Front Lines
DIGEST
State Incentives Aim
To Keep Company Here
Robert Sklar
Editor
T
As a tax attorney and Birmingham
City Commission member, Stuart
Sherman knows exactly why his
service as a vice president of
Hebrew Free Loan is so important.
"All day long, in everything I do, it's
about solving problems," Stuart
says. "When people come into
HFL, I can look them in the eye and
make a difference in their lives. Not
only with money, but with the guid-
ance and support to help them
take the right steps to fix an issue,
not just put a bandage on it."
Stuart is quick to point out that
not everyone who seeks out HFL is
there because of personal financial
issues, "but lately, those we see
most often are the mirror of what's
happening everywhere. The great
thing is the Jews in our area truly
are a community, and we don't
leave people behind."
The money you give to
Hebrew Free Loan goes
directly to Detroit-area Jews.
Your donation means the
difference between someone
keeping their home, getting to
work, caring for their family ...
or not.
Hebrew Free Loan provides interest-
free loans for living expenses,
medical fees and many other
need& small business start-up
costs, tuition assistance, summer
camp, training, and much more, If
you or someone you know needs
help, please click or call.
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184
HEBREW
FREE*LOAN
he state, through tax incentives, is
encouraging Azure Dynamics Inc. to
expand in Oak Park rather than at a
competing site in Ontario. Expansion is nec-
essary for the company to partner with Ford
Motor Co. on a new electric-battery vehicle.
On Dec. 16, state Sen. Gilda Z. Jacobs,
D-Huntington Woods, joined state Rep.
Ellen Cogen Lipton, D-
Huntington Woods, in
announcing the Michigan
Economic Development
Corporation (MEDC) and
the Michigan Economic
Growth Authority
(MEGA) awarded the
incentive package.
"This is a great exam-
ple of a new technology company working
with an established company, Ford Motor
Company, to create a great new high-tech
green vehicle Jacobs said. "This is a smart
use of state resources that will help create
new green jobs while strengthening our
economy"
"Developing the tech-
nology for the high-tech,
electric vehicles here in
Oakland County will cre-
ate the type of good-pay-
ing jobs we need to turn
Michigan around and
get our economy back on
track:' Lipton said.
Rep. Lipton
This project demon-
strates Michigan's potential to lead the way
in the next generation of transportation
technology, she said. "With our infrastruc-
ture, workforce and manufacturing know-
how,' she said, "Michigan is poised to build
the green vehicles of tomorrow and create
more jobs in this emerging industry."
Azure Dynamics Inc. is developing
proprietary electric and hybrid-electric
technology for light and heavy commer-
cial vehicles. It plans to work with Ford to
deliver an electric-battery-powered Ford
Transit Connect van for the American and
Canadian markets.
Azure will invest $2.45 million in the
project. The investment will create 83 jobs,
40 directly by the company, according to
projections. MEDC estimates call for the
expansion creating 43 indirect jobs.
Based on the MEDC recommendation,
the MEGA board approved a state tax
credit valued at $1.3 million over seven
years to encourage the company to expand
in Michigan. The city of Oak Park is con-
sidering a tax abatement to further sup-
port the project.
"These are jobs that will also help us
keep our talented young people here
in Michigan:' Sen. Jacobs said. "These
incentives are great news for Oak Park
and Michigan."
ECOJudaism
What you can
do to stop global warming.
Reduce Heating Costs
• Use a green and clean option for your
electricity. Go to my.dteenergy.com/
products/greenCurrents/index.html.
• Install an energy-efficient furnace.
Choose an Energy Star model.
• Be certain your furnace is tuned up;
replace the filters as frequently as
needed to save energy.
• Upgrade your wall and ceiling
insulation. Seal and insulate ducts, doors
and windows. www.simplyinsulate.com
• When selecting insulation, make your
decision on R-value, not inches. R-value
refers to the material's "resistance" to
changes in temperature. The numbers
are efficiency ratings and are a more
accurate guide than material thickness.
The recommended R-values differ from
geographic region to region. Check with
your state Department of Energy.
• The federal government and many
states offer tax credits for insulating
❑
Quotable
your home and for high-efficiency
furnaces. Be sure to save all your
receipts for tax time.
• Avoid products with a lot of packaging.
Reduce your amount of garbage/waste.
• Adjust your thermostat. Moving your
thermostat down just 2 degrees in
winter and up 2 degrees in summer
could save about 2,000 pounds of
carbon dioxide a year.
Jewish Thought On The
Environment
L'dor v'dor - from generation to
generation.' This is the token of the
covenant which I make between me and
you and every living creature that is with
you, for perpetual generations."
—
- Genesis (9:12)
Please contact Michigan Coalition on the
Environment & Jewish Life for global
warming presentations:
(248) 642-5393, ext. 7, or mi-coejl@jfmd.org .
Source: Michigan Coalition on the Environment S. Jewish Life
"For Israel as a whole,
the problem is simple:
In 1960, government
figures show 6.6
percent of the children
in the Hebrew-
speaking elementary
schools were in haredi
institutions. By 2008,
the proportion was
27 percent. If those
children follow today's
haredi lifestyle, can
the rest of Israel
support them?"
- Gershom Gorenberq in his Letter
from Jerusalem titled "Learning
Curve," in the December 2009
issue of Hadassah magazine.
hfidetroit.org
We Provide Loans.
We Promise Dignity.
Jewish
Federation
WERE PART OF THE TEAM
8
January 7 • 2010
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