Michigan spent a large sum of cash promoting itself not only to its own Michiganders but to those outside the Mitten. Numbers have been mixed but, as The Economist says, at the very least the campaign has made Michigan look spectacular.

Excerpt:

A $10M tourism campaign, aired on national television from March to June, was the state's most ambitious yet. Though Michigan faces a $1.7 billion deficit, new bills propose to raise money for more promotion.

As Michigan's manufacturing economy—led by the carmakers in Detroit—has faltered, the state has turned to tourism as a possible source of growth. The budget for promoting it grew from less than $6M in 2005 to $30M this year, thanks largely to a one-off infusion of cash from a tobacco settlement. In 2006 the slogan, "Great Lakes Great Times", was replaced by a glossy new campaign for "Pure Michigan". Historically, 70% of tourists have come from within the state. This year’s national ads were part of a bid to lure distant visitors with rather fatter wallets.

...

At the very least, the campaign, which has been widely praised for its lovely look, provided a small boost to the state's image. One ad made even Detroit seem lovely, with a narrator cooing: "It seems when we get to a place where no one knows us, we become most ourselves." Michigan may not have found itself quite yet, but it is doing its best.

Read the entire article here.

It's not pizza, it's fresh produce. Farmers in Michigan are taking on a whole new aspect for their business: Delivery. And those farmers who are delivering have seen a jump in business.

Excerpt:

Home delivery of farm fresh products is flourishing as more consumers seek alternatives to their Saturday morning trip to the grocery store and rebuild a connection with local growers.

Many Michigan farmers who deliver say they've seen a significant increase in home delivery customers during the past few years. And consumers say they like the delivery services because they want farm-fresh food but can't always get what they're looking for at the grocery store.

Read the entire article here.

Waste not, want not, is what you'll hear sometimes. And a lot of communities in Southeast Michigan are falling in that line as recycling programs get bigger. Of course there is a lot of room to expand, but they are growing.

Excerpt:

Westland follows Rochester Hills in joining the RecycleBank, a program that doesn't require recyclables to be sorted and credits points to participants for the amount they recycle. The points can be converted into gift cards and retail discounts.

Westland is among several local communities such as Warren, Canton Township and Detroit that support the green movement by revamping or rolling out recycling programs to boost participation. Most programs didn't cost extra for cash-strapped communities, and the more they cut back on landfill waste, the less they pay in disposal fees.

Read the entire article here.

An urban designer comes to Michigan with ideas to revive cities along Woodward with paint... no, really... he says it starts with paint.

Excerpt:

City planners could revive Woodward Avenue with bike lanes, slower traffic, 100,000 new trees and big improvements at pedestrian crossings.

And that's just the start of a vision that consultant Dan Burden shared last week with local officials, road engineers and residents, as he led what he calls walkability audits in Pontiac, Birmingham, Royal Oak and Pleasant Ridge.

"I can't help you if your community wants to be auto-dependent," Burden told city and regional planners in Pleasant Ridge, over the roar of traffic entering I-696.

With a walk Friday in Saline, Burden ended 12 days of visiting Michigan downtowns and revisiting advice he has brought to more than 2,500 cities in North America during the past 15 years.

To attract "the creative class" that can jump-start a region's growth: "You start with paint. You put in bike lanes and get trees planted, and that brings the speeds of motorists down, and then the buildings start to come back, and with that, the tax base. That lets you redesign the streets," he said.

Read the entire article here.

Land banks have been getting a lot of ink lately and Genesee County's Land Bank seems to be one of the more successful campaigns. With that said, the newly formed Washtenaw County Land Bank is looking to Flint and Genesee County for some tips and tricks.

Excerpt:

Washtenaw County's new land bank may be taking tips from Flint.

During a meeting for the Southeast Ann Arbor neighborhood this month, University of Michigan professor Joan Nassauer praised the Genesee County Land Bank model, according to The Ann Arbor Chronicle.

A group of residents from the Bryant community attended the meeting on July 23 to hear about ways to address water drainage issues.

Nassauer, a UM professor of landscape architecture, told the group she has helped sites with similar problems in Flint and Chicago.

She highlighted the achievements of the Genesee County Land Bank to the group of Ann Arbor residents, noting the Flint-based land bank is recognized nationally for its work, and includes more than 5,000 properties.

Read the entire article here.

