capitalgains - In the News

MSU Product Center Helps Get Michigan Whitefish to Mass Market

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources is helping the Great Lakes whitefish industry get the fish from the lake to the boat to your table.

According to excerpts from the article:

The value of the Great Lakes annual whitefish catch dropped from $1.04 a pound in 2000 to 78 cents a pound in 2006, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

But a program to help Michigan's agricultural entrepreneurs get their products into retail stores is aiming to change that.

It has stocked several Lansing-area retailers—including the eight-store L&L Food Centers chain—with Legends of the Lakes whitefish and is positioning other Michigan-made products to get onto store shelves.

"If suddenly Michigan broke off and floated into the Great Lakes, we'd have enough businesses to feed ourselves," said Matt Birbeck, a project consultant at Michigan State University's Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources. "There's nothing we couldn't do."

The center helps food-based businesses take their products from the raw material state to the market. It can help with packaging, nutritional information and actually place the product in stores.

Read the entire article here.

Three Area High Schools Receive Recognition for Programs

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Okemos, Williamston and East Lansing High School are among the top high schools in the Capital region, according to a recent state test performance survey.

According to excerpts from the article:

Students that walk the halls of Okemos High School, Williamston High School and East Lansing High School are all getting a stellar silver medal education.

The survey analyzed performance on state tests, success for disadvantaged students and college readiness. Williamston Principal Bowls says they've added five AP classes in the last three years, and implement post-secondary career goals with Education Development Plans.

Read the entire article here.

Southside Breakfast Spot Changes Hands, Opens as Grumpy's Diner

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Former Southside Lansing breakfast spot, the Korner Kitchen, has changed hands and is now known as Grumpy’s Diner.

According to excerpts from the article:

“You can usually hear my big voice laughing and carrying on no matter where you’re sitting,” says Grumpy’s Diner owner/operator Bill Walker. “Temperamental cooks went out with the horse and buggy. We try and make things fun around here.”

Last month Walker took over what used to be the Korner Kitchen, on the corner of Pennsylvania and Mt. Hope avenues in Lansing, re-opening the recently closed restaurant after a massive internal renovation.

“After I took over from the last guy, we closed it down and did a complete top-to-bottom overhaul,” Walker says. “These are the same four walls, but that’s about it. We pulled out everything, we cleaned everything, and we started over completely from scratch inside. This is a completely new restaurant with a completely new mindset.”

Read the entire article here.

MSU Chemist Breaks New Ground With Drug Research

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University (MSU) chemistry professor David P. Weliky has conducted research on protein structural makeup that could lead to quicker protein-based drug development.

According to excerpts from the article:

Research by a Michigan State University chemist could eventually lead to a quicker and easier way of developing protein-based drugs which are key to treating a number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis.

Proteins used in drug manufacture and research often are made within genetically modified Escherichia coli, a one-cell bacteria. That protein tends to collect into what scientists call inclusion bodies. Those hard-to-separate clumps render up to 95 percent of the protein unusable, according to associate chemistry professor David P. Weliky.

Some can be recovered by breaking down the protein to separate it, but because protein structure determines its function, another step must be added to “refold” it into its original configuration.

Weliky and colleagues took a closer look at the structure of the proteins that make up these inclusion bodies. Learning what makes them stick together might yield some clues as to how to separate them, he said, and that could make the manufacturing process more efficient.

Read the entire article here.

Female Entrepreneurs Get Boost From Bounce House Venture

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mothers and entrepreneurs, Kelly Ramirez and Joan Blackmer, are enjoying the entertainment and economic kickback from their new 10,000 square foot bounce arena.

According to excerpts from the article:

Ramirez, 40, a former interior designer, and Blackmer, 37, a former social worker, have created the Jumpin' Jax Bounce Arena, a 10,000-square-foot play area filled with colorful inflatable structures that kids can slide down, bounce on or climb over.

Five days a week, hundreds of kids whoop it up, giving their parents a chance to read magazines, make a Wi-Fi connection, or even join in the fun on one of five giant inflatables. The cost is $8 per child for unlimited fun.

