Williamston : 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.

Through their company, Rock N Go, Williamston moms Cheryl Miller and Heather Lewis have created a fun, effective way to continue their children’s education while shuttling them around town.

According to excerpts from the article:

The Williamston moms came up with their own alternative, starting Rock N Go LLC three years ago. Together, they have produced a line of educational music CDs that encompass such musical genres as punk, blues and reggae that come with workbooks and materials for kids to enjoy in the car.

The CD packages have covered counting, addition, subtraction, drawing and watercolor painting. And they've caught the attention of the National Parenting Center in Woodland Hills, Calif., which has given the "So Skip Counting" CD and workbook kit its 2009 Seal of Approval.

Miller and Lewis recently received Henderson, Nev.-based Creative Child magazine's Seal of Excellence award for 2009.

Read the entire article here.

The Michigan Brewing Company (MBC) is moving forward with plans to participate in the redevelopment of the 109 E. Grand River building in Williamston.

According to excerpts from the article:

Developer Steve Eyke of LaFollette Custom Homes, and Bobby Mason, MBC owner, are partnering to develop the project once the city obtains ownership of the property.

Plans call for a brewpub on the street level and potential lofts/studio apartments on the second and third levels of the building.

On another economic development front, Michelle Aniol, Williamston's community development director, said the city's Downtown Development Authority has agreed to underwrite continuing the Williamston Farmers' Market through the close of the season Oct. 15.

"The DDA has set up a committee to oversee the market, and I will be aggressively marketing the market through the end of the season," Aniol said.

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.

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.

The Williamston’s Famers Market is getting a resounding response from the community despite the summer’s cool temperatures.

According to excerpts from the article:

And, if the weather cooperates for the rest of the growing season, the seventh year of the market — located on the City Hall parking lot — could be its best ever.

"The Farmers' Market is doing well, with a considerably better turnout," Community Development Director Michelle Aniol said. "There has been a good number of visitors.

"With fruits and vegetables, there's not so much more, but we have had juried crafts each week and, next week, will be the (Williamston Area Chamber of Commerce's) day to come out."

Jeanne Van Gilder, of Diederich's Farm Market of Webberville, said the cold and wet start to the growing season had a big impact on the farm's ability to bring produce to market.

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.

IBM has started interviewing candidates to fill the first round of jobs available at its new  East Lansing center, scheduled to open by June 1.

According to excerpts from the article:

Read the entire article here.

Michigan State University (MSU) and Sparrow Health Systems have worked out an agreement both institutions hope will encourage more health care specialists to come to the area.

According to excerpts from the article:

The affiliation agreement the university and the Lansing-based operator of Sparrow Hospital announced Monday at the Sparrow Professional Building aims to recruit more medical specialists to the area. MSU and Sparrow also will look for ways the hospital and the university's medical and nursing schools can collaborate.

Sparrow and MSU already have partnerships, but there hasn't been a coordinated effort to develop more of them.

Officials from Sparrow and MSU said the agreement will lead to an expansion of medical research, and clinical and teaching programs in the area.

Read the entire article here.