Tag: Pure Michigan (page 2)

"The carpeting is very worn out and at some point you can't keep stitching up holes and sealing seams with duct tape," Tim Bowlin, director of the House Business Office, said in a statement. "Some areas have been repaired multiple times and are literally falling apart."

British company Brintons was selected for the job as the low bidder among six proposals. The company also provided carpet installed during the Capitol restoration project that began in 1989, though it was under a different name at that time. The company's office in Atlanta, Ga. is handling the installation.

There's at least one Michigan company with experience in specialty high-profile government carpeting: Cascade Township-based Scott Group made rugs for the Oval Office for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

REST

St. Paddy's Day in Detroit!

At almost 1 million acres, the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula would seem to have enough room for everyone to play to their hearts' content.

But a challenge to the U.S. Forest Service's land management plan is forcing officials to consider prohibiting popular activities such as firearms hunting and snowmobiling from certain areas -- all because of concerns over noise and how some recreational activities can affect others.

Today's post over, is about whether our state Republican electees are prepared to examine their principled beliefs, or if they pander to the will of the entrenched ideology of progressivism within the Michigan GOP.  An entrenched ideology I might add, that attempts to shame true conservatives for being too far right.

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Dead Ponies.  Re-posted from Michigan Taxes Too Much

One of the toughest things for Republicans elected to positions that have, as a matter of course the spending of taxpayer money, is the `supporting business' angle. Perhaps it could even be called a `supporting the economy' paradigm. Business is everything right? So why wouldn't an elected official do everything to get business going, and create those jobs? And why shouldn't Republicans support any measure that enhances business activities, promotes job growth, and expands business in general?

Define "any" first, and we may have the appropriate answer.

And any legislator who wants to do what is best for his or her constituents might be at risk.

A taxpayer funded advertising campaign originally created to attract tourists to our fair state is now going to be expanded to attract permanent residents to Michigan.

Michigan has a lot to offer, that is, if you don't count a lack of jobs, a business environment unlikely to create them, and a population of such low self esteem that it intentionally elected Jennifer Granholm as its governor...twice.

Michigan is having a difficult time hanging on to the residents it already has. It has difficulty employing them, keeping them safe, or educating their children. It habitually raises their taxes and provides them with fewer services for those ever higher taxes.

Why wouldn't the vibrant family of today want to move here?

Well perhaps not even trivial, but at the very least simply non freedom stealing in an outright way.

PURE MICHIGAN

Exhibit A (literally): Grand Rapids

Rick DeVos this morning unveiled ArtPrize at a giant press conference on Lyon Square in front of the old Civic Theatre downtown.

ArtPrize is a two-and-a-half week annual festival, kicking off this fall that will effectively turn the entire downtown area into an art gallery as artists from around the world create and showcase new works of art while competing for a $250,000 grand prize, the largest art prize in the world.

Better yet, the winner will be selected by the public.  You, me, anyone.  

This sort of event does not exist anywhere else in the world.  This is a first-of-its-kind event and it is happening right here in GR.  And I don't mind telling you, I'm geeked!

Artists of all kinds from around the world converge on Grand Rapids.  Think paintings, sculptures, performance art, abstract, pop, photography... you name it.

Artists team with business owners and developers downtown through ArtPrize.org to host and showcase their work.  Whether it is in the lobby of an office complex, on the top of a hotel, the patio of a restaurant, a bridge, projecting something onto the side of a building... the possibilities seem pretty much endless.

Then regular folks see the work and vote for their favorites via text message or on the internet.  And not just Grand Rapidians.  Anyone and everyone... provided they've actually made the trip to Grand Rapids and registered to participate at one of the exhibits.  This has all the makings of a mammoth tourism draw.

The competition will be whittled down to the Top 10 after the first week.  Each of the finalists will be guaranteed thousands of dollars in cash but the big prizes are for first, second and third place.  $250,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

Former gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and his wife Betsy (Rick's parents) were on hand for the announcement and have made a multi-year pledge to cover the prize money through the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation.  

No Grand Rapids tax dollars will be used to fund this program.  No state tax dollars or "Pure Michigan" spending will be needed to prop it up artificially.  

"The call is going to go out to thousands and thousands of artists (today) to kick this off," Rick DeVos told the Grand Rapids Press.

The event will help harness and show off the creative energy and "cultural capital" Grand Rapids has developed over the years, said Joseph Becherer, director of exhibitions and curator of sculpture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

"This kind of gift tied to this kind of ingenuity can only mean something positive for Grand Rapids as it is now, but also helping to imagine Grand Rapids as it will be tomorrow," Becherer said.

The competition begins September 23rd and the winner will be announced on October 8.