Best Economic News of 2008

WOW - Your really going to get some people thinking on this one Lisa - Good Job!

The best way I can answer this is briefly in 3 parts:

1 being personally with my business - This has been a great year despite what the media has told us / you about Michigan Real Estate and Financing in the fact that I expanded my business into opening another office location in Downtown Northville as well as Rochester Hills and grown my clientel base 35% from 2007!

2 being dealing with non-profits with The Boy's & Girl's Clubs, Special Olympics, and Toy's for Tots... this has been an amazing year of dedication and commitment from those around me support the 3 groups and organizations - Best year to date actually with great drive into 2009!

3 being statewide - There has been some great economic growth in Downtown Detroit with the creation of the Book Cadillac Hotel and complex, Compuware, and various other business', bars, casinos, hotels, etc etc...

Thank You for posting this Lisa and I hope more members jump on board to post their positive stories and what they have heard and know of across Michigan in a positive light!

Keith Stonehouse - Franklin Title Agency

The expansion of the alternative energy industries in Michigan was the big good news story for our state this year. 

New solar plants by Hemlock Semiconductor in the Saginaw area and Energy Conversion Devices (Uni-Solar) in Battle Creek and Greenville are proof that Michigan is an attractive place for manufacturing in up-and-coming sectors. 

The substantial wind turbine farm opened by Noble Environmental Power in the thumb area is likely to be the forerunner of others, given that Michigan is ranked 14th of 50 states in wind energy potential. 

The announcement a very substantial cellulosic ethanol plant near Manistee by the Massachusetts firm Mascoma is another great example.  The plant will use what would otherwise be wasted wood byproducts -- including bark, saw dust, and chips and chunks of wood to small for commercial use -- and convert them to fuel.

The State's adoption of a renewable energy portfolio standard is a good step toward making Michigan a friendly place for producing alternative energy.

Green jobs for Michigan are not just a pipe dream or political rhetoric.  They are here now -- and growing.

Best economic news for Michigan in 2008? Easy - only one week until 2009.

OK, seriously. The best news of 2008 for the State of Michigan is the continuation of the economic downturn. More and more business owners are tired of cowering in a corner and are becoming aggressive in protecting themselves by increasing up their marketshare. In today's Retail News there is a report that Target is continuing to have a sales decrease yet has been able to increase their marketshare. How? By focusing on the basics and being smart. Although the retail market has shrunk, the number of players has shrunk more. Therefore Target has grown their marketshare. When the economy rebounds they will be well positioned for growth.