By Yuliya Harris

This past Saturday over 200 students from University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University as well as countless other universities gathered at the LiveWorkDetroit! Cross Sectors event at the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit.

This event focused on highlighting the recent astounding growth within the city through the business, real estate, and entertainment sectors, as well as pursuing young professionals to live and work in Detroit.

Throughout the day, many students revealed their awe and pleasant shock at the wonderful opportunities that the city has to offer. Even after living in midtown for three years, I was in admiration of Detroit’s hidden gems. At the end of the evening, I spoke a student who said that just from this one day she changed her mind to having Chicago become her “back up,” and the Motor City becoming her future home.

This transformation of the mindset is something that needs to be spread around the country. Many of us remember the constant negative attention that Detroit has received in the past years. However this is all about to change. In the next few months this city is going to be blooming with exciting new businesses and opportunities that will transform Detroit into what it once was- the glorious center of urban growth.

The entire event was not just educational but inspiring. It was amazing to see the recent entrepreneurial growth in the various sectors of Detroit. From new restaurants, expansions, to new and innovative businesses springing around the city, it is obvious that Detroit is growing.

Students especially should start looking at this wonderful city and the new jobs that are being created as part of their post-graduation future. I personally can’t wait to see the incredible things that Detroit will offer in the next few years. What we now have to ask ourselves is: “How can I be part of the new Detroit?”

MiVirtualCareerFair: IT and High Tech will provide a platform for Michigan businesses to interact with and recruit highly-skilled job seekers from anywhere in the world within a live, 3-D virtual environment.

“Michigan employers have an urgent need for high tech and IT talent, but people with those specialized skills remain hard to find,” said Amy Cell, Vice President for Talent Enhancement at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).  “By extending a company’s recruiting reach with this virtual tool, we can help Michigan employers staff up and ramp up much more quickly and efficiently.”

MiVirtualCareerFair follows the December 2011 launch of Pure Michigan Talent Connect, an online talent marketplace bringing together thousands of jobs, unique career calculators and resources for employers seeking talent. The MiVirtualCareerFair platform will provide the opportunity to:

• Connect and interact with recruiters and candidates from wherever you are, avoiding the time and expense of traditional career fairs.
• Upload and submit resumes for multiple job listings.
• Meet other job seekers or employers in the Networking Lounge.
• View informational videos in the Auditorium.
• Use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to search for connections and update your status from within the event.

MiVirtualCareerFair: IT and High Tech will be live from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15.  Employers have the option of either a standard ($500) or premium ($750) booth in the Virtual Exhibit Hall where they can post up to 100 job openings.

Booths can be easily customized with company branding, logos, graphics, video, and details such as company history, employee benefits, and contact information.  Post-event, exhibitors will receive in-depth analytics including candidate resumes, applications, chat transcripts, and booth visit data.  All openings posted during the fair will be accessible to job seekers for 30 days after the live event.

Job seekers and employers will find informational videos at the website http://www.michiganvirtualcareerfair.com/.  Job seekers also can pre-register to attend and employers will find links to exhibitor rates and a form to request more information.

Michigan will host additional MiVirtualCareerFair events in 2012 aimed at finding the specialized talent Michigan companies need to grow and thrive.  MiVirtualCareerFair is the newest tool in the state’s talent toolbox, joining a roster of other innovative initiatives designed to recruit, retain, and train top talent.

“We want to help Michigan businesses find and attract top talent, whether they’re one of the Fortune 500 or a new start up,” said Cell.  “Virtual career fairs will allow us to deliver talented job seekers right to the company doorstep from anywhere in the world.”

By Nancy Mullen Call, Associate Broker at Crystal Mountain Realty

After going through the economic ringer for the last several years, it seems our mitten state is making its comeback. Go Michigan!

We’re definitely feeling the energy here at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa where I work, and the indications are plentiful elsewhere, too.

In October, the Wall Street Journal declared that “Detroit’s Engine Roars on Sign of a Turnaround.” It went on to say,“The mood in the region is more positive than in much of the rest of the country.”