Lisa Aylward, a DeWitt mother of three high-energy boys, 7, 5, 3, said her sons "love it. They would go every day, if I would let them. . . . I take them there every four to six weeks to burn off their extra energy."

Read the entire article here.

Lansing-area Superfan Boasts World Class Comic Collection

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An area comic book collector boasts a world class collection with at least 30,000 books, more than 10,000 of which are signed copies.

According to experts from the article:

30,000 comics by any measure is a major collection, but in his calm voice Dan casually drops the news that about 10,000 of them are signed by the artists who drew them. This alone makes the collection jump to world class, and Dan is more than a world-class fan boy.

Over the last 24 years, Dan and his close friend Dennis (every hero needs a sidekick), have attended more than 200 comic-book shows, mostly in the Midwest, where Dan’s easy-going attitude and appreciation for comic art have endeared him to legendary and far-flung artists, including Gary Baseman, John Buscema (now dead); Joe Sinnott; Dick Ayers; George Tusca; Jerry Robinson (creator of “Batman” characters The Joker and Robin) and Marie Severin.

Randall Scott, curator of the Michigan State University Comic Book Collection, says this is a one-of- a-kind collection of signed comic books and comic book art.

“I don’t think anyone has got anything like that,” says Scott, who has seen Dan’s collection. “I don’t know any collectors on that level.”

Read the entire article here.

MSU Methodologies Get Credit For Raising Minnesota Math Scores

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rigorous education standards, established in part by Michigan State University (MSU) scholars, have substantially increased Minnesota’s fourth grade math scores.

According to excerpts from the article:

While the United States saw a small increase in fourth-grade math scores from 1995 to 2007— remaining in the middle of the pack among the 16 countries that participated both years—Minnesota performed far better and now ranks fifth in the world, according to the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, which was released today.

William Schmidt, MSU Distinguished Professor of education and statistics, said Minnesota’s approach to success could be replicated by many other states attempting to boost math achievement. An architect of the TIMSS study, Schmidt worked closely with Minnesota education officials.

“Minnesota is now among the elite performers in the world,” he said. “It’s a story of, ‘Yes you can do it in the United States if you work at it.’”

Read the entire article here.

Ribbon Cutting Opens New $3 Million Charlotte Fire Station

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Construction on a new, $3 million fire station in Charlotte’s is finished and ready for use.

According to excerpts from the article:

On Wednesday, Dec. 10 city officials and those involved with the project will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 17,000-square-foot station on Shepherd Street.

Charlotte Fire Chief Kevin Fullerton said fire fighters by then should be working out of the building. This past week his department had already spent some time moving items into the station and preparing to function in sync with the existing downtown station. Both buildings will be manned 24 hours a day.

Connecting the two stations will be a fiber-optic cable that will link phones and computers. It has yet to be installed but should be in place by Wednesday. City officials are also awaiting the final inspection by Charlotte's building inspector before operations can begin at the new building.

Read the entire article here.

Haslett Writer Wins Award at Recent Monaco Film Festival

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Haslett writer, Rob Blankenhorn, recently returned from the Monaco Film Festival where he received an award for his "The Music of Men" script.

According to excerpts from the article:

If anyone understands the meaning of the old line, "Déjà vu all over again," Rob Blankenhorn might.

The Haslett resident, whose talents extend to both music and writing, spent much of this week in the tiny European principality of Monaco at the Monaco Film Festival.

Blankenhorn traveled there to collect a prize for his script, "The Music of Men".

The title refers to a line from the William Shakespeare play "Richard II."

The story concerns two brothers in a small Pennsylvania town, one an altruistic doctor and the other a greedy banker, whom Blankenhorn called a "bad seed."

The parallels to the ongoing worldwide financial crisis are unmistakable.

Read the entire article here.

State Grants Will Help CMU Expand and Secure a Lansing Presence

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Central Michigan University (CMU) will be occupying and expanding its presence in Lansing as part of an effort to pursue Michigan Department of Education projects.

According to excerpts from the article:

At its Thursday meeting, the Board of Trustees authorized University President Michael Rao to pursue a lease agreement of up to five years for office space in the state capitol at a cost of $15,000 for the first year, and up to $16,500 by the fifth year.

