenges and opportunities has improved immensely.”
WMSA's success in regional leadership was noted in a report by the Washington, DC-based Council on Competitiveness (http://www.compete.org/). The report, “National Prosperity/Regional Leadership,” features WMSA as one of five case studies of regional collaboration in the United States. WMSA was specifically praised for its 2002 “Common Framework” report that started creating a regional mindset in West Michigan.
“The new tasks of regional leadership start with telling the region's story and concludes with establishing metrics to keep score of how you are doing,‟ said Samuel Leiken, vice president of the Council and keynote speaker at the State of the Region event. “West Michigan has done those things particularly well.”
The Council analysis ranks West Michigan ranks 9th overall among 26 similar U.S. regions on key social, economic, and environmental indicators. West Michigan was 17th on economic indicators, 10th on social indicators, and 6th on key environmental indicators. This years report added achievement targets for 2015 on each of the 15 indicators. In keeping with the axiom that you can't measure, WMSA is also at work creating metrics for more specific initiatives.
“The achievement targets for five years down the road are new this year,” reports Greg Northrup, WMSA president. “Our first several reports were benchmark data. We added the 26 peer regions last year. Now we want to not only know where we stand but set specific targets to improve our quality of life on these key indicators.”
The West Michigan Strategic Alliance fosters collaboration among the businesses, institutions and governmental units serving more than 1.4 million people living in a eight-county region including: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo and Ottawa. WMSA works to encourage a regional mindset and foster collaboration on critical issues that impact how residents live, learn, work and play. Additional information is available at http://www.wm-alliance.org/
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Innovation buzz being noticed nationwide
Shaking the rust from it's rep, Michigan continues to draw nationwide attention for diversified business innovation.
Example: the technology and business online news network Xconomy (http://www.xconomy.com/) recently launched its fourth local channel, for Detroit, complementing others in Boston, Seattle and San Diego. That's impressive company to be keeping, considering the Motor City doesn't rev nearly as high in terms of venture capital and favorable climate for entrepreneurs.
But Xconomy Founder and Editor-in-Chief Robert Buderi says that, while other cities have more robust activity in key areas such as information technology and life sciences, "the innovation story playing out in Michigan is just as important, and in fact, the stakes may be far higher. To compete globally and thrive far into the future, the American auto industry will need to continue to reinvent itself. At the same time, entrepreneurs and government leaders recognize that the region needs a much broader economic base." That innovation, Buderi notes, has led to a profusion of investments in areas outside or peripherally related to the automotive industry, including biotechnology, biofuels, batteries, medical devices, software, and homeland security.
Xconomy Detroit will cover business investment, innovation and exponential economic growth (the xconomy factor) in Motown, much of the rest of Michigan, and northern Ohio.
Announcing the launch of the Detroit channel, Bruderi said, "scores of creative businesspeople and entrepreneurs are waiting to tell their stories and share their insights. And because we believe in the power of innovation and entrepreneurship to transform regional economies, we want to be on the ground in Detroit to hear what they have to say and watch the progress of their incredibly important efforts."
MI perspective: The juxtaposition of Detroit, even on a web page nav bar, with innovation hothouses such as Boston and San Diego can only help change the city's imprint on the nation's psyche. And the timing couldn't be better, considering general media coverage such as the recent "Dateline" special highlighting Mayor Bing's plan for downsizing the city. Xconomy, which also gained attention in the Wall Street Journal with it's new Detroit edition, gives greater voice to the descriptions of new economic beginnings, and a new day dawning, in Michigan.
Example: the technology and business online news network Xconomy (http://www.xconomy.com/) recently launched its fourth local channel, for Detroit, complementing others in Boston, Seattle and San Diego. That's impressive company to be keeping, considering the Motor City doesn't rev nearly as high in terms of venture capital and favorable climate for entrepreneurs.
But Xconomy Founder and Editor-in-Chief Robert Buderi says that, while other cities have more robust activity in key areas such as information technology and life sciences, "the innovation story playing out in Michigan is just as important, and in fact, the stakes may be far higher. To compete globally and thrive far into the future, the American auto industry will need to continue to reinvent itself. At the same time, entrepreneurs and government leaders recognize that the region needs a much broader economic base." That innovation, Buderi notes, has led to a profusion of investments in areas outside or peripherally related to the automotive industry, including biotechnology, biofuels, batteries, medical devices, software, and homeland security.
Xconomy Detroit will cover business investment, innovation and exponential economic growth (the xconomy factor) in Motown, much of the rest of Michigan, and northern Ohio.
Announcing the launch of the Detroit channel, Bruderi said, "scores of creative businesspeople and entrepreneurs are waiting to tell their stories and share their insights. And because we believe in the power of innovation and entrepreneurship to transform regional economies, we want to be on the ground in Detroit to hear what they have to say and watch the progress of their incredibly important efforts."
MI perspective: The juxtaposition of Detroit, even on a web page nav bar, with innovation hothouses such as Boston and San Diego can only help change the city's imprint on the nation's psyche. And the timing couldn't be better, considering general media coverage such as the recent "Dateline" special highlighting Mayor Bing's plan for downsizing the city. Xconomy, which also gained attention in the Wall Street Journal with it's new Detroit edition, gives greater voice to the descriptions of new economic beginnings, and a new day dawning, in Michigan.