Also in October, TechAmerica Foundation reported that Michigan’s high tech industry saw a net gain of 2,700 jobs in 2010 – the most by any state from 2009–2010. And in November, a Bloomberg study rated Michigan’s economic health as second best in the nation.

This past August, ABC’s Good Morning America viewers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes the “Most Beautiful Place in America.” That may have been a surprise to people across the country, but not to those of us familiar with this truly magical northern Michigan place.

Up here in northwestern Michigan, we regularly show up on Best Places to Live lists. And why not? We have four distinct seasons and abundant natural resources. No hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis – just a blizzard now and again that brings lots of beautiful, soft snow. (And I’m happy to say that while the white stuff was a little slow in arriving this year, it is now gracing our landscape.) We are surrounded by clean fresh water – the new gold of the future according to many, and our agriculture industry, including those yummy vineyards, is robust and renowned.

Crystal Mountain itself has been lauded as the #1 Resort in the Midwest by SKI Magazine, one of the Best 15 “Green” Resorts in the country by Golf Digest, one of the 10 Best Winter Resorts for Families by Parents Magazine and one of the Top Spas in America’s Heartland by Spa Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Survey. These major accomplishments and others like them are the result of Crystal Mountain’s relentless market research, its commitment to delivering exceptional-value consumer experiences across all product lines, and a carefully crafted capital plan that is honest and realistic about sustainable leverage levels. I’m privileged to work here and I take every chance I get to invite folks to be our guests. Consider yourself invited!

Pure Michigan – it’s a pretty incredible place to live and recreate. And, as air travel becomes more costly and less convenient, it just makes sense to select a drive-to vacation destination that one can visit easily and often.

If you share my enthusiasm for the future of Michigan and our beautiful corner of it, I urge you to get out there and experience all the reasons they call Michigan a winter wonderland.

Founders Brewery says it chose Michigan for its “delicious water.” ePrize chose Michigan for its cost structure and quality of life.

In a new series of web videos launching today, you’ll hear directly from business leaders who have opted to locate and grow their companies in Pure Michigan.

This ongoing video series will profile Michigan-based businesses, their people and their growth. From the state’s new tax structure to access to talent to proximity to leading universities to the Pure Michigan quality of life, the reasons business leaders are choosing to grow in Michigan are many.

Through these videos, you’ll hear directly from individuals making decisions about where to headquarter or grow their business in Michigan.

Let us know what you think of our video series or share your own  ”Why Michigan?” story by joining the conversation on the Michigan Advantage Facebook page, subscribing to the Michigan Advantage YouTube channel, following Michigan Advantage on Twitter and subscribing to the Michigan Advantage blog. We’ll be using these channels to share new videos in the series.

Xconomy, the online news and events organization, released a report asking 22 of the nation’s top innovators, entrepreneurs and investors: what should students be studying now to prepare for 10 years from now? 

The report poses the question in order to gain a unique view into the future at a time of breakneck technological change and increasing economic uncertainty, according to Xconomy Founder and Editor in Chief Robert Buderi. 

“To prepare for a decade from now and beyond that, most of our contributors seem to agree, students must be incredibly flexible,” Buderi writes. “Students should focus on finding something they are passionate about and not worry too much about the job it will lead to.”

One of the experts featured in the report is the co-founder of Ann Arbor-based Sakti3, who says: “The notion that there is a gold standard—a favored text or tome, a single subject-matter expert, or a single corporation with the single best practice, in any discipline—is really outdated. The ‘new normal’ is generation of information by multiple sources, and use of meta-analysis to sort for the most correct, most useful information.”

Buderi says the report paints a picture of the world that is fascinating and occasionally sobering.

“But all of our contributors see a wealth of opportunities ahead, and they hold some surprising and provocative views about what students should be studying now in order to make best use of those opportunities,” he writes.

Visit here to read more highlights of the report.

Michigan-based Cherry Republic has received approval from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority for a multi-use brownfield redevelopment project that will support the construction of a retail outlet and food production facility and new residential spaces in Traverse City. 

