Study: Michigan economy on the rebound

Comerica Bank’s Michigan Economic Activity Index rose 4 points in December, fully reversing the a decline from the previous month. The fourth quarter average was up 2.3 percent from the third quarter and up 9 percent compared to the second quarter, which was the cyclical low.
The index averaged 74 for all of 2009, 13 points [...]

Local business owners optimistic following holiday sales

by Rachel Esterline, Vision Mid Michigan

Cathy Smith, owner of Basketree in Mount Pleasant, said people were more aware of shopping local during this past holiday season and holiday business was up from last year.
Her experience echoes that of other retailers both locally and nationally following better-than-expected sales that some say point to signs of an economic recovery. According to the [...]

1,250 new jobs coming to Midland

Tata Consultancy Services, an information technology services and consulting company with global headquarters in Mumbai, India, recently announced that it plans to invest $12.5 million to establish a Business Process Service Center in Midland. The center will provide core business services including financial consulting, order processing, information technology and other services. The project will create [...]

Wolverine, Haworth bring jobs to Mecosta County

by Eric Baerren, Vision Mid Michigan

A process that started more than a year ago that involved a West Michigan shoe company, the state of Michigan and military contracts has yielded hundreds of jobs for Mecosta County. It was one of two recent announcements related to manufacturing consolidations from which the county has benefited.
Wolverine World Wide, headquartered in Rockford, [...]

Midland family receives financial makeover from ‘Apprentice’ star

Last month the Stark family of Midland received a surprise when Donald Trump’s original “Apprentice” Bill Rancic showed up at their door awarding them with a full financial makeover as part of the Gradient Gives Back Community Outreach Program – the third makeover of the nationwide campaign aimed to help families struggling financially.
Rancic was accompanied [...]

Mid-Michigan looks to renewable energy to power out of economic slump

by Theresa Roach, Vision Mid Michigan

Mid-Michigan has the potential to become a world leader in producing renewable energy sources, according to a recent report. And local leaders in business, government and education are already latching onto that potential as a way to right the economy.
Research conducted by Western Carolina University’s Institute for the Economy and the Future found that mid-Michigan [...]

Top 10 ways to celebrate the holidays at work

by Kathie Elliott, Vision Mid Michigan

In an economic slump, celebrating the holidays at work can seem like squeezing coal for the fire out of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Though traditionally this is the season that employers share the fruits of a successful year with their employees, business owners may be uncertain about what they can do to show their gratitude to the employees [...]