It's a bit Jetsons-y, an elevated high-speed rail that's powered by hydrogen. But, what the heck, right? Let's get a little futuristic. The trip from Grand Rapids to Detroit is expected to take 40 minutes. If it comes to fruition, it should be a nice economic bump to the city, bringing in people from Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Ann Arbor for the games and festivals Detroit has to offer.

Excerpt:

The project was proposed by the privately owned Interstate Traveler Company, located just north of Ann Arbor. Company officials are asking the state to provide free use of the right-of-way along Michigan's interstate freeway system.

The railway's cars would levitate on top of an elevated hydrogen-based track and be propelled by energy from magnets. Cars holding people, freight and vehicles would cycle at high speeds, stopping in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Local business leaders say the concept has the potential to create a new manufacturing base in Michigan and spur economic development.

"Clearly this would bring a competitive advantage to our state if we could move people and freight and cars and vehicles from Grand Rapid to Detroit, and eventually to other Midwestern states," said Jared Rodriguez, a lobbyist with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

Read the entire article here.

Additional piece from the Grand Rapids Press that links this high-rail plan to The Simpsons. Complete with hilarious clips. Check it out here.

Life sciences are expected to have a number of hurdles in the coming years due to the tightening of FDA rules and regulations. Ann Arbor's NanoBio, however, maybe be able to jump those with the amount of capital they've seen and their communication with the FDA.

Excerpt:

Capital is flowing to NanoBio, which announced July 8 that it had received $10 million in venture capital from two separate funding sources.

The firm has managed to secure $22 million in capital this year - enough to last the company at least two years, a critical buffer in a tough fundraising and regulatory atmosphere. The firm received its latest funding from New York-based majority shareholder Perseus and Venture Investors, which has an Ann Arbor office.

"It was a bigger round than we initially planned, but it was welcome because of the (financial) environment and it gives us a little bit of extra runway," Peralta said.

Nanoemulsion technology is relatively new to the industry. That means the FDA likely would put NanoBio's drug therapies under intense scrutiny before issuing market approval.

Read the entire article here.

You need good soil to grow crops. With dry, cracked, stressed soil you're not going to grow even the smallest bit of anything. You can apply that to startups and entrepreneurs, as well. You need good soil to grow a healthy crop of entrepreneurs. The UM student-run incubator is hoping its good soil will produce a new crop of tech moguls and entrepreneurs.

Excerpt:

Under Google's imposing shadow on East Washington Street in Ann Arbor, more than two dozen University of Michigan students click-clack on keyboards and discuss third-party software, iPhone applications and angel investors. They are all attempting to grow technology-based startups and to see their big ideas succeed as part of the student-run incubator, TechArb.

TechArb, with its 29 budding entrepreneurs representing 11 companies, is the upshot of UM senior Jason Bornhorst's involvement in the entrepreneurial summer internship program, RPM-10.

RPM-10 is a 10-week technology-based accelerator, created by Ann Arbor-based venture capital firm RPM Ventures and the College of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship.

Now in its second year, RPM-10 selects three UM student-run startup companies a year and provides them with mentorship and capital to build their company.

Read the entire article here.

Michigan art groups are getting one million bucks to learn how to make millions of more bucks.

Excerpt:

Give arts groups money and you help them pay the bills today. Teach them to how to use the Internet to reach new donors and audiences and you might help them truly secure their future.

That’s the thinking behind a $1-million challenge grant announced today by the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan. The grant is tied to an online marketing and fund-raising initiative that could generate as much as $3 million in operating funds for about 80 member groups of the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan.

The money comes at a critical time for metro Detroit’s arts organizations, which have lost millions of dollars in corporate, individual and government support during the recession and have been forced to lay off staff, cut salaries and eliminate artistic programs.

Read the entire article here.

Maybe you're tired of hearing about the film industry... but if you are, that's too bad. 'Cause it's such an important part to Michigan and its future. The Freep sits down with Janet Lockwood, the director for the Michigan Film Office, and shoots her a few questions.

Basically, Michigan is bringing home the bacon when it comes to the film industry right now... and it looks as if they will continue to in the immediate future.

Excerpt:

QUESTION: How is Michigan's film industry faring?

ANSWER: I am expecting quite a few films this summer. (She wouldn't drop any names.) There are much more quality applications this year. It's a little slower than some people thought, but that's because of the economy.

Q: We have several production studios coming soon. Is there anything else the state needs in ... infrastructure?

