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<title>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council RSS Feed</title>
<itunes:subtitle>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council</itunes:subtitle>
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<description></description>
<itunes:author>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council</itunes:author>
<image>
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<title>Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council and Podcast</title></image>
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<copyright>Copyright 2010 Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council</copyright>
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<webMaster>noemail@mmbdc.com</webMaster>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:25 GMT</pubDate>
		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/178</link>

			<title>PRE-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/178&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;PRE-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100322T130000Z&quot;&gt;22-Mar-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100322T143000Z&quot;&gt;22-Mar-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Business Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #003366; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #003366; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #003366; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #800000&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Business Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 230 of the Fisher Building&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/178</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/181</link>

			<title>MMSDC CORPORATE QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/181&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;MMSDC CORPORATE QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100331T170000Z&quot;&gt;31-Mar-10 1:00 PM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100331T210000Z&quot;&gt;31-Mar-10 5:00 PM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Johnson Controls, Inc., Plymouth, MI 48170&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 20pt&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;width: 119px; height: 78px&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/5225/MMSDCLogoChrome.JPG&quot; width=&quot;119&quot; longdesc=&quot;MMSDC Logo&quot; height=&quot;78&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;MMSDC CORPORATE QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;and &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;CORPORATE OUTREACH &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;DATE:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 1&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 1&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Wednesday, March 31, 2010&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;TIME:&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 1&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;1:30-5:00p.m. &amp;#8211; Meeting, Presentation and Networking 
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;PLACE:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 2&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Johnson Control Inc&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-right: 0px&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Showcase Room&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 49200 Halyard Drive&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Plymouth, Michigan&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red&quot;&gt;Corporate Members and Prospective Corporate members are invited to come to this &amp;#8220;Corporate Only&amp;#8221; Meeting and Networking Session:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Learn more about MMSDC and how to utilize its Corporate Services Tools &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Learn about the benefits of participating in an MMSDC Project ONE Module&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;How to setup a basic Supplier Diversity Program&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Network with other Corporate Members&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Introduce your Tier I Supplier to MMSDC and how membership can help them to meet your supplier diversity objectives&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;Guest Speaker:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Reginald Layton, Director, Diversity Business Development &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;Johnson Control Inc.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-style: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;Topic-&amp;#8220;Return on Investment for Supplier Diversity&amp;#8221; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 1&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-tab-count: 1&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #333399&quot;&gt;LIMITED SPACE &amp;#8211; REGISTER EARLY&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'&quot;&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff9966; font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;(&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff9966; font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;Registration at&amp;nbsp;1:00-1:30&amp;nbsp;p.m.)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red; font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;Any questions contact: &lt;st1:PersonName w:st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;James Franklin&lt;/st1:PersonName&gt; &lt;st1:stockticker w:st=&quot;on&quot;&gt;III&lt;/st1:stockticker&gt;, Vice President, Member Services, MMSDC&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;313-873-2124 or &lt;a href=&quot;&amp;#109;&amp;#97;&amp;#105;&amp;#108;&amp;#116;&amp;#111;&amp;#58;&amp;#106;&amp;#102;&amp;#114;&amp;#97;&amp;#110;&amp;#107;&amp;#108;&amp;#105;&amp;#110;&amp;#64;&amp;#109;&amp;#109;&amp;#98;&amp;#100;&amp;#99;&amp;#46;&amp;#99;&amp;#111;&amp;#109;&quot;&gt;jfranklin@mmbdc.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Johnson Controls, Inc.
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;Showcase Room-49200 Halyard Drive&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Plymouth&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48170&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/181</guid>

			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/189</link>

			<title>PRE-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/189&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;PRE-CERTIFICATION BRIEFING&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100412T130000Z&quot;&gt;12-Apr-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100412T143000Z&quot;&gt;12-Apr-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #003366; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;color: #000080&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Suite 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/189</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/190</link>

			<title>Pre-Certification Briefing</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/190&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;Pre-Certification Briefing&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100426T130000Z&quot;&gt;26-Apr-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100426T143000Z&quot;&gt;26-Apr-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Suite 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/190</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/191</link>

			<title>Pre-Certification Briefing</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/191&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;Pre-Certification Briefing&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100510T130000Z&quot;&gt;10-May-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100510T143000Z&quot;&gt;10-May-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Suite. 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/191</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/192</link>

			<title>Pre-Certification Briefing</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/192&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;Pre-Certification Briefing&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100524T130000Z&quot;&gt;24-May-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100524T143000Z&quot;&gt;24-May-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Suite 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/192</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/193</link>

			<title>Pre-Certification Briefing</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/193&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;Pre-Certification Briefing&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100614T130000Z&quot;&gt;14-Jun-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100614T143000Z&quot;&gt;14-Jun-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Suite 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/193</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Events</category>

			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/194</link>

			<title>Pre-Certification Briefing</title>

			<description>&lt;div class=&quot;vevent&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;url&quot; href=&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/194&quot;&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;summary&quot;&gt;Pre-Certification Briefing&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtstart&quot;&gt;Start Date:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;abbr class=&quot;dtstart&quot; title=&quot;20100628T130000Z&quot;&gt;28-Jun-10 9:00 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdtend&quot;&gt;End Time:&lt;/span&gt; 
&lt;abbr class=&quot;dtend&quot; title=&quot;20100628T143000Z&quot;&gt;28-Jun-10 10:30 AM&lt;/abbr&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tlocation&quot;&gt;Location:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class=&quot;location&quot;&gt;
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Detroit, MI 48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;tdescription&quot;&gt;Event Details:&lt;/span&gt; &lt;div class=&quot;description&quot;&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Verdana; color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;To participate in the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;pre-certification briefing,&amp;nbsp;a company must be a legally recognized entity in the State of Michigan;&amp;nbsp;ethnic minority owners must posses at least 51% of ownership.&amp;nbsp; The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled.&amp;nbsp; The orientation will cover information about the Council, the certification process and a review of the application. &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;ONLY ONE ATTENDEE&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;color: #333399; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;vcard&quot;&gt;
&lt;a class=&quot;fn&quot;&gt;Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;adr&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;street-address&quot;&gt;3011 W. Grand Blvd. Ste. 230&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;locality&quot;&gt;Detroit&lt;/span&gt;,
&lt;span class=&quot;region&quot;&gt;MI&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;country-name&quot;&gt;US&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;postal-code&quot;&gt;48202&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>

