Three business men, Dan Wright, Jim MacKay & I, Phil Palmeri, started MadebyUS.com, LLC in the Great State of Michigan. We go live by November, 2010. All three of us are Michigan born, each Michigan raised & each Michigan residents. We invite Michigan companies that use all or predominately all Michigan/United States components to contact us to present your products on our website, MadebyUS.com.

For vacation this year my husband, Dad, and friend went to the National Cherry Festival and spent 3 days in a hotel in Traverse City and frequented several restaurants in the area. We had plans of going on a tall ship however weather did not allow. :( We also bought many items from the local fruit stands, and shops in Traverse City.

Craig David Butler Studios is giving back to their community! "With all the school budget cuts we wanted to do our part and give back to the community". The studio will be donating back to the Northville High School athletic department a portion of all the high school senior sessions completed this year. "Every little bit helps and we hope that we can make a difference" ~Bonnie & Craig Butler Craig David Butler Studios

I am writing about an incredible lady, my AMAZING Mother-in-Law Mrs. Elizabeth Sabo. She was born in Ireland, as an only child to an incredible farming couple. Growing up she helped around the farm and the kitchen. But she wanted more and by her mid-teens moved to Michigan. Where she met and married Tibor Sabo Sr. a Hungarian (who ran away from his then communist country, and came to America.) She dedicated her whole life to bringing her 6 children on a very tight budget. My husband tells me that even through the toughest of times she still managed to make amazing meals! She sure was and still is great cook, and often experimented with spices in her kitchen, some of her dishes included Cabbage Soup, Fish Soup, Chicken Paprikash, Goulash, and her famous Hungarian Dobosh Torta. She decided to plant a wonderful garden and taught the kids to love gardening. My husband and a couple of his siblings joined the local 4H group and won first place a few times. He told me that he remembers when he was young and they didnt heve much, that she would buy small basckets at garage sales and for Easter she would fill them up with home made decorations, candy and homemade chocolates. Once they where all put together they would all go to Nursing homes to visit the elderly who dindt have family visiting them, and she would go in with the kids to spend time and bring them the baskets. This really touched my heart because even tought they didnt have much she wanted to instill in the hearts of her children that it was better to give than to receive. My husband told me that those are some of the best memories he has of growing up. The reason I am writing is because now that her kids are all grown up she finally had the opportunity to start he own little Michigan based spice business "Aunt Lizzie's Celtic Creations" back in 2008. She does an amazing job at putting all her products together in a special little room in her home. She even has a website that one of her son's wife made for her as a Christmas gift. She does very well with the locals and tourists. A few of the bigger local stores have picked up some of her products. She has done a couple of shows for the "Taste of Home" among others. She has always been such a caring and giving person. My husband and I are tremendously proud of her achievements so far. We are so thankful for the "Buy Michigan Now" Site and the opportunity it gives her and other Michigan businesse owners to grow in our comunities. Thank you all for your support!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH MICHIGAN, Carolina http://www.auntlizziescreations.com/

As i have stated, my wife and I try to buy as many Michigan grown, processed and/or manufactered products as we are able to find. After we determine a need, we first try to find a Michigan company that produces it, then a Michigan store that sells it. We were both born in Michigan (Detroit) and making our home state healthy again is our primary motivation.

As a result of doing our grocery shopping at Hller's Markets in Northville, we recently discovered that they mark all Michigan based products with a Green Mitten. Now, when we shop, we look for the Green Mitten on grocery shelves. I recommend shopping at Hiller's because it is a Michigan based (actually Ann Arbor) company that tries to purchase Michigan based products and enjoys showing we consumers that the things we are buying originated right here in Michigan. Hiller's has stores in Plymouth, Northville, Commerce, Union Lake, West Bloomfield, Berkley and Ann Arbor. And, the owner is a peach of a guy, too!

I am in California but grew up in MI and LOVE Cherry Republic products. I get their catalog and emails and always visit their store in Glen Arbor when I am in the area. I used to order the chocolate covered cherries to be delivered to my office and gave them as gifts for coworkers and now that I am self employed will be using them for clients.

Over the past year since its founding in 2008, Michigan-Made.com has emerged as a strong advocate and on-line merchandiser of products made in Michigan, by Michigan artisans and small manufacturers. Michigan made products from several different vendors are available on Michigan-Made.com, with the list growing every week. Candles, jewelry, unique home items, specialty foods, books, health and beauty products. . . .all are conveniently available on Michigan-Made.com for the shopper looking to “Buy Michigan” and get high quality, high value gift and personal items. The founders of Michigan-Made.com have been busy contacting owners of exclusively Michigan businesses, developing cooperative working relationships. Their travels have taken them to all parts of the state, meeting some of the most creative, innovative and industrious people who have made Michigan their home and basis for business. “It has been a pleasure partnering with Michigan-Made.com,” said Tracy Zochowski, owner, designer and hand-crafter of Tracy|Jane jewelry (http://michigan-made.com/tracy-jane-jewelry). “We have the same, mutually-beneficial goals and objectives, and the synergy of our business relationship is serving not only ourselves, but all of Michigan in promoting the ‘Buy Michigan’ concept.” Sales are coming not only from Michigan purchasers, but also from people around the country. While Michigan-Made.com is “by Michigan, for Michigan,” the Internet presence means people from anywhere in the world can “Buy Michigan.”