“This new Cherry Republic facility consolidates their production, retail and administrative operations and brings the company’s high quality jobs into the center of downtown Traverse City,” said Michael A. Finney, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The Grand Traverse Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will use local and school tax capture valued at $2,264,085 to demolish two buildings and construct a five story mixed-use development in the City of Traverse City. The Cherry Republic Center Project will include administrative offices, a primary retail outlet and food production facility for Cherry Republic products. The plan may also include up to 13 residential units with underground parking. The project is expected to create up to 30 permanent full-time jobs, with a total capital investment of approximately $13 million.

 Founded in 1989 by Bob Sutherland out of the trunk of his car, Cherry Republic currently sells more than 174 different cherry products including dried cherries, chocolate covered dried cherries, cherry salsa and jams and jellies. With four retail stores, a website, a catalog business and sales to 450 other stores throughout the Midwest, the company’s  mission is “the peaceful advancement of the world’s greatest fruit, the Cherry.”

Michigan business leaders who have brought jobs back or decided to make significant investments in the United States participated in a forum hosted by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. on January 11.

 The forum, called “Insourcing American Jobs,” brought together business owners who shifted work back to the United States and are investing in growing their businesses here. The forum focused on why insourcing is needed to help create jobs and attract investing dollars from companies looking to establish or grow U.S. subsidiaries. 

Participating in the forum were: 

Ford – Ford’s competitive labor agreement with its UAW partners is making it possible to build small cars profitably in the U.S., invest $16 billion here at home, and add 12,000 jobs in U.S. plants by 2015.   In fact, Ford is insourcing jobs from China, Japan and Mexico. Instead of adding production for the Fusion in Mexico, Ford is planning to bring that additional work to its Flat Rock plant in Michigan. This insourcing effort will ensure the viability of a key assembly plant in the U.S. and add over 1,200 new jobs.

Detroit-based GalaxE Solutions – Established in 1990 and specializing in custom software application development for Fortune 50 corporations, GalaxE Solutions created the “Outsource to Detroit” program that is a model for repatriating jobs back to the United States. GalaxE Solutions opened operations in Detroit in 2010 and, with 150 professionals on board, is well on its way to its goal of hiring 500 IT specialists. In addition, the firm working with the area’s universities and community colleges to train and retrain professionals for the future. GalaxE was also featured in the January 2012 issue of Site Selection magazine for its commitment to hiring IT workers in Detroit.

AGS Automotive Systems – AGS worked with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other local Michigan agencies to make an investment in excess of $20 million to add new manufacturing capabilities for bumper impact assemblies in Michigan. The new business will likely represent in excess of $100 million in annual sales over the next five years and will enable AGS to retain approximately 50 jobs and create over 100 new jobs in Michigan. 

 Michigan entrepreneur David Ollila, CEO and founder of Snapperhead Inventions, LLC, makers of the Marquette Backcountry Ski, was also in attendance at the forum. Ollila was able to launch the company in less than one year, with minimal capital investment, while still being able to keep manufacturing not only within the United States, but right here Michigan.

“My message to Washington is that an individual player can participate in U.S. manufacturing, earn a family-sustaining income and bring innovative products to the market with lower overall risk and greater reward than can be accomplished overseas,” Ollila said. “It’s my hope that this forum leads to increased dialogue and action that will support average Americans who are willing to wake up every morning, take charge of their lives and produce something of value.”

DETROIT (Jan. 11, 2012) – With the success of 2011, two of Michigan’s best-known brands – Michigan International Speedway and Pure Michigan –  are again teaming up to host the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at MIS on Sunday, August 19.

The three-year partnership was announced today at the North American International Auto Show with two of NASCAR’s most popular and successful drivers, Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish Jr.

The three-year partnership between MIS and Pure Michigan is a continuation of what started in 2011, and the first time a state’s branding agency sponsored NASCAR’s premier stock car series. The inaugural Pure Michigan 400 in 2011 received overwhelmingly positive feedback from fans and tourists alike.

“As we began expanding the Pure Michigan brand beyond travel in 2011, our public and private partners quickly found the power of Pure Michigan to help all of us market Michigan and grow our economy,’’ said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “Pure Michigan tells the story of the people, places and treasures that are uniquely Michigan and MIS is part of that story.’’