Ford posts $2B quarterly net profit
Ford Motor Company yesterday reported first quarter 2010 net of $2.1 billion, or 50 cents per share, a $3.5 billion improvement from first quarter 2009, boosted by strong-selling products, improvements in its global Automotive operations, and higher profits at Ford Credit.
Excluding special items, Ford reported pre-tax operating profit of $2 billion, or 46 cents per share, an improvement of $4 billion from a year ago. It marked Ford’s highest quarterly pre-tax operating profit in six years.
Ford North America posted first quarter pre-tax operating profit of more than $1.2 billion, a $1.9 billion improvement from first quarter 2009, as a result of higher volume and mix and favorable net pricing. Ford operations in South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa as well as Ford Credit also posted pre-tax operating profits in the first quarter and improved results over the same period in 2009.
“The Ford team around the world achieved another very solid quarter, and we are delivering profitable growth,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “Our plan is working, and the basic engine that drives our business results – products, market share, revenue and cost structure – is performing stronger each quarter, even as the economy and vehicle demand remain relatively soft.”
Excluding special items, Ford reported pre-tax operating profit of $2 billion, or 46 cents per share, an improvement of $4 billion from a year ago. It marked Ford’s highest quarterly pre-tax operating profit in six years.
Ford North America posted first quarter pre-tax operating profit of more than $1.2 billion, a $1.9 billion improvement from first quarter 2009, as a result of higher volume and mix and favorable net pricing. Ford operations in South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa as well as Ford Credit also posted pre-tax operating profits in the first quarter and improved results over the same period in 2009.
“The Ford team around the world achieved another very solid quarter, and we are delivering profitable growth,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “Our plan is working, and the basic engine that drives our business results – products, market share, revenue and cost structure – is performing stronger each quarter, even as the economy and vehicle demand remain relatively soft.”
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Kalamazoo lands software firm's new office
A Houston-based analytic software company that counts some of the nation's leading firms among its clients will open a new office May 1 at Western Michigan University's Business Technology and Research Park.
The software solutions company, PolyVista, will open a business development office in Kalamazoo and will immediately hire and train 10 to 20 young recruits who will become part of a customer interface and business development team.
"Our top priority is finding talent," says PolyVista's Jim Willard, who will lead the Kalamazoo office. "I'll be building a team that can focus on finding new homes for our technology."
PolyVista, which has a close relationship with Microsoft, currently counts among its client list such firms as Hewlett Packard, Southwest Airlines and Trane. Launched in 1995 with technology developed by scientists from the former Soviet Union, the company has put its patented engine to work analyzing data in such areas as trade compliance, reliability, marketing and operations and in such industries as finance, energy, transportation, insurance and manufacturing. It provides businesses with access to a search engine capable of analyzing data and discerning patterns and issues in a way that exceeds the scope of normal business intelligence operations
The PolyVista engine, Willard says, can focus on any combination of data --structured or nonstructured -- and can point to data relationships that were not previously defined for analysis.
"What you don't know is in the data is what PolyVista is all about," Willard says. "Sometimes it's not about finding the answers to questions in the data as much as it is about knowing what questions should be asked. Our engine can center on any kind of data and it can read and find meaning in such things as word patterns on blogs and customer comments. We're capable of the same kind of data analysis and text mining that is done for national security reasons, but we're able to do it within the budget constraints most companies can afford."
Southwest Airlines, for instance, uses PolyVista’s text and data-mining analysis tools to enhance the analysis capability for data in its pilot reporting program. Trane uses PolyVista tools for early detection of warranty-related issues. The company can then correct them and pass the information on to its engineering and design teams to avoid problems in future products.
The move to Kalamazoo is a strategic move to expand PolyVista's base, says Willard, who is a Michigan native. Although the company was originally focused on expansion in Northern Virginia, Michigan proved to be an attractive alternative because of the relatively low cost of doing business in the state and the focus on growth and business outreach. The opportunity to locate in a university community also was high on the company's wish list for expansion.
"Five years ago, this wouldn't have worked for us," Willard says, "but there's been a major culture shift in Michigan and a move away from the legacy thinking that was once dominant. We really like the environment and the entrepreneurial spirit we find here now."
According to Willard, staffing needs for the new operation are his top priority in the coming weeks. The young people he hires, he notes, are likely to be recent grads ready for a career-launching experience. He's looking for graduates particularly in the areas of sales and promotion, marketing and public relations.
"We are looking for talented kids who will be able to interact with very senior level executives and serve as liaisons between those execs and the rest of our company. They’ll be exposed to what is really a high-level consulting business."
WMU's Business Technology and Research Park focuses on the life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology. Information is available at www.wmich.edu/btr.
The software solutions company, PolyVista, will open a business development office in Kalamazoo and will immediately hire and train 10 to 20 young recruits who will become part of a customer interface and business development team.
"Our top priority is finding talent," says PolyVista's Jim Willard, who will lead the Kalamazoo office. "I'll be building a team that can focus on finding new homes for our technology."