The space will be used to conduct work on two Michigan Department of Education projects; "Michigan Mathematics Program Improvement, and "Michigan's Integrated Technology Supports."

The Michigan Department of Education granted funding for both projects, up to $600,000 for the first, and up to $1,025,000 for the second. The grants are to be awarded on an annual basis; however, it's expected the projects will continue for five years.

Read the entire article here.

Local Bio-Sciences Company Builds on MBI International Collaboration

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

DuPont Applied BioSciences is collaborating with MBI International to commercialization a new bio-based product line.

According to excerpts from the article:

MBI International is a leader in bridging the gap between research and commercialization through collaborative de-risking of bio-based technologies. MBI's unique "Collaborative De-Risking"process systematically addresses technological uncertainties, which impede new technologies from getting to market.

"We are very excited that DuPont Applied BioSciences has chosen MBI as a partner to help de-risk this important new product line," stated Dr. Bobby Bringi, recently appointed President of MBI International. "We had the opportunity to work with DuPont Applied BioSciences on an initial phase of this project, and are proud that they have chosen to extend this partnership with MBI."

MBI International fits a unique niche in the marketplace. Virtually all bio-based technology developments that come from the lab need to go through a process development and scale-up stage to determine commercial viability. Once the uncertainties or risks associated with early technological developments are mitigated via de-risking, a company like DuPont Applied BioSciences is better positioned to make product-related investments.

Read the entire article here.

Lansing Energy Auditors Tout Basics of Conservation and Efficiency

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Wind, solar and other forms of alternative energy are great, but leaders around the country, including those in Lansing, are also turning to the cheapest form of energy—the kind you don't have to generate.

According to excerpts from the article:

As fossil fuels bake the planet and nascent technologies like wind and solar take precious time to develop, experts agree that tightened energy efficiency and conservation is the quickest and cheapest way to squeak our way through to a clean, renewable energy future.

“Fix the hole in the side of the boat that’s leaking water and then we’ll worry about getting a little better motor,” says Brad Mann, certified energy rater.

Mann is a local foot soldier in an unsung fossil fuel liberation army — not the designers of $40,000 hybrid plug-in cars or sleek wind turbines, but rear-guard, demand-side soldiers with a wad of caulk in their pockets.

Read the entire article here.

Eaton Rapids Undertakes New Promotion and Awareness Program

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Community stakeholders, dubbed the “Eaton Rapids Marketing Alliance,” are implementing new strategies to promote their quaint Capital region city.

According to excerpts from the article:

We know it's small. And charming. But does the rest of the world?

Such is the thinking behind an alliance that has conducted focus groups, aired commercials and erected billboards aimed at promoting the many good things to be found in the Eaton Rapids area.

According to Gary Wichman—who spearheaded the formation of what is loosely termed the "Eaton Rapids Marketing Alliance"—the idea is to gather community stakeholders and utilize a variety of resources to get the word out.

Read the entire article here.

Capital Region Boasts Excellent Facilities for Events and Activities

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Home to a major university, law school and the state capital, the Lansing area has facilities and hotels that host a range of academic, executive and diplomatic events.

According to excerpts from the article:

Event planners have long admired mid-Michigan’s selection of diverse meeting space. From small meeting rooms and banquet accommodations at area hotels, to the huge column-free open space of the Lansing Center, the region offers many options to private and public sector clients.

Versatile convention and special purpose rooms dot the region, according to the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau. Meeting planners can choose from hundreds of thousands of square feet of meeting space.

Among those sites is the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development, on Forest Road near the campus of Michigan State University. The James B. Henry Center, which opened in 2001 and is named after a former dean of the Eli Broad College of Business, houses MSU’s weekend MBA program and provides a professional environment for executive education and corporate learning.

Read the entire article here.

Capitol Bancorp Consolidation Brings 35 Jobs to Capital Region

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Capitol Bancorp Ltd. will bring 35 jobs to the Capital region when it consolidates its operations center in Tempe, Ariz.

According to excerpts from the article:

The bank development company said today another 65 corporate jobs also are expected to be added over the next two years. Officials declined to say how much the jobs pay.

"Bringing all operations together into one center will obviously have many advantages, which include consistency in operations and economies of scale," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Reid said.

