Several sources familiar with the program said MSU and the University of Wisconsin will team up to host one of three federal bio-energy research centers, hubs to figure out the science that would allow conversion of ordinary plant matter -- not corn -- into fuel to replace gasoline...

Beyond the dollars involved, energy and environmental experts said the decision could position Michigan to profit economically from what promises to be one of the hottest areas of research in the coming decades.

Now as big a fan as I am of local government and local control I also know not to look a gift horse in the mouth.  These are dollars that the state and the school could desperately use, especially when it holds the potential to help diversify the state's economy and plant the seeds (har har) for high paying jobs.

Obviously I'd prefer if the feds didn't have to come to our rescue but what can you do.  Especially when state university funding continues a five-plus year plummet.  The Freep tells us this morning:

In-state undergraduates at Michigan Technological University will pay 9.51% more this year in tuition at the Upper Peninsula school, an average of $10,578.

For those of you keeping score, MI Tech is also training students for the jobs of tomorrow.  No white knight for them just yet.  

Still, that's not the starkest contrast of the day.  For that one need only browse the AP wire.  

Highest unemployment rate in the nation.  Check.  Exodus of jobs and families?  Check.  Worst in the nation in personal bankruptcies and foreclosures?  Check.  Companies closing factories and slashing salaries for remaining employees in half?  Check.  

And that's exemplified as the Associated Press reports from Flint on employee reaction to the Delphi / UAW agreement.

"You talk about bittersweet," the 49-year-old Flint machinist said Monday after being briefed on the deal along with fellow workers at a union hall across from the Flint East manufacturing plant.

"The middle class is dead," Hill said.

But most newer workers interviewed after the briefing were thrilled with the deal, which preserves their jobs making instrument clusters, fuel pumps and other parts until at least 2015.

Tough times even for those who keep their jobs.  But times are so tough in the state that even tough times are something to be "thrilled" with.  Unless you're Mr. Hill.  

And as Rome burned...

Back on the Hill in DC our Michigan delegation continues to live up (or down) to expectations.  People are losing their jobs, leaving the state and getting their salaries slashed and one of our own is worried about whether or not a new cable network will keep you from watching Indiana play Northwestern in a laugher this fall.

In a graph only the hardest core of hard core college football fans could love the wire story opens with this:

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell said Monday he was concerned about the ability of fans to watch Big Ten sporting events on a new television network debuting this summer.

He said this, of course, at an official hearing in the United States Congress. On the clock. I'm as big a Big Ten fan as the next guy but this warrants Congressional attention?  With everything else happening in the world?  Energy and Commerce?  Shouldn't they be working on alternative fuels?  Calming fears over the Al Gore pandemic?  US Dependency on foreign oil?  

Dingell's worried about Big Ten cable TV?  

That officially cuts it for me.  All this time I never knew that fall football TV schedules were legitimate matters of national importance.  See, I'm a Denver Broncos fan and typically the Broncos get a couple national television games a year but with the advent of the NFL Network they've started snatching up games.  And son of a gun, the NFL Network isn't on basic cable.  I'm mad as heck and I'm not going to take it anymore.

I'm going to start drafting my formal complaint to the freaking United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee immediately.  Because this is important!  It deserves the full attention of the United States Government!  Thanks, Rep. Dingell, for helping me understand that.

Update [2007-6-26 8:58:39 by Nick]: Speaking of contrasts, Carol Cain at the FREEP caught up with Dick DeVos recently and has a story in today's edition discussing his immediate future.

He's back at work at Windquest building and selling closet organizing systems... still very much doing the whole manufacturing thing.

According to Cain:

He said he has signed a letter of intent to purchase a U.S. firm that makes similar organizing products. DeVos doesn't want to identify the company, but adds: "It will mean bringing more manufacturing jobs into Michigan."

"I joked on the campaign trail if you didn't want me as your governor, at least I could help you organize your closet," said DeVos, in what is believed to be his first interview since the election.

DeVos' competitive streak and high expectations for himself and his ventures are well known.

"I remember telling him one year about our plan to increase revenues by 35% for the coming year -- something most firms would be thrilled with," said Eric Wolff, president and chief operating officer of Windquest. "Dick carefully listened ... and then he said, 'OK, now tell me what we would need to do to increase it by 100%.' And we did."

Bringing more jobs to the state and succeeding as a Michigan manufacturer?

Jennifer Granholm may have won the election last fall but her opponent is still doing more to improve Michigan's economy than she's managed.

Telling, isn't it?