A: More equipment. We run out of that stuff very quickly, and it comes from out of state. We are out of stuff. I want more crews. I want more equipment. I want more films. I am quite greedy.

Read the entire article here.

So you've heard about this "greening" thing. You've done some research. You'd like to check it out, maybe apply some of it to your house. But, you don't know how or don't know what... Well, look no further than the Clean Energy Coalition. They've set up a boutique in the back of their non-profit offices to give you the knowledge and the opportunity to get what you need and what you want when it comes to greening your home.

Excerpt:

The Clean Energy Coalition has opened up a store and education outlet for homeowners interested in greening their houses.

The Ypsilanti-based nonprofit recently moved its offices to the back of the storefront and opened the "boutique" clean-energy store earlier this month.

Project manager Deb Heed said the goal is to showcase energy-efficiency products in a space that allows customer to ask questions of experts and make their purchase decisions that the same time. The Energy Outlet, located at 44 E. Cross St., has sections for lighting, insulation and sealing, water conservation, power use and more.

Read the entire article here.

They say don't mix business and pleasure... but what the heck, right? If you can, you might as well do it. That's the idea behind campmuting, where people commute to work from a camp site... instead of their home. Mixing a day's work with a night's pleasure. Maybe it seems a bit crazy, but it's a cheap way to enjoy the summer and not have to take so much time away.

Excerpt:

Campmuting is becoming more popular as people look to save money and still enjoy summer activities, said Timothy DeWitt, executive director for the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds.

"People have invested in their RVs, they like the lifestyle and they want to do it full-time," DeWitt said.

The Podinas visit their Milford home to do laundry and pay bills.

They've have had some famous neighbors: One year during the Buick Open, golfer John Daly stayed a few campsites down.

"We love the peace and quiet," said Carolyn Podina, 59. "Some people spend $1,000 or $2,000 on a week's trip to the beach or a cruise. But we come here."

Read the entire article here.

One million bucks in micro loans is being made available to Michigan entrepreneurs to help stimulate growth and success in startup companies. Micro loans, if you're unaware, are generally modest loans made to very small companies that in most cases wouldn't be able to borrow from a traditional bank. The approach has had great success in developing nations.

Excerpt:

Michigan is making $1 million in micro loans available to entrepreneurs in key industries in an effort to increase the number of successful start-up companies in the state.

The program, which is being overseen by the Ann Arbor SPARK economic development group, was quietly rolled out in May. So far, only two start-up firms have applied for the loans, but the money is expected to help 20 to 30 companies within the next two years, said Skip Simms, manager of the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and director of SPARK's business acceleration services.

"There's not been a program like this in Michigan," Simms said. "We believe there's a big need."

Read the entire article here.

If you're going to buy groceries, why not choose things that didn't make a 3,000-mile trip to get here. Instead, try 100 miles. It makes sense on a few different fronts, but mainly you're keeping the money in the state. And that's a big boost for Michigan and its farmers.

Oh, and the carbon footprint of local food is considerably smaller than that of food coming from California. So, think about it.

Excerpt:

Buying local is gaining momentum in Michigan.

And that's why human resources consultant Lisa Diggs, who runs the Catalyst Co., has launched Buy Michigan Now, a statewide volunteer campaign with a goal of inspiring, educating and convincing people to spend money locally.

"The Buy Michigan Now campaign is about heightening awareness and revitalizing our state's economy one product, one purchase and one business at a time," she said.

And the buy local movement is catching on in Michigan as the state's economic fortunes have dwindled.

Diggs' campaign and Web site, www.buymichigannow.com, gained a shot in the arm last winter when the auto CEOs testified before Congress.

Read the entire article here.

Another piece about Spartan food stores promoting "Buy Michigan" here.

Sure the incentives are great for filmmakers. Who doesn't want a 42 percent off coupon on a $10 million  bill. But what works here in Michigan, and what will continue to work, is that our state can be anywhere. Any terrain or any town or any look can be applied to the many, many environments our home possesses.


Excerpt:

If states were actors, it would be fair to say Michigan has the versatility of Johnny Depp. It can play almost any role, thanks to its variety of geography, landscapes and architecture.

"We have got rolling countryside, we have got vineyards, we've got sand dunes, we've got urban centers, we've got small-town America -- I sometimes call it 'Back to the Future'-time town squares -- we have suburbia," says Tom Jacob, a location manager from Sylvan Lake.

The challenge is getting that message across to the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry, who tend to live on the coasts and consider Michigan flyover country.