The Tempe operations center had been the hub for processing transactions at Capitol's western U.S. banks, spokeswoman Angela Kimber said. Technology improvements allow that work to be done in Lansing despite a time zone difference.

Read the entire article here.

East Lansing Goes LEED Silver with City Center II, Strives for More

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The City of East Lansing is continuing to make the city greener by striving for a silver Leadership in Energy and Environment (LEED) certification for its City Center II building.

According to excerpts from the article:

LEED certification is a nationally accepted program that rates the level of green buildings. There are varying levels of certification, from basic to platinum, which is the most environmentally friendly.

The proposed 10-story building in the City Center II project on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road will have a silver certification.

“A lot of communities committed to silver because it’s not the lowest level, but it’s still very reachable,” said Tim Schmitt, a community development analyst for East Lansing.

“If we get good at it, maybe that standard (would get) higher.”

Read the entire article here.

Troppo Restaurant Relocation Loan Gets City Council Approval

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing City Council has agreed to give Troppo owner, Kris Elliott, a $440,000 loan to move Troppo across Michigan Avenue.

According to excerpts from the article:

"Council is approving the concept of the project," Councilwoman Carol Wood said.

Councilwoman Kathie Dunbar said there seemed to be very little risk in giving the green light to the plan, which includes a $440,000 loan from the Lansing Economic Development Corp.

According to the resolution, the loan, already approved by the LEDC board, will finance "furniture, fixtures and equipment."

Elliott wants to move the upscale Troppo from the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue and Washington Square intersection to the northeast corner.

Read the entire article here.

Globally Active MSU Professor Receives National Award for Health Work

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Michigan State University (MSU) professor of Pediatrics and Human Development has received the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for advocating and treating bleeding and clotting disorders.

According to excerpts from the article:

“The award is a testament to Dr. Kulkarni’s dedication in this field of study,” said Dele Davies, chairperson of the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development. “She has given so much of her time and energy to better the health of myriad patients.”

Besides teaching at MSU’s Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders, Kulkarni served as director of the Division of Blood Disorders in the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from June 2006 to August 2008. During her time there, she traveled back to East Lansing once a month to see her patients.

Two of Kulkarni’s focal points have been her work preventing intracranial bleeds in babies with hemophilia and her research of women's bleeding disorders, including her effort to establish a women's clinic in a rural village in India, her home country.

Read the entire article here.

Old Town Lansing Design Firm Brings Home Governor’s Award

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Old Town Lansing-based CiesaDesign recently received the Exemplary Business Award from the 2008 Governor’s Awards for Arts & Culture for creating high quality designs for arts organizations.

According to excerpts from the article:

Ciesa’s work includes promotional materials for the East Lansing Art Festival and the original brand and brochure for the area’s First Sunday Gallery Walk. When it came to their old neighbors in East Lansing, Scene Metrospace, Ciesa not only designed the log and helped brand the fledgling gallery, but it also helped pay utility bills.

Standing in the lobby after the announcement, [owner Lauren] Ciesa said he was proud to have come so far over the years, from his original two person staff helping with the early East Lansing art festivals to having a staff of 10 who give their time and talents to the arts.

“We’ve sort of created a culture of activism,” Ciesa said. But the real credit for sustaining the arts in Lansing, he said, goes to the area’s arts organizations and their leaders. “We get the pretty posters and the color and all this stuff, but really it’s the directors of these organizations who work very hard,” he said.

Read the entire article here.

Lansing Boosts Enforcement, Motivates Action on Red-Tagged Houses

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The City of Lansing is working hard to get red-tagged houses out of the public domain to increase safety and neighborhood aesthetics.

According to excerpts from the article:

The city of Lansing has increased its code enforcement over the last few years, tagging homes for three levels of safety violations—green, yellow and red. That has meant a spike in tags after 2004, when only 223 were issued. For this year, the city had issued 920 tags through Oct. 10.

Officials say heightened enforcement has resulted in more demolitions of the worst homes and quicker repairs for the rest.

Read the entire article here.

MSU Uses New Humanities Grant to Digitize Ancient Religious Texts

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University (MSU) is using a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to digitize 20 pages from two Israelite Samaritan Pentateuchs, texts that were written more than 500 years ago.

