The Michigan Humanities Council has awarded 13 public humanities projects with nearly $155,000 in grant money. The funding is supporting programs and exhibitions at museums, heritage festivals, research and publishing projects, theater programs, and other types of arts and culture programming in cities across Michigan. Find out what the 13 arts, cultural, and educational institutions plan to accomplish with the money. Recipients are spread out across the state in Sault Ste. Marie, Hancock, Marquette, Traverse City, Holland, Kalamazoo, Whitehall, Saginaw, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Dearborn, MI. The money will go a long way towards ensuring that these culturally enriching projects succeed and fulfill their potential.

Also, the Arts & Humanities Touring Program is accepting grant applications for traveling exhibits and performances happening until September 30, 2010. The award supports “touring performers, artists, exhibitors, and humanities presenters listed in Michigan's 2009-2012 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory,” an online directory offered by the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Eligible applicants include “any Michigan nonprofit organization, institution, school, library, museum, chamber, association, or local government agency” that is “the sponsoring organization,” according to the program’s website. Grant applications will be accepted through September 2, 2010.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

Environmental consciousness and the desire to harness the power of the sun aren't new ideas - solar power was available to consumers in the 1950‘s - but the initial effort to go solar in America pretty much tanked. Solar power was too expensive for the average home or business owner.

There’s good news for people ready to make solar power really happen. In Michigan, people who purchase solar panels can take advantage of so many different rebates, incentives, and federal tax credits that the cost of going solar just melts away. What was once outside the reach of the average consumer has become, well, relatively cheap.

You may have heard the news that solar panels are more affordable now. Have you taken the time to consider if they would work for your home or business? There are a number of websites out there that give you the skinny on how to get a lot of your money back. DsireUSA is a database of incentives by state with links to information about federal tax credits and options in Michigan. You can link to Michigan’s Department of Energy Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) for another set of links. Don’t forget about DTE Energy’s Solar Currents program, which will save you loads of cash.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info