Read the entire article here.

Pure Michigan, the state tourism campaign, came with a price tag of $26 million -- quite a bit of milk money. However it's been said that the campaign, despite its pricey price tag, is bringing in three bucks to every one spent. Not bad, Pure Michigan.

Excerpt:

Even if you're not a fan of the $26 million "Pure Michigan" campaign (and I'm not someone who has ever made travel plans because of a TV ad) you have to at least start to acknowledge the program as one of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's big successes.

The ads are returning nearly $3 for every $1 spent, according to state officials quoted in a March 25 article by the Free Press' Ellen Creager.

And people all over seem to be noticing them.

A few months ago, a Chicago Sun Times columnist wrote about how tantalizing the ads were and how torturoous they could be in an economy that isn't affording many people enough cash for a summer getaway.

Read the entire article here.

Though a land bank isn't necessarily a new idea, it's become a new tool. Urban cities are using land banks to help fight blight and their futures. In fact, early this year, Detroit established its own land bank to help deal with vacancies and shore up property for the future. 

Excerpt:

In downtown Flint, the historic Durant Hotel sat empty for more than 30 years until a financial tool led to its current $30 million renovation.

That tool is the land bank, an idea gaining national attention for its positive impact on urban blight and abandonment at a time when most cities are dealing with more foreclosures.

Instead of selling abandoned or foreclosed structures at auction, the city or county creates a land bank of properties. Some homes are fixed up and sold. The worst of the homes are demolished, and the land is then sold to nearby homeowners or developers, explains Genesee County (Mich.) Treasurer Dan Kildee, who started that county's land bank.

Read the entire article here.

Job creation is a big topic here in Michigan and one area that has seemed to work in the past is somewhat being passed over: the states high-end colleges and universities.

Excerpt:

Michigan continues to grapple with the question of how it can revive its economy and invest in its long-term prosperity. The answer is university research.

But unlike other states, Michigan has yet to develop a comprehensive strategy for leveraging its world-class universities.

Michigan is on the right trajectory. The 21st Century Jobs Fund promotes entrepreneurship by financing start-up companies, and universities receive funds for promising research.

But Michigan has not created programs that directly promote the commercialization of university research. The University Research Corridor, an alliance between Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State, aims to transform the state's economy through research and technology. But the creation of the URC reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of university leaders more than a concerted strategy from our state government.

Read the entire article here.

It's about time Michigan took advantage of Canada being close at hand (pun intended). In a first-of-its-kind setup, Canadian and Michiganian angel investors are forming a publicly traded company to fund promising local start-ups.


Excerpt:

Detroit-based Great Lakes Angels has joined forces with angel groups in Toronto and London, Ontario, and with the University of Windsor to form Nouveau Angel Capital Corp., which hopes to raise $20 million to invest in early-stage companies in Southeast Michigan and southwestern Ontario…

Nouveau's founders think it is the first public company in the U.S. or Canada to facilitate angel investing, and so does Jim Jaffe, president and CEO of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds.

“There are some angel groups that have formed private funds that operate like mutual funds, but I'm not aware of any public companies doing this,” he said. “The concept is exciting and unusual. My guess is that even in these difficult economic times, it may well find a group of interested investors.”…

Rick Galdi, president of Great Lakes Angels, said Nouveau will target companies affiliated with TechTown, the University of Windsor and University of Western Ontario in London. The investment range will be $250,000 to $750,000 per company, well above what a company would generally expect to get in a typical angel deal.

Read the full story here.

There's always another option for Desperate Housewives. A provocative new show about a high school gym teacher reinventing himself as a gigolo, shot and set in the Metro D, has recently premiered on HBO.


Excerpt:

The new HBO series Hung premiered last night, and while the premise of the show makes it intriguing enough alone (the main character becomes a male escort to solve his financial woes), as a Detroiter, the real anticipation was in finding out how much the city would be used in the plot.

At least in this respect, it did not disappoint. The pilot was shot entirely in Detroit, Birmingham, Livonia, Clarkston and West Bloomfield Township, as was part of the rest of the season (the rest was filmed in L.A.).

The opening sequence (which you can watch here) is jam-packed with familiar Motor City signposts, from the first shot of a barge gliding over the Detroit River, to Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker walking through Hart Plaza, below the People Mover and in front of the Joe Louis fist, Lafayette Coney Island and the abandoned Packard plant.

Read the full story here.

And read here for a review of the show.