Breaking News

Automation Alley Announces Finalists For Annual Awards TROY - Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association, announced the finalists for its 10th Annual Awards Gala, taking place October 1 at the Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester.

Michigan Film Reel Networking Event Used To Create Movie Script GRAND RAPIDS – If you've always wanted to write a screenplay, then you're going to want to attend the Michigan Film Reel networking event Sunday Sept. 5 at McFadden's Bar in downtown Grand Rapids.

Engineers In Oakland County Can Attend Lawrence Tech Program Tuition-Free SOUTHFIELD - Tuition for a graduate certificate in defense manufacturing will be paid for up to 25 engineers living in Oakland County through a federal grant resulting from a partnership between Lawrence Technological University and Oakland County.

Bernero: People Power Beats Pundit Power Every Time DETROIT - Behind in the polls, but not in passion, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said Sunday his Main Street message will resonate with Michigan voters despite what pundits may say.

Sources: Bernero Picks Southfield Mayor Lawrence For Lt. Gov. SOUTHFIELD - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero has selected Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence as his choice for his running mate as lieutenant governor, multiple sources told Gongwer News Service.

Poll: Republican Snyder Grabs 22 Point Lead Over Democrat Bernero LANSING - Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder has a commanding 22-percentage point lead over Democratic candidate Virg Bernero and is even above the all-important 50 percent mark, according to a new poll.

TiE Detroit

Explore Building A Business Venture In India At TiE Detroit Sept. 3 Meeting FARMINGTON HILLS – On Sept. 3, explore the potential of establishing your own business venture in Chittoor, India – now home to several solar and automotive plants - with Dr. Ramachandra Naidu Galla, founder of the Amara Raja Group of Industries.

Business Networking Dinner Cruise Sept. 14 DETROIT - Who doesn't want a captive audience? And you know what? You'll get one if you join the Michigan International Chamber of Commerce for its second annual dinner networking cruise.

Entrepreneur's Corner

Ann Arbor Entrepreneur Boot Camp Application Deadline Oct. 1 ANN ARBOR - Entrepreneur Boot Camp is an intensive and instructive way to gain critical feedback and advice about your business model, management team, competitive positioning, market strategy and other key elements that determine if a start-up will succeed or fail. The application deadline is October 1.

Entrepreneur Education 1.0: Entrepreneur And Startup Ventures ANN ARBOR - Defining yourself as an entrepreneur and understanding what lies before you will give you a realistic frame of reference for your new venture.

CleanUpdate

Business Coalition Seeks To Expand Electric Utility Choice To 25 Percent LANSING - A new coalition of businesses announced on Tuesday it was starting a new effort to expand electric utility choice in the state.

Jasper Alternative Fuels Inks Contract To Install Propane Fuel Injectors NEW HUDSON – Jasper Alternate Fuels, a division of Jasper Engines & Transmissions, has signed an agreement with Icom North America to install and service Icom's patented JTG propane liquid-injection fuel system on commercial fleet vehicles in North America.

Cyber Defense

Cyber Defense Weekly Partners With Infosec Island BIRMINGHAM – Cyber Defense Weekly, published by Richard Stiennon's IT-Harvest group, has partnered with Infosec Island, a member-driven community of information security professionals, to create a strategic partnership that will bring readers the latest in information security news and best practices.

Secure Crossing Offers Low Cost Rack Space At Secure Datacenter DEARBORN – Secure Crossing R&D, an OEM manufacturing company that builds network security products for critical infrastructure, is leasing some rack space in its secure datacenter at discounted prices.

Guest Columns

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly In The Pentagon's Cyber Strategy BIRMINGHAM - William Lynn,the US Deputy Secretary of Defense wrote the most succinct description of the US Pentagon Cyberstrategy yet in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs. Here are the good, the bad, and the ugly components of that strategy.

Health Reform Act Gives Small Businesses Affordable Health Insurance WASHINGTON DC - For decades, America's small business owners have asked for more affordable health insurance coverage and more tax relief. The new health reform law – the Affordable Care Act – provides both.

Biotechnology

TechTown Offers Tips On Securing Biotech Startup Funding September 10 DETROIT - Many a researcher starting a biotech company has been lost in a maze of bureaucracy when applying for federal appropriations to fund their great idea.

$1 Billion Tax Credit To Support Biomedical Research By Small Firms GRAND RAPIDS - Small biotechnology firms will be gaining new support in the state of Michigan. A New Therapeutic Discovery tax credit, created under the Affordable Care Act, will support research with potential to produce new therapies, create high-quality jobs for the state.

Politics

Michigan Falls Short On Race To Top Funds From Lack Of Educator Pathways LANSING - Michigan came closer to being a finalist for federal "Race to the Top" money for schools in the second round of the program, but fell short primarily for a lack of pathways for aspiring educators and improving teacher effectiveness, according to reviews of the state's application.

Michigan Budget Targets Could Be Reached By Thursday LANSING - No deal on the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal year budget Tuesday, but officials said they are optimistic targets could be reached as soon as Thursday with conference committees acting next week.

New Products/Contracts

US Signal Announces Major Expansion In Illinois, St. Louis GRAND RAPIDS - Grand Rapids-based US Signal announced that it is significantly expanding its long-haul fiber network in Southern and Central Illinois., St. Louis, Mo. and Southern Indiana. The expansion includes central offices in seven cities.

Plex Systems Sponsor Roundtable At Precision Metalforming Event AUBURN HILLS - Plex Systems, provider of the No. 1 rated manufacturing ERP software, announced Tuesday its sponsorship at the Precision Metalforming Association's Educational Foundation Roundtable focusing on the trends and issues in the information technology industry on September 9 in Cleveland.

Automation Alley

Automation Alley Announces Finalists For Annual Awards TROY - Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association, announced the finalists for its 10th Annual Awards Gala, taking place October 1 at the Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester.

Commerce Secretary Locke Talks Export Opportunities At Automation Alley TROY - Automation Alley and the office of Senator Debbie Stabenow will host U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke September 1 who will discuss the ways in which the government is partnering to promote trade and export opportunities.

Podcast

Logic Solutions Takes Mobil Browser Ap To China ANN ARBOR – Logic Solutions develops applications to make browsers work better with mobile phones, such as the iPhone. And with four offices in China, the Ann Arbor company is going after one of the world's largest smart phone markets.

Advanced Battery Wins $25K At GLEQ Awards Night LANSING – Advanced Battery Concepts won the $25,000 GLEQ Grand Prize Award in the Emerging Company category. The Midland company has developed battery electrode technology which enables dramatic improvements in battery performance.