According to excerpts from the article:

From book to Web, some of the world’s rarest religious documents will soon be available to anyone, anywhere, thanks to work provided by a Michigan State University research center.

A Pentateuch, known to Jews as the Torah or the first of three sections of the Hebrew Bible, is also known to Christians as the first five books of the Old Testament.

“Our project aims to provide an online space where two distinct groups of stakeholders in the Samaritan collection—biblical scholars and members of the Samaritan community—can both access and make use of these texts,” said William Hart-Davidson, co-director of the research center. “A digital archive has the potential to simultaneously preserve artifacts for posterity while broadening access.”

And the archive will build community, much like social networks Facebook or MySpace.

Read the entire article here.

$6 Million Federal Boost Set Aside for Lansing Neighborhoods

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Soon Lansing residents will see the demolition and renovation of houses in eight neighborhoods that have high foreclosure rates and an abundance of construction “eyesores.”

According to excerpts from the article:

Imagine waking up one spring morning and seeing the vacant house down the block buzzing with activity: Roofers carrying shingles up ladders, the sound of nail-guns and belt sanders drifting out onto the street.

Imagine the activity is contagious: Suddenly the chipping paint on your front door or the broken window in the garage soar to the top of your “to do” list. Imagine none of your neighbors want to own the shabbiest house on the block. Imagine it happens all across Lansing.

That’s the vision behind the proposed plan for nearly $6 million in federal funds available to the city. Mayor Virg Bernero said neighbors “will see some of those (empty homes) being worked on instead of sitting still. Hopefully that means more houses will be attended to. It’s a start.”

Read the entire article here.

$600,000 Lansing Solar Power Array Could Be Ready By Christmas

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing Board of Water & Light is about halfway done installing a set of 432 solar panels behind the Stadium District development on Michigan Avenue at Larch Street. The array will produce enough electricity to light 50 homes.

According to excerpts from the article:

"The array is about halfway done," spokesman Mark Nixon said Monday.

The goal is to have the entire project plugged in and turned on by Christmas.

The array is located south of Michigan Avenue and Cedar Street and will cost less than $600,000.

Read the entire article here.

$440,000 Troppo Restaurant Loan Awaits Council Approval

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing City Council is considering a proposal to loan Troppo restaurant owner Kris Elliott $440,000 to move his Downtown Lansing restaurant across the street.

According to excerpts from the article:

Elliott wants to move the upscale restaurant at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington Square from the southeast corner of the intersection to the northeast corner. It would be located in a new building attached to the One Michigan Avenue office building.

Elliott led a $10 million buyout of the office building,which includes a National City bank branch and local offices for IBM, earlier this year.

Officials say the project, which would top $1 million, is a way to reshape downtown's main intersection of Michigan and Washington Square—and provide more fuel for a developing entertainment district.

Read the entire article here.

Smart Office Systems Calls Westside Lansing Home to New HQ

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Smart Office Systems owner, Paul Covert, is putting $800,000 into the former ASC Inc. warehouse on Lansing’s Westside, giving his expanding furniture business room to grow.

According to excerpts from the article:

The founder of Lansing-based Smart Office Systems sold his company to publicly traded Open Plan Systems for $6 million in 1996.

But that sale left Covert, a native of Eagle, with a question:

Now what?

Covert came up with the answer over the ensuing months, as he watched the office furniture company he founded founder under new ownership. Covert returned to the helm of the business he started and helped re-establish Smart Office Systems as an independent company.

Read the entire article here.

MSU Students Running New NonPartisan Michigan Policy Network

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michigan State University launched an online resource called the Michigan Policy Network that’s designed to help Michigan residents enhance their knowledge of state policy issues.

According to excerpts from the article:

The network, at www.michiganpolicy.com, will follow what policymakers do now that the Nov. 4 elections are over, providing background information and news reporting on major laws and proposals in 10 key categories.

Under “energy and environment,” for example, there’s a briefing on a new law that gives tax breaks to those who make energy-efficient home improvements. And the “health care” category includes a rundown of the latest effort to ban workplace smoking.

