Solar Firm Creates Jobs in Greenville

More and more headlines these days are touting Michigan as the future hub of alternative energy. Having already pioneered the auto industry it only makes sense for Michigan to lead the way as a pioneer in alternative energy sources. This seems to be the next big industry and it looks like we might get in on the ground floor just as we did with autos. United Solar Ovonic LLC will build their new plant in Greenville creating 200 jobs when it begins operations in 2007. Depending on the demand for solar panels and the plant's performance, there could be an additional 1,000 jobs created by building another five plants. This area could use the good news after its major employer, Electrolux AB, closed its doors.

Read the article in the Detroit Free Press

Tight Economy Helps Little Caesars Pizza

With their $5 Hot-N-Ready pizzas Little Caesars is experiencing a boost in sales thanks to tighter financial times. Instead of being seen as "cheap" pizza, their pizza is seen as having good value for what you get. With this upswing in sales the Little Caesars franchise is looking to expand their number of stores and markets across the nation. Our son prefers Little Caesars over homemade and more expensive brands of pizza. We have friends from out-of-state who used to live in Michigan and they always have to get their Little Caesars fix since there aren't any Little Caesars where they currently live. I personally enjoy the Hot-N-Ready pizzas. For $5 it's cheaper and tastier than the frozen pizza at the supermarket.

Another neat innovation we've been seeing is that when new Little Caesars franchises are built they are building drive-up windows into the stores. With the Hot-N-Ready pizzas you can place your order from the comfort of your car and give those burger joints a run for their "fast-food" money. It is nice to see a Michigan-based company turning the corner and thriving in these tough economic times for our state.

Read all about it in the Detroit Free Press

Creating Entrepreneurs at Ishpeming High School

Kim Carr, Ishpeming High School business and technology teacher, teaches classes that I wish would have been available to me when I was in high school. Her students use the tools they have learned in her classes to run a small business, Hematites 'R Us, at the school. The store carries a plethora of Hematite (the school's mascot) items such as t-shirts and blankets. The entire responsibility for the store lies with the students. From ordering inventory to scheduling other students to work at the store as well as all of the business operations like paying bills and making deposits.

Carr's classes teach the students the various skills needed - computer basics, computer information systems, accounting, and designing web pages. What a great idea and concept! Here is a teacher that knows how to teach the subject matter to students in a way that makes it interesting to the point where they want to learn and can excel.

Even in college I never had a class that allowed me to directly apply what I was learning in a 'real world' scenario. My experience with learning was a stagnant, time tested (in other words - we've always done it this way), ordeal that usually left me bored and wondering if I had chosen the correct career path (accounting).

Like I said, Kim Carr should be commended for making the subject matter relevant and interesting for her students. My only complaint is that when I tried to access their school store from the Ishpeming Schools website I received an error message. I wanted to check out their t-shirts.

Let me know if anyone has a way to get to their store website.

Michigan Looks to Spend $2 Billion in Alternative Energy Research

During the next decade, Michigan will be investing up to $2 billion in research, development, and business incubation in the field of alternative energy. To ensure that it becomes the hub of America's alternative energy research, Michigan is planning to spend $2 billion in bond money in the next decade. Even though Michigan is known for being an auto producer the funds will be directed toward research that promotes the cleaner heating and cooling of homes and businesses.

A quick peak at the technologies that will be researched are - hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel, ethanol, solar, and nuclear. The one I am sure most people will question is nuclear. It is only a clean source of energy until it is time to dispose of the spent radioactive rods.

For a look at what kind of businesses will be using these funds check out NextEnergy. This nonprofit research and development incubator began operations in 2001. Tomorrow, I will be posting a list of links for some really neat websites/companies that deal with alternative energy sources.

MICHIGAN'S $2-BILLION INITIATIVE: State aims to become nation's alternative energy hub