			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cev/194</guid>

			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>

		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/105/</link>
			<title>Kelly Services Develops Low- Cost Insurance Program for Key Suppliers</title>
			<description>&lt;a href=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/2445/KellyServicesArticle.pdf&quot;&gt;/attachments/wysiwyg/2445/KellyServicesArticle.pdf&lt;/a&gt; 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;4-Mar-10 7:00 AM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Kelly Services Develops Low- Cost Insurance Program for Key Suppliers</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;a href=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/2445/KellyServicesArticle.pdf&quot;&gt;/attachments/wysiwyg/2445/KellyServicesArticle.pdf&lt;/a&gt;</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/105/</guid>
			<author>Chris Lewis</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/104/</link>
			<title>BUY Michigan Products</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: #000000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;This campaign, highlights Pure Michigan branding, encouraging&amp;nbsp; purchases of Michigan-made products by using a host of local celebrities for 30-and 15-second Public Service Announcements.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;Click on the link to watch PSA: &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tusp77o74ac&quot;&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tusp77o74ac&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/font&gt; 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;17-Feb-10 9:00 AM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>BUY Michigan Products</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Arial&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: #000000; font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;This campaign, highlights Pure Michigan branding, encouraging&amp;nbsp; purchases of Michigan-made products by using a host of local celebrities for 30-and 15-second Public Service Announcements.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br&gt;Click on the link to watch PSA: &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tusp77o74ac&quot;&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tusp77o74ac&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/font&gt;</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/104/</guid>
			<author>Bonita Gaston</author>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/102/</link>
			<title>Walgreens Announces Community Corner Program</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;width: 175px; height: 64px&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/10/walgreens_logo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;175&quot; height=&quot;64&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;For Immediate Release&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Contact: Natalie Dean&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The Walker Marchant Group&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 202-466-6040&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;Walgreens Announces Community Corner Program Showcasing Products &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;Produced by Minority-Owned Businesses&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;New initiative launches with recognition of African-American vendor partners&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;throughout the month of February&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Deerfield, IL (Feb. 1, 2010) &amp;#8211; Walgreens, the nation&amp;#8217;s largest drugstore chain, today introduced its new Community Corner program designed to highlight the successes of minority-owned businesses.&amp;nbsp; This first-of-its-kind supplier diversity initiative is designed to allow consumers to easily identify and purchase products produced by diverse companies. Walgreens will recognize these vendor partners through print advertisements, in-store announcements, coupon booklets, shelf tags, in-store product demonstrations and Walgreens.com. The company will launch the program featuring products made by African-American vendors throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During February, Walgreens will showcase the following African-American produced brands:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;African Royale Hot Six Oil, Angelica&amp;#8217;s Cakes, Bronner Brothers Pump It Up! Spritz, Evolve Purse Size Styling Brush, High Time Bump Stopper-2 Razor Bump Treatment, Jamaican Mango &amp;amp; Lime Locking Gel, Luster&amp;#8217;s Pink Oil Moisturizer, Mix Match Gourmet Popcorn, Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil No-Lye Relaxer Kit, Pepsom Sports Epsom Salt, Porcelana Night Skin Lightening Cream, Reggio&amp;#8217;s Pizza, Rejuvenizer Diabetic Sock, Richard&amp;#8217;s Ice Cream, Sheenique Relaxer, Stay Smooth No-Bump Gel, Ultra Sheen Relaxer Pack, WavEnforcer Premium Do-Rag, and 2010 Black History Calendar.&amp;nbsp; Six African American-owned magazines &amp;#8211; Ebony, Black Enterprise, Jet, The Source, Sister to Sister and Upscale &amp;#8211; will also be featured.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5 and 6, select Walgreens locations will host special events featuring products from the vendors above. Customers will have the opportunity to try featured products and take home samples. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;From personal care, to diabetic needs, to magazines and hair care needs, Walgreens stores reflect the diversity of the neighborhoods they serve. Diversity is a business imperative for Walgreens and as an active and ever-present economic factor in thousands of communities, the company has long embraced diversity &amp;#8211; not only in the people it employs, but also in the array of community-built brands it selects to meet the needs of its broad consumer base.&amp;nbsp; Walgreens plans to expand the new Community Corner program to feature products of businesses owned by women, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans at different points throughout the year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;Providing a platform such as Community Corner to showcase these vendors creates an opportunity for consumers to instantly influence economic growth in their communities,&amp;#8221; said director of supplier diversity, Gleatha Glispie. &amp;#8220;Walgreens outreach programs foster an environment that enhances the development of a diverse group of entrepreneurs. We plan to promote wider vendor participation throughout the year, and in this way, help support the economic base of the communities we serve across our 7,100 stores.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Walgreens expects its Community Corner program to drive awareness for its diverse suppliers in a new, more tangible level in local communities.&amp;nbsp; In addition to promoting these suppliers&amp;#8217; products in stores, the company is developing ongoing relationships with community organizations such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the National Urban League. For example, the NUL Wellness Tour is now entering its third year of offering free health screenings in underserved communities. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;I congratulate Walgreens on continuing to make supplier diversity an essential business strategy even as many have scaled back efforts in this tight economy,&amp;#8221; said National Minority Supplier Development Council President Harriet R. Michel. &amp;#8220;Giving shoppers the ability to identify and support diverse business is an innovative approach that I believe can have a lasting impact on the growth and continued success of these companies.&amp;#8221;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;We&amp;#8217;re extremely proud to represent these important vendor partnerships in such a visible and relevant way for everyday shoppers,&amp;#8221; said Glispie. &amp;#8220;This is another example of the many ways we&amp;#8217;re working to strengthen these relationships each day.&amp;nbsp; We&amp;#8217;ll start by honoring Black History Month, but just like the many accomplishments of African Americans in this country, our commitment to diversity is ongoing. This is just the beginning.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;For more information on Walgreens Supplier Diversity visit &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Walgreens.com/diversity/oursuppliers&quot;&gt;www.Walgreens.com/diversity/oursuppliers&lt;/a&gt; and shop for Community Corner products online at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Walgreens.com/cc&quot;&gt;www.Walgreens.com/cc&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;About Walgreens &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;Walgreens (&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.walgreens.com&quot;&gt;www.walgreens.com&lt;/a&gt;) is the nation&amp;#8217;s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion. The company operates 7,149 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt; 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;3-Feb-10 12:00 PM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Walgreens Announces Community Corner Program</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;img style=&quot;width: 175px; height: 64px&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/10/walgreens_logo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;175&quot; height=&quot;64&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;For Immediate Release&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Contact: Natalie Dean&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The Walker Marchant Group&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 202-466-6040&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;Walgreens Announces Community Corner Program Showcasing Products &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;Produced by Minority-Owned Businesses&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;New initiative launches with recognition of African-American vendor partners&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;throughout the month of February&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Deerfield, IL (Feb. 1, 2010) &amp;#8211; Walgreens, the nation&amp;#8217;s largest drugstore chain, today introduced its new Community Corner program designed to highlight the successes of minority-owned businesses.&amp;nbsp; This first-of-its-kind supplier diversity initiative is designed to allow consumers to easily identify and purchase products produced by diverse companies. Walgreens will recognize these vendor partners through print advertisements, in-store announcements, coupon booklets, shelf tags, in-store product demonstrations and Walgreens.com. The company will launch the program featuring products made by African-American vendors throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During February, Walgreens will showcase the following African-American produced brands:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;African Royale Hot Six Oil, Angelica&amp;#8217;s Cakes, Bronner Brothers Pump It Up! Spritz, Evolve Purse Size Styling Brush, High Time Bump Stopper-2 Razor Bump Treatment, Jamaican Mango &amp;amp; Lime Locking Gel, Luster&amp;#8217;s Pink Oil Moisturizer, Mix Match Gourmet Popcorn, Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil No-Lye Relaxer Kit, Pepsom Sports Epsom Salt, Porcelana Night Skin Lightening Cream, Reggio&amp;#8217;s Pizza, Rejuvenizer Diabetic Sock, Richard&amp;#8217;s Ice Cream, Sheenique Relaxer, Stay Smooth No-Bump Gel, Ultra Sheen Relaxer Pack, WavEnforcer Premium Do-Rag, and 2010 Black History Calendar.&amp;nbsp; Six African American-owned magazines &amp;#8211; Ebony, Black Enterprise, Jet, The Source, Sister to Sister and Upscale &amp;#8211; will also be featured.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5 and 6, select Walgreens locations will host special events featuring products from the vendors above. Customers will have the opportunity to try featured products and take home samples. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;From personal care, to diabetic needs, to magazines and hair care needs, Walgreens stores reflect the diversity of the neighborhoods they serve. Diversity is a business imperative for Walgreens and as an active and ever-present economic factor in thousands of communities, the company has long embraced diversity &amp;#8211; not only in the people it employs, but also in the array of community-built brands it selects to meet the needs of its broad consumer base.&amp;nbsp; Walgreens plans to expand the new Community Corner program to feature products of businesses owned by women, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans at different points throughout the year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;Providing a platform such as Community Corner to showcase these vendors creates an opportunity for consumers to instantly influence economic growth in their communities,&amp;#8221; said director of supplier diversity, Gleatha Glispie. &amp;#8220;Walgreens outreach programs foster an environment that enhances the development of a diverse group of entrepreneurs. We plan to promote wider vendor participation throughout the year, and in this way, help support the economic base of the communities we serve across our 7,100 stores.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Walgreens expects its Community Corner program to drive awareness for its diverse suppliers in a new, more tangible level in local communities.&amp;nbsp; In addition to promoting these suppliers&amp;#8217; products in stores, the company is developing ongoing relationships with community organizations such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the National Urban League. For example, the NUL Wellness Tour is now entering its third year of offering free health screenings in underserved communities. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;I congratulate Walgreens on continuing to make supplier diversity an essential business strategy even as many have scaled back efforts in this tight economy,&amp;#8221; said National Minority Supplier Development Council President Harriet R. Michel. &amp;#8220;Giving shoppers the ability to identify and support diverse business is an innovative approach that I believe can have a lasting impact on the growth and continued success of these companies.&amp;#8221;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;#8220;We&amp;#8217;re extremely proud to represent these important vendor partnerships in such a visible and relevant way for everyday shoppers,&amp;#8221; said Glispie. &amp;#8220;This is another example of the many ways we&amp;#8217;re working to strengthen these relationships each day.&amp;nbsp; We&amp;#8217;ll start by honoring Black History Month, but just like the many accomplishments of African Americans in this country, our commitment to diversity is ongoing. This is just the beginning.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;For more information on Walgreens Supplier Diversity visit &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Walgreens.com/diversity/oursuppliers&quot;&gt;www.Walgreens.com/diversity/oursuppliers&lt;/a&gt; and shop for Community Corner products online at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.Walgreens.com/cc&quot;&gt;www.Walgreens.com/cc&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;About Walgreens &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;Walgreens (&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.walgreens.com&quot;&gt;www.walgreens.com&lt;/a&gt;) is the nation&amp;#8217;s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion. The company operates 7,149 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Walgreens provides the most convenient access to consumer goods and services and cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services in America through its retail drugstores, Walgreens Health Services division and Walgreens Health and Wellness division. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). Walgreens Health and Wellness division includes Take Care Health Systems, the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/102/</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/55/</link>
			<title>Commerce Secretary Meets MMBDC at Dakkota Integrated</title>