Another example of a new Pure Michigan partnership announced earlier today: a collaboration with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Holland, Mich.-based Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream Co. to develop a Pure Michigan ice cream flavor and take it across Michigan this summer in a Pure Michigan RV that will share the flavor and help DNR promote its park programs including its Recreation Passport.

“The Pure Michigan 400 has proven to be an effective way to bring the Pure Michigan message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide,’’ said George Zimmermann, Vice President for Travel Michigan at MEDC. “We encourage NASCAR fans from all over the U.S. to join us in Michigan for great racing at an outstanding track this summer.’’

One of Pure Michigan’s main goals is to attract visitors and investments to Michigan. The title sponsorship of the Pure Michigan 400 in 2011 introduced the Pure Michigan branding message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide. This followed the $11.5 million Pure Michigan national cable television advertising buy on the air from March 14, 2011, through early July.

George Zimmermann, Roger Curtis, Ryan Newman & Sam Hornish, Jr.

“The key to the success of our partnership in 2011 was Pure Michigan and MIS had, and still has to this day, similar goals: We both want people to come to this state and see all the wonderful things it has to offer – beautiful landscapes, fun activities year-round and awesome NASCAR racing,” said MIS President Roger Curtis. “That has always been our brand and that message resonated with all our guests that MIS IS Michigan. We just fit.”

Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan’s official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state’s tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services. For Michigan travel news and updates, go to michigan.org.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.

From Left: NASCAR drivers Sam Hornish Jr. and Ryan Newman, Michigan International Speedway's Roger Curtis, and Pure Michigan vice president George Zimmermann

For more on Michigan travel ideas, visit: michigan.org

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.

Keep up with Michigan International Speedway via Twitter @MISpeedway or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway. Join our Mobile Fan Club by texting MISCLUB on a Sprint Handheld or other mobile device to 69050 on a Sprint Smartphone or other mobile device. Standard text message rates may apply.

The best, guaranteed lowest prices in 2012 will go to customers who make a $10 goodwill deposit. New customers can log onto http://www.MISpeedway.com or call 800-354-1010 to leave a deposit by Jan. 31. That deposit ensures race fans get the best pricing for 2012.

All other tickets go on sale Feb. 1.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sammie Lukaskiewicz
MIS senior director of Marketing and Communications (517) 592-1208 or slukaskiewicz@mispeedway.com

Michelle Begnoche
MEDC Communications Specialist (517) 763-6078 (cell) or begnochem@michigan.org

It may be 25 degrees with lake effect snow in the forecast, but three Michigan organizations are partnering together to promote the abundance of resources available to both Michigan visitors and residents.

Holland, Michigan-based Hudsonville Ice Cream is partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Pure Michigan to launch an integrated campaign that will kick off today with their “Create a Flavor” contest.  

The campaign will continue throughout the summer with an RV ice cream tour crossing the state promoting the popular DNR Recreation 101 program. As the official ice cream of the Michigan State Parks, Hudsonville Ice Cream will distribute the winning flavor to retail outlets and ice cream parlors throughout Michigan and the Midwest as well as during the RV ice cream tour this summer.

“As the No. 1 Michigan-made ice cream brand, we are thrilled to be partnering with two great organizations like the DNR and Pure Michigan,” said Bruce A. Kratt, director of sales and marketing for Hudsonville Ice Cream.  “Our ice cream is the perfect treat when enjoying all that Michigan has to offer – memorable vacations at the beach, family camping trips or simply relaxing and watching those 9 p.m. summer sunsets.  And the RV ice cream tour happening this summer will certainly be the ‘sweetest’ way to promote the DNR’s Recreation 101 program and all it has to offer.”

The Pure Michigan state park ice cream contest runs through February 7, and the winning flavor will be chosen from a panel of Outstanding Outdoor Kids and celebrity judges.  Outstanding Outdoor Kids will be chosen from nominations for kids who demonstrate actions that have gone above and beyond to preserve, protect and promote outdoor recreation opportunities in Michigan. 

