Michigan Business

International and Local Small Business News on Economics & Finance

The German sports car brand took the No. 1 spot in the annual study, which gave it ninth place last year. Lincoln came in second, while Buick and Lexus tied for third. Mercury and Toyota rounded out the top five. Full story »

Initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 to a seasonably adjusted 457,000 for the week ending March 13, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor. The four-week moving average for initial claims, a less volatile number, also dropped by 4,250 to 471,250. The number of those continuing to apply for unemployment insurance edged higher for the week... Full story »

Improved investment income and solid membership growth pushed Priority Health to higher net income in 2009. The Grand Rapids-based health plan reported 2009 net income of $17.8 million for its HMO product, which compares to $13.0 million in 2008. The HMO, which accounts for about three-quarters of Priority Health’s business, grew membership by nearly 5 percent last year to 380,000,... Full story »

A new Portage company launched Wednesday hopes to convince industrial companies across the Midwest that their waste is valuable. And along the way, if Pro Renewables Inc. is successful, it could create hundreds of Southwest Michigan jobs, a company official said during a Wednesday press conference. Full story »

The 777 Building - officially known as Eisenhower Plaza - has a distinctive presence at the I-94/State Street entrance to the city.Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.comOne of Ann Arbor’s landmark office buildings is back on the market. Eisenhower Plaza - more... Full story »

It's a pretty simple idea that has been around for a while, but may be a lot more appealing to cash-strapped home buyers looking for bargains: A government-backed program in which repairs and even wholesale rebuilding are folded into the... Full story »

It’s no secret that the home building industry is a fraction of its size from just a few years ago. But how much did it fall off? According to regional data from SEMCOG, 2009 single-family home permits in Washtenaw County... Full story »

Prospective buyers of the former T.C’s Speakeasy in downtown Ypsilanti are seeking a unique liquor license with which they will be able reopen the shuttered bar and grill. The license, called a redevelopment liquor license, most significantly differs from a... Full story »

Cabrio finalized its purchase of this building, 1117 W. Huron, on Feb. 4.Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.comA local real estate company recently purchased its second Ann Arbor apartment building within the past year, adding to its portfolio as it plans to... Full story »

One of the elements missing from Michigan’s efforts to diversify its economy and become more entrepreneurial is embracing an independent workforce. By an independent workforce, I mean those people that run one-person companies: The independent software developers, finance experts, legal... Full story »

In the next five years, more than 200 jobs will come to Michigan Center. ADCO Products President Glenn Frommer confirmed Wednesday the company chose to locate its expansion project at its plant here, rather than at an existing site in Evansville, Ind. On Tuesday, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a five-year, $1.2 million tax credit to make the... Full story »

Shares of Ford Motor Co. surged to a five-year high Wednesday after a ratings agency upgraded the automaker's debt and said Ford has the potential to improve its finances even further. Full story »

The installation of the largest solar-power site in Michigan gives Cascade Engineering a solid foundation on which to further build a fledgling business. The company’s alternative energy division, Cascade Renewable Energy, has two more “significant” solar projects in the pipeline in West Michigan that are slightly smaller than the 150-kilowatt site developed at Padnos Iron & Metal Co.’s plastic... Full story »

The city of Saline and Pittsfield Township plan to file a joint application to win Google's fiber optic network project -- a move that places the regional municipalities in competition with the city of Ann Arbor. Pittsfield Supervisor Mandy Grewal,... Full story »

Saturday's post, Pontiac Silverdome reopens, bringing jobs to the area, generated some comments from readers who wanted to know how many jobs and how much they paid. Jeffoo was skeptical about the story: How much money and how many jobs? ... So they bring an event or two here. They create maybe 10-20 jobs here and there on a... Full story »