PolyVista, which has a close relationship with Microsoft, currently counts among its client list such firms as Hewlett Packard, Southwest Airlines and Trane. Launched in 1995 with technology developed by scientists from the former Soviet Union, the company has put its patented engine to work analyzing data in such areas as trade compliance, reliability, marketing and operations and in such industries as finance, energy, transportation, insurance and manufacturing. It provides businesses with access to a search engine capable of analyzing data and discerning patterns and issues in a way that exceeds the scope of normal business intelligence operations
The PolyVista engine, Willard says, can focus on any combination of data --structured or nonstructured -- and can point to data relationships that were not previously defined for analysis.
"What you don't know is in the data is what PolyVista is all about," Willard says. "Sometimes it's not about finding the answers to questions in the data as much as it is about knowing what questions should be asked. Our engine can center on any kind of data and it can read and find meaning in such things as word patterns on blogs and customer comments. We're capable of the same kind of data analysis and text mining that is done for national security reasons, but we're able to do it within the budget constraints most companies can afford."
Southwest Airlines, for instance, uses PolyVista’s text and data-mining analysis tools to enhance the analysis capability for data in its pilot reporting program. Trane uses PolyVista tools for early detection of warranty-related issues. The company can then correct them and pass the information on to its engineering and design teams to avoid problems in future products.
The move to Kalamazoo is a strategic move to expand PolyVista's base, says Willard, who is a Michigan native. Although the company was originally focused on expansion in Northern Virginia, Michigan proved to be an attractive alternative because of the relatively low cost of doing business in the state and the focus on growth and business outreach. The opportunity to locate in a university community also was high on the company's wish list for expansion.
"Five years ago, this wouldn't have worked for us," Willard says, "but there's been a major culture shift in Michigan and a move away from the legacy thinking that was once dominant. We really like the environment and the entrepreneurial spirit we find here now."
According to Willard, staffing needs for the new operation are his top priority in the coming weeks. The young people he hires, he notes, are likely to be recent grads ready for a career-launching experience. He's looking for graduates particularly in the areas of sales and promotion, marketing and public relations.
"We are looking for talented kids who will be able to interact with very senior level executives and serve as liaisons between those execs and the rest of our company. They’ll be exposed to what is really a high-level consulting business."
WMU's Business Technology and Research Park focuses on the life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology. Information is available at www.wmich.edu/btr.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Conference to explore security opportunities
Michigan companies will this summer get a hot new opportunity to explore growth initiatives at the Northern Border Security Conference, scheduled for July 27–28 in Dearborn.
At the conference, officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be exploring relationships with Michigan companies that can meet high-priority needs and fill technology gaps identified by DHS. Target attendees include entrepreneurs, scientists and advanced technology providers, as well as those in law enforcement/border security, heavy manufacturing and automotive industry businesses. The conference will include government decision-makers and industry leaders from around the country.
“More than any other state in the country, Michigan is best suited for a Northern Border Security Conference," according to Leslie Touma, founder and CEO of the Michigan Security Network. "Our accomplished engineering and scientific community, our committed business leaders, our globally respected universities and our indisputable geographic advantage — which includes the largest commercial border crossing in the country — make Michigan uniquely qualified to be a national leader in key growth areas of the homeland security market."
Conference registration opens Monday, April 26. For information regarding sponsorships and exhibitor information, phone Leslie Smith – MiSN Conference Manager, at 248/353-0735 (x152). The MiSN web address is http://www.michigansecuritynetwork.com/index.html.
At the conference, officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be exploring relationships with Michigan companies that can meet high-priority needs and fill technology gaps identified by DHS. Target attendees include entrepreneurs, scientists and advanced technology providers, as well as those in law enforcement/border security, heavy manufacturing and automotive industry businesses. The conference will include government decision-makers and industry leaders from around the country.
“More than any other state in the country, Michigan is best suited for a Northern Border Security Conference," according to Leslie Touma, founder and CEO of the Michigan Security Network. "Our accomplished engineering and scientific community, our committed business leaders, our globally respected universities and our indisputable geographic advantage — which includes the largest commercial border crossing in the country — make Michigan uniquely qualified to be a national leader in key growth areas of the homeland security market."
Conference registration opens Monday, April 26. For information regarding sponsorships and exhibitor information, phone Leslie Smith – MiSN Conference Manager, at 248/353-0735 (x152). The MiSN web address is http://www.michigansecuritynetwork.com/index.html.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
School pact builds in-state pharma talent
The University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University have inked an agreement that should help develop employees for the state's health care industry.
A new initiative, dubbed the Pharmacy Preferred Admission Program, will offer preferred admission into the U-M doctoral pharmacy program to a small number of promising Grand Valley freshmen. The U-M College of Pharmacy will reserve up to eight positions annually in its four-year PharmD doctoral program for admittance of Grand Valley freshmen who complete a rigorous undergraduate program of pre-pharmacy coursework and other requirements.
"This is an exciting example of two Michigan institutions of higher education working together to address mutual goals," said Frank Ascione, dean of the U-M College of Pharmacy.
"This program allows the U-M College of Pharmacy to tap into a new pool of in-state talent," Ascione said. "At the same time, it creates opportunities for outstanding Grand Valley students who may not have considered this to be a possible career path."
The agreement was signed Friday by U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas at a meeting of the U-M Board of Regents in Grand Rapids.