The nonpartisan network is run by 10 MSU undergraduate students under the guidance of both campus advisers and mentors from the policy community. It’s the brainchild of Matt Grossmann, assistant professor of political science, who said many citizens are frustrated by the lack of in-depth policy information that doesn’t push an agenda.

Read the entire article here.

Lansing Poetry Club Keeping Prose Alive in Mid-Michigan

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Lansing Poetry Club has been supporting poets and advocating for a state poet laureate for 70 years.

According to excerpts from the article.

Now celebrating its 70th year of existence, the Lansing Poetry Club has been a longtime advocate for verse in Michigan’s capital city, including a stalled effort to create a poet laureate position for the state.

Len Petersen, of Lansing, who has been a club member for 10 years, said bills that would have created the mostly symbolic position passed the House and Senate in 2000 but were never signed into law by Gov. John Engler. Dennis North, president of the Lansing Poetry Club, said more than 40 states have poet laureates.

At one time (1952-1959), Edgar Guest was Michigan’s. Guest, Michigan’s only formal poet laureate, was mostly known for his daily, syndicated poems, which appeared in the Detroit Free Press and 300 other newspapers from the 1920s to the 1950s. North, who writes poetry in rhyme, free verse and haiku, said the idea of having a poet laureate goes back several hundred years to Britain. The United States has had a poet laureate since 1937.

Read the entire article here.

24th Global Festival Draws Diverse Crowd at MSU

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With such a diverse student population, it’s no wonder that Michigan State University’s 24th annual Global Festival had such a good turn out.

According to excerpts from the article:

Six-year-old Adam Johnson doesn't have a U.S. passport and has never left the country.

But on Sunday, the East Lansing boy had the chance to see Filipino dancing and taste Turkish baklava, among other cultural experiences.

Johnson was one of scores of people who attended the 24th annual Global Festival at Michigan State University's Union on Sunday.

The free event not only helps educate local residents about world cultures, but also serves as a way for international students to show off their homelands, said Peter Briggs, director of MSU's Office of International Students and Scholars.

Read the entire article here.

$18M Expansion to Create 150 Jobs at St. John's Plant

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

MAHLE Engine Components will spend $18 million to expand its St. John’s location, adding 30,000 square feet to the plant and creating 150 new jobs.

According to excerpts from the article:

The plant on State Street in St. Johns is a testament to the power of a simple philosophy.

"Making the good even better."

That's the motto adopted by the founders of the global auto parts manufacturer MAHLE nearly a century ago in Germany. And it's the motto still at work today as the company embarks on an $18 million expansion of the former Dana Corp. plant that MAHLE Engine Components USA Inc. bought in 2007.

The auto supplier is building on the good things that were already there: A skilled workforce, a dedicated community and a spirit of innovation that is transforming the entire Lansing regional economy.

The $18 million expansion will add 30,000 square feet to the existing 187,000-square-foot plant, but it will add a lot more than space:

Carroll told the State Journal that the addition will create 150 jobs to be phased in over the five years.

Read the entire article here.

Delta Dental Goes Green With New Office Building and Data Center

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Delta Dental is planning to use green building practices while adding a new office building and data center at its Okemos home.

According to excerpts from the article:

When completed in 2010, Delta Dental's expansion will feature an additional 25,000 square feet in its primary building, an additional 95,000-square-foot office building, and a 20,000-square-foot data center.

Hostetler says the project was designed with sustainability in mind. The additions will feature environmentally friendly building components that are recommended by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the development of sustainable building projects and education.

"We've seen some significant growth in the past three to five years of all our insurance companies, but this was really Delta's year," says Tim Daman, vice president for operations and strategic initiatives for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Delta Dental a major employer with more than 600 workers in Michigan—most in the Lansing region. It also is considered a leader in the growth of Lansing as a "hub" for the insurance industry.

Other major insurance carriers headquartered in the Lansing region are Accident Fund, Auto-Owners Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Jackson National Life, Michigan Millers, Citizens Insurance, AP Capital and FinCor Holdings.

Insurance and financial industry jobs grew by 13 percent between 2000 and 2006, according to a report commissioned by Michigan Works! and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

Read the entire article here.