In The News

Wall Street Journal looks at Michigan fruit crop damage

The Wall Street Journal Monday, June 04, 2012

No cherries is bad for a lot of people, not just here. The WSJ explores the economic impact of the cherry crop damage this spring.

Excerpt: Up north, lousy spring weather has left Michigan's cherry crop in the pits.

The freakish meteorological events of March—two weeks of midsummer temperatures, followed by successive nights of hard freeze—likely ruined nearly all the 185 million pounds of the Montmorency cherries harvested in Michigan each summer, according to farmers and state officials.

For the whole article, go here.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Northern Michigan placemaking summit praised

Petoskey News Monday, June 04, 2012

The Petoskey News-Review editors aren't the only ones pleased about the recent placemaking summit in TC. We heartily agree it's a good thing for the region.

Excerpt: We’re pleased to see the attention that’s recently been given to placemaking in Northern Michigan, and believe this concept offers some potential to help local communities thrive.

North Central Michigan College hosted area business, local government, educational and nonprofit leaders for a placemaking summit on May 21, drawing more than 100 people.

For the whole story, go here.

Source: Petoskey News-Review

Eat local restaurant challenge begins

MyNorth.com Monday, June 04, 2012

Local food can be interpreted two ways: Buying and cooking from local ingredients, or supporting local food industry. If you're into the latter, or just prefer to eat out rather than cook (like us), local restaurants are challenging you to keep it, well local.

Excerpt: Local restaurants are giving a thumbs up for the mitten state's "Eat Local to Support Local" campaign. The third annual Eat Local Challenge was started by locally-based Michigan restaurant owner, Jeff Lobdell. The name is the idea behind it—support local restaurants.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Source: MyNorth.com

Charlevoix tour boat captain profiled

The Graphic Tuesday, May 22, 2012

We're not sure what could be more relaxing than a boat cruise on the Great Lakes on a hot summer day. Here's a look at one of the captains who makes that possible.

Excerpt: Steering a vessel may be one of the most widely recognized duties of a boat captain, but Kraig Funkey can list quite a few others along with it.

Funkey, 40, co-owns Keewenaw Excursions, a Charlevoix-based provider of sightseeing boat cruises, with his father, Fred, and brother, Jason. Kraig Funkey typically serves as captain for the company's 105-foot passenger boat, the Keweenaw Star.

For the whole article, click here.

Source: The Graphic

The Ticker comes up with a list of the best ethnic food in TC

The Ticker Tuesday, May 22, 2012

There's no shortage of food choices in Traverse City, but what about when you really crave something specific, like authentic Middle Eastern or Mexican food? The Ticker has a list that should help you out.

Excerpt: The recent news of two new Mexican eateries opening this month excited a lot of Ticker readers hungry for authentic ethnic eats. It also drummed up some banter about a few well-loved favorites already in existence -- Zakey Middle Eastern Cuisine on TC’s Front St., Silver Swan Homemade Foods on TC’s West Bay Shore Dr., and 22 Vines on Suttons Bay's SW Bay Dr. to name just a few. But what about the smattering of smaller, lesser-known operations cranking out awesome ethnic eats?

For the entire article, go here.

Source: The Ticker

TC Chamber names top 10 businesses

UpNorthLive.com Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The top 10 businesses in Traverse City? We're glad we didn't have to pick a list like that, there are just too many amazing businesses. Here's the Chamber of Commerce's list.

Excerpt: The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce released its list of the top ten businesses. Each of the small businesses listed is vying for the Chamber's 2012 Small Business of the Year Award.

The Chamber said there were more than 200 nominees for the Chamber's 2012 Small Business Celebration and Small Business of the Year Award.

For the whole story, click here.

Source: UpNorthLive.com

Century Extrusion extends reach in China

Plastics News Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Century Extrusion of Traverse City is making news in its field for its work in China. A new acquisition should broaden its market.

Excerpt: Century Extrusion, a U.S. maker of twin-screw extruders, is finding a fertile market in far-flung places.

And, given that Century’s parent, CPM Holdings Inc., broadened its scope when it bought one of China’s largest extruder makers, Nanjing Ruiya Polymer Processing Equipment Co. Ltd., in 2007, Century’s leadership is particularly comfortable in China.

For the rest of the article, go here.

Source: Plastics News

Short's Brewery adds Wixom warehouse to its operating locations

Crain's Detroit Business Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The latest news from Short's Brewing is that some of its merchandising operations are moving to a warehouse in Oakland County. That's not bad news for northern Michigan, though; at the same time, they're expanding locally.

Excerpt: Elk Rapids based Short's Brewing Co. is moving some of its operations into a 12,000-square-foot-building in Wixom, a suburb of Detroit.