Grand Valley State University does not have a pharmacy school. But it offers graduate-level programs in health-related fields that include nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, health science, and health administration.
"This partnership further expands the breadth of health profession program offerings available to students by bringing together two premier institutions," said Jean Nagelkerk, Grand Valley's vice provost for health.
"As Grand Valley contributes to the development of the future pharmacy workforce, this agreement will enhance our presence as a partner in Michigan's growing health care community," Nagelkerk said. "It also benefits Grand Valley's students, who will have access to one of the top pharmacy educational programs in the nation."
The U-M College of Pharmacy receives about 500 applications annually for 80 openings in its highly regarded PharmD doctoral program. Under the new agreement, up to eight of those positions will be reserved for Grand Valley students who successfully complete the Preferred Admission Program.
It is the first collaboration of its kind that the U-M College of Pharmacy has formed with another university. The first group of participating freshmen will be admitted to the program in the fall of 2011.
"We don't have an undergraduate program on the western side of the state. But this initiative allows us to work with Grand Valley to identify talented, motivated students from western Michigan who are eager to pursue careers in pharmacy," U-M's Ascione said. "Grand Valley will identify those high-potential students, then we will work together to make sure they meet our high standards."
This is the second preferred-admission agreement between U-M and Grand Valley. A 2009 agreement enables selected U-M kinesiology students to enter Grand Valley's master's degree program in occupational therapy.
A new initiative, dubbed the Pharmacy Preferred Admission Program, will offer preferred admission into the U-M doctoral pharmacy program to a small number of promising Grand Valley freshmen. The U-M College of Pharmacy will reserve up to eight positions annually in its four-year PharmD doctoral program for admittance of Grand Valley freshmen who complete a rigorous undergraduate program of pre-pharmacy coursework and other requirements.
"This is an exciting example of two Michigan institutions of higher education working together to address mutual goals," said Frank Ascione, dean of the U-M College of Pharmacy.
"This program allows the U-M College of Pharmacy to tap into a new pool of in-state talent," Ascione said. "At the same time, it creates opportunities for outstanding Grand Valley students who may not have considered this to be a possible career path."
The agreement was signed Friday by U-M President Mary Sue Coleman and Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas at a meeting of the U-M Board of Regents in Grand Rapids.
Grand Valley State University does not have a pharmacy school. But it offers graduate-level programs in health-related fields that include nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, health science, and health administration.
"This partnership further expands the breadth of health profession program offerings available to students by bringing together two premier institutions," said Jean Nagelkerk, Grand Valley's vice provost for health.
"As Grand Valley contributes to the development of the future pharmacy workforce, this agreement will enhance our presence as a partner in Michigan's growing health care community," Nagelkerk said. "It also benefits Grand Valley's students, who will have access to one of the top pharmacy educational programs in the nation."
The U-M College of Pharmacy receives about 500 applications annually for 80 openings in its highly regarded PharmD doctoral program. Under the new agreement, up to eight of those positions will be reserved for Grand Valley students who successfully complete the Preferred Admission Program.
It is the first collaboration of its kind that the U-M College of Pharmacy has formed with another university. The first group of participating freshmen will be admitted to the program in the fall of 2011.
"We don't have an undergraduate program on the western side of the state. But this initiative allows us to work with Grand Valley to identify talented, motivated students from western Michigan who are eager to pursue careers in pharmacy," U-M's Ascione said. "Grand Valley will identify those high-potential students, then we will work together to make sure they meet our high standards."
This is the second preferred-admission agreement between U-M and Grand Valley. A 2009 agreement enables selected U-M kinesiology students to enter Grand Valley's master's degree program in occupational therapy.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wind-power potential lauded
The trade group American Wind Energy Association affirms that wind power is a natural fit for Michigan's natural and human resources.
Projects across the state already generate more than 143 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power some 40,000 homes, according to the Association. Another 20 megawatts are already under construction, and a total of more than 2,500 megawatts of capacity are reportedly being planned. Michigan ranks 26th among states for current capacity, and 14th in potential capacity.
That potential stems both from Michigan's natural resources -- particularly offshore along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula.
The AWEA's new annual report says many of Michigan workers' skills "easily transfer to wind energy manufacturing, providing thousands of new jobs and spurring billions in investment.” It's estimated that wind power initiatives currently support more than 3,000 jobs in Michigan, with growth coming as more state manufacturers enter the market to support projects nationwide.
And just how big is that nationwide potential? Far from a pipedream of tree-huggers, the AWEA annual report shows wind power is a serious, and growing, business:
•All 50 states have jobs in the wind industry.
•Approximately 85,000 people are employed in the wind industry today and hold jobs in areas as varied as turbine component manufacturing, construction and installation of wind turbines, wind turbine operations and maintenance, legal and marketing services, transportation and logistical services, and more.
•To ensure a skilled workforce across the wind energy industry, 205 educational programs now offer a certificate, degree, or coursework related to wind energy. Of these 205 programs, the largest segments are university and college programs (45%) and community colleges or technical school programs (43%).
•Despite the economic downturn, the demand for small wind systems for residential and small business use (rated capacity of 100 kW or less) grew 15% in 2009, adding 20 MW of generating capacity to the nation. Seven small wind turbine manufacturing facilities were opened, announced or expanded in 2009.