			<description>&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; font-family: Arial&quot;&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; height: 1%&quot;  block4?=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; color: #333333; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Thursday, June 4, 2009&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 24pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 24pt&quot;&gt;Obama official tries to quell auto fears&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Holt&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;-- A high-level Obama administration official spent a couple hours in Michigan on Wednesday to allay people's fears about the future of the domestic automakers and to tell business and community leaders how the government can help make them whole again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke also announced $27 million in grants to be shared by six Midwestern states. The money is part of the federal stimulus package.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Locke said his department can help emerging businesses get access to capital and those slammed by the auto industry downturn to diversify.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 13px; float: left; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: 0pt 10px 0pt 0pt; color: gray; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Advertisement&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;We need to get together with the governor's office and get the word out. We're available to help companies diversify,&quot; the former two-term governor of Washington state said after a question-and-answer session with workers and local leaders at Dakkota Integrated Systems LLC, a Holt auto supplier that makes instrument panels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;He was asked how the federal government, now that it owns a majority of bankrupt General Motors, can help the car company promote its products.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;President Obama has no intention of getting involved in the day-to-day operations of General Motors,&quot; Locke said. &quot;If we get involved in promotions and advertising, where does it stop? We need to turn management over to the experts.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;He added that the federal government's ownership of GM is temporary. &quot;This is not a takeover,&quot; he said. &quot;The U.S. government does not want to be a shareholder in GM for any long period of time.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Locke noted that the bankruptcy filing &quot;was coming for a long time, but that does not make any less the body blow.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;His appearance in Michigan came on the second day of a string of visits by federal officials in the anxious aftermath following GM's filing. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and auto recovery director Ed Montgomery were in the state Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance, a technical and communications services firm in Dearborn that serves the auto industry and others, said the gathering with Locke was helpful.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;Commerce has a number of programs that were always available to us. People simply don't know about them,&quot; she said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Leon Richardson of ChemicoMays in Chesterfield Township wanted to know how Commerce can help small businesses in Michigan get defense department contracts. Locke said he'll look into it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;The meeting could be helpful if they're serious about this commitment,&quot; he said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Dennis Keat, CEO of Su-Dan Corp., an auto supplier in Rochester Hills, showed up to say how the recovery act saved his company. As a tier-one supplier, he got a check from the federal government to tide his company over during the GM bankruptcy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;We were so afraid of the GM filing because of the amount of money they owed us. We couldn't have survived without the help,&quot; said Keat, whose company's work force has dwindled from 250 six months ago to 80 because of the auto sales slump and a 50 percent reduction in orders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Roslyn Personius, a worker at Dakkota, said Locke's visit to her plant &quot;shows Washington is hearing our voice.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;a style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; color: #0d2569; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none; text-decoration: underline&quot; href=&quot;&amp;#109;&amp;#97;&amp;#105;&amp;#108;&amp;#116;&amp;#111;&amp;#58;&amp;#109;&amp;#104;&amp;#111;&amp;#114;&amp;#110;&amp;#98;&amp;#101;&amp;#99;&amp;#107;&amp;#64;&amp;#100;&amp;#101;&amp;#116;&amp;#110;&amp;#101;&amp;#119;&amp;#115;&amp;#46;&amp;#99;&amp;#111;&amp;#109;&quot;&gt;mhornbeck@detnews.com&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(313) 222-2470&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;5-Jun-09 2:00 PM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Commerce Secretary Meets MMBDC at Dakkota Integrated</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; font-family: Arial&quot;&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; height: 1%&quot;  block4?=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; color: #333333; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Thursday, June 4, 2009&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 24pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 24pt&quot;&gt;Obama official tries to quell auto fears&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Holt&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;-- A high-level Obama administration official spent a couple hours in Michigan on Wednesday to allay people's fears about the future of the domestic automakers and to tell business and community leaders how the government can help make them whole again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke also announced $27 million in grants to be shared by six Midwestern states. The money is part of the federal stimulus package.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Locke said his department can help emerging businesses get access to capital and those slammed by the auto industry downturn to diversify.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 13px; float: left; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: 0pt 10px 0pt 0pt; color: gray; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Advertisement&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;We need to get together with the governor's office and get the word out. We're available to help companies diversify,&quot; the former two-term governor of Washington state said after a question-and-answer session with workers and local leaders at Dakkota Integrated Systems LLC, a Holt auto supplier that makes instrument panels.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;He was asked how the federal government, now that it owns a majority of bankrupt General Motors, can help the car company promote its products.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;President Obama has no intention of getting involved in the day-to-day operations of General Motors,&quot; Locke said. &quot;If we get involved in promotions and advertising, where does it stop? We need to turn management over to the experts.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;He added that the federal government's ownership of GM is temporary. &quot;This is not a takeover,&quot; he said. &quot;The U.S. government does not want to be a shareholder in GM for any long period of time.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Locke noted that the bankruptcy filing &quot;was coming for a long time, but that does not make any less the body blow.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;His appearance in Michigan came on the second day of a string of visits by federal officials in the anxious aftermath following GM's filing. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and auto recovery director Ed Montgomery were in the state Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance, a technical and communications services firm in Dearborn that serves the auto industry and others, said the gathering with Locke was helpful.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;Commerce has a number of programs that were always available to us. People simply don't know about them,&quot; she said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Leon Richardson of ChemicoMays in Chesterfield Township wanted to know how Commerce can help small businesses in Michigan get defense department contracts. Locke said he'll look into it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;The meeting could be helpful if they're serious about this commitment,&quot; he said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Dennis Keat, CEO of Su-Dan Corp., an auto supplier in Rochester Hills, showed up to say how the recovery act saved his company. As a tier-one supplier, he got a check from the federal government to tide his company over during the GM bankruptcy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&quot;We were so afraid of the GM filing because of the amount of money they owed us. We couldn't have survived without the help,&quot; said Keat, whose company's work force has dwindled from 250 six months ago to 80 because of the auto sales slump and a 50 percent reduction in orders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;Roslyn Personius, a worker at Dakkota, said Locke's visit to her plant &quot;shows Washington is hearing our voice.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0pt 0.5em; border-left: medium none; color: #262626; line-height: 1.5em; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none&quot;&gt;&lt;a style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0pt; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; margin: 0pt; border-left: medium none; color: #0d2569; padding-top: 0pt; border-bottom: medium none; text-decoration: underline&quot; href=&quot;&amp;#109;&amp;#97;&amp;#105;&amp;#108;&amp;#116;&amp;#111;&amp;#58;&amp;#109;&amp;#104;&amp;#111;&amp;#114;&amp;#110;&amp;#98;&amp;#101;&amp;#99;&amp;#107;&amp;#64;&amp;#100;&amp;#101;&amp;#116;&amp;#110;&amp;#101;&amp;#119;&amp;#115;&amp;#46;&amp;#99;&amp;#111;&amp;#109;&quot;&gt;mhornbeck@detnews.com&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(313) 222-2470&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/55/</guid>
			<author>Louis Green</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/46/</link>
			<title>Auto Suppliers Get Government Help; But will black-owned companies benefit?</title>
			<description>&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&quot;Auto Suppliers Get Government Help But will black-owned companies benefit?&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;By Cliff Hocker - April 10, 2009 &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font size=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;font size=&quot;5&quot;&gt;MMBDC President Louis Green quoted in recent Black Enterprise Online Article: &lt;/font&gt;&#8220;I think it will do little or nothing for black-owned businesses,&#8221; Green says. First, the program is only for direct parts suppliers, and only about 80 African American MMBDC firms directly supply automakers the parts that go on vehicles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;Click here to read the complete article&quot; href=&quot;http://www.blackenterprise.com/business/business-news/2009/04/10/auto-suppliers-get-government-help/&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Click here to read the complete article&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;10-Apr-09 12:00 PM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Auto Suppliers Get Government Help; But will black-owned companies benefit?</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&quot;Auto Suppliers Get Government Help But will black-owned companies benefit?&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;By Cliff Hocker - April 10, 2009 &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;font size=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;font size=&quot;5&quot;&gt;MMBDC President Louis Green quoted in recent Black Enterprise Online Article: &lt;/font&gt;&#8220;I think it will do little or nothing for black-owned businesses,&#8221; Green says. First, the program is only for direct parts suppliers, and only about 80 African American MMBDC firms directly supply automakers the parts that go on vehicles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;Click here to read the complete article&quot; href=&quot;http://www.blackenterprise.com/business/business-news/2009/04/10/auto-suppliers-get-government-help/&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Click here to read the complete article&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/46/</guid>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/34/</link>
			<title>Saginaw Bay could be renewable energy powerhouse</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The Saginaw Bay area can become a wind and solar powerhouse, Michigan's energy chief says.&amp;nbsp; State officials are working to boost renewable energy industries in the state and region, Stanley &quot;Skip&quot; Pruss, director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor &amp;amp; Economic Growth, said Thursday in Bay City.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The idea is to build on solar investments already made by Hemlock Semiconductor, Dow Corning and Dow Chemical in the region, and wind development by out-of-state companies in the Thumb, Pruss told more than 100 people at a Bay Future annual meeting at the Doubletree hotel and conference center.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Our problem is not enough jobs,&quot; he said.&amp;nbsp; But the &quot;new energy economy&quot; promises $4.5 trillion in economic benefit in the United States by 2030, along with 40 million jobs, he said. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Bay Future and the two other economic development groups in the region have launched a Solar Initiative to attract investment here. Some members were in Las Vegas on Thursday for a trade show.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Pruss, former special advisor to Gov. Jennifer Granholm on renewable energy and the environment, said Michigan needs to take advantage of renewable energy opportunities to create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional coal-fired power generation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Climate change is real,&quot; he said. &quot;Those who say that it's not need to be better educated.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The state is striving to be the leader in every sector of renewable energy, Pruss said, from solar to advanced batteries, wind, energy efficiency and carbon capture. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;While the Saginaw Valley is a leader in producing base materials for the solar industry that are shipped overseas, Pruss said, the region and state need to be in the business of making and selling solar panels in Michigan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;The real opportunity for Michigan is to capture the rest of the value chain,&quot; he said, like Germany and Spain have done. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;He also pointed to Michigan's renewable portfolio standard, requiring utilities to get 10 percent of their power from renewables by 2015, as a driver of change in the state. Michigan Wind 1, the state's second and largest commercial wind farm, was dedicated Thursday near Ubly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Pruss said a Michigan company, which he declined to name, is working on the next generation of carbon fiber turbines, which will be less expensive to make and able to generate more power.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Fred Hollister, president and CEO of Bay Future, said the visit by Pruss reinforced the need for the Solar Initiative.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;This is a growing industry,&quot; Hollister said. &quot;We should get in on the ground floor.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Besides solar and wind, there are even greater opportunities for job creation in energy efficiency, Pruss said. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The state plans to roll out a &quot;Michigan Saves&quot; program within a year that will use federal and other dollars to allow homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements, then pay back the cost through their utility bills, based on the money they save.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Michigan is already first in the world in many areas, Pruss said, including &quot;the most robust tax credits available to manufacturers&quot; for advanced energy storage technology.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Every battery company in the world wants to come to Michigan,&quot; he said, adding that he thinks one or two commercial battery plants will end up locating here soon.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Such investment would be a lifeline to the auto industry, which is moving to more hybrid and electric vehicles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;27-Feb-09 8:00 AM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Saginaw Bay could be renewable energy powerhouse</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The Saginaw Bay area can become a wind and solar powerhouse, Michigan's energy chief says.&amp;nbsp; State officials are working to boost renewable energy industries in the state and region, Stanley &quot;Skip&quot; Pruss, director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor &amp;amp; Economic Growth, said Thursday in Bay City.&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The idea is to build on solar investments already made by Hemlock Semiconductor, Dow Corning and Dow Chemical in the region, and wind development by out-of-state companies in the Thumb, Pruss told more than 100 people at a Bay Future annual meeting at the Doubletree hotel and conference center.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Our problem is not enough jobs,&quot; he said.&amp;nbsp; But the &quot;new energy economy&quot; promises $4.5 trillion in economic benefit in the United States by 2030, along with 40 million jobs, he said. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Bay Future and the two other economic development groups in the region have launched a Solar Initiative to attract investment here. Some members were in Las Vegas on Thursday for a trade show.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Pruss, former special advisor to Gov. Jennifer Granholm on renewable energy and the environment, said Michigan needs to take advantage of renewable energy opportunities to create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traditional coal-fired power generation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Climate change is real,&quot; he said. &quot;Those who say that it's not need to be better educated.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The state is striving to be the leader in every sector of renewable energy, Pruss said, from solar to advanced batteries, wind, energy efficiency and carbon capture. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;While the Saginaw Valley is a leader in producing base materials for the solar industry that are shipped overseas, Pruss said, the region and state need to be in the business of making and selling solar panels in Michigan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;The real opportunity for Michigan is to capture the rest of the value chain,&quot; he said, like Germany and Spain have done. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;He also pointed to Michigan's renewable portfolio standard, requiring utilities to get 10 percent of their power from renewables by 2015, as a driver of change in the state. Michigan Wind 1, the state's second and largest commercial wind farm, was dedicated Thursday near Ubly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Pruss said a Michigan company, which he declined to name, is working on the next generation of carbon fiber turbines, which will be less expensive to make and able to generate more power.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Fred Hollister, president and CEO of Bay Future, said the visit by Pruss reinforced the need for the Solar Initiative.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;This is a growing industry,&quot; Hollister said. &quot;We should get in on the ground floor.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Besides solar and wind, there are even greater opportunities for job creation in energy efficiency, Pruss said. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;The state plans to roll out a &quot;Michigan Saves&quot; program within a year that will use federal and other dollars to allow homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements, then pay back the cost through their utility bills, based on the money they save.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Michigan is already first in the world in many areas, Pruss said, including &quot;the most robust tax credits available to manufacturers&quot; for advanced energy storage technology.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;&quot;Every battery company in the world wants to come to Michigan,&quot; he said, adding that he thinks one or two commercial battery plants will end up locating here soon.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin-top: 6px&quot;&gt;Such investment would be a lifeline to the auto industry, which is moving to more hybrid and electric vehicles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/34/</guid>
