Create jobs and reduce trash at the same time? Well, what the heck are we waiting for?!

Excerpt:

The report concludes that jobs could be created if Michigan increased its current recycling rate of 20 percent to the 30 percent average of the eight states in the Great Lakes region.

From 1998 to 2008, Michigan’s per-capita recycling rate fell 28 percent from 0.36 to 0.26 tons annually, the report said.

In Indiana, for example, annual per-capita recycling rates increased 150 percent to 0.75 tons from 0.30.

"Michigan has to start thinking in new ways if it wants to stop hemorrhaging jobs," said William Rustem, CEO of Public Sector Consultants, in a statement.

"Recycling is a case in point: Growing the recycling industry and cutting landfill costs for consumers and business has the added benefit of creating millions annually in income for the new workers required," Rustem said.

Read the entire article here.

Extra, Extra! Read all about it! ... in another daily Metro Detroit newspaper. It drops next week and is called the Detroit Daily Press.

Excerpt:

The Stern brothers, who previously published a Detroit Daily Press strike newspaper in the 1960s, will charge 50 cents for their Monday through Saturday editions, and $1 on Sundays.

The operation, which employs a staff of 60, including a number of former editorial and business employees from other newspaper companies in Metro Detroit, is based in leased space at the former Daily Tribune offices in Royal Oak. Mark Stern said the paper will court readers who want seven-day delivery, and advertisers seeking a cut-rate print option. The Detroit News and Free Press reduced their home delivery schedules in March; The News is home-delivered Thursdays and Fridays, and the Free Press Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

"We're a 50-cents paper when the other guys are a dollar," Mark Stern said. "Our ads cost 75 percent less."

Read the entire article here.

Michigan is surrounded by lakes. Do you realize that? That's a lot of freaking water. California should be jealous, really jealous. But, seriously, there's a lot of water out there and there is this little thing called the "blue economy." As you've probably already guessed, it has to do with the water. And, recently, a panel was convened to discuss Michigan's future in the blue economy.

Excerpt:

The enormous surplus of water available due to the decline of automotive activity in the region creates a unique opportunity for Michigan's economic recovery and diversification of the manufacturing base to create both blue and white collar jobs.

According to Lt. Cherry and Pezza, efforts are underway to energize the water industry. Dr. Miller discussed the ways in which the state's universities are preparing tomorrow's water industry workers and O'Brien discussed the Rouge Gateway Partnership and industry's efforts to be cleaner water users.

"Today's event on the Blue Economy shows that Michigan has the strategic advantage when it comes to water. Water is a key unifier for our State and the enabler to rebuild our economy," said Skiven. "We extend our thanks to everyone. Problem solving, not fault finding, through collaboration is the answer."

Read the entire article here.

A light rail up Woodward would not just be for Detroit. And a commuter rail from Detroit to Ann Arbor wouldn't just be for those two cities. Mass transit, when done right, could coalesce and serve the entire region.

Excerpt:

"Gas prices hit $4 a gallon last year and will go up again," he said. "If we can make it so that commuter rail is faster and cheaper and you won't have to pay to park your car, then people will definitely ride."

The Detroit Department of Transportation predicts 20,000 daily riders on the Woodward line by 2030, with 11,100 roundtrips per day. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) estimates 5,800 daily riders for the Ann Arbor-Detroit line, with four round trips daily.

Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, whose district includes part of the proposed Woodward Avenue rail route, said it's important for both projects to become a reality. "They are separate plans, but they show regional cooperation."

Businesses would move close to the rail routes and the region would be "more attractive to live, work, and play," he said.

Read the entire article here.

Watch out auto industry, there's a new dog in town. Well, actually, there are a few new dogs in town. Metro Detroit is becoming home to a new set of employers, which are diversifying its economy.

Excerpt:

Coombs and his fellow entrepreneurs cited similar reasons for launching in -- or, in one case, moving to -- metro Detroit.

They appreciate the area's low cost of living, which translates to relatively low overhead costs for businesses. They have access to skilled employees, thanks to Michigan's universities and an automotive talent base that is looking for work. And Detroit Metro Airport remains a major transit hub, putting executives in easy striking of customers outside of Michigan.

The companies we spoke with are located throughout metro Detroit, including nearby suburbs such as Pleasant Ridge and Wixom, as well as Ann Arbor, which has become a hub for technology spin-off companies in Southeast Michigan.

"There is this notion that high-tech belongs at the coasts, or that the 'Rust Belt' is not really the place for this. That's patently untrue," says Ann Marie Sastry, CEO of Sakti3, an Ann Arbor firm working to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Read the entire article here.

There isn't a moat around Detroit and the suburbs aren't islands. A healthy Detroit is a healthy Southeast Michigan. A healthy Southeast Michigan is a healthy state. One can't exist without the other and the other.

Excerpt:

That said, Jackson said we in Michigan are too negative when it comes to Detroit. Downtown has many attractive features, drawing 5.6 million entertainment visitors a year. Despite the city's reputation for crime, Jackson said FBI statistics show the city is safer than many other large cities in the United States.

In Livingston County, we need to pay attention to Jackson. The region is defined to outsiders by Detroit. As Jackson says, outside of our immediate area, the Detroit brand is far more recognizable than the Michigan brand.

That brand needs to be a positive one. If Detroit is vital, then the entire region benefits. It's encouraging to see a Detroit leadership that appears to want to work with the rest of the region, rather than demonizing it.

Read the entire article here.

The host of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food came to town and boy did he have a challenge at Malie's Bar and Grill in Southfield. Get this: A 190 lb. cheeseburger. President Barack Obama doesn't even weigh that much.

Check out the video of the 190 lb. monster burger put-together here.

Nothing is free these days... except class A office space in Plymouth. OK, so it's not that easy. All you need is to do is demonstrate a profitable business model and "Poof" some free space (after a careful application process, of course).

Excerpt:

705 South Main, Plymouth's premiere business incubator and class A office space, said this week that it is accepting proposals for free office leases.

This opportunity is extended to start up ventures that have a great product or service but lack the capital to secure office space.

"There are so many new ventures in the area that could benefit from an office environment like ours," said Trowbridge Realty vice president and property manager Ryan Richmond. "This will allow entrepreneurs to establish a presence in a class A building without the expense."

Read the entire article here.