"Jobs, business opportunities, clean air, energy security—wind power is delivering today on all those fronts for Americans," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "Our annual report documents an industry hard at work and on the verge of explosive growth if the right policies—including a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) -- are put in place. A national RES will provide the long-term certainty that businesses need to invest tens of billions of dollars in new installations and manufacturing facilities which would create hundreds of thousands of American jobs."
Projects across the state already generate more than 143 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power some 40,000 homes, according to the Association. Another 20 megawatts are already under construction, and a total of more than 2,500 megawatts of capacity are reportedly being planned. Michigan ranks 26th among states for current capacity, and 14th in potential capacity.
That potential stems both from Michigan's natural resources -- particularly offshore along the west coast of the Lower Peninsula.The AWEA's new annual report says many of Michigan workers' skills "easily transfer to wind energy manufacturing, providing thousands of new jobs and spurring billions in investment.” It's estimated that wind power initiatives currently support more than 3,000 jobs in Michigan, with growth coming as more state manufacturers enter the market to support projects nationwide.
And just how big is that nationwide potential? Far from a pipedream of tree-huggers, the AWEA annual report shows wind power is a serious, and growing, business:
•All 50 states have jobs in the wind industry.
•Approximately 85,000 people are employed in the wind industry today and hold jobs in areas as varied as turbine component manufacturing, construction and installation of wind turbines, wind turbine operations and maintenance, legal and marketing services, transportation and logistical services, and more.
•To ensure a skilled workforce across the wind energy industry, 205 educational programs now offer a certificate, degree, or coursework related to wind energy. Of these 205 programs, the largest segments are university and college programs (45%) and community colleges or technical school programs (43%).
•Despite the economic downturn, the demand for small wind systems for residential and small business use (rated capacity of 100 kW or less) grew 15% in 2009, adding 20 MW of generating capacity to the nation. Seven small wind turbine manufacturing facilities were opened, announced or expanded in 2009.
"Jobs, business opportunities, clean air, energy security—wind power is delivering today on all those fronts for Americans," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "Our annual report documents an industry hard at work and on the verge of explosive growth if the right policies—including a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) -- are put in place. A national RES will provide the long-term certainty that businesses need to invest tens of billions of dollars in new installations and manufacturing facilities which would create hundreds of thousands of American jobs."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Grants will help transition disabled youth
Three Michigan chapters of The Arc of the United States are among 45 localities sharing a $3 million grant supporting a new initiative to help youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The sub-grants, to The Arc Downriver (Wyandotte), The Arc of Kent County and The Arc of Northwest Wayne County, are being awarded as part of the Walmart Foundation School-to-Community Transition Project. The project aims to increase transition outcomes and to build inclusion and involvement of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in independent living, employment, post-secondary education or vocational training, and community, social and civic affairs.
The sub-grants "represent dynamic, new and innovative projects of chapters of The Arc – they will set a high standard in best practices for youth to adult transition initiatives for years to come,” said Peter V. Berns, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc.
Such initiatives help Michigan benefit and grow by developing all of its natural resources as they even as they help people lead richer and more fulfilling lives.
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and ensuring they have opportunities to live better,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Our recent grant to The Arc reinforces our commitment by supporting programs of The Arc across America.”
The sub-grants, to The Arc Downriver (Wyandotte), The Arc of Kent County and The Arc of Northwest Wayne County, are being awarded as part of the Walmart Foundation School-to-Community Transition Project. The project aims to increase transition outcomes and to build inclusion and involvement of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in independent living, employment, post-secondary education or vocational training, and community, social and civic affairs.
The sub-grants "represent dynamic, new and innovative projects of chapters of The Arc – they will set a high standard in best practices for youth to adult transition initiatives for years to come,” said Peter V. Berns, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc.
Such initiatives help Michigan benefit and grow by developing all of its natural resources as they even as they help people lead richer and more fulfilling lives.
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and ensuring they have opportunities to live better,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “Our recent grant to The Arc reinforces our commitment by supporting programs of The Arc across America.”
Monday, April 12, 2010
Report: tax credit boosts economy
Michigan's MEGA tax credit program has yielded considerable job creation for the state, at a reasonable cost per job created, say Upjohn Institute researchers Tim Bartik and George Erickcek in a study released today.
They estimate that by 2007 MEGA had increased Michigan's employment by at least 18,000 jobs, compared to what most likely would have happened had MEGA never existed and the funds instead been used for greater government spending.
Bartik and Erickcek also find that this job creation has come at a relatively low net fiscal cost to the state. The report finds that over the period of 1996 to 2007, MEGA's net cost is no more than $3,500 per job created. According to Bartik, "The net cost of MEGA's job creation is modest compared to the likely economic and social benefits of higher employment rates for Michigan residents."
The report shows that by boosting Michigan's economy, MEGA has increased tax revenues faster than it has increased public service costs. "These fiscal benefits for the state offset about two-thirds of the financial costs of the MEGA credits," said Erickcek.
Michigan's MEGA tax credit program, created in 1995, awards discretionary tax credits to businesses, to encourage them to add or retain jobs in Michigan. The new study estimates that at least 8 percent of the jobs subsidized by MEGA were induced by the program.
