Manufacturing is alive and well in the great state of Michigan. Many local companies have grown to include a global presence; yet, are still rooted in their hometowns. Here are twenty examples of companies based in Michigan that make a wide range of products, while employing a local workforce. American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) – Detroit AAM
Throughout Michigan's storied economic history, there have been a number of innovators whose unique application of skills, knowledge and creativity changed the world forever. Here are a few of the most notable. Melville and Anna Bissell In 1876, Melville R. Bissell and his wife, Anna, were running a small crockery shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sick of
Increasingly homes and businesses are filling up with smart phones and televisions, security systems we can control and monitor from other places, and even appliances that connect to the internet. Many transportation systems are already dependent upon accessing the internet, and we are about to enter an era when driverless vehicles will likely become the norm. How
April. It is officially spring, and there is much going on in the world of sports. In hockey, the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, as do the NBA playoffs, and of course one NCAA basketball team will experience ‘One Shining Moment’ on April 8 and become National Champions. However, if you’re like me, when I think of sports
Winter got off to a bit of a sleepy start in 2018, but it sure has finished with a kick in 2019. It's almost enough to make us think that, despite the date, spring will never really arrive. Yet, we know it will, and when it does, here are ten moments to look forward to as Michigan
Periodically we hear stories of surviving a shark bite, but what if you battle five sharks at the same time? Can you survive? That’s exactly the challenge entrepreneur Melissa Butler faced after her lipstick business was brutally attacked during a 2015 appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Kevin O’Leary implied that her products amounted to clown makeup, and
One of the best things about spring is the resurgence of green, complemented by the first flowers of the year. Here are 12 things to do in Michigan in April 2019. April 4-5 Spring Art Fair – Royal Oak Head to the Royal Oak Farmers Market for one of the earliest art fairs of the season. This
A new business tenant is set to howl in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Coyote Logistics, a Chicago-based transportation management services company, intends to establish a new tech hub at 1700 Fort Street. The third-party logistics provider was co-founded by Jeff and Marianne Silver in 2006 with a goal to create a better service experience in the transportation industry.
There are many accounts throughout history of women who dress as men and go off to fight gloriously in battle and the Civil War has no shortage of examples. One of the most well-known women who joined the army is from the state of Michigan. Annie Etheridge’s story plays like a movie. She was a woman who
The arts community in Michigan is vibrant and diverse, representing multiple genres. Every day there are talented Michiganders in recording studios. They are also behind lenses and at rehearsals. Some sit across from canvases, and others, in front of laptops in coffee shops. They hone their skills and create so that the world will be nourished through
America just shined its spotlight on the Academy Awards, and now it turns toward the “Oscars” of the food industry, otherwise known as the James Beard Awards. These culinary accolades seek to honor the skill and expertise of top chefs and restaurants across the nation each year. The process begins in mid-October of the preceding year when
Calling all young artists, designers, techies, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Detroit is the place to be this fall. Forbes, the financial news and investment publisher, announced Tuesday that it is bringing its flagship Under 30 Summit to Detroit for the next three years. The first conference is set to convene in the city October 27-30. The Announcement The announcement was
If you were to open your medicine cabinet right now, chances are high that you would find some vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, or prescription medications that you either no longer need, or can no longer use because they are expired. You would not be alone, but what do you do with them? Grand Rapids-based Meijer, in a continuing
As an adult it seems like every New Year’s Day I make a plan to read more. Then life gets in the way. Fortunately, I seem to get a jumpstart when March rolls around because it’s National Reading Month. Inevitably new books cross my radar screen, especially those written by Michigan authors. Thus. I sit back with
The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), has announced the winners of its Sixth Annual Judging of Craft Spirits. The annual Awards marked the official opening day of the 2019 ACSA Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michigan distillers captured nine medals. According to ACSA, the competition received nearly 500 entries from 38 states and
To many beer connoisseurs, Dragon’s Milk is the nectar that truly put New Holland Brewing Company on the map. The West Michigan-based company opened its doors in 1996, and in 2001 a “legend” was born. The release of the first batch of the stout known for its roasty malt character and deep vanilla tones, was a gamechanger.
There are several sure signs that spring is around the corner: the Detroit Tigers report to Florida for training camp, crocuses start to burst through the snow, and Peeps candies begin to appear on store shelves all over the place. Most commonly in the form of little yellow chicks, the soft marshmallow treats have been around for
Long before European settlers came to Michigan, maple syrup was an agricultural staple. The spring thaw would start sap flowing, and Native Americans tapped the trees to collect the sap then boiled it down to create sweet syrup. While the process has remained essentially the same, most makers employ more advanced equipment during the boiling process than
March brings “Madness,” unpredictable weather, kite-flying season, and the long-awaited arrival of spring. It also has loads of enjoyable event opportunities. Here are 12 things to do in Michigan in March 2019. March 1-3 DSO Heroes & Villains Concert – Detroit What do you get when you cross the incredibly talented musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
While most of the time “Buy Michigan Now” is described as a campaign, the truth is, it is more than that. It is a living, breathing evolving idea. In short, it’s a MOVEMENT. Individuals and entities continue to come together to move our economy forward by paying attention to how we spend our dollars and enhancing the
it was hard to miss Michigan’s influence on the music industry at the 61st Grammy Awards. There was a tribute to late, great Aretha Franklin, and a Motown retrospective. Plus, an evening highlight was the an anticipatory celebration of Diana Ross’ 75th birthday. However, you might have missed one of the state’s latest musical triumphs. It wasn’t
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do
We're finally seeing some relief from the polar vortex so it's time shake off that cabin fever and have some fun. Check out our favorite things to do in Michigan in February 2019. Feb 2,9,16,23 Snowshoes, Vines & Wines – Suttons Bay As long as there is snow on the ground, Black Star Farms invites you to snowshoe on
Many books have been created in, and inspired by life in Michigan. Here are just a few of the authors and illustrators with Michigan roots who have made a lasting impact on their art form. Mitch Albom moved to Michigan to join the Detroit Free Press as a sports columnist in 1985. Having achieved national recognition for
Home to revolutionary artistic competition ArtPrize in Grand Rapids and the world renown museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, it is no surprise that Michigan has long been a state that welcomes creators and their art. Below is a brief sampling of the many talented individuals who have found inspiration in the Great Lakes State. Patricia Hill Burnett
