BIRMINGHAM, MI-Three Detroit area franchises, in Clinton Township, Farmington Hills and Westland, are among the first to get a new look as part of a new national re-positioning effort.

FLINT, MI-Mayor Don Williamson drops his threat to take the city out of the Flint-Genesee Economic Growth Alliance, and the city agrees to pay $220,000 to help fund the $1.5-million budget.

AUBURN HILLS, MI-The 22,076-seat Palace of Auburn Hills may be getting a $20-million makeover, which could include new restaurants, suites and a banquet facility.

FLINT, MI-After a record year in terms of passengers carried, a new ticket counter area is among the expansions in the works at Bishop International Airport.

BRIGHTON, MI-McDonald's will lease 13,000 sf of space in the Stone-Ridge Office Center, being built by Corrigan Construction Co., for its new regional headquarters. It considers the Paramount Industrial Park a more central location than its current Southfield headquarters.

LANSING, MI-The proposed $100-million Romulus racino is one of four that remains in limbo with the departure of state racing commissioner Robert Geake, whose replacement is not likely to be immediately named.

SAGINAW, MI-A 48,000-sf mixed-use building at the corner of Court Street and Michigan Avenue as well as improvements to a supermarket at 1122 E. Genesee win public grant money.

BIRMINGHAM, MI-The real estate development firm and construction company moves to larger location, in a 50,000-sf building it acquired this summer from Dart Properties.