Looking Out for Michigan

Six Great Things about Michigan's Economy

2009-03-05T05:02:00.001-08:00

Wonderful article at The Center for Michigan's website.

Check this and smile!

The new film industry in Michigan

2009-02-24T17:13:00.000-08:00

Mitch Albom from the Detroit Free Press offers great rationale for Michigan's government to offer incentives to movie companies to make movies in Michigan. The famous movie Gran Torino was filmed in Michigan because of these incentives.

This is great analysis and if you care about Michigan's economy or the movie business in general, please watch these short clips.

Clip 1

Clip 2

Clip 3

Michigan wine is delicious

2009-02-23T20:31:00.000-08:00

Check this out, the Govenors of the U.S. were drinking Michigan wine! This is why I'm going to a Michigan winery next month.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090223/METRO/902230406/1361

From the Detroit News:

Governors sip Michigan ice wine at White House
Associated Press
LANSING -- The sauvignon blanc was from California, the pinot noir from Oregon.

But the wine served Sunday night with dessert as the nation's governors dined at the White House with President Barack Obama and his wife was the most unusual -- a Michigan ice wine from Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay.

The frozen grapes were picked in December 2007 and crushed outside so they wouldn't thaw. The wine was released last July and sells for $80 or more for a half bottle.

The White House paired the sweet A Capella Riesling ice wine with huckleberry cobbler with caramel ice cream.

Black Star Farms managing partner Don Coe says former President George W. Bush and his wife served the winery's 2000 A Capella ice wine to a governors' dinner seven years ago.

Bet on GM coming through

2009-02-23T20:20:00.000-08:00

Great article in the Ann Arbor News. U.S. Rep John Dingell believes GM will come through in these tough times and become strong again.

http://blog.mlive.com/svengustafson/2009/02/dingell_bet_on_gms_survival.html

Recognizing "The Center for Michigan"

2009-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

Wow. I had no idea such an organization existed. I have spent the past hour checking out the site. It is refreshing and inspiring to know that I am not the only one who has been feeling a certain way. Feeling like the citizens should do something to help the state, yet not sure how to go about it or what should be the focus. The Center for Michigan is a great group of business leaders across the state who are dedicated to improving Michigan, regardless of what the politicians accomplish or don't accomplish.

www.thecenterformichigan.net

What can you do?

1. Read the site. Check out the great articles on how Michigan is looking to be re-branded as "The North Coast." I like it, sounds great. The idea is to emphasize our Great Lakes waters and fall "on par" with the West Coast and East Coast.

2. On the website, there is a box where you can enter your email address to receive updates. The goal of the Center for Michigan is to have 10,000 people signed up for this by 2010, so that way we can get much of the public on board.

Corko the Clown!

2009-01-20T19:39:00.001-08:00

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker -- the one with the tremendous personal integrity to fight for foreign auto companies in his own state while fighting against domestic auto companies in other states -- was singing a different tune not too long ago. Two years ago, in fact. Say it ain't so, Corko!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd88LC4wiJo

He mentioned it was great to partner with GM and calls the plant in Tennessee a resource with smart people. Laughable! Which is it, Corko? Are you working to help GM or working to hurt them to benefit the foreign companies? Corko the Clown is like a paid entertainer when he's in front of the camera.

His supporters say that Corker was fighting for GM by "looking out for its future with respect to the UAW contracts." Everyone knows the UAW needs to work with GM to ensure long-term viability of the company, but come on, Corker was prepared to bankrupt the company to his own state's advantage! Everyone knows he would then swindle a deal in which more foreign companies would set up shop there! Don't fall for Corko's nonsense.

Say "Yes" to Michigan t-shirt

2008-12-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of these t-shirts because they stem from an old advertising campaign for the State of Michigan's tourism department.

Maybe you'll pick up one of these shirts as well? I have no ties to this company or the shirts themselves; only a sincere appreciation for a great design.

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/say-yes-to-michigan-dark-tshirt/246251130

Boycott Alabama

2008-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

I like this website from a fellow Michigander. The address is:

http://boycottalabamanow.com

He is fighting for Michigan and doing all he can to let Senator Richard Shelby know that it's not alright to speak out against us while he fills his pocket with money from the foreign auto companies.

Shelby is full of horseradish.

First Blog

2008-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

This is a blog that will look out for the State of Michigan. Michigan's economy is struggling right now. The Big 3 (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) are under attack, and the U.S. Senate ignored their pleas for help.

So, if you care about the state like I do, do you do anything? Maybe you just keep living your life, maintain the status quo, and pray.

Well, I'm not going to do that -- I'm going to take action. Because what is the alternative? One day, many years from now, our kids will ask us, "What did you do when the state's economy was struggling?" If your answer is, "maintained the status quo, kept going to work, and then I ate bon bons when I returned home every day," then that's not going to cut it. We need to take action.

Here are my first thoughts. The lesson to be learned from the Senate rejecting the bridge loan for the Big 3 is that we have to look out for each other. People in other states could not care less whether or not Michigan's economy is struggling. They don't care! So, the lesson is that we should look out for each other and support Michigan companies. Why? It's good for business and good for our cities.

No company has ever failed from having too many customers. Let us support the Michigan companies as much as we can. I know I'll sleep much better at night knowing that I did all that I reasonably could to support my state. Let's spread the word to people we know. Direct them to this website. If we focus our efforts on buying goods and services from Michigan-based companies, that will go a long way.

Here are some good brands that we probably buy, as well as some great Michigan-based brands and companies from whom we can buy.

One Choice	*Better Choice*	HQ/Office in Mich.
Kroger	Meijer	Grand Rapids
General Mills	Kellogg's	Battle Creek
Barnes and Noble	Borders	Ann Arbor
GE	Whirlpool	Benton Harbor
Budweiser	Bell's Beer	Kalamazoo
Planter's Peanuts	Kar's Peanuts	Madison Heights
Pepsi/Coke	Faygo	Detroit
Wendy's	Halo Burger	Flint
Sports Authority	Dunham's	Waterford
Wal-Mart	K-Mart	Troy (Chicago HQ)
CVS	Rite Aid	Waterford (distrib. center, Pa. HQ)

What is the spirit behind the above list? This is to keep these Michigan companies in the back of your mind. I do not propose that we engage in state vs. state warfare and become isolationists. That does not make sense and is self-defeating to our country.

However, what I am saying is in that in certain instances where you have no preference for a given company's goods or services, why not make the effort to purchase from a Michigan-based company? Can you think of one good reason not to do so? No, didn't think so :)