SVS Vision delivered 1800 coats to children in need in the Mt. Clemens and Detroit Public School systems. The coats were purchased from the Coats for Kids Foundation (www.coat-for-kids.org) using funds raised from the sale of a cookbook created by SVS Vision employees. The cookbook, Cookin' with Vision, is available at all SVS Vision locations for $10. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook, plus matching funds from SVS Vision, are going to purchase new Coats for Kids in need in Michigan. If you're interested in helping with this effort, find an SVS Vision location near you at www.svsvision.com or call 800-SVS-4600.

BizX Magazine posted Made in Michigan Article about Thelogman Log Furniture.

As business owners in Michigan for many years, my husband and I have driven only American cars and do business with other Michigan businesses whenever possible. Shopping at local independent businesses has always been important to us, and the shopping experience is greatly enhanced when the folks you are doing business with have a personal stake in the community. I urge people to shop locally, seek Michigan made products, and vacation in our wonderful Water Wonderland. Whenever we are out of state I invite whoever we have a conversation with to visit Michigan and enjoy the beauty and culture of our state. I take every out of town visitor to the Motown Museum for an hour of great fun, a trip around the Detroit waterfront, and then a tour of our town, New Baltimore.

My husband and I are the missions directors for our Church. Whenever we have a special speaker come in, we fill a basket with all made in Michigan products and give to them to let them know what wonderful things we have here in Michigan. We also stay in Michigan for all of our weekend getaways to help support our local economy. We have made ourselves more aware of products that are made here, so we can choose those items over others made elsewhere.

On Wednesday, August 12, from 4pm to 7pm, Frankenmuth, Michigan bore witness to the world’s first drive-thru farmers market. With a steady stream of traffic, growers selling out of items, and tremendous excitement surrounding the event, the Frankenmuth Farmers Market (FFM) Board of Directors declared the event a huge success, spurring immediate consideration for future recurrences. In the parking lot of McDonald’s of Frankenmuth, Michigan, a town of 5,000 and one of the state’s largest tourist attractions, at least 250 shoppers drove or walked through a lineup of farmers and artisans. Both shoppers and vendors were thrilled to be part of this world premier event. Heavy rains the previous regularly scheduled Market day, generous publicity, and a huge community buzz energized the entire region, drawing many new visitors who had never been to the Market. FFM President Dietrich Bronner said, “Our intent was to introduce the Market to people who have not yet visited, those who live 40 miles away but work in Frankenmuth, anyone mobility-challenged, and people unaccustomed to visiting the regular Market due to issues of convenience, ease, scheduling, or efficiency.” Even though the Market has been in operation for five years, some people in the community still confessed they had never visited it. “The drive-thru succeeded on many fronts, creating a huge buzz for the Market and greatly increasing its awareness for everyone. In fact, many wondered if the drive-thru access would work, wondering how it would happen logistically. This alone attracted many of the customers,” reported Bronner, also president of the Michigan Farmers Market Association. “Slow food in the fast lane—a super success!” Tony and Geri D’Anna, owners of Frankenmuth McDonald’s, were gracious hosts, providing space, publicity, hospitality, and more for the event. As an added bonus, each drive-thru customer was given a coupon to sample a free McDonald’s fruit smoothie, using some of the 4 million pounds of blueberries purchased from Michigan farmers. In fact, McDonald’s spends $443.5 million per year on Michigan agricultural products, creating an additional 51,680 jobs, $645 million in in-state spending, and $40.6 million in taxes. Signage promoted the event from Main Street in front of McDonald’s, at the back entrance to the restaurant, and on the electronic marquee. Approaching the drive-thru lane, drivers viewed the “drive-thru menu” listing the Market’s offerings. Greeters welcomed drivers, explained the process, and handed out smoothie coupons and brochures directing them to the regular, 8am-2pm Saturday Market held in downtown Frankenmuth. Inside the Market, farmers exchanged produce and dollars through windows on both sides of drivers’ vehicles. Drivers could see large printed menus of farmers’ offerings in addition to the fresh produce laid out on tables before their eyes. Sweet corn was a popular favorite. Getting creative, farmers even packed up Value Meal Deals and pre-bagged many items for ease, speed, and efficiency as vehicles funneled through the Market in a steady stream for the entire duration of the event. Creating the excitement and spreading the word, media coverage was provided by The Saginaw News, Oldies 96 WHNN, WSGW Newsradio 790, ABC-12 Television, The Frankenmuth News, and more. Vendors with near empty tables, drivers with produce-laden vehicles, Market organizers, and McDonald’s owners and hosts all left this unprecedented event wondering when the next one would be. At five years old, the Frankenmuth Farmers Market is one of Michigan’s “10 Great Farmers Markets” as declared by Michigan Travel Ideas – Official State Travel Guide, operating 8am-2pm Saturdays, May-October in downtown Frankenmuth. More upcoming Market events include a Food Collection Day for the hungry on August 22, a Pig Roast by Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth on August 29, a Christkindlmarkt on Thanksgiving Weekend November 27-29, and a Learn Great Foods Tour and Dinner November on 28 (www.learngreatfoods.com).

