Johnson Controls moved an automotive trim manufacturing facility and 300 employees into 235,000 square feet at the Interchange West Business Center in Van Buren Township. According to a company spokesperson, JCI’s automotive trim operation was moved in late September from another JCI site in Warren.

All Big Boy Restaurants in Michigan will be accepting unserviceable (worn) flags beginning Veterans Day, Nov. 11, indefinitely. Big Boy restaurants will hold the flags for safekeeping then give them to a local American Legion representative who will burn the flags on June 14, Flag Day. Each year, tens of thousands of flags are disposed of in this manner in the United States.

For those who wish to dispose of their own flag should follow these guidelines provided by the Department of Michigan Veterans of Foreign Wars:

• Fold the flag in customary manner.
• Fire should be sizable and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.
• Place the flag on the fire.
• Individuals can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance or have a moment of silence.
• After the flag is consumed, extinguish the fire and bury its ashes.
• Conform to local and state fire codes and ordinances.

Headquartered in Warren, Mich., Big Boy Restaurants International LLC is the exclusive worldwide franchiser of more than 455 Big Boy Restaurants in the United States and Japan. For more information, visit www.bigboy.com.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm joined Visteon executives, union representatives and local officials to celebrate the installation of the final steel beam in Visteon Corp.’s 1-million square-foot corporate office and innovation center in Van Buren Township Oct. 15. The center is set to open in the second half of 2004. The project will result in the retention of 3,400 existing jobs and is expected to create up to 808 new jobs for Michigan workers over the next 13 years, including 475 directly by the company. "My mission for Michigan is to make our state a magnet state for high-tech business and job growth," Granholm said. "Visteon Village is proof positive that Michigan is retaining, creating and growing tech-driven jobs." An incentive package offered by the MEDC in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Van Buren Township helped to facilitate the new center. Visteon had considered locating it in Toledo but decided on Michigan because of cost saving provided by the incentives. The MEDC offered a Single Business Tax Credit valued at $15.7 million over the course of 13 years, and Van Buren Township offered a $31 million tax abatement. The M-DOT provided $5 million from its Economic Development Transportation Fund for road improvements needed to facilitate the project. The entire incentive package, including site search activities, totaled more than $65.5 million. According to an economic analysis conducted by the University of Michigan, it is estimated Visteon’s new facility will generate a total of 808 jobs in the state by the year 2016, including 475 directly by the company and 333 indirectly as a result of increased economic activity associated with the expansion. Total net state government revenues are expected to increase by $50.5 million as a result of the project.

The Belleville Business and Professional Women’s Club will join millions nationwide Saturday for Make a Difference Day. For the eighth year, the BPW will help others have better lives. As in previous years, they will prepare health kits to be delivered to an abused women’s center. The group urges other organizations and individuals to become involved in this project. For more information, call Joyce Rochowiak at 1-734-697-7108.

The Belleville Business and Professional Women’s Organization chose Janet Millard, director of the Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce, as its Woman of the Year.

Casino’s Pizza & Saloon recently opened at 19350 Sumpter Road in Sumpter Township. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 1-734-699-6100.

Ten free autumn classic trees will be given to each person who joins the National Arbor Day Foundation this month. The free trees are part of the nonprofit foundation’s Trees for America Campaign. Trees given include sugar maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums, red oaks, white dogwoods, silver maples, Washington hawthorns and red maples. The trees will be shipped post-paid at the right time for planting Nov. 1 and Dec. 10 with planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. To receive the free trees, send a $10 membership fee to Autumn Classic Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave. Nebraska City, NE. 68410 by Oct. 31. For more information, call John Rosenow or Gary Brienzo at 1-402-474-5655.

The Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual pancake breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. Dec. 6 in the Belleville High School cafeteria. The cost is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children under the age of 12. The chamber’s annual Christmas parade will begin after the breakfast at 11 a.m. in the Belleville High School parking lot. This year’s theme is "Christmas Peace Around the World." The parade will travel east on West Columbia Avenue, north on Main Street and west on Roys Street. Staging will begin at 9 a.m.; entry judging will be held at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 1-734-697-7151.

The Belleville Business and Professional Women’s Club is collecting used and new children’s books to donate to local organizations, churches and families at Christmas. Donations are being accepted at Main Street Flowers, 210 Main St. in Belleville. For more information, call Jane Vesche at 1-734-697-7400.

Have you been promoted? Is your business holding a grand opening? Call The View at 1-734-697-8255 with your tips about what’s new in the local business world.