			<author>Steve Larson</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/23/</link>
			<title>The Ripple Impact of the U.S. Automotive Industry</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/1S4KCfFWk3Y&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1&quot; width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;344&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; 
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;11-Dec-08 12:00 PM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>The Ripple Impact of the U.S. Automotive Industry</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/1S4KCfFWk3Y&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1&quot; width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;344&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; 
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/23/</guid>
			<author>Bonita Gaston</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/16/</link>
			<title>MMBDC Celebrates Harriet Michel's 20 Years of Excellence</title>
			<description>&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Michigan Minority Business Development Council pays tribute to&lt;br&gt;
Harriet Michel, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/snTK7zBW90s&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1&quot; width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;344&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/embed&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;10-Dec-08 3:00 PM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>MMBDC Celebrates Harriet Michel's 20 Years of Excellence</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Michigan Minority Business Development Council pays tribute to&lt;br&gt;
Harriet Michel, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;font-size: 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/snTK7zBW90s&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1&quot; width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;344&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/embed&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/16/</guid>
			<author>Bonita Gaston</author>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/5/</link>
			<title>Support for the Auto Industry is in America&#8217;s Best Interest</title>
			<description>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0in; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0in; padding-bottom: 1pt; margin-left: 0.25in; border-left: medium none; margin-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0in; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0in; border-bottom: medium none&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16pt&quot;&gt;Support for the Auto Industry is in America's Best &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Interest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support for the auto industry allows it to continue its transformation and progress that began well before the current economic crisis. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;U.S.-based auto manufacturers, in conjunction with the UAW, have taken &lt;strong&gt;major actions to restructure their business to be fully competitive&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Latest &lt;strong&gt;UAW agreement (Fall 2007) provides solid basis for cost competitiveness&lt;/strong&gt;. . .We are restructuring our companies, reducing costs, improving quality, increasing productivity. . .all the tough, necessary actions that will help us emerge as a stronger, more competitive company.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;We've negotiated new agreements with our UAW partners that have rewritten the rules of competition in our business... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;our cumulative structural cost reduction from 2006-10 will be approximately $13-14 billion &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;and have responded in an &lt;strong&gt;innovative way to reduce our so-called &quot;legacy&quot; costs&lt;/strong&gt; associated with pensions and retiree healthcare.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Starting in 2010&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;, we expect our cash spending on U.S. pensions and retiree healthcare to decline to about $1 billion per year. That's a &lt;strong&gt;savings of about $6 billion a year.&lt;/strong&gt;.. which makes us dramatically more competitive... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;GM has been &lt;strong&gt;streamlining its U.S. operations&lt;/strong&gt;.&amp;nbsp;It has &lt;strong&gt;reduced its U.S. salaried workforce from 44,000 in 2000 to 32,000 in mid-2008,&lt;/strong&gt; and its &lt;strong&gt;hourly workforce from 132,000 to 72,000 during the same period.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;In response to the recent economic crisis, GM is further tightening its belt.&amp;nbsp;The company recently &lt;strong&gt;took additional actions to reduce salaried employment costs by 20 percent, eliminate raises and discretionary bonus for executive and management employees,&lt;/strong&gt; and suspend the 401k match for salaried employees.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;We led the Harbor report for manufacturing productivity with more of our plants leading their respective segments than any other.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support allows continuing product and technology investment necessary for future competitiveness. . .we've also heard the call for more fuel-efficient passenger cars.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 20pt; text-indent: -20pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Recent product launches (like Chevy Malibu) confirm U.S. industry's &lt;strong&gt;commitment to product excellence.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 20pt; text-indent: -20pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Major commitment to cars&lt;/strong&gt; / crossover (18 of GM's next 19 launches, 13 of last 15). &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Our &lt;strong&gt;new products are winning acclaim&lt;/strong&gt;:&amp;nbsp;Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu won North America Car of the Year.&amp;nbsp;The Cadillac CTS was Motor Trend Car of the Year.&amp;nbsp;The 2 Mode Hybrid Chevy Tahoe&#8212;a full size SUV that seats seven with great towing capability&#8212;gets the same highway gas mileage as a Toyota Camry and received Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Quality also now viewed as fully competitive&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;. . .with &lt;strong&gt;lower warranty costs&lt;/strong&gt; and with the new Chevy Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Saturn Outlook and Chevy Silverado recognized by both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;At GM, we offer &lt;strong&gt;17 models achieving 30 MPG highway&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;or better &lt;/strong&gt;- twice our nearest competitor. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support enables growth in U.S. technological capability/leadership in key new propulsion areas and strengthens the nation's energy security. . .the U.S. cannot allow its current dependence on foreign petroleum to be replaced with foreign-sourced and developed technologies.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;The Chevy Volt changes the rules of the game &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;by creating an entirely new propulsion category - Extended Range EV.&amp;nbsp;Range is 40 miles on pure electric and zero emissions. . .with &lt;strong&gt;most commuters never using a drop of gas.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;A healthy domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;key to US R&amp;amp;D preeminence&lt;/strong&gt; - government support will maintain US leadership in overall R&amp;amp;D spending for years to come&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Without the R&amp;amp;D spending of domestic auto companies, the US would fall behind Europe in overall R&amp;amp;D spending according Booz Allen's recent&amp;nbsp;report on the &quot;Global Innovation 1000&quot; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Booz Allen has rated GM at the top-ranked US company in global R&amp;amp;D spending in 2008 at $8.1 billion - ranked second across all companies globally&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;driving the investments in advanced biofuels&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Funding for development of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels rests on the prospect&amp;nbsp;of a large market for high level ethanol blends like E85 in flex fuel vehicles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto companies have committed to make half of their fleets FFVs or biofuel capable diesels by 2012 - no other automakers have made any similar commitments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;making the US a center for hybrid technology&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has 8 hybrids in the market using technology developed in the U.S. - 20 are planned by 2012.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Chrysler, Daimler and BMW are partnering with GM to further deploy GM's domestically developed hybrid technology to the marketplace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is the only industry capable of &lt;strong&gt;standing up a domestic advanced battery industry&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;While many recognize the importance energy storage technologies in the 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; century, only the auto industry had the potential purchasing power to drive the location of advanced battery manufacturing - and only the domestic auto industry can drive that investment in the US.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is the only industry &lt;strong&gt;sustaining development of a domestic fuel cell industry. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Leading nations like Japan and Germany are planning to begin early commercialization of fuel cells around 2015. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is progressing on a similar timeline, but without US automakers, all of the critical fuel cell components will come from abroad.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has spend over a billion and a half dollars to develop fuel cell vehicles, AND a largely domestic supply base for this fledgling industry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Domestically developed &lt;strong&gt;advanced automotive technology is an important path to US export growth&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has exported its domestically developed &quot;Belt-Alternator Hybrid&quot; system to China to power the first Chinese hybrid vehicle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Collapse of the auto industry would result in a &lt;strong&gt;devastating economic and competitive scenario for the nation&lt;/strong&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Risk of &quot;Domino Effect&quot; due to common supply base and overlapping dealer ownership.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support enables the industry to bridge what is arguably one of the country's most difficult economic periods and to weather a financial storm not of its own making.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;U.S. credit freeze and essentially &lt;strong&gt;closed capital market resulting in a liquidity squeeze, &lt;/strong&gt;at a time when manufacturers' &lt;strong&gt;cash flow from operations are devastated by plummeting consumer demand.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;However, &lt;strong&gt;balance sheets are weakened due to restructuring costs, heavy pension and health care payments,&lt;/strong&gt; large product and technology investments.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman Bold'&quot;&gt;Failure is not an option&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; for the U.S. auto industry, nor for any of the three domestic automakers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman Bold'&quot;&gt;Failure of one automaker would trigger a domino effect on the supply chain and the finance subsidiaries and on other domestic automakers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Auto industry is a national asset and a critical economic component that runs straight through Main Street. . .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Almost &lt;strong&gt;4% of U.S. gross domestic product&lt;/strong&gt; is auto-related and represents 10% of U.S. industrial production by value.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;strong&gt;One out of every 10 U.S. jobs&lt;/strong&gt; is auto-related, and auto workers receive &lt;strong&gt;$335 billion annually in compensation.&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Specifically, GM, Ford and Chrysler account for roughly 70 percent of U.S. auto production and are estimated to support around &lt;strong&gt;five million jobs across all 50 states. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Over the last two decades, America's domestic auto industry has &lt;strong&gt;invested nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the U.S.,&lt;/strong&gt; including $10 billion alone last year.&amp;nbsp;The industry also spends &lt;strong&gt;$12 billion annually in R&amp;amp;D&lt;/strong&gt; in U.S., which is among the top industries such as aerospace, medical equipment and computer/electronic industries. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Supports maintenance and growth of supply base. &lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;The auto industry &lt;strong&gt;purchased last year $156 billion in U.S. auto parts&lt;/strong&gt; supporting jobs in all 50 states and is the largest purchaser of U.S. steel, aluminum, iron, copper, plastics, rubber and electronic and computer chips. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Enables auto industry to &lt;strong&gt;continue to meet extensive obligations&lt;/strong&gt;. . .Families depend on a healthy industry that provides &lt;strong&gt;healthcare benefits to two million Americans and supports nearly 800,000 retirees and spouses with pension benefits.&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Enables thousands of dealers to survive and prosper&lt;/strong&gt;. . .Throughout towns in every state in America, &lt;strong&gt;over 20,000 automobile dealers&lt;/strong&gt; provide high paying jobs for over &lt;strong&gt;1 million employees.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Autos account for &lt;strong&gt;$690 billion, or about 20% of all U.S. retail sales&lt;/strong&gt;. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Auto sales generate more than &lt;strong&gt;$10 billion dollars of annual tax revenue&lt;/strong&gt; (sales tax, registration fees, payroll taxes) which for many states is among their top sources for revenue.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Many &lt;strong&gt;U.S.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; financial firms are staked to a healthy auto industry&lt;/strong&gt; because many have provided credit to manufacturers, hold their bonds and have financed the purchase of their vehicles.&amp;nbsp;Millions of Americans also hold &lt;strong&gt;auto stocks and/or bonds that are held in mutual funds, 401(k) plans and pensions.&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;13-Nov-08 11:00 AM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>Support for the Auto Industry is in America&#8217;s Best Interest</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0in; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0in; padding-bottom: 1pt; margin-left: 0.25in; border-left: medium none; margin-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;border-right: medium none; padding-right: 0in; border-top: medium none; padding-left: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; border-left: medium none; padding-top: 0in; border-bottom: medium none&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 16pt&quot;&gt;Support for the Auto Industry is in America's Best &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Interest&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support for the auto industry allows it to continue its transformation and progress that began well before the current economic crisis. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;U.S.-based auto manufacturers, in conjunction with the UAW, have taken &lt;strong&gt;major actions to restructure their business to be fully competitive&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Latest &lt;strong&gt;UAW agreement (Fall 2007) provides solid basis for cost competitiveness&lt;/strong&gt;. . .We are restructuring our companies, reducing costs, improving quality, increasing productivity. . .all the tough, necessary actions that will help us emerge as a stronger, more competitive company.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;We've negotiated new agreements with our UAW partners that have rewritten the rules of competition in our business... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;our cumulative structural cost reduction from 2006-10 will be approximately $13-14 billion &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;and have responded in an &lt;strong&gt;innovative way to reduce our so-called &quot;legacy&quot; costs&lt;/strong&gt; associated with pensions and retiree healthcare.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Starting in 2010&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;, we expect our cash spending on U.S. pensions and retiree healthcare to decline to about $1 billion per year. That's a &lt;strong&gt;savings of about $6 billion a year.&lt;/strong&gt;.. which makes us dramatically more competitive... &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;GM has been &lt;strong&gt;streamlining its U.S. operations&lt;/strong&gt;.&amp;nbsp;It has &lt;strong&gt;reduced its U.S. salaried workforce from 44,000 in 2000 to 32,000 in mid-2008,&lt;/strong&gt; and its &lt;strong&gt;hourly workforce from 132,000 to 72,000 during the same period.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;In response to the recent economic crisis, GM is further tightening its belt.&amp;nbsp;The company recently &lt;strong&gt;took additional actions to reduce salaried employment costs by 20 percent, eliminate raises and discretionary bonus for executive and management employees,&lt;/strong&gt; and suspend the 401k match for salaried employees.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;We led the Harbor report for manufacturing productivity with more of our plants leading their respective segments than any other.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support allows continuing product and technology investment necessary for future competitiveness. . .we've also heard the call for more fuel-efficient passenger cars.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 20pt; text-indent: -20pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Recent product launches (like Chevy Malibu) confirm U.S. industry's &lt;strong&gt;commitment to product excellence.