Traverse City Record-Eagle

Business

October 11, 2008

Local Business In Brief: 10/12/2008

Oil and energy conference set

THOMPSONVILLE -- A three-day conference on how oil and energy prices are impacting Michigan's economy will be held Nov. 14-16 at Crystal Mountain Resort.

"The Conference on Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy and Environment" will feature more than 30 speakers discussing various topics including world oil reserves, energy production in Michigan, transportation opportunities and other topics.

The keynote speaker is peak oil expert and author Richard Heinberg.

The conference is organized by Local Future, a non-profit community education organization. More information is available at www.localfuture.com

Shop community, help nonprofits

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Downtown Traverse City Association will sponsor its annual "Shop Your Community Day" on Nov. 18 to raise money for local nonprofit organizations.

DTCA officials said 47 downtown merchants have signed up to donate 15 percent of their sales to the local nonprofit organization of the customer's choice. Last year's event raised more than $14,000 for non-profit groups in the area.

Grant to help area's disabled residents

TRAVERSE CITY -- Two agencies in northern Michigan will receive more than $400,000 in state and federal grant money to assist area residents with disabilities.

The Disability Network/Northern Michigan in Traverse City will get $356,054 to assist disabled people in its 10-county service area live more independently and gain employment. The agency will also work with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to provide school based events focused on employment skills, leadership and youth advocacy.

Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan is in line for $54,529 to expand job opportunities at its Paperworks Studio enterprise through daily training activities, vocational assessments and individual employee support.

Both grants were awarded through the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

Tellurex wins R&D; project

TRAVERSE CITY -- Tellurex Corp. secured a research and development project with several federal agencies to develop an electric generator that runs on exhaust gas.

The company is teamed with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Michigan State University on the 3-year development project through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. The program is a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Tellurex officials said the project goal is to develop a 1.6 kW solid-state thermoelectric generator that uses heat from exhaust gases, to demonstrate the feasibility of saving energy from internal combustion engines in various applications. The company recently completed a related project using the same family of thermoelectric semiconductors.

Tellurex, located in Traverse City, produces thermoelectric modules for heating and cooling for the automotive, military, medical, appliance and other industries.

Text Only
  • Glik's reopens in downtown TC

    Glik's in downtown Traverse City reopened this week.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:24 am 1 Photo
  • Insider-trading legislation on tap

    House Republicans have rejected from a Senate measure a requirement that people who collect information from Congress for investors register like lobbyists.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:24 am
  • Greece mulls harsh new cuts

    Greek coalition leaders were locked in crucial debt talks with the prime minister Wednesday to review layoffs and other steep cutbacks as part of a $170 billion bailout package intended to save the country from a looming bankruptcy.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:24 am
  • GOP targets immigrant tax break

    Republicans are looking to deny child tax credits to illegal immigrants — refund checks averaging $1,800 — in an effort that has roused anger among Hispanics and some Democratic lawmakers.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:24 am
  • Toyota to expand Indiana plant

    Toyota said it will expand its factory in Princeton, Ind., and add 400 jobs so it can build more Highlander SUVs.

    Continued ...
    Feb 9, 2012 7:24 am
  • Wednesday, February 8, 2012
  • Dow approaches 13,000 mark

    The Dow is within reach of the rarefied 13,000 mark — a level it hasn't seen since May 2008, four months before the financial system almost came apart.

    Continued ...
    Feb 8, 2012 7:18 am 1 Photo
  • Michigan joins foreclosure deal

    Michigan will join more than 40 other states in approving a deal that would benefit many Americans who lost their homes or can't afford their mortgages.

    Continued ...
    Feb 8, 2012 7:18 am
  • VW plant produces 50,000th Passat

    Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant has completed its 50,000th Passat, less than a year after production began.

    Continued ...
    Feb 8, 2012 7:18 am 1 Photo
  • Wal-Mart debuts healthy food seal

    You may like the food you buy, but is it "Great for You"? Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to help its customers figure that out.

    Continued ...
    Feb 8, 2012 7:18 am 1 Photo
  • Tuesday, February 7, 2012
  • Corporate profit growth rate slows

    While other parts of the economy struggled the past two years, large companies managed to rack up higher profits quarter after quarter. Now reality is catching up with big business.

    Continued ...
    Feb 7, 2012 7:18 am
  • Greek talks keep trading subdued

    Stock indexes closed slightly lower Monday as talks dragged on between Greek political leaders over a fresh cost-cutting package required for the country to get more bailout loans.

    Continued ...
    Feb 7, 2012 7:18 am
  • Monday, February 6, 2012
  • Redbox to start streaming service

    Phone company Verizon Communications Inc. will challenge Netflix and start a video streaming service this year with Redbox and its DVD rental kiosks.

    Continued ...
    Feb 6, 2012 12:13 pm 1 Photo
  • Sunday, February 5, 2012
  • Obama pushes jobs for veterans

    In an effort to cut the unemployment rate among veterans, President Barack Obama is calling for a new conservation program that would put veterans to work rebuilding trails, roads and levees on public lands.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Napa? It Better Be

    Napa Valley wine producers will go a long way to protect their good name, all the way to Thailand if necessary. That's the latest country that has awarded Geographic Indication status to Napa wine, which means they've agreed not to allow sales of wine labeled "Napa" if the grapes inside aren't from that California region.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Bill O'Brien: 'Turnaround' plan short on specifics

    Numerous state media outlets, including columnists in this newspaper, trumpeted a "turnaround" plan offered by the Business Leaders for Michigan, a group of executives, ex-government types and university heads from 80 of the state's largest private and public organizations. Much more fuzzy are details on how to get there.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Three good investments for era of low interest

    The Federal Reserve is making it increasingly hard for investors to earn anything, unless they're willing to accept plenty of risk. Here's a look at three relatively low-risk alternatives to generate some income in a low-interest environment:

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Vintner has wine-dispensing system

    Local wine pioneer Edward O'Keefe Jr. launched a new dispensing system for serving wine by the glass.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Namaste, travelers! SFO opens airport yoga room

    Stressed out by flying? Travelers in Northern California can now find their inner calm in the Yoga Room at San Francisco International Airport.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • Business memoranda: 02/05/2012

    Steve Yancho; Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors; FAST Physical Therapy; and more

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am
  • How about gift of song for Valentine's Day?

    This Valentine's Day, your gift could be one in a million, or one of 189 million. The latter's the number of roses bought every February. The former? A personalized song or custom mixtape.

    Continued ...
    Feb 5, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Saturday, February 4, 2012
  • People buying raw milk despite health warnings

    An outbreak of bacterial infections on the East Coast illustrates the popularity of raw, unpasteurized milk despite strong warnings from public health officials about the potential danger.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Fungicide in orange juice won't spur recall

    The Food and Drug Administration saID it has confirmed low levels of an illegal fungicide in orange juice samples taken from Florida manufacturers. The FDA saID the fungicide is far below dangerous levels, the juice is safe to drink and the orange juice won't be recalled from stores or destroyed.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am
  • Futures Files: Coffee market in withdrawal

    In early May of 2011, coffee prices reached their highest levels since 1997. The story is currently much different.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am 1 Photo
  • Local food production summit is offered

    The Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network will present its fourth annual "Farm Route to Prosperity Summit" on Feb. 17.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am
  • Indoor winter farming workshop scheduled

    An indoor winter farming workshop is set for Feb. 16 at the Parkside Art Council Members' Gallery Community Hall Room.

    Continued ...
    Feb 4, 2012 7:14 am