Innovation & Job News

S3 Entertainment Group creates $10 million financing fund for film

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

The credit crunch may be threatening the local auto industry but it's creating opportunity for at least one local film-industry firm. S3 Entertainment Group has created a $10 million financing fund for film productions in Michigan called, surprise, Michigan Film Finance.

The idea is to help filmmakers in need of financing for their projects with the expectation of double-digit returns. So far the Ferndale-based firm is the only company in Michigan providing such financing for filmmakers to take advantage of Michigan's film incentives. S3 is also working with other lenders to originate, process and disburse loans for productions.

The money can be used for a broad range of needs, such as renting film equipment. S3 supplies numerous production services and equipment to filmmakers. It has worked on a number of major films shot locally, such as Gran Torino, The Butterfly Effect 3, Whip It! and Youth in Revolt.

S3's business has taken off since Michigan approved its film incentives. It cuts paychecks to seven people and its subsidiaries employ about 80 more. The plan is to extend its employee base to 200 people by handling 15-20 major films per year.

Source: Meghan Edwards, spokeswoman for S3 Entertainment Group
Writer: Jon Zemke

Film , Investment , Oakland County

Ferndale

Cast & Crew Payroll opens new office in Ferndale

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

More and more of California is moving to Michigan to take advantage of the state's generous film incentives.

The latest Cali-based business to set up shop is Cast & Crew Payroll, which just opened an office in Ferndale's Zicor Building. The 2,400-square-foot space in the building on Hilton currently has one person in it.

Cast & Crew Payroll is based in Burbank, California, but has offices throughout the U.S. It handled payroll for major film and TV productions.

Source: Jennifer Roosenberg, marketing and communications manager for GVA Detroit, which owns the Zicor Building
Writer: Jon Zemke

Film , Oakland County

Ferndale

Motor City Interactive moves to downtown Brighton, expands staff

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

Motor City Interactive is moving on up to the far west side. The Internet marketing company has moved its headquarters to the heart of downtown Brighton to give its expanded staff more room to expand.

The company has grown to five people since its founding in 2001. It expects to add another two employees early next year.

"That's 40 percent growth, which is pretty significant," says Patrick McLaughlin, spokesman for Motor City Interactive.

Motor City Interactive provides digital and Internet-based services, ranging from email marketing campaigns to search-engine optimization strategies. The firm is currently focusing on its "Help You Build" program, which teaches small businesses how to design and create websites.

Among the company's clients are developer Schostak Brothers, HoMedics (a personal care product company) and KissAutoAuction.com.

Source: Patrick McLaughlin, spokesman for Motor City Interactive
Writer: Jon Zemke

Internet , PR/Marketing

Metal Imagination turns hobby biz into rapidly growing firm

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

Vladimir Gendelman had anything but high expectations for Metal Imagination when he started the metal sculpture website 18 months ago.

The serial entrepreneur already had a number of other businesses working for him, ranging from a graphic design company to an Internet marketing firm. Metal Imagination was going to be more of a hobby, selling items he enjoyed.

"I didn’t think it would make it big," Gendelman says. "I was going to do it just for fun."

The Keego Harbor-based business is a lot of fun this year as sales have spiked. The company sells H & K Metal Sculptures, such as wine gifts.

Sales are up 2,000 percent from last year. That has allowed Gendelman to expand his staff from just himself to four people and an independent contractor. He expects business to triple again next year and add another 2-3 people over that same time.

Most of this success has come from search engine optimization, meaning he generates a lot of his sales from people finding his site through things like Google searches. As Metal Imagination gains more traffic, he expects it to become more popular and surface higher on searches.

"It turned out to be way crazier than I expected," Gendelman says.

Source: Vladimir Gendelman, president of Metal Imagination
Writer: Jon Zemke

Entrepreneurship , Internet , Oakland County , PR/Marketing

U-M Dearborn Prof's book on gospel music makes notable books list

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

When people mention music in the Motor City, a number of images come to mind, ranging from Motown supergroups to sonic thrash of The White Stripes' garage rock to Eminem's fist-pumping hip-hop.

The white (or purple) robes of gospel aren't usually one of musical images associated with the Motor City, but it has been a underrated and all-too-important cog in Michigan's long-time thriving music scene. A new book by a University of Michigan-Dearborn professor dives into that genre and its impact both locally and nationally.

U-M Dearborn English Prof. Deborah Smith Pollard wrote "When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music," which has been named one of this year’s 20 "Michigan Notable Books" by the Library of Michigan.