"Even though MEGA induces a modest percentage of all the jobs it subsidizes, the program has high economic benefits because of its high multiplier effects," says Erickcek. The report finds that by 2007 MEGA's multiplier effect stood at 3.88—that is, for each job induced by MEGA, an additional 2.88 jobs are created elsewhere in the Michigan economy.
The report's baseline estimates compare the economic impact of MEGA with the alternative of devoting the resources used for MEGA credits to increased government spending. This comparison yields the 18,000-plus jobs figure mentioned above.
The report also analyzes the impact of MEGA versus using the same resources for cuts in Michigan's main state business tax. In that comparison, the report finds that by 2007 MEGA had created 16,700 more jobs than would have been created by using the same resources to cut the Michigan business tax rate. According to Bartik, "MEGA is more targeted at business investment decisions with high multiplier effects."
The report concludes that there would be gains to making the MEGA program more selective. MEGA's benefits would increase by choosing more projects with high multiplier effects, or projects where the MEGA credit would be more likely to influence the location decision. The report's findings suggest that although MEGA already passes a benefit-cost test, reforms could make it even more cost-effective.
"The Employment and Fiscal Effects of Michigan's MEGA Tax Credit Program" is available at http://www.upjohninstitute.org/publications/wp/10-164.pdf.
They estimate that by 2007 MEGA had increased Michigan's employment by at least 18,000 jobs, compared to what most likely would have happened had MEGA never existed and the funds instead been used for greater government spending.
Bartik and Erickcek also find that this job creation has come at a relatively low net fiscal cost to the state. The report finds that over the period of 1996 to 2007, MEGA's net cost is no more than $3,500 per job created. According to Bartik, "The net cost of MEGA's job creation is modest compared to the likely economic and social benefits of higher employment rates for Michigan residents."
The report shows that by boosting Michigan's economy, MEGA has increased tax revenues faster than it has increased public service costs. "These fiscal benefits for the state offset about two-thirds of the financial costs of the MEGA credits," said Erickcek.
Michigan's MEGA tax credit program, created in 1995, awards discretionary tax credits to businesses, to encourage them to add or retain jobs in Michigan. The new study estimates that at least 8 percent of the jobs subsidized by MEGA were induced by the program.
"Even though MEGA induces a modest percentage of all the jobs it subsidizes, the program has high economic benefits because of its high multiplier effects," says Erickcek. The report finds that by 2007 MEGA's multiplier effect stood at 3.88—that is, for each job induced by MEGA, an additional 2.88 jobs are created elsewhere in the Michigan economy.
The report's baseline estimates compare the economic impact of MEGA with the alternative of devoting the resources used for MEGA credits to increased government spending. This comparison yields the 18,000-plus jobs figure mentioned above.
The report also analyzes the impact of MEGA versus using the same resources for cuts in Michigan's main state business tax. In that comparison, the report finds that by 2007 MEGA had created 16,700 more jobs than would have been created by using the same resources to cut the Michigan business tax rate. According to Bartik, "MEGA is more targeted at business investment decisions with high multiplier effects."
The report concludes that there would be gains to making the MEGA program more selective. MEGA's benefits would increase by choosing more projects with high multiplier effects, or projects where the MEGA credit would be more likely to influence the location decision. The report's findings suggest that although MEGA already passes a benefit-cost test, reforms could make it even more cost-effective.
"The Employment and Fiscal Effects of Michigan's MEGA Tax Credit Program" is available at http://www.upjohninstitute.org/publications/wp/10-164.pdf.
Reminder on job-search tax deductions
Amid the scramble to meet the April 15 tax deadline, unemployed Michiganders should be reminded not to overlook deductions for job hunting expenses.
If these expenses, along with other miscellaneous expenses, including unreimbursed employee expenses and professional association membership dues, add up to 2% of the taxpayers’s adjusted gross income, the amount above the 2% threshold becomes eligible for deductions. Many people overlook job search expenses, assuming that they won’t add up to much, according to officials with the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. However, for the long-term unemployed with a significantly reduced adjusted gross income, it is much easier to reach the 2% limit. Add expenses related to professional resume services, job-search related travel, or employment agencies fees and one’s expenses could soar well beyond the 2% level.
More than 3.8 million people joined the ranks of the U.S. unemployed in 2009. About 3.6 million were added to the roles of long-term unemployed (jobless for 27 weeks or longer).
If these expenses, along with other miscellaneous expenses, including unreimbursed employee expenses and professional association membership dues, add up to 2% of the taxpayers’s adjusted gross income, the amount above the 2% threshold becomes eligible for deductions. Many people overlook job search expenses, assuming that they won’t add up to much, according to officials with the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. However, for the long-term unemployed with a significantly reduced adjusted gross income, it is much easier to reach the 2% limit. Add expenses related to professional resume services, job-search related travel, or employment agencies fees and one’s expenses could soar well beyond the 2% level.
More than 3.8 million people joined the ranks of the U.S. unemployed in 2009. About 3.6 million were added to the roles of long-term unemployed (jobless for 27 weeks or longer).
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Three firms ranked Best Places to Work
Three Michigan-based companies made Fortune Magazine’s 2010 “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. The companies include: Quicken Loans, Livonia (#29), Plante & Moran, Southfield (#66), and Herman Miller, Zeeland (#97).
