Mason : In the News

According to Doug Stites, of Capital Area Michigan Works!, entrepreneurship is possible for nearly everyone, and the Capital region is emerging as a great place for people to start a new business, take risks and seek out their passion or innovative idea. 

According to excerpts from the article.

Entrepreneur Magazine named East Lansing one of the top 10 college towns to start a business, CNN Money named Greater Lansing one of the 50 most business-friendly cities.

And most recently, well-known financial news organization Kiplinger's named Lansing one of the top 10 cities in the country for young adults.

Incubator space such as the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center, NEO Center and the Hatch is making it easier for individuals with great ideas and solid business plans to put it in action without needing much capital to start.

Read the entire article here.

2009 was a good year for the Capital region, which welcomed several important economic investments including the $550 million FRIB facility, the Technology Information Center (TIC) and IBM’s move to East Lansing.

According to excerpts from the article:

While Michigan felt the pain of the highest unemployment in the nation, the bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler, a tanking housing market and a sharp slowdown in commercial sales, East Lansing could point to the following developments:

1.) FRIB, okay, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. The $550 million Department of Energy-funded nuclear physics research facility will be a science facility dedicated answering complex questions about the structure of matter, about the stars, about basic elements on our plan, event how the planet came into existence.

Its practical benefits, as well: $1 billion economic impact over the first decade, 180 new jobs for scientists, 5,800 one-year construction jobs, 220 spin-off jobs.

Read the entire article here.

Growing tech company Central Solutions is setting up servers, personal computer and security systems in the new Mason city hall/police station.

According to excerpts from the article:

Brian Tort, president of Central Solutions, said the company started as a consultant to plan for the future of technology in general for Mason. And there's little doubt that information technology is growing.

"My whole philosophy is we want to be the general contractor for IT," Tort said.

City Administrator Marty Colburn acknowledged that Central is "very involved" with the new city hall/police station. It's necessary, he said, that "as technology continues to be developed that we develop along with it."

Read the entire article here.

Granger Group was selected by the Mason City Council to construct a new city hall and police station for the city, an estimated $5.9 million project.

According to excerpts from the article:

The current city hall/police station, which is more than 30 years old, has insufficient space and an aging infrastructure for current staff.

The new building would be about 26,000 square feet and have two stories plus a basement. The project is estimated at $5.9 million.

The city originally had decided to go with the Lansing-based Christman company but the two parted ways in July after an agreement couldn't be reached on the final plans.

Read the entire article here.

Okemos-based Central Park Apartments is the first apartment complex in the Capital Region to participate in a Consumers Energy program designed to help green residential buildings and help the utility meet the requirements of a new state efficiency program.

According to excerpts from the article.

The 402 units at the apartment complex owned by East Lansing-based Eyde Co. are getting the upgrades this week. In coming months, similar work will be done at complexes near Michigan State University that are operated by DTN Management Co. of Lansing.

Consumers plans to spend $500 million over the next 5 1/2 years on energy saving programs such as this one. A surcharge Consumers started adding to customer bills in June will pay for the program.

The program, and similar efforts under development at the Lansing Board of Water & Light and other utility companies around the state, are part of a response to a state law passed last year that requires utilities to help customers save energy.

"This is probably the largest energy efficiency program that Michigan has ever launched," Consumers spokesman Dan Bishop said.

Read the entire article here.

Courthouse Pub's Joe Ghinelli has brought a new look to a popular Mason pub, which he and a partner recently renovated.

According to excerpts from the article:

The Courthouse Pub in downtown Mason has just about everything any blue-collared, red-blooded happy-hour reveler could want. After a couple of decades in the restaurant business, general manager and co-owner Joe Ghinelli knows a thing or two about what brings customers through the door, and more important, what keeps them coming back.

Like his good-looking bar keeps behind the hexagonal bar, Ghinelli is ever ready to chat about anything from sports to politics, or, if you're feeling uninspired, just the weather. Makes no difference, as long as you enjoyed your visit, a gregarious Ghinelli said.

"The best part is the people," said Ghinelli, along time Mason resident in his own right. "Growing up here and seeing all the people I haven’t seen in a long time is by far the best part."

Read the entire article here.

The economic challenges facing the nation also offer economic opportunity to entrepreneurs willing to face them, says Michigan State University (MSU) Accounting Professor Sanjay Gupta.

According to excerpts from the article:

“There always are challenges in setting up a new business, whether in good times or bad,” said Gupta, chairperson of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems in the Eli Broad College of Business.

“However, there are some unique challenges budding entrepreneurs face, especially during the current economic downturn,” he said.

New entrepreneurs willing to take a chance may be catalysts in turning around the entire economy, but they need to adhere to sound business principles to succeed.

Read the entire article here.

From 2005 to 2008, the state’s green industry grew by 7.7 percent, according to a study released by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.

According to excerpts from the article:

It (the green industry) employs more than 109,000 people.The largest sector of the green industry, clean transportation and fuels, employs 40% of the state's green jobs workers.

Andy Levin, Deputy Director, DELEG: "These are people who need to put together the business and the education to create these green jobs, 'cause they know this is the future, they know this is where there's a chance to make money, and so they're coming together to figure it out."

The green energy event drew some high-wattage politicians. The US secretary of labor joined Governor Jennifer Granholm at the Lansing Center. Governor Granholm says creating green jobs is the key to pushing the state through these tough times. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis backs her up, calling green jobs the jobs of the future.

Read the entire article here.

On Saturday, April 18, local celebrities put on their dancing shoes for the second “Dancing with the Local Stars” event at the Country Club of Lansing.

According to excerpts from the article:

The gala fundraiser, which goes from 6:30 p.m. to midnight, includes live and silent auctions.

Eight local celebs have been paired with local dance instructors, training for eight weeks, to compete to raise funds for Care Free Medical and Dental.

Care Free is a nonprofit clinic that provides access to affordable, primary health and dental care for those who are underinsured or are without health insurance in our community.

The clinic is volunteer driven, with support from volunteer health care professionals and committed members of the community.

The focus is on providing compassionate and quality health care.

Read the entire article here.