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Oakland County Exceeds Economic Forecast, Projects Continued Growth

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University of Michigan Economists, Donald Grimes and Dr. Gabriel Ehrlich, address the media in a press conference with Oakland County Executive, L. Brooks Patterson.

Good news dominated both reports and forecasts at last Thursday’s 32nd Economic Outlook Luncheon.

The Luncheon, held at the Marriott Hotel in Troy, featured keynote addresses from two University of Michigan Economists: Dr. Gabriel Ehrlich and Dr. Donald Grimes. Ehrlich and Grimes co-authored this year’s Economic Outlook Summary, which compiled highly-detailed data on job growth, population trends, and economic forecasts as far ahead as 2019.

According to the report, Oakland County has added an average of 15,771 jobs per year since 2009. In 2016, in-county employers added 16,475 new jobs, an overall increase of 2.3%. 2016’s growth rate surpassed the numbers for both 2014 and 2015, which saw increases of 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively. Continue reading →

2017 NO HAZ Collection Days

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Now that spring has sprung and Earth Day is on the way, it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning. Let Oakland County’s NO HAZ Collection team help you safely dispose of household hazardous materials ranging from air fresheners and artist paints to propane cylinders and prescription medicines.

You’d be surprised just how many everyday items are considered hazardous waste. Many of the objects that help us in our daily lives become dangerous when disposed of alongside regular rubbish. Do you have an item you’re unsure about? Check NO HAZ’s list of accepted and non-accepted materials or call the NO HAZ Hotline at 248-858-5656.

Continue reading →

Buying Local: Brews and Beyond

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Do you love buying local as much as we do? If so, you’ve likely heard that Oakland County’s entrepreneur-focused economy is a great place to buy anything from organic juice to electric cars.

For residents over 21, there’s another fun way to buy local. Oakland County is home to over 35 independently run breweries, distilleries, meaderies, and wineries. Together, they help propel Michigan to its national top-10 slot in number of craft beer barrels produced per year (over a whopping 769,000).

So if you’re looking for a place to fill your growler, there’s plenty to go around. Cheers! Continue reading →

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, 2017

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St. Patrick's Day parade participants walking in Royal Oak.

St. Patrick’s Day may not be until March 17th, but communities in and around Oakland County are already gearing up for the festivities. From live music, dances, and theatrical productions – to hearty meals, races, and parades – there’s a St. Patrick’s Day event for everyone! So whether or not you trace your ancestry back to the emerald isle, remember that everyone’s a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

Use our list of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in and around Oakland County to make the most out of this special day!

Who was St. Patrick?

  • St. Patrick was originally born in England, and was kidnapped by Irish pirates where he was sold into slavery. After his escape from bondage he became a missionary in Ireland.
  • A hero in Ireland, there are 60 churches and cathedrals named “St. Patrick’s,” with the most famous being in Dublin.
  • The wearing of green is associated with the green hills and shamrocks of the Emerald Isle, although traditionally the color blue was associated with St. Patrick.
  • The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in New York, but the first observance of the day was in 1737 by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston.
  • In 1996 the first St. Patrick’s Day Festival was held in Ireland as a three-day event, that has since grown to a five day festival that draws roughly 1 million visitors to the area.

Parade marchers sitting on the back of an old model T.

St. Patrick’s Day in Michigan

In Michigan, the largest wave of Irish immigrants came in 1815 when one million Irish Catholics settled in the Detroit area. Today’s festivities commemorate St. Patrick with parades and merrymaking, celebrating Irish heritage in Southeast Michigan and the contributions they made to the American cultural landscape.

Think your family can be traced back to the early Irish settlers of the area? Find a record of your ancestors at the Archives of Michigan to discover more about your family history.

Visit the Oakland County website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more news and fun year round.