March 7, 2005 -First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern today announced the State of Michigan has teamed with Crain’s Detroit Business and the American Society of Employers to launch the “Cool Places to Work” Competition. This program recognizes Michigan organizations that have created a work environment that allows people to thrive.

“I urge people who work for cool employers to nominate them and give them well-deserved recognition,” Mulhern said. “This competition is part of our overall effort to promote great workplaces throughout Michigan. We want to find and recognize organizations that provide supportive environments where employees are able to be creative, productive and do great work.  These cool workplaces will help Michigan attract and retain the skilled, creative, talented people we must have to compete in today’s fast-pace, highly-competitive global economy.”

The Cool Places to Work Competition is divided into two phases. In phase one, employees who work for any Michigan business can nominate their company using an online form available at www.crainsdetroit.com

“Asking employees to nominate their companies gets to heart of working for a cool company and really sets this competition apart from other efforts that recognize great workplaces,” said Mary Kramer, Associate Publisher and Editor, Crain’s Detroit Business. “Since 1999 Crain’s has been instrumental in identifying the top places to work in Southeast Michigan.  This reengineered competition gives the entire state an opportunity to showcase its best companies.”

In phase two, each nominated company will be contacted and asked to submit information on its policies and practices that will help determine if it is one of Michigan’s Cool Places to Work.  The criteria for being chosen as a Cool Place to Work was developed by benchmarking the latest information and best practices on great places to work.

The American Society of Employers, a one-stop-shopping member organization for human resources, is helping develop the questionnaire and process for the statewide 2005 Cool Places to Work Competition.

Selected companies will be recognized in a special edition of Crain’s Detroit Business August 29 and also will be invited to an awards event in September.  Winning companies will have “bragging rights” and can highlight their “Cool Places” award with a special banner and logo in their marketing materials and advertising throughout the year.

“We already have great workplaces in Michigan,” said Mulhern. “Five companies recently made Fortune magazine’s ’Best Companies to Work’ list. That’s terrific, but we know there are many more out there. By identifying and recognizing these employers and illustrating what they have done to create a great work environment, we will inspire more companies to become great, cool workplaces.”

For more information about the 2005 Cool Places to Work Competition log on to www.crainsdetroit.com.