The building, at 28011 Grand Oaks Court, will house Short's administrative offices and merchandising warehouse.

For the rest of the article, click here.

Source: Crain's Detroit Business

Gator farm coming to Traverse City area?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

We've always known there are a few strange businesses in Northwest Michigan, but the Detroit Free Press and columnist Eric Sharp did their best to convince folks that a really, really odd entrepreneurial idea was getting the green light in a recent April Fool's article.

Excerpt: Saying that the unusually warm winter was only a hint of future climate change, the Obama administration has given Michigan $136 million for pilot programs to establish an alligator ranch on the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay and a banana plantation on the Leelanau Peninsula.

The alligator ranch began last fall but was kept secret until residents along the shoreline of Grand Traverse Bay launched their boats in March and began noticing big "logs" that disappeared under the surface whenever they were approached.

Read the rest of the article here.

Source: Kansas City Star

It's the confusing name game!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Things can get a bit confusion when you're trying to hunt down a business with a similar name as another--just ask the folks who were trying to decipher which "Village at Grand Traverse" was which. Thankfully, one of the two development projects decided to change its name.

Excerpt: Similar names for two very different development projects in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula created a bit of confusion.

So the project called The Village at Grand Traverse LLC that includes a planned Meijer Inc. store in Grand Traverse County's Acme Township is changing its name.

The Village at Grand Traverse Commons Development LLC, which is redeveloping a historic former state hospital site in Traverse City, will keep its name.

Read more of the article here.

Source: newstimes.com

To wind farm or not to wind farm?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

There seems to be a lot of debate over the benefit versus the cons of having a wind farm in Northwest Michigan. The Pioneer Press in Minneapolis recently ran a story written by the Associated Press that indicates clear lines are being drawn on the subject.

Excerpt: The Obama administration and five states announced an agreement Friday to speed up consideration of plans for offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes, which have been delayed by cost concerns and public opposition.

Under the deal, state and federal agencies will craft a blueprint for speeding regulatory review of proposed wind farms without sacrificing environmental and safety standards. The Great Lakes have no offshore wind turbines, although a Cleveland partnership announced plans last year for a demonstration project that would place five to seven turbines in Lake Erie about 7 miles north of the city, generating 20-30 megawatts of electricity.

For the rest of the article, visit this link.

Source: Pioneer Press

Great Wolf Lodge to consider newest purchase offer

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

When a company offers up a substantial sum to buy another business and that business accepts the offer, it seems like it should be a done deal, right? Well, not if you're Great Wolf Lodge and not if the latest offer is much sweeter than the one you previously accepted.

Excerpt: Based on Great Wolf’s 32.91 million outstanding shares, KSL’s bid is now worth about $230.4 million.

The offer also tops a bid by Apollo Global Management of $6.75 per share, or $222.1 million.

Great Wolf’s board has already has accepted Apollo Global’s offer, but said Sunday that it would "consider and evaluate" KSL’s latest offer.

For the rest of the story, read on.

Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle

Former Gov. Milliken turns 90

Detroit Free Press Tuesday, March 27, 2012

William Milliken is one of the most beloved governors to serve Michigan, and certainly so in the Traverse City area, where he now resides. His 90th birthday is this week.

Excerpt: Former Gov. William Milliken is the longest-serving governor in Michigan history (1969-83) -- and if there isn't a repeal of term limits, he will remain so.

But in the context of his life and career, it wasn't really all that long.

For the whole story, go here.

Source; Detroit Free Press

Pure Michigan and Coke are giving away a TC vacation

Marketwatch.com Tuesday, March 27, 2012

It's pretty cool that we get to live in a place where other people dream of vacationing--and hopefully, a new campaign from Coca-Cola will inspire even more of those dreams, as the soft drink company gives away a trip to Traverse City, among other places.

Excerpt: Images of Michigan’s sparkling waters, white sandy beaches and exciting destinations will soon be featured alongside the Coca-Cola logo in numerous places to inspire people to experience Pure Michigan. The collaborative effort will feature co-branding on billboards, Coca-Cola delivery trucks, vending machines and in-store signage statewide.

For the whole story, go here.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Treaty Fish Co. going strong as small family business

MyNorth.com Tuesday, March 27, 2012

One of our favorite things in the world is small family-owned businesses, and Ed and Cindi Perry of Peshawbestown are one such family that it's a delight to meet in this MyNorth article.

Excerpt: The Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI) invites Northern Michigan to meet Ed and Cindi Perry, owners of Treaty Fish Company in Peshawbestown, MI, as part of their Taste the Local Difference "Know Your Farmer" project.

When Ed and Cindi John talk about their business, they wear quiet smiles. The two have been fishing since the late 1970s, and it’s clear that they love what they do.

For the whole story, click here.

Source: MyNorth.com

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