Myself (Tom Washburn) and Bernie Ritchey started a business called TBD Enterprises, LLC. it’s a manufacturer's representative business that focuses on connecting Michigan customers (and others from outside our state and country) with Michigan manufacturers. We were both once employed by an automation company in Oakland County, and were released earlier this year because of the economic conditions in the market. After some thought, we decided to take an active role in making Michigan brighter by starting TBD Enterprises LLC. We believe to make Michigan strong again we all must participate by buying from within our own state and communities; help your community and your community will help you. Some things we are working on are bringing more government projects/jobs and some overseas manufacturing to Michigan. Let’s rebuild Michigan together, and make a better place for ourselves, our children and our neighbors.

I have created an online health and fitness website for Michigan women...askinyourface.com.... My passion is helping women be strong and stay strong! We are are here to inform, inspire and help Michigan women be fit for there future, in every way possible. We only support local and Michigan businesses and products. A portion of our advertising proceeds go to helping Michigan women in need! We invite women in our communities to contribute to our website! Please visit us at askinyourface.com contact us at info@askinyourface.com

ROI Strategic Business Solutions successfully helped a Michigan based precision tool and pot broaching operation diversify into the millitary market which significantly reduced traditional sales cycle times from months to a matter of days and weeks. Our sales process helped them identify potential client organizations, their key business issues, the key people within the organization having Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility and develop a value proposition that allowed our client to get vendor approval within 5 business days. Total time from begining of research to vendor approval was 14 days.

On Wednesday June 10, 2009 Avanti Press, Inc. a greeting card publisher headquartered in downtown Detroit participated in the last planting of The Greening of Detroit’s spring season and planted 45 trees along Pennsylvania Street. Based in downtown Detroit, Avanti Press has been publishing award-winning greeting cards sold around the world since 1980. Started by Rick Ruffner from his kitchen table on Detroit’s east side, the company has remained privately-owned and still has a family-oriented “can do” spirit which makes it a great place to work. It is part of the company’s vision to remain eco-friendly and help create a greener community for all. For that reason, Avanti has been printing on paper with post-consumer recycled content since 1992. Our primary paper source is processed chlorine-free, which means the mill uses NO toxic chlorine in the paper making process. Our printer is FSC-certified. The intention of the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) is to change manufacturing processes in order to eliminate habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples and violence against people and wildlife that often accompanies logging. In addition, our paper mill is FSC-certified. This year, they will begin producing all of their own power and are transitioning to 100% biomass fuel. Biomass is waste wood removed from landfills which is then converted into clean carbon-neutral energy. By late 2009, all Avanti greeting card products will be fully carbon neutral and produced 100% fossil fuel free. “We are cultivating sustainability every day with an eye toward eventual carbon neutrality.” stated Rick Ruffner, President of Avanti Press, Inc. “Our vision is to reinforce eco-friendly actions that extend beyond our office doors.” Recycled car tires are used for flooring in our Detroit office and have converted to compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout most facilities. All recyclable materials used during the course of business are responsibly recycled, including cardboard, paper, plastic, and bottles. Any products returned to Avanti are also recycled. “We are pleased to have the support of Avanti Press employees.” stated Rebecca Salminen Witt, President of The Greening of Detroit, “It is always great to work with corporations who share a genuine appreciation for our urban environment.” This tree planting service day will encourage employees to continue to work beyond Avanti’s doors in helping to sustain a clean and green environment. THE GREENING OF DETROIT - The Greening of Detroit is a non-profit organization working to grow a ‘greener’ Detroit through planting and educational programs, environmental leadership, advocacy, and by building community capacity.

Myself (Tom Washburn) and Bernie Ritchey started a business called TBD Enterprises, LLC. it’s a manufacturer's representative business that focuses on connecting Michigan customers (and others from outside our state and country) with Michigan manufacturers. We were both once employed by an automation company in Oakland County, and were released earlier this year because of the economic conditions in the market. After some thought, we decided to take an active role in making Michigan brighter by starting TBD Enterprises LLC. We believe to make Michigan strong again we all must participate by buying from within our own state and communities; help your community and your community will help you. Some things we are working on are bringing more government projects/jobs and some overseas manufacturing to Michigan. Let’s rebuild Michigan together, and make a better place for ourselves, our children and our neighbors.

Our organization's summer picnic will feature all Michigan made foods and beverages! We are also doing a presentation of this website to our employees so they too can take the pledge and Buy Michigan Now! Michigan Oral Health Coalition Michigan Primary Care Association

We are offering free faxing of resumes to anyone who is applying for a job in the state of Michigan! Stay here! Work here! Play here! Michigan is a great state!