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 20pt; text-indent: -20pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Major commitment to cars&lt;/strong&gt; / crossover (18 of GM's next 19 launches, 13 of last 15). &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Our &lt;strong&gt;new products are winning acclaim&lt;/strong&gt;:&amp;nbsp;Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu won North America Car of the Year.&amp;nbsp;The Cadillac CTS was Motor Trend Car of the Year.&amp;nbsp;The 2 Mode Hybrid Chevy Tahoe&#8212;a full size SUV that seats seven with great towing capability&#8212;gets the same highway gas mileage as a Toyota Camry and received Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;Quality also now viewed as fully competitive&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black&quot;&gt;. . .with &lt;strong&gt;lower warranty costs&lt;/strong&gt; and with the new Chevy Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Saturn Outlook and Chevy Silverado recognized by both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;At GM, we offer &lt;strong&gt;17 models achieving 30 MPG highway&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;or better &lt;/strong&gt;- twice our nearest competitor. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support enables growth in U.S. technological capability/leadership in key new propulsion areas and strengthens the nation's energy security. . .the U.S. cannot allow its current dependence on foreign petroleum to be replaced with foreign-sourced and developed technologies.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;The Chevy Volt changes the rules of the game &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;by creating an entirely new propulsion category - Extended Range EV.&amp;nbsp;Range is 40 miles on pure electric and zero emissions. . .with &lt;strong&gt;most commuters never using a drop of gas.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: windowtext&quot;&gt;A healthy domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;key to US R&amp;amp;D preeminence&lt;/strong&gt; - government support will maintain US leadership in overall R&amp;amp;D spending for years to come&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt; line-height: 12pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Without the R&amp;amp;D spending of domestic auto companies, the US would fall behind Europe in overall R&amp;amp;D spending according Booz Allen's recent&amp;nbsp;report on the &quot;Global Innovation 1000&quot; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Booz Allen has rated GM at the top-ranked US company in global R&amp;amp;D spending in 2008 at $8.1 billion - ranked second across all companies globally&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;driving the investments in advanced biofuels&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Funding for development of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels rests on the prospect&amp;nbsp;of a large market for high level ethanol blends like E85 in flex fuel vehicles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto companies have committed to make half of their fleets FFVs or biofuel capable diesels by 2012 - no other automakers have made any similar commitments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is &lt;strong&gt;making the US a center for hybrid technology&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has 8 hybrids in the market using technology developed in the U.S. - 20 are planned by 2012.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Chrysler, Daimler and BMW are partnering with GM to further deploy GM's domestically developed hybrid technology to the marketplace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is the only industry capable of &lt;strong&gt;standing up a domestic advanced battery industry&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;While many recognize the importance energy storage technologies in the 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; century, only the auto industry had the potential purchasing power to drive the location of advanced battery manufacturing - and only the domestic auto industry can drive that investment in the US.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is the only industry &lt;strong&gt;sustaining development of a domestic fuel cell industry. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Leading nations like Japan and Germany are planning to begin early commercialization of fuel cells around 2015. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;The domestic auto industry is progressing on a similar timeline, but without US automakers, all of the critical fuel cell components will come from abroad.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has spend over a billion and a half dollars to develop fuel cell vehicles, AND a largely domestic supply base for this fledgling industry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Domestically developed &lt;strong&gt;advanced automotive technology is an important path to US export growth&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;GM has exported its domestically developed &quot;Belt-Alternator Hybrid&quot; system to China to power the first Chinese hybrid vehicle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Collapse of the auto industry would result in a &lt;strong&gt;devastating economic and competitive scenario for the nation&lt;/strong&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'&quot;&gt;Risk of &quot;Domino Effect&quot; due to common supply base and overlapping dealer ownership.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Support enables the industry to bridge what is arguably one of the country's most difficult economic periods and to weather a financial storm not of its own making.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;U.S. credit freeze and essentially &lt;strong&gt;closed capital market resulting in a liquidity squeeze, &lt;/strong&gt;at a time when manufacturers' &lt;strong&gt;cash flow from operations are devastated by plummeting consumer demand.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;However, &lt;strong&gt;balance sheets are weakened due to restructuring costs, heavy pension and health care payments,&lt;/strong&gt; large product and technology investments.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Symbol&quot;&gt;&amp;#183;&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman Bold'&quot;&gt;Failure is not an option&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; for the U.S. auto industry, nor for any of the three domestic automakers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Courier New'&quot;&gt;o&lt;span style=&quot;font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Times New Roman Bold'&quot;&gt;Failure of one automaker would trigger a domino effect on the supply chain and the finance subsidiaries and on other domestic automakers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt&quot;&gt;Auto industry is a national asset and a critical economic component that runs straight through Main Street. . .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Almost &lt;strong&gt;4% of U.S. gross domestic product&lt;/strong&gt; is auto-related and represents 10% of U.S. industrial production by value.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;strong&gt;One out of every 10 U.S. jobs&lt;/strong&gt; is auto-related, and auto workers receive &lt;strong&gt;$335 billion annually in compensation.&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Specifically, GM, Ford and Chrysler account for roughly 70 percent of U.S. auto production and are estimated to support around &lt;strong&gt;five million jobs across all 50 states. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Over the last two decades, America's domestic auto industry has &lt;strong&gt;invested nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in the U.S.,&lt;/strong&gt; including $10 billion alone last year.&amp;nbsp;The industry also spends &lt;strong&gt;$12 billion annually in R&amp;amp;D&lt;/strong&gt; in U.S., which is among the top industries such as aerospace, medical equipment and computer/electronic industries. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Supports maintenance and growth of supply base. &lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;The auto industry &lt;strong&gt;purchased last year $156 billion in U.S. auto parts&lt;/strong&gt; supporting jobs in all 50 states and is the largest purchaser of U.S. steel, aluminum, iron, copper, plastics, rubber and electronic and computer chips. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Enables auto industry to &lt;strong&gt;continue to meet extensive obligations&lt;/strong&gt;. . .Families depend on a healthy industry that provides &lt;strong&gt;healthcare benefits to two million Americans and supports nearly 800,000 retirees and spouses with pension benefits.&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Enables thousands of dealers to survive and prosper&lt;/strong&gt;. . .Throughout towns in every state in America, &lt;strong&gt;over 20,000 automobile dealers&lt;/strong&gt; provide high paying jobs for over &lt;strong&gt;1 million employees.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Autos account for &lt;strong&gt;$690 billion, or about 20% of all U.S. retail sales&lt;/strong&gt;. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Auto sales generate more than &lt;strong&gt;$10 billion dollars of annual tax revenue&lt;/strong&gt; (sales tax, registration fees, payroll taxes) which for many states is among their top sources for revenue.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;margin-top: 0in&quot; type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 0pt&quot;&gt;Many &lt;strong&gt;U.S.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; financial firms are staked to a healthy auto industry&lt;/strong&gt; because many have provided credit to manufacturers, hold their bonds and have financed the purchase of their vehicles.&amp;nbsp;Millions of Americans also hold &lt;strong&gt;auto stocks and/or bonds that are held in mutual funds, 401(k) plans and pensions.&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0in 0in 10pt&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/5/</guid>
			<author>Louis Green</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>Articles</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/7/</link>
			<title>The New Agenda for Minority Business Development</title>
			<description>&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;word-spacing: 0px; font: 12px/16px Verdana; text-transform: none; color: rgb(125,125,125); text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; text-align: left; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0&quot;&gt;
&lt;h1 style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 2.75em; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.36em; color: rgb(25,36,72); line-height: 1em; padding-top: 0px; letter-spacing: -3px; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucDetails_lblHeader&quot;&gt;The New Agenda for Minority Business Development&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div id=&quot;ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucDetails_cbDetails&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-weight: bold&quot;&gt;
&lt;h3 style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 1.25em; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1.6em 0px 0.8em; color: rgb(50,126,84); line-height: 1.2em; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;Report Highlights Public/Private Sector Strategies to Close the Gap between Minority Business and the Broader Business Community&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Impressive gains made by minority-owned businesses over the past few years stand to be squandered unless new growth strategies are adapted to compete in a rapidly changing business market, according to a study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report,&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;font-style: italic&quot;&gt;The New Agenda for Minority Business Development&lt;/em&gt;, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, argues that minority businesses are not maintaining pace with the larger U.S. business community and that a change of &quot;mindset&quot; is required to ensure sustained growth. The study further states that it is necessary for minority businesses to work with corporations as well as government agencies to better adjust and take advantage of the changing global marketplace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&quot;Encouraging minorities to start new businesses will still be a priority. But a second and equally important objective is to ensure that existing minority businesses are taking the necessary steps to achieve substantive growth,&quot; said Carl J. Schramm, President and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. &quot;This issue has never been more relevant or important than it is today.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Minorities currently represent approximately 28 percent of the U.S. population and own 15 percent of all U.S. businesses. Though the ownership figures may seem low at first glance, they represent significant progress. Between 1982 and 1997, for example, the number of minority-owned firms increased at a rate of 8.5 percent per year - three times that of U.S. business overall, according to the Census Bureau. Revenues from minority-owned firms increased at an annual rate of 10 percent per year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;But what was considered &quot;business as usual&quot; just a few years ago no longer exists. The same global dynamics that are changing the face of business in general - from the outsourcing of manufacturing and services to new trends in &quot;supply-chain&quot; management - make change necessary for minority businesses. The most important change is size.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&quot;The pace required to compete in today's global economy is furious and minority-owned firms must improve their capabilities in many areas to become and remain competitive,&quot; said James Lowry, a senior vice president of BCG and the report's author. &quot;It's critical we understand that significant growth - in size and revenue - must remain a primary goal for the future. Past models are no longer sufficient to ensure an expanded role for minority entrepreneurs in the U.S. free enterprise system. A collaborative effort between corporations, government, foundations, major universities - and minority entrepreneurs - is required to ensure these businesses grow beyond current performance plateaus.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The study points out that while there is an increase in the number of large minority-owned firms targeting specific high-growth niches, such as finance and real estate, the numbers are still small, and these firms are struggling to provide high-quality goods and services for major corporate clients, and cope with global supply chain management pressures.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Key to closing the gap, and positioning minority businesses for dramatic growth, say the researchers, is the urgent need for minority-owned businesses - working with their supporters - to pursue more opportunities in growth industries and to employ more innovative growth strategies such as strategic alliances and partnerships, mergers &amp;amp; acquisitions, increased use of capital markets and quicker response to trends in supply chain management.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report highlights numerous tactics for improving the state of minority business development:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding-top: 0px; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Diversify or expand into growth industries. Minority-owned businesses account for a larger percentage of low-growth businesses, such as personal services, food stores and restaurants, than the general business community. These low-growth business sectors represent nearly 30 percent of all employment in minority-owned firms vs. 17 percent in non-minority firms. Further, BCG estimates there are only 20-25 minority-owned businesses with revenues exceeding $500 million. Minority entrepreneurs need to focus on opportunities in high-growth industries such as information technology and pharmaceuticals.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Grow beyond the &quot;sole proprietor&quot; business ownership model. A disproportionate number of minority firms operate as sole proprietorships. For example, 82 percent of minority-owned firms are sole proprietorships versus 71 percent for non-minority firms. To move to the next level, these firms must shift from a &quot;100 percent CEO&quot; model to a model incorporating strong managers who will provide the capabilities necessary for sufficient growth.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Focus on better utilizing value-added products and services. Revenues per employee in many minority-owned firms are substantially lower than comparable majority-owned firms. In the manufacturing sector, majority-owned firms generate 1.5 times more revenue per employee than do minority-owned firms, whose products also tend to have a lower value added component - and therefore lower margins. This gap exists, in part, due to majority-owned businesses more effective use of technology, computer-aided design (CAD) and other automation to enhance employee productivity.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Expand the use of mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Because many minority businesses are smaller with fewer resources, they often have made limited use of alliances and partnerships with majority companies and among themselves. Minority-owned firms that have formed these alliances frequently have improved performance and experienced growth.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Utilize the capabilities of the financial markets. Historically, minority-owned businesses have avoided pursuing private and equity financing, often because of limited options. Financiers now understand that funding minority-owned businesses can offer lucrative investment opportunities, allowing minority-owned firms to take advantage of new opportunities to access the financing necessary to grow their businesses.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Respond to major trends in supply chain management. There are clear opportunities for minority-owned firms to take advantage of alliances and other relationships with major corporations to leverage the power of more sophisticated supply chain management strategies needed to compete in today's global marketplace. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;A new agenda for growing minority businesses requires support from multiple players including major corporations, government at all levels, foundations, academic institutions and most importantly, the minority businesses themselves. The report concludes that these combined efforts are now needed to capture the full potential of America's fastest growing population demographic. The creation of a new cadre of business and civic leaders and entrepreneurial partners will foster increased economic development (particularly in inner cities) and enable minority-businesses to fully compete in the global marketplace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report defines minority-owned business as a business that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more members of the following minority groups:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding-top: 0px; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;African Americans&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Hispanic Americans (Mexican, Cuban, South American, Puerto Rican or other Hispanic or Latino Americans)&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or other Asian Americans)&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Native Americans and Alaskan Native Americans &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;