The results were lauded by Dan Mulhern, founder of the Michigan’s Next Great Companies initiative, which promotes the connection between business results and strong corporate culture.
"The Michigan companies featured on Fortune's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list recognize that being a great place to work creates a strategic advantage. The most successful companies understand and unleash the power of their employees,” said Mulhern. "These companies demonstrate that particularly in tough times it’s essential to create a culture that brings out employees’ best.”
The Great Places to Work Institute compiles results from employee responses to its proprietary “trust and culture” survey, as well as information from applicant companies. To be eligible for Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, companies must have at least 1,000 employees. (For more information, visit http://www.greatplacetowork.com/.)
“We work with these companies regularly, see them up close, and know their success is founded on corporate cultures that emphasize shared values, innovation and trust,” said Greg Main, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In addition to companies headquartered in Michigan, others on the 2010 list with significant operations in the state were: Google, Ann Arbor (#04), and SC Johnson, Bay City (#83).
The complete list of 2010 “100 Best Companies to Work For” is available at www.fortune.com/bestcompanies and includes profiles of each company.
The results were lauded by Dan Mulhern, founder of the Michigan’s Next Great Companies initiative, which promotes the connection between business results and strong corporate culture.
"The Michigan companies featured on Fortune's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list recognize that being a great place to work creates a strategic advantage. The most successful companies understand and unleash the power of their employees,” said Mulhern. "These companies demonstrate that particularly in tough times it’s essential to create a culture that brings out employees’ best.”
The Great Places to Work Institute compiles results from employee responses to its proprietary “trust and culture” survey, as well as information from applicant companies. To be eligible for Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, companies must have at least 1,000 employees. (For more information, visit http://www.greatplacetowork.com/.)
“We work with these companies regularly, see them up close, and know their success is founded on corporate cultures that emphasize shared values, innovation and trust,” said Greg Main, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In addition to companies headquartered in Michigan, others on the 2010 list with significant operations in the state were: Google, Ann Arbor (#04), and SC Johnson, Bay City (#83).
The complete list of 2010 “100 Best Companies to Work For” is available at www.fortune.com/bestcompanies and includes profiles of each company.
Contest offers shot at free semester tuition
The Michigan Education Trust (MET) prepaid tuition program is calling on all adults in the state to enter to win a tuition-free semester at any Michigan public college or university. Michigan residents 18 years of age and older can enter to win a one-semester, Full Benefits MET contract. MET contracts are also portable to Michigan private and out-of-state institutions.
Entries are being accepted now through Aug. 31, 2010, at MET's Web site SETwithMET.com. MET will announce the winner of the random drawing during College Savings Month in September.
"This contest is a great way to remind families about the importance of planning now for future college expenses," said State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine. "We encourage people entering to win to take a moment to learn more about MET and the many benefits of pre-paying for college tuition. With MET, you get tomorrow's tuition at today's prices and take the guesswork out of saving for your child's future education."
No purchase is necessary to win the MET semester giveaway. The winner will have 60 days from notification to name a beneficiary. The beneficiary does not need to be related to the winner, but must be a Michigan resident and must not have four years of MET already purchased.
Since its debut in 1988 as the nation's first prepaid tuition program, MET has sold more than 91,000 contracts. Not only are MET contracts portable to Michigan private and out-of-state colleges and universities, they may be transferred to other eligible family members. Since 1988, more than 90 percent of high school graduates with MET contracts have gone on to attend a college or university.
Registrants can visit SETwithMET.com or call 1-800-MET-4-KID (800-638-4543) for all contest rules and more information about MET contracts.
Entries are being accepted now through Aug. 31, 2010, at MET's Web site SETwithMET.com. MET will announce the winner of the random drawing during College Savings Month in September.
"This contest is a great way to remind families about the importance of planning now for future college expenses," said State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine. "We encourage people entering to win to take a moment to learn more about MET and the many benefits of pre-paying for college tuition. With MET, you get tomorrow's tuition at today's prices and take the guesswork out of saving for your child's future education."
No purchase is necessary to win the MET semester giveaway. The winner will have 60 days from notification to name a beneficiary. The beneficiary does not need to be related to the winner, but must be a Michigan resident and must not have four years of MET already purchased.
Since its debut in 1988 as the nation's first prepaid tuition program, MET has sold more than 91,000 contracts. Not only are MET contracts portable to Michigan private and out-of-state colleges and universities, they may be transferred to other eligible family members. Since 1988, more than 90 percent of high school graduates with MET contracts have gone on to attend a college or university.
Registrants can visit SETwithMET.com or call 1-800-MET-4-KID (800-638-4543) for all contest rules and more information about MET contracts.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Poor business grades show need for extra credit
Michigan's grades on a benchmarking study of economic competitiveness show strong need for back-to-basics tutoring. However, report analysts suggest that leaves plenty of room for improvement with a return to good work habits.
The study, released by Business Leaders for Michigan (http://www.businessleadersformichigan.com/), assessed more than 100 factors important to job creation. It was conducted by the Detroit office of McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. Among the findings:
• Michigan’s economic performance has eroded significantly, with both GDP growth over the past 18 months and unemployment last among the 50 states.
