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Tagged: pure michigan

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Politics & Government
2:14 pm
Mon April 8, 2013

New license plate pushes 'Pure Michigan' - Vote for your all-time favorite

New license plates in Michigan will feature the "Pure Michigan" tourism logo.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Gov. Rick Snyder unveiled the plates today at a secretary of state branch in Lansing. They say the plates will help millions of residents be ambassadors for their state.

From the press release:

Gov. Snyder called the plates a new way to help strengthen the Pure Michigan brand, which encourages economic growth and job creation.

"More tourism is good for Michigan families, communities and our economy," Snyder said. "The Pure Michigan campaign successfully attracts out-of-state dollars and investment because we have such a great story to tell and so many unique destinations and opportunities. Now every driver can join the effort to promote the place we call home."

The plate unveiled today will gradually replace the state's standard white-and-blue license plate.

The current standard plates with a blue bar across the top will be issued until they're gone in each Secretary of State office.

For an extra $5, you can request a Pure Michigan plate now. All new personalized, veteran and fundraising plates will have the Pure Michigan logo without asking.

Past license plates have touted Michigan as a "Water Wonderland" or the "Great Lake State," so we wanted to know, which Michigan license plate is your favorite?

Check out the selections above and take our poll:

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Economy
11:45 am
Mon March 18, 2013

'Pure Michigan' campaign kicks off $13M effort

Credit michigan.org

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The state's "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign is kicking off a $13 million national cable television advertising effort.

The new campaign begins airing Monday and runs through the end of June. It includes five partners that pitched in a total of $3 million: Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Mackinac Island, Traverse City and The Henry Ford historical attraction in Dearborn.

The state says Ann Arbor contributed $1 million and the other four partners contributed $500,000 each.

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Arts & Culture
1:05 pm
Wed February 20, 2013

Pure Michigan brings pure economic benefits to the state

Credit michigan.org
A highway sign as seen when entering Michigan

Bridge Magazine published an article this week that shows the scale and value of Michigan's tourism sector.

Contributor Jeff Alexander writes the sector accounts for $17.7 billion of Michigan's $300 billion-plus economy.

Citing state tourism data, Alexander writes since it's launch in 2006,  the Pure Michigan campaign has helped attract out of state visitors by focusing on the states natural beauty and historic attractions.

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Politics & Government
9:00 am
Sat February 16, 2013

The week in review

Credit David Defoe / flickr

Week in review interview for 2/16/13

This week in review Rina Miller and Jack Lessenberry discuss Detroit’s State of the City address, lawmakers conversation about abortions and Viagra coverage in Senate health plans, and the removal of Pure Michigan right to work ads.

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Politics & Government
1:06 pm
Thu February 14, 2013

Pure Michigan logo won't pair up with 'right-to-work' again

Credit MyFoxDetroit
An ad in the Wall St. Journal touting Michigan's controversial right to work law along with the Pure Michigan logo.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) got some heat after this ad appeared in the Wall Street Journal last month (photo courtesy of MyFoxDetroit):

It cost MEDC  $144,000.

MEDC is a public-private entity and functions as a marketing firm for the state of Michigan. MEDC officials say only private money was spent on the Wall St. Journal ad.

But tying the state's 'Pure Michigan' brand to a controversial new law was roundly criticized by Democrats and by some advertising experts.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder said the ad was "too specific, and possibly divisive."

The Detroit News reports today that MEDC won't do it again:

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has halted use of the Pure Michigan logo in advertisements promoting the new right-to-work law following backlash from Democrats and criticism from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder.

"At this point any further advertising on that level or in that style has been put on hold," Jim McBryde, vice president of government affairs, told the House Tourism Committee Thursday morning.

Mike Finney, president and CEO of the MEDC, is re-evaluating use of the tourism logo in economic development advertisements, McBryde said.

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Politics & Government
6:45 am
Tue January 15, 2013

In this morning's Michigan news headlines. . .

Credit User: Brother O'Mara / flickr

Referendum campaign will try to block wolf hunts

After Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation opening up the doors to a possible wolf hunt in the state, a referendum campaign is trying to block the move. The Detroit News reports,

A petition committee, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, is attempting to gather 225,000 signatures in the next two and a half months for a statewide ballot question that would protect wolves from being hunted as a trophy animal.

Governor Snyder criticizes right to work as Pure Michigan ad

Governor Rick Snyder has criticized a Michigan Economic Development Corporation ad that ran in the Wall Street Journal that touts the new right to work legislation as "Pure Michigan. "Governor Snyder says he would not have singled out right-to-work. Instead, he says he hoped the ad would highlight a broad range of new economic policies," Jake Neher reports.

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