 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;13-Nov-07 11:00 AM
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>The New Agenda for Minority Business Development</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;word-spacing: 0px; font: 12px/16px Verdana; text-transform: none; color: rgb(125,125,125); text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; text-align: left; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0&quot;&gt;
&lt;h1 style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 2.75em; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.36em; color: rgb(25,36,72); line-height: 1em; padding-top: 0px; letter-spacing: -3px; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;&lt;span id=&quot;ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucDetails_lblHeader&quot;&gt;The New Agenda for Minority Business Development&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div id=&quot;ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucDetails_cbDetails&quot;&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;font-weight: bold&quot;&gt;
&lt;h3 style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 1.25em; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1.6em 0px 0.8em; color: rgb(50,126,84); line-height: 1.2em; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;Report Highlights Public/Private Sector Strategies to Close the Gap between Minority Business and the Broader Business Community&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Impressive gains made by minority-owned businesses over the past few years stand to be squandered unless new growth strategies are adapted to compete in a rapidly changing business market, according to a study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report,&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-converted-space&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;font-style: italic&quot;&gt;The New Agenda for Minority Business Development&lt;/em&gt;, sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, argues that minority businesses are not maintaining pace with the larger U.S. business community and that a change of &quot;mindset&quot; is required to ensure sustained growth. The study further states that it is necessary for minority businesses to work with corporations as well as government agencies to better adjust and take advantage of the changing global marketplace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&quot;Encouraging minorities to start new businesses will still be a priority. But a second and equally important objective is to ensure that existing minority businesses are taking the necessary steps to achieve substantive growth,&quot; said Carl J. Schramm, President and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. &quot;This issue has never been more relevant or important than it is today.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Minorities currently represent approximately 28 percent of the U.S. population and own 15 percent of all U.S. businesses. Though the ownership figures may seem low at first glance, they represent significant progress. Between 1982 and 1997, for example, the number of minority-owned firms increased at a rate of 8.5 percent per year - three times that of U.S. business overall, according to the Census Bureau. Revenues from minority-owned firms increased at an annual rate of 10 percent per year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;But what was considered &quot;business as usual&quot; just a few years ago no longer exists. The same global dynamics that are changing the face of business in general - from the outsourcing of manufacturing and services to new trends in &quot;supply-chain&quot; management - make change necessary for minority businesses. The most important change is size.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;&quot;The pace required to compete in today's global economy is furious and minority-owned firms must improve their capabilities in many areas to become and remain competitive,&quot; said James Lowry, a senior vice president of BCG and the report's author. &quot;It's critical we understand that significant growth - in size and revenue - must remain a primary goal for the future. Past models are no longer sufficient to ensure an expanded role for minority entrepreneurs in the U.S. free enterprise system. A collaborative effort between corporations, government, foundations, major universities - and minority entrepreneurs - is required to ensure these businesses grow beyond current performance plateaus.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The study points out that while there is an increase in the number of large minority-owned firms targeting specific high-growth niches, such as finance and real estate, the numbers are still small, and these firms are struggling to provide high-quality goods and services for major corporate clients, and cope with global supply chain management pressures.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;Key to closing the gap, and positioning minority businesses for dramatic growth, say the researchers, is the urgent need for minority-owned businesses - working with their supporters - to pursue more opportunities in growth industries and to employ more innovative growth strategies such as strategic alliances and partnerships, mergers &amp;amp; acquisitions, increased use of capital markets and quicker response to trends in supply chain management.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report highlights numerous tactics for improving the state of minority business development:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding-top: 0px; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Diversify or expand into growth industries. Minority-owned businesses account for a larger percentage of low-growth businesses, such as personal services, food stores and restaurants, than the general business community. These low-growth business sectors represent nearly 30 percent of all employment in minority-owned firms vs. 17 percent in non-minority firms. Further, BCG estimates there are only 20-25 minority-owned businesses with revenues exceeding $500 million. Minority entrepreneurs need to focus on opportunities in high-growth industries such as information technology and pharmaceuticals.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Grow beyond the &quot;sole proprietor&quot; business ownership model. A disproportionate number of minority firms operate as sole proprietorships. For example, 82 percent of minority-owned firms are sole proprietorships versus 71 percent for non-minority firms. To move to the next level, these firms must shift from a &quot;100 percent CEO&quot; model to a model incorporating strong managers who will provide the capabilities necessary for sufficient growth.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Focus on better utilizing value-added products and services. Revenues per employee in many minority-owned firms are substantially lower than comparable majority-owned firms. In the manufacturing sector, majority-owned firms generate 1.5 times more revenue per employee than do minority-owned firms, whose products also tend to have a lower value added component - and therefore lower margins. This gap exists, in part, due to majority-owned businesses more effective use of technology, computer-aided design (CAD) and other automation to enhance employee productivity.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Expand the use of mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Because many minority businesses are smaller with fewer resources, they often have made limited use of alliances and partnerships with majority companies and among themselves. Minority-owned firms that have formed these alliances frequently have improved performance and experienced growth.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Utilize the capabilities of the financial markets. Historically, minority-owned businesses have avoided pursuing private and equity financing, often because of limited options. Financiers now understand that funding minority-owned businesses can offer lucrative investment opportunities, allowing minority-owned firms to take advantage of new opportunities to access the financing necessary to grow their businesses.&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Respond to major trends in supply chain management. There are clear opportunities for minority-owned firms to take advantage of alliances and other relationships with major corporations to leverage the power of more sophisticated supply chain management strategies needed to compete in today's global marketplace. &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;A new agenda for growing minority businesses requires support from multiple players including major corporations, government at all levels, foundations, academic institutions and most importantly, the minority businesses themselves. The report concludes that these combined efforts are now needed to capture the full potential of America's fastest growing population demographic. The creation of a new cadre of business and civic leaders and entrepreneurial partners will foster increased economic development (particularly in inner cities) and enable minority-businesses to fully compete in the global marketplace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 1em&quot;&gt;The report defines minority-owned business as a business that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more members of the following minority groups:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding-top: 0px; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px&quot;&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;African Americans&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Hispanic Americans (Mexican, Cuban, South American, Puerto Rican or other Hispanic or Latino Americans)&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese or other Asian Americans)&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li style=&quot;border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0.4em; padding-left: 1em; border-left-width: 0px; background-image: url(http://www.kauffman.org/SiteCssImages/bullet.gif); border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding-top: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat; list-style-type: none; border-right-width: 0px; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial&quot;&gt;Native Americans and Alaskan Native Americans &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;
</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/art/7/</guid>
			<author>Louis Green</author>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/9/</link>
			<title>26TH ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION FINALISTS</title>
			<description>      For Immediate Release  Contact: Lillian Lowery, MMBDC   (313) 873-1797  llowery@mmbdc.com    MMBDC Announces 26th Annual Awards: Celebrating the Stars of Supplier Diversity Finalists    Detroit, Michigan (September 14) The Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) announces the finalists for the 26th Annual Awards: Celebrating the Stars of Supplier Diversity.    These MMBDC awards finalists contribute to over $9 billion and 45,000 jobs to the U.S. economy. On September 29 at 5:30PM, MMBDC invites you to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Max Fisher Center for a unique opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary evening of unprecedented networking with key business leaders, and celebrities as they celebrate the achievements of the stars of supplier diversity. The mistress of ceremonies is Rhonda Walker, a morning anchor on the local NBC Affiliate (WDIV Detroit).    The finalists in these 19 award categories represent some of the most successful minority businesses and...
</description>
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			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/8/</link>
			<title>Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Increase Access to Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Small Businesses</title>
			<description>       SBA News Release  PRESS OFFICE                           Release Date: August 18, 2009                       Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401-0035                                Release Number: 09-58                      Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news                    Obama Administration Announces Efforts to Increase Access to Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Small Businesses    Secretary Locke, Administrator Mills will lead government-wide initiative;  federal officials to participate in more than 200 procurement events across the country    WASHINGTON &#8211; The Obama Administration today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that minority-owned and small businesses, including women- and veteran-owned businesses, have greater access to federal government contracting opportunities.    Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills announced a government-wide plan that includes federal agency procurement officials holding or...
</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/8/</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/7/</link>
			<title>Auto Suppliers Get Government Help But Will Black-owned Companies Benefit?</title>
			<description>&lt;h2&gt;MMBDC President Louis Green Quoted in recent Black Enterprise Online Article:&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h2 align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;Auto Suppliers Get Government Help&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h2 align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;But will black-owned companies benefit? &lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;post-date&quot;&gt;By &lt;a title=&quot;Posts by Cliff Hocker&quot; href=&quot;http://www.blackenterprise.com/author/Cliff/&quot;&gt;&lt;font size=&quot;2&quot;&gt;Cliff Hocker&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt; - April 10, 2009 &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;post-date&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;post-date&quot;&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;Click here to view the complete article&quot; href=&quot;http://www.blackenterprise.com/business/business-news/2009/04/10/auto-suppliers-get-government-help/&quot;&gt;Click here to view the complete article&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</description>
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			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/4/</link>
			<title>David Segura Hispanic Business Entreprener of the Year</title>
			<description>  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     Contact: Howard J. Hughey   November 10, 2008                               313.664.5650 office                                              313.743.3527 alt      MMBDC's David Segura - VisionIT CEO Named as 2008 Hispanic Business Entrepreneur of the Year  1st time Midwest entrepreneur wins heralded national award       Detroit&#8212;MMBDC's David H. Segura the CEO of VisionIT, was named as Hispanic Business magazine&#8217;s 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year (HB EOY), an award that caps a remarkable year of recognition and many accolades for VisionIT&#8217;s tremendous growth and expansion.     This is the 18th year for this award which honors the nation&#8217;s most accomplished Hispanic entrepreneur for that year. Segura took home honors in the HB EOY Info Business Category as well as the overall award which will garner him a cover story in next month&#8217;s issue of Hispanic Business magazine. Segura is the first entrepreneur from the Midwest to win the HB EOY and only the second...
</description>
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			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/6/</link>
			<title>NMSDC Awards Bartech Group</title>
			<description>         PRESS RELEASE NMSDC Awards Bartech Group with the Highest Honor Received by a U.S. Based Minority Company        Last update: 9:59 p.m. EST Nov. 12, 2008           LIVONIA, Mich., Nov 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Billing and managing $1 billion in professional staffing, workforce management and consulting expenditures on behalf of its customers, The Bartech Group won the 2008 NMSDC Class IV National Minority Supplier of the Year Award. Based upon excellence in business acumen and community service, this is the highest honor awarded by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to a minority owned business.  The Bartech Group has distinguished itself among our best and largest firms, said NMSDC President, Harriet R. Michel. The Company is noted for its exemplary leadership, focus and top-notch customer service, and we are pleased to recognize them as one of our national suppliers of the year. The Bartech Group is a certified minority business enterprise (MBE)...
</description>
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			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Release</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/2/</link>
			<title>MMBDC Announce the Tenth Annual Corporate ONE Award Winners</title>
			<description>&lt;a href=&quot;/attachments/wysiwyg/4/CorporateONE2008.pdf&quot;&gt;/attachments/wysiwyg/4/CorporateONE2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt; 
</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/rel/2/</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/staff</link>
			<title>Staff Directory</title>
			<description> MMSDC STAFF   Louis Green, President and CEO  313-873-3201  ceo@mmbdc.com   Mary Brown, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer  313-873-3202 mbrown@mmbdc.com         James Franklin, Vice-President Member Services and Government Relations   313-873-2124  jfranklin@mmbdc.com       Bonita Gaston, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO  313-873-1470  bonita@mmbdc.com   Wanda Harper, Director Professional Development 313-481-4782   wjharper@mmbdc.com    Kenneth Harris, Vice- President MBE Services and Stragetic Initiatives  313-873-2141  kharris@mmbdc.com   Flora Hill, Member Services   313-262-7572  flora@mmbdc.com   Melody Johnson, Accounting  313-481-4781  mjohnson@mmbdc.com         Diane Lee, Director Certification and Integrity Services  313-873-3615  dlee@mmbdc.com       Irma Salinas-Lisk, Certification Specialist   313-262-7557  ilisk@mmbdc.com      Lillian Lowery, Director of Communication, Research &amp; Marketing  313-873-1797  llowery@mmbdc.com    Hector...