The book is a collection of essays on topics in gospel music, including praise and worship and the clothing worn by gospel artists. It made the Library of Michigan's annual list because of detail of the state's cultural heritage in gospel music. It's a subject Pollard is well acquainted with since she is the gospel music program on Detroit radio station WJLB-FM.

Source: University of Michigan-Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke

Arts & Culture , Music , University Of Michigan - Dearborn , Wayne County

Dearborn

GREEN SPACE: Holiday tips and tricks

Source: metromode, 12/18/2008

Around this time of year, the stress meter rachets up -- and so can the green guilt. Every trip out to a holiday gathering, excursion to the mall or large box shipped by UPS grows your carbon footprint exorbitantly, especially as compared to the rest of the year.

I drove as much Thanksgiving weekend as I had the entire rest of November. It's awful.

So how to tone that down? Last year, Green Space delved into the Three R's, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and I'd invite you to check out those ideas -- they still ring true in 2008.

But there is a major change for this holiday season as opposed to last: more and more people are watching their wallets. In the spirit of the economy and the environment, then, let's look at a few ideas that celebrate giving and saving.

Gift of time. Who can be more broke than a kid? I remember making gift certificates for family members for hugs and small chores like weeding. Give a grown-up version for Christmas this year: babysitting for your sister and her husband, a formal dinner party (cooked with locally grown-food, of course) for your closest friends or dog-walking services once a week for a good neighbor that's getting up there in age.

Similarly, tickets to a game or a show with your parents create memories that a blender or necktie can never match.

Environmentally-thoughtful gifts. Green Space has talked about 41 Pounds before, and we'll probably do it again -- they're a locally-based company with a great concept. It's simple, you pay them $41 and they get all your junk mail stopped for five years -- an estimated 41 pounds a year. So why not purchase the service for a loved one?

Here's another idea: buy someone you know that is trying to eat locally and healthily a subscription to an organic community-supported agriculture farm. They'll get fresh produce once a week from June to November -- and probably repay you with fabulous meals. Check out Maple Creek Farms, which has been at this for 15 years in the Thumb area.

It's funny, but the embodiment of saving often goes hand in hand with environmental consciousness. And that's a wonderful thought to take into the new year.

On that note, Green Space wishes you a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2009.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Sustainability

$7 million to fuel energy efficient bus manufacturer

Source: Metromode, 12/18/2008

Start-up lightweight hybrid bus manufacturer, Fisher Coachworks, will invest $7 million in three Michigan-based manufacturing facilities and create more than 500 Michigan-based jobs.

The first 50,000 square foot “pilot” facility will be located in Livonia. Two more facilities are expected to come on-line within the next couple of years.

"The thing that really drove us to stay here was the investors, our advisers and the supply base," says Fisher Coachworks Founder and CEO Gregory Fisher.

Fisher Coachworks manufactures hybrid buses that get 10 miles a gallon. Most hybrid bus systems claim 4.5 miles a gallon, Fisher says. An average city bus gets a measly 3 miles a gallon.

"Initially we want to get these to Detroit, Lansing — the Michigan area," Fisher says. "Then to New York and the entire country."

This mass transit hybrid will have a positive impact on the transit system, but will also create jobs — 539, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

The MEGA board recently approved an $11.3 million state tax credit for Fisher Coachworks. Fisher Coachworks was also considering a location in Tennessee.

Source: Gregory Fisher, Fisher Coachworks
Writer: Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Lansing's Capital Gains and can be reached here.

Advanced Engineering , Alternative Energy , Transportation

Global Wind Systems investing $32.3 million in new Novi facility

Source: Metromode, 12/18/2008

Global Wind Systems is getting a $32.3 million start in Michigan, a five-year investment that positions the wind turbine system manufacturer to be one of the state’s leading alternative energy manufacturers.

"Michigan has the best manufacturing base in North America," says Global Wind Systems President and CEO Chris Long. “No one on this side of the arena can do what we want to do here in Michigan.”

Long and his team were courted by at least 12 other states, but stayed in the region, hoping to capitalize on the region’s abundance of trained auto manufacturing and aerospace talent.

"We’ll create about 350 assembly jobs initially, but thousands of manufacturing-based jobs will be created as a result of this investment," Long says.

A $7.3 million tax credit over nine years handed down by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) MEGA board reinforced Long’s commitment to stay in Michigan.

Global Wind Systems will need more than 2 million square feet of space over the next five years to accommodate parts production. Global Wind Systems will be headquartered in Novi.

The company is expected to sell 39 units a year at a cost of $2.2 million to $2.4 million a year. Production will start in 2009.

"That will open up Michigan to the wind market," Long says.

Source: Chris Long, Global Wind Systems
Writer: Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Lansing's Capital Gains and can be reached here.