Oakland County introduces voting reminder emails
Source: metromode, 10/8/2009
Oakland County is using cyberspace methods to get more real people voting in the next election cycle.
Its latest innovation is to send out an email reminder to voters two weeks before elections and then again on election days. The reminder will also include a bevy of other information voters can use to make the process easier.
"It's kind of like an electronic post-it note," says Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.
The
emails will be sent out before all local, school, state, and federal
elections and will link to the clerk's website. The site will feature a
list of candidates and ballot proposals, campaign finance reports,
polling locations, and instructional videos for using voting machines.
It
will also feature a new election reporting system that reveals results
in real time. Also included will be information on voter registration
and on how to become a poll worker, and a link to the state's Voter
Information Center.
"This is just one more tool in the tool box," Johnson says.
For information on these new systems, click here.
Source: Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland County notches $2.4 billion in investment since 2004
Source: metromode, 7/16/2009
During these tough economic times, many
companies and organizations bring out the long-term statistics from the
past several years to put themselves in a better light. Oakland County
can fall back on both the long- and short-term statistics.
The
county released a report that shows not only has it taken in about $2.4
billion worth of investment over the last five years, it did well in
June, with $748 million in investment.
Most of that comes from
General Motors' plans for a $650 million Orion Township plant, which
will build smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. However, that leaves
about another $100 million that the county was able to attract in the
midst of one of the toughest economies in generations.
Oakland County
has had more than $2.4 billion worth of business investment in the past
five years, giving residents a reason to be optimistic about its future
during the most difficult economic challenge in its history, County
Executive L. Brooks Patterson said recently.
"We had our best
month ever during one of the worst times ever," Oakland County
Executive L Brooks Patterson said in a press release. "We've withstood
all of the body blows and we're still standing."
More of the
$2.4 billion came from emerging sectors based in the new economy ($1.3
billion), compared to traditional business sectors, like automotive
manufacturing. Oakland County created its Emerging Sectors program five
years ago to help diversify its economy and make up for lost
manufacturing jobs.
Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Strategic Energy Solutions grows to 21 people in Berkley
Source: metromode, 1/22/2009
Eleven years ago, Strategic Energy Solutions
employed three people and focused on the telecom industry. Today it has
a staff of 21 and focuses on designing sustainable mechanical and
electrical systems, such as geothermal.
One
thing has been constant for the Berkley-based firm – growth. It
averages a new hire or two each year. Last year was no exception for
Strategic Energy Solutions. It took on two more people and plans to do
so again this year.
"I want to not just survive, but thrive,"
says Steve DiBerardine, president of Strategic Energy Solutions. "I
refuse to participate in the downturn."
He is putting his money
where his mouth is, rehabilitating a new home with much more space in
Berkley. He should be set for the next seven years if he continues
bringing on two people annually.
Strategic Energy Solutions is also walking its talk, going for silver LEED certification for its new home. Not the cheapest way to go, but a sure-fire way to send a message that it means business.
Source: Steve DiBerardine, president of Strategic Energy Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke
GREEN SPACE: The Dream Cruise gets, well, a bit greener
Source: metromode, 8/14/2008
The Dream Cruise is kinda like the antithesis of what Green Space is all about. So this week's edition is about damning with faint praise the small efforts the event is making to 'greenify' itself -- along with pointing out the bad stuff it continues to do.
Berkley's Zen Design Group sees success with innovative toys
Source: metromode, 5/8/2008
You know a trend has really gone mainstream when it starts to leak into the toy world. One Berkley company is leading that effort as Zen Design Group invents battery-less toys that rely on kids turning cranks to keep them going.