</description>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:15:27 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/mmpc-sponsorships/</link>
			<title>MMPC Sponsorships</title>
			<description>2010 MICHIGAN MINORITY PROCUREMENT   CONFERENCE &amp; TRADE FAIR &amp;#8211; May 4-6, 2010      MMPC Official Conference and Trade Fair Sponsor   $30,000 (SOLD OUT-TAKATA)            Official 2010 MMPC &amp; Trade Fair Presenting Sponsorship Everywhere you look, your company's name will be there. Logo on all signage and promotional materials including a 8x40 foot banner displayed outside Cobo Hall.    Recognition at the afterglow reception and conference directory Reserved VIP table of (8) at luncheon and afterglow reception (4) 10x 10 booths, booth sign, skirted tables,(8) chairs, wastebasket (10) Exhibitor- two-day registration packages     (8) Full Conference- two-day registration packages     (2) Trade Fair only passes    Four color, Back Cover Ad on the official conference directory Company Profile in the official conference directory       Inclusion in all MMPC collateral material                                     Power Lunch Sponsorship $20,000 (SOLD OUT - FORD MOTOR COMPANY)  ...

</description>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:18:17 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cms/1203/</link>
			<title>** New Home page Editable Area</title>
			<description>         CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2010 EVENTS SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE        2010 Recertification open, click here for video quick tips The Ripple Impact of the U.S. Automotive Industry                      CLICK HERE FOR MMBEC/ARRA CONTRACTS   var gaJsHost = ((https: == document.location.protocol) ? https://ssl. : http://www.); document.write(unescape(%3Cscript src=' + gaJsHost + google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E));  try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(UA-8171048-1); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}        

