In the News

Habitat For Humanity Breaks Ground On Four 'Green' Homes

WLNS Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Lansing's Habitat for Humanity organization broke ground on the first of a series new homes that will be part of a new green development on Wayne Street.

According to excerpts from the article:

Four new 'green,' energy efficient homes will be built.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held to thank sponsors whose donations help Habitat continue their mission to improve neighborhoods and help economically disadvantage families.

Read the entire story here.

Dart Container completes $1B takeover of Solo Cup

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Dart Container Corp. has closed on the $1 billion deal to buy Solo Cup Co. announced earlier this year.

According to excerpts from the story:

The takeover, announced last month, brings Lake Forest, Ill.-based Solo’s container operations, including the iconic Solo party cups, under the Dart umbrella. Dart is the world’s largest maker of foam cups and also makes other containers.

Dart, which doubles in size with the deal, is paying $315 million in cash for Solo and assuming $700 million in debt.

Read the entire story here.

Aldi adding jobs in Webberville, Lansing stores

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Aldi, the discount grocery store has announced that it is adding jobs at a warehouse in Webberville and two Lansing stores.

According to excerpts from the article:

The German grocer said will host a job fair from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at the warehouse, 2625 N. M-52. Aldi wants to fill eight to 10 positions at the warehouse. It also is hiring 10-15 workers at stores at 5625 Saginaw Highway and 6555 Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, and a store in Howell.

Read the entire story here.

Michigan State Creates Spartan Innovations to Launch Spin-Offs

Xconomy Detroit Wednesday, May 02, 2012

The new MSU subsidiary Spartan Innovations will help the university’s faculty and students form spin-off companies based on technology developed at MSU, while also building the local culture of entrepreneurship.

According to excerpts from the article:

Hasemann says Spartan Innovations will provide five key resources: university-wide entrepreneurship education that engages the community, stipends to support student startup business participation, CEO mentors-in-residence to help manage startups and take MSU technology to market, access to a network of external angel and early-stage investors, and gap funding from the MSU Foundation to support the earliest stages of MSU technology development.

Read the entire article here.

Lansing-area students, General Motors pair up in GREEN efforts

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, May 02, 2012

General Motors partners Eaton Intermediate School District’s Career Prep Center to help students participating in the Project Global Rivers Environmental Education Network, or GREEN.

According to excerpts from the story:

This is the 20th year General Motors Lansing has teamed up with nonprofit Earth Force to analyze local waterway pollution with local students. Three years after the first local effort, Woldumar Nature Center joined in the education as well.

GM officials recognized the milestone by donating $10,000 to Woldumar Nature Center on Thursday.

Read the entire story here.

Potterville resident to publish children's book

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Pottervile resident Jo Lehman will soon be publishing a children's book called A Run in the Park with the help of 2 Moon Press.

According to excerpts from the article:

The soon-to-be children’s book, which will be available at Barnes and Noble and on the Web site Amazon.com, was created during a car trip that Lehman took with a few of her grand-kids. The ride to Florida was noisy, remembered Lehman, and the youngsters were all chatting.

Read the entire story here.

Construction on cancer center scheduled to start before fall

The State News Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Work on cancer treatment center is set to begin before this fall.

According to excerpts from the article:

A certificate of need for Compass Health Care’s Compass Cancer Center, 1525 W. Lake Lansing Road, was approved earlier this April by the Michigan Department of Community Health, a move that should allow construction to start before this fall.

Read the entire story here.

South Lansing hotels renovate, create fresh atmosphere

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Two hotels in south Lansing are undergoing changes, including new ownership and renovations.

According to excerpts from the article:

The renovation at the Causeway Bay hotel, 6820 S. Cedar St., has been more than three years in the making. Though its operators won’t discuss specifics, the project’s cost hit eight figures and included taking on the Best Western Plus name. Meanwhile, changes are just beginning to take shape at the Dads Inn, 6501 S. Pennsylvania Ave., which has been rebranded as the Magnuson Hotel Lansing.

Read the entire story here.

LEAP Transforms How The Region Writes Economic Development Grants

CBS Local Detroit Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Lansing Economic Area Partnership has partnered with Kuntzsch Business Services Inc. to launch a pilot program aimed at helping Lansing-area municipalities write grants for economic development projects or initiatives.

According to excerpts from the article:

In its first year, LEAP will fund 50 percent of the costs, up to $2,500 per municipality, for grant proposal development services provided by KBS. LEAP has made $10,000 available for the program, which will operate on a first come, first served basis.

Read the entire story here.

GM adding workers to Lansing-area assembly plant

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2012

General Motors' Grand River plant is hiring additional workers to assemble the Cadillac ATS.

According to excerpts from the article:

Theis will be one of about 600 new workers GM is adding to its local workforce when it launches a second shift at its Lansing Grand River assembly plant late this summer. The new shift coincides with the introduction of the Cadillac ATS, a new compact luxury car that the Detroit automaker eyes as a rival to foreign models.

Read the entire story here.

Spartan Motors overhauls emergency vehicle division

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Charlotte-based Spartan Motors Inc. has announced the overhaul of its emergency vehicle unit. The company is partnering with European companies and renaming the division.

According to excerpts from the article:

The specialty vehicle and chassis maker, which makes fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, performs defense subcontracting work and produces commercial delivery vehicles, said Tuesday it has renamed its former Crimson-Fire division Spartan ERV and named former division Vice President Dennis Schneider to head the unit and Spartan Chassis. Spartan also outlined other strategies that have been six months in the making.

Read the entire story here.

MSUFCU expands to new locations in, around E.L.

The State News Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union has opened a new East Lansing branch.

According to excerpts from that article:

The branch opened March 5 after moving from its previous location at 600 Crescent Road at the request of another tenant at the location, said April Clobes, MSUFCU’s executive vice president.

“It’s a great location for us, and a more visible and more convenient location,” Clobes said.

Since opening in March, Clobes said the branch has seen an increase of visitors, and more people have opened accounts compared to this time last year.

Read the entire story here.

Lansing Couples on a Smart Budget Establish Dessert Trend

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Okemos-based Gellocake brings an inexpensive dessert option to Lansing-area events.

According to excerpts from the article:

Local TV station Production Manager Rob and his newlywed wife Jesse decided to hire Gellocake LLC to cater their wedding after hearing a recommendation from Jesse's father. Gellocake is a growing licensed home-based bakery run by Dessert Designer Lilian Chavira. Jesse mentioned that she loved how Lilian worked with them. She really made it easy to bring our ideas to life on a specific budget.

Read the entire story here.

The World's Best Wine Cellars: For Billionaires And Maybe For You Too

Forbes Wednesday, April 11, 2012

East Lansing-based Revel Cellars has been getting national attention, including some celebrity cients.

According to excerpts from the article:

What do billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, former Amway CEO Dick DeVos, and celebrity adopters Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have in common?

At first glance, not a whole lot. To see the connection, you would have to look at their wine cellars, designed and painstakingly built by Revel Custom Wine Cellars, which someone familiar with the company described to me as “the Bentley of wine cellars.”

Read the entire story here.

East Lansing City Center II project work begins

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Construction on the long-awaited East Lansing City Center II project is finally underway.

According to excerpts from the article:

The developer of the proposed $105 million City Center II development project in downtown East Lansing is moving ahead with demolition preparations even as City Council members pore over the latest plans for the project.

Read the entire story here.