Michigan's Special Ops
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/29/2008
Atten-hut! There's no camouflaging it – southeast Michigan is a bustling base of operations for businesses supplying all branches of the armed forces. Meet robot simulators, holographic weapon sights, and a fuel cell innovator on Metromode's first tour of duty.
Tech Banking In SE Michigan
By: Leia Menlove, 5/29/2008
New economy start-ups need banks that offer new economy know-how. Enter Bank of Ann Arbor's Technology Industry Group, the only program of its kind in Michigan. Modeled after the ground-breaking Silicon Valley Bank, it supports local emerging technologies and entrepreneurs in ways corporate banking giants can't.
A Growing Concern
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/22/2008
Toss that bag of Funyuns. Instead, grow some real onions! Area agriculture gurus offer up some sage advice on how and why Michigan's second largest industry should get its fair share of attention.
Driven To The Brink
By: David Holthaus, 5/22/2008
A new study finds that while the value of suburban homes is dropping, urban home values are appreciating. CEOs for Cities, which advocates for revitalizing our core urban areas, just released a white paper that links plummeting suburban home values to the spike in gasoline prices. Yet another reason to invest in SE Michigan's downtowns.
The Business Of Giving
By: Lucy Ament, 5/15/2008
For good or bad, the days of no strings attached donations are fading into the sunset. There's a new 'value-added' approach to philanthropy and non-profits who know how to appeal to the needs of corporate donors are yielding the lion's share of financial support.
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
By: Jeff Meyers, 5/15/2008
Once upon a time, Detroit's auto industry was founded on the visions of its leaders and the risks investors made supporting them. So, where do promising new local companies go today to raise the funds they need? For 27 years the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium has helped provide an answer. The annual two-day event starts today in Ypsilanti. Could it provide the missing link to Michigan's economic evolution?
Hollywood Rentals
By: Jon Zemke, 5/14/2008
The need for quality rental units goes beyond new urbanist ideals. It also means dollars where you least expect them. Michigan just passed one of the most ambitious film incentive packages in the nation. Hollywood's come calling. And guess what they're looking for? Modern rentals in walkable downtown settings.
Cooley Law School's New Campus: A Candid Q&A
By: Jon Zemke, 5/8/2008
Not only is Cooley Law School bringing Oakland and Macomb County (combined pop: 2 million residents) its first law school, it's also created a 'green'-minded campus for its students. Now comes the hard part: convincing its graduating professionals to stay in Michigan. Metromode asks how they intend to do this, and other tough questions.
Information Evolution
By: Tanya Muzumdar, 5/8/2008
Computer science + design + social science = Innovation. Concentrate checks out the student projects at the University of Michigan's School of Information and witnesses the next evolutionary stage in information technology.
RetroGeeks Revitalize Downtown Dearborn
By: Terry Parris, Jr., 5/1/2008
The difference between just selling stuff and building a community is loving what you do and where you work. For the owners of Green Brain Comics and Stormy Records, being a part of Dearborn's downtown is a vital component to their success.
The Power Of The Purse
By: Maureen McDonald, 5/1/2008
As southeast Michigan attracts more and more women into business leadership roles, the focus of corporate sponsorships and charitable fundraising takes on a decidely 'pink' perspective. Case in point: the Women's Power Breakfast, which not only supports community food banks but provides professional women with a unique networking opportunity.