</description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:08:46 GMT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cms/418/</link>
			<title>**Home Page-Featured Members**</title>
			<description>
&lt;style type=&quot;text/css&quot;&gt;
#featured {
background-image:url(http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/web/feat_bckgrd.gif);
background-repeat:repeat-y;
width:230px;
height:auto;
text-align:center;
}
&lt;/style&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;featured member&quot; src=&quot;http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/web/featured_hdr.gif&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div id=&quot;featured&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.kellyservices.us/web/us/services/en/pages/supplier.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;kelly services&quot; src=&quot;http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/web/kelly.gif&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;featured member&quot; src=&quot;http://www.tr3.com/mmbdc/web/feat_bottom.gif&quot; /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

</description>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:05:32 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/directors</link>
			<title>MMSDC Board of Directors</title>
			<description>OFFICERS       Tony Brown Ford Motor Company Chairman  Anthony Tomczak DTE Energy Vice Chairman                                         Don P. Alessi                             Comerica Incorporated  Treasurer;Chair, Appeals Committee                        Arthur Dudley                              Butzel Long   Secretary     Louis Green MMSDC President/CEO    EXECUTIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS  Tony Brown Ford Motor Company Chairman   Don P. Alessi                              Comerica Incorporated  Treasurer Chair, Appeals Committee Kevin L. Bell   Chrysler                   Arthur Dudley, II                              Butzel Long Secretary       Robert Fisher Takata Louis Green MMSDC President/CEO     Armando Ojeda                             Ford Motor Company Chair, Nomination Committee      Roderick Rickman                           Rickman Enterprise Group  Chair, Minority Input Committee Anthony Tomczak DTE Energy Vice Chairman  Linda Ware General Motors                  ...

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			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:10:11 GMT</pubDate>
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			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cms/416/</link>
			<title>**Home page-Video Introduction Content**</title>
			<description>&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/7320395&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/7355323 &quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/7320395&quot;&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;2010 Recertification Open, see quick tips&quot; href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/7355323 &quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a title=&quot;2010 Recertification open, click here for video quick tips&quot; href=&quot;http://vimeo.com/7355323 &quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2010 Recertification open, click here for video quick tips&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot; en/art/?23&quot;&gt;The Ripple Impact of the U.S. Automotive Industry&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot; en/art/?23&quot;&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/cms/416/</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:12:46 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/Corporate-One-Awards</link>
			<title>Corporate ONE Awards</title>
			<description>        This prestigious honor recognizes those corporate members who are fully engaged and supportive of MMSDC and its mission by meeting the following criteria:       Fully participating corporate member of a Project ONE module    Reports minority spend to MMSDC    Has an established Supplier Diversity Program    Sponsored an exhibit at the MMPC Trade Fair or other major MMSDC event     2008 Corporate ONE Award Winners        3M COMPANY, AAA MICHIGAN, AISIN WORLD CORP., ALBERICI CONSTRUCTORS, INC., ARISTEO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, ARVINMERITOR, INC., BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, BARTON MALOW COMPANY, WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL, BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN, ROBERT BOSCH CORPORATION, BUDCO-THE DIALOGUE COMPANY, CHRYSLER LLC, COMAU INC., COMERICA BANK, COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING CORPORATION, CONTINENTAL, NORTH AMERICA, DANA HOLDING COMPANY, DELPHI, DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER (THE), ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR, EEI GLOBAL, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY...

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/Corporate-One-Awards</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:40:54 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/Sourcing-Solutions</link>
			<title>Pre-Sourcing and Sourcing Solutions</title>
			<description>   Are you looking for certified minority suppliers, but you don't have time to search? MMSDC pre-sourcing solutions can save you time, and give you the access to the suppliers you need.       You provide the criteria:   NAICS Codes   Annual Sales   Number of Employees   Commodity   or   Product     MMSDC provides:    Minority Suppliers that match your needs from our database of 1500 MBEs from local companies and over 200,000 national minority suppliers   Additional pre-screening services available by request.   Please note this service if for Corporate Members only     Contact: James Franklin Vice-President Customer Development Services (313) 873-2124 jfranklin@mmbdc.com   or    Ronald Fredrick Project Director for MMBEC (313) 481-4787 rfrederick@mmbec.com   

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/Sourcing-Solutions</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:36:57 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/Membership-Benefits</link>
			<title>Membership Benefits</title>
			<description> Reap the benefits by joining MMSDC!    Innovative networking programs, events, services and information are just a few of the local program opportunities MMSDC members receive. Aside from these offerings, there are numerous advantages that come with an annual membership. Diversity in your supplier base can be good for your bottom line while also meeting Tier I Supplier Diversity Objectives. Your business can use the strategic inclusion of minority suppliers in routine purchase decisions, which supports a better understanding of that segment of the consumer marketing segment. MMSDC membership is a way to help build the community&amp;#8217;s economic base, adding to local job creation and reducing unemployment. You&amp;#8217;ll create shared economic benefits with the largest and fastest-growing consumer market segment - simultaneously strengthening your public image.    MMSDC offers corporate, government, and institutional members a variety of workshops and services that help strengthen their...

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/Membership-Benefits</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:30:39 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<category>Content Managers</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/Corporate-Members-Services</link>
			<title>Corporate Membership</title>
			<description>&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) connects you to major Fortune 500 companies and leading minority business owners.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
The MMSDC is comprised of over 400 corporate members. Corporations include Automobile Manufacturers (OEMs), Appliance Manufacturers, Automotive Suppliers, Banking and Financial Institutions, Computer/Information Technology, Educational Institutions, Food Producers, Health Care and Hospital Care Providers, Home and Office Furniture Makers, Logistics and Transportation Carriers, Medical Supply and Equipment Manufacturers, Telecommunication and Public Utilities, etc. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Membership in the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMSDC) is voluntary, but it's also smart business. In Fact, membership is a testament to a growing business community awareness of diversity and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) suppliers who can provide goods and services that are both cost and quality competitive. In today's economic climate, improving the bottom line has never been more important. Members are learning that the MMSDC helps to coordinate and facilitate networking opportunities that can lead to business opportunities that do just that.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;MMSDC's over 1500 certified minority business provide you with diverse solutions and cost savings that gives your companies a competitive advantage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;If you want to save over $450 billion dollars or find new sources of revenue for your company, then a MMSDC membership is for you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/Corporate-Members-Services</guid>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:28:13 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<category>Survey</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?7</link>
			<title>Tra</title>
			<description>Objectives: vbxdcvxcvx
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Release Date: 15-Mar-07 9:00 AM&lt;br&gt;Expiration Date: 13-Jun-07 9:00 AM&lt;br&gt;Choose
</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?7</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

		<item>
			<category>Survey</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?6</link>
			<title>Debi</title>
			<description>Objectives: &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Release Date: 9-Mar-07 12:00 PM&lt;br&gt;Expiration Date: 7-Jun-07 12:00 PM&lt;br&gt;</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?6</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

		<item>
			<category>Survey</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?2</link>
			<title>Golf Outing 2006</title>
			<description>Objectives: Please complete the survey so we can exceed all of your expectation at our Golf Outing and other events.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Release Date: 13-Jun-06 9:00 AM&lt;br&gt;Expiration Date: 11-Jul-06 9:00 AM&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Please answer all questions.&amp;nbsp; The survey will take less than 3 minutes to complete.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?2</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

		<item>
			<category>Survey</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?1</link>
			<title>Lorem ipsum survey</title>
			<description>Objectives: &lt;p&gt;Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummynibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tution ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Duis autem dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit au gue duis dolore te feugat nulla facilisi. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci taion ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi per suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Release Date: 9-Jun-06 12:24 PM&lt;br&gt;Expiration Date: 9-Sep-06 12:24 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummynibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tution ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Duis autem dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit au gue duis dolore te feugat nulla facilisi. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci taion ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat. Duis te feugifacilisi per suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex en commodo consequat.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ut wisis enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci</description>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/sur/?1</guid>
			<author>noemail@mmbdc.com</author>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:24:23 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2577/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9350</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2577/QPIMG_9350-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9350</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2577/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2576/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9348</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2576/QPIMG_9348-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9348</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2576/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2575/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9344</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2575/QPIMG_9344-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9344</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2575/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2574/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9340</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2574/QPIMG_9340-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9340</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2574/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2573/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9339</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2573/QPIMG_9339-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9339</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2573/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2572/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9331</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2572/QPIMG_9331-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9331</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2572/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2571/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9330</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2571/QPIMG_9330-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9330</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2571/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2570/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9320</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2570/QPIMG_9320-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9320</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2570/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2569/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9318</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2569/QPIMG_9318-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9318</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2569/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:28 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

		<item>

			<category>photos</category>
			<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2568/</link>
			<title>QPIMG_9314</title>
			<description>&lt;img src =&quot;http://www.mmbdc.com/tpeople/wwwMmbusdev24.1/bonita/photos/2568/QPIMG_9314-m.jpg&quot; /&gt;&lt;br&gt;File uploaded by Bonita Gaston. 
&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
</description>
			<itunes:subtitle>QPIMG_9314</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:summary>File uploaded by Bonita Gaston.</itunes:summary>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mmbdc.com/en/photos/v/2568/</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:58:29 GMT</pubDate>
		</item>

<item>
<title>Lorem ipsum</title>
<category>Courses</category>
<link>http://www.mmbdc.com/en/courses/view.asp?courseid=1</link>
<description><![CDATA[Instructor: Fraley<br><br>

Lorem ipsum<br>
]]></description>
<dc:subject>Course</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2006-06-09T17:24:23Z</dc:date>
</item>

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