This is Michigan

Like the rest of the country, Detroit has experienced a significant slowdown in retail development; nevertheless, the city's cautious attitude during the building boom of the early 2000s has left Detroit in a better position than many of its Midwest counterparts. Without a large amount of spec development in the market, Detroit has been able to keep its retail vacancy rates relatively stable in the midst of economic uncertainty.

After years of being left on the economic cutting room floor, it's Michigan's turn for some action.

Fresh from the news of a movie studio to open in Pontiac, the State of Michigan announced Tuesday that a computer animation studio will operate in the old MGM Grand Detroit Casino temporary property in downtown Detroit.

Michigan's bid to become a Midwest center of movie production is to get a huge boost today with the announcement of a Hollywood film production studio and talent agency opening shop in Pontiac.

PLYMOUTH -- Last year may have been a real bummer for Detroit's Big Three, but in downtown Plymouth, it was Brad Wilson's best year."It's actually been going pretty well," Wilson sheepishly said about his bakery for dogs. Think Panera for your pooch.

Chrysler announced this morning that the beleaguered automaker has entered into a global strategic alliance with Fiat SpA, giving both companies access to each others' products and markets.

'And yet...' Detroiters go head-to-head with the realities they face, good or bad

In a welcome sign for Michigan's beleaguered auto industry that also promises alternative-energy jobs for the state, a Massachusetts research firm leading work on new batteries for electric vehicles on Wednesday announced plans to build a factory in southeast Michigan.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — An army of ironworkers, masons, carpenters and laborers are swarming the campus of the University of Michigan these days, as the university undertakes a construction campaign budgeted at $2.5 billion, ranking it among the largest university building programs in the United States.