Detroiter articles from October 2005

Detroiter archives from October 2005

Class acts: colleges and universities are reaching out to the region's small businesses.(Special Guide Inside)
October 1, 2005... When BEI Associates Inc. needed specialized training for its staff, the Detroit-based architectural/engineering firm turned to Wayne County Community College District for help. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WCCCD's staff of workforce experts...

21st Century challenges: a vibrant Chamber is an imperative if this region is to thrive.(From the Chair)
October 1, 2005... On July 1, Cynthia J. Pasky, president, CEO and founder of Strategic Staffing Solutions Inc., became chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber's Board of Directors. Here are her thoughts on the 2005-2006 program year. As the nation's largest...

Are we still the Motor City? Despite undeniable challenges, the answer is still 'yes'.(YOUR QUARTERLY ECONOMIC UPDATE FOR THE DETROIT REGION)
October 1, 2005... The declining market share and financial health of the automotive manufacturers and their OEM suppliers has been the focus of a lot of local and national press of late. We are kept up to date on GM's burdensome health-care and retirement costs...

The state of our economy: a new Chamber survey reveals both optimism and pessimism among the region's business leaders.
October 1, 2005... The Detroit Regional Chamber's Research & Information Center has launched a quarterly business confidence survey. The results will be used to develop a Regional Detroit Business Confidence Index to serve as a benchmark of our area businesses'...

Single Business Tax: it's time is up; In the Chamber's opinion, the SBT is the big chill to economic development in Michigan.(YOUR QUARTERLY ECONOMIC UPDATE FOR THE DETROIT REGION)
October 1, 2005... Since its inception in the mid-1970s, the Single Business Tax has been a stable, yet much reviled, source of revenue for Michigan's General Fund. When originally designed, the SBT was hailed as a tax that would be copied by other states and...

The Detroit Region's economy, by the numbers.(YOUR QUARTERLY ECONOMIC UPDATE FOR THE DETROIT REGION)
October 1, 2005... Employment by Sector (1) Detroit-Warren-Flint Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (Employment in Thousands) APRIL 2004 APRIL 2005 % CHANGE Total Nonfarm Employment 2466.4 2443.3 -0.9...

How does your return-to-work program stack up?
October 1, 2005... When an employee is disabled as a result of job-related injury, your organization's productivity falls and costs rise. The longer the employee stays home recuperating, the higher the cost. There IS an effective way to reduce these costs and...

Want to save money? Of course you do! Check out the Chamber's Office Depot program.(ChamberProductsServicesEvents)
October 1, 2005... Forming mutually beneficial partnerships with your vendors can save your small business significant time and money. In this current business climate it is necessary to ensure that you are maximizing your purchasing power. One of the best ways...

Detroit wastewater ordinance amended: businesses will save millions of dollars in compliance costs as a result of changes negotiated by the Chamber.(PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE)
October 1, 2005... The Detroit City Council recently amended the ordinance that regulates the discharge of wastewater from industry into the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) system. The amendment as originally proposed had significant negative impacts...

Ask the lawyer: confused by complex health-care legal questions? 'Ask the lawyer' has the answers.
October 1, 2005... Q. Can employees submit for reimbursement the cost of prescription drugs purchased in Canada? A. No. According to IRS information letter, INFO 2005-011, "medicine and drugs" must be procured legally. The FDA announced that it is illegal to...