Flavor contest entries will go through Hudsonville Ice Cream’s website www.hudsonvilleicecream.com. The grand prize for the winning ice cream flavor includes free Hudsonville ice cream for a year, a one-week stay in a Michigan state park or harbor of the winner’s choice, a $1,000 gift card from Meijer and Pure Michigan merchandise. 

“We are excited to partner with Hudsonville – their pride in being a Michigan-based company matched our enthusiasm for stimulating recreation-based tourism.  This campaign is an excellent way to get Michigan residents involved in encouraging others to get outside and enjoy the best of Pure Michigan – woods, waters and now ice cream,”  said Ron Olson,  chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division.

A key goal of the partnership is to spread the word about the DNR’s Recreation 101 program and Recreation Passport. The Recreation 101 program is designed to introduce participants to the fun and fitness available in Michigan’s woods and waters through free, introductory and hands-on lessons at Michigan state parks.  

The RV ice cream tour will also highlight the Recreation Passport – your $10 ticket to Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boat launches.  The Recreation Passport, which also supports state-forest campgrounds, trails and historic treasures and provides grants to neighborhood parks, can be purchased at a Secretary of State venue when renewing your vehicle registration.  By purchasing the Recreation Passport at a Secretary of State venue, passport holders can also take advantage of the Passport Perks program, which offers discounts at hundreds of local businesses throughout the state.

“Pure Michigan focuses on the people, places, opportunities and treasures that are uniquely Michigan,” said Elizabeth Parkinson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  “This is a fun way to deliver an important message about the wealth of recreation opportunities in the state, as well as the unique taste of Michigan.”

Media Contacts

Bruce A. Kratt
Director of Sales and Marketing for Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream Company (616) 546-4012

Maia Stephens
Recreation Programmer – DNR Parks and Recreation Division (989) 225-8573 or stephensm3@michigan.gov

Michelle Begnoche
MEDC Senior Communications Specialist (517) 241-0241 or begnochem@michigan.org

LANSING, Mich. — The state’s Veteran’s Services Division today honored Lisa Benson, HR Recruiter for Lansing-based Quality Dairy Company, for outstanding efforts to help veterans find employment, making the company one of mid-Michigan’s top “vet-friendly” employers.

“We are in the business of helping Michigan’s returning heroes find jobs, and we can only do that with the help of committed employers like Lisa and the entire team at Quality Dairy,” said Retired Major General Robert Smith, Director of the Michigan Veterans’ Services Division. “In the eight years that Lisa has been on the job, she has been a steadfast partner in this effort, helping dozens of veterans find a place in the Quality Dairy family.”

Quality Dairy employs a large number of veterans in all aspects of the company’s operations, from positions in retail operations to production and maintenance.

“Veterans possess a strong work ethic, self motivation, and they understand the need for strict adherence to standards – characteristics that make them excellent employees at Quality Dairy,” Benson said. “The state’s Veterans’ Services staff listens to our needs and responds with talented veterans for the jobs we have to fill.”

Last month, in his Special Message on Talent Development, Governor Rick Snyder highlighted the unique skills veterans bring to the job, including leadership and a strong work ethic tested under extreme circumstances.

He also cited their real-world work experience and transferrable technical expertise – qualities Michigan employers can tap to benefit their own businesses and help grow the Michigan economy. He challenged Michigan businesses to consider veterans when making hiring decisions, and to help the veterans they employ more fully access their benefits.

In Michigan, the Veterans Services Division, part of the state’s Workforce Development Agency (WDA), is charged with helping Michigan veterans and their eligible spouses find employment or start a business. A staff of 60 Veterans’ Employment Specialists work on site at 85 Michigan Works! Agency offices around the state, meeting vets where they live to help them find jobs or get the training they’ll need to get a job.

In 2010, Michigan’s Veterans Services Division staff helped find work for more than 7,700 Michigan veterans, putting Michigan 8th in the nation for the number of vets helped to find employment.

“Hundreds of Michigan military personnel serve our country honorably only to return home and struggle to find a job and support their families,” said General Smith. “Employers like Quality Dairy are wise to recognize the talents these men and women have gained through their service. We encourage all Michigan employers who have thrived in this time of conflict to give our returning vets a shot at a good job and a new start.”