• The state’s business costs are uncompetitive, with the cost of doing business 4% above the
national average - driven by high corporate taxes and total labor costs.
national average - driven by high corporate taxes and total labor costs.
• Michigan is delivering average to above average results from innovation and
entrepreneurism, but additional work is needed to become a leading state.
entrepreneurism, but additional work is needed to become a leading state.
• The state’s quality of life has strong fundamentals, but has a very poor perception.
Hans-Werner Kaas, a managing partner at McKinsey & Company, said Michigan has been an growth underachiever in 90% of economic sectors since 1990. Still, he observes, "there are genuine strengths that Michigan could better leverage to turn this situation around, like our engineering talent base, universities, manufacturing skills, and quality of life. We need to find ways to build on these advantages, and we need a well-diversified strategy for scaling economic development into adjacent industries with attractive growth potential”
Hans-Werner Kaas, a managing partner at McKinsey & Company, said Michigan has been an growth underachiever in 90% of economic sectors since 1990. Still, he observes, "there are genuine strengths that Michigan could better leverage to turn this situation around, like our engineering talent base, universities, manufacturing skills, and quality of life. We need to find ways to build on these advantages, and we need a well-diversified strategy for scaling economic development into adjacent industries with attractive growth potential”
Adds Mark Murray, president of Meijer Inc. and Co-Chair of the Business LeadersBenchmarking Committee: “The 4 percentage point penalty businesses pay in Michigan can be the entire profit margin for many companies – whether they stay in business or not. We have to do a better job getting competitive on costs to leverage our strengths in a more powerful way.”
The benchmarking data informed many of the recommendations in the Business Leaders Turnaround Plan, which can also be viewed at http://www.michiganturnaroundplan.com/.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Apartments cheaper than shelters in Kazoo
A new federal study brings into question the best use of resources for bringing newly homeless persons back into the fight for Michigan's economic growth.
The report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that many cities and states pay more to provide the homeless with short-term shelter and services that what it would cost to rent permanent housing. A total of 9,000 families and individuals were studied in six cities, including Kalamazoo. While it was not the widest discrepancy uncovered, officials found the average monthly cost for emergency shelter in Kalamazoo was $1,614, compared with $813 for transitional housing and $881 for permanent housing.
The highest emergency shelter costs were noted in Washington, DC, at $3,530 and Upstate, S.C., at $2,269. The cites to be studied were selected based on their track record for providing services to the homeless. Apples-to-apples comparisons are difficult, however, because of the wide range of services that might be provided in the shelter costs. Those services sometimes include drug and alcohol treatment, mental health care, family counseling and help obtaining government benefits. Other cities reviewed were Des Moines, Iowa, Jacksonville, FL, and Houston, Texas.
"These studies expand our knowledge of the true cost of homelessness and raise other questions far beyond dollars and cents," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Now we need to have a serious discussion over what strategies are not only the most cost effective, but how we can help individuals and families fall into homelessness in the first place."
Targeting an appropriate level of service delivery is considered essential for keeping the first-time homeless off a slippery downward slope into shame, despair and chronic need for assistance. It's also vital for retaining the talent and productivity of workers who have fallen into homelessness amid the economic recession -- and those who remain but a paycheck or two away from losing their homes.
Toward those ends the 2009 federal stimulus package provided $1.5 billion in funding to help prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless, and to help those experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. From the fall of 2008 to 2009, the interagency Kalamazoo Affordable Housing Partnership obtained nearly $400,000 in support of those goals as one of 23 HUD pilot projects.
The report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that many cities and states pay more to provide the homeless with short-term shelter and services that what it would cost to rent permanent housing. A total of 9,000 families and individuals were studied in six cities, including Kalamazoo. While it was not the widest discrepancy uncovered, officials found the average monthly cost for emergency shelter in Kalamazoo was $1,614, compared with $813 for transitional housing and $881 for permanent housing.
The highest emergency shelter costs were noted in Washington, DC, at $3,530 and Upstate, S.C., at $2,269. The cites to be studied were selected based on their track record for providing services to the homeless. Apples-to-apples comparisons are difficult, however, because of the wide range of services that might be provided in the shelter costs. Those services sometimes include drug and alcohol treatment, mental health care, family counseling and help obtaining government benefits. Other cities reviewed were Des Moines, Iowa, Jacksonville, FL, and Houston, Texas.
"These studies expand our knowledge of the true cost of homelessness and raise other questions far beyond dollars and cents," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Now we need to have a serious discussion over what strategies are not only the most cost effective, but how we can help individuals and families fall into homelessness in the first place."
Targeting an appropriate level of service delivery is considered essential for keeping the first-time homeless off a slippery downward slope into shame, despair and chronic need for assistance. It's also vital for retaining the talent and productivity of workers who have fallen into homelessness amid the economic recession -- and those who remain but a paycheck or two away from losing their homes.
Toward those ends the 2009 federal stimulus package provided $1.5 billion in funding to help prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless, and to help those experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. From the fall of 2008 to 2009, the interagency Kalamazoo Affordable Housing Partnership obtained nearly $400,000 in support of those goals as one of 23 HUD pilot projects.
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