Innovation & Job News

NextEnergy helps bring wood-to-fuel plant to MI

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

Detroit-based NextEnergy played a key role in attracting Massachusetts-based Mascoma Corp. to build a wood-to-fuel plant in Michigan.

Alternative Energy , Sustainability

Detroit

Family-friendly social networking start-up lands VC, will hire 4

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

CircleBuilder is a Web 2.0 start-up that has raised $800,000 in venture capital funds and intends to hire four locally in sales, customer service and marketing positions.

Internet

Search engine marketing co. adds 2 to local staff

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

AQABA, a web company specializing in search engine marketing and optimization, has doubled its Sterling Heights staff to four.

Internet

Quietly, Gene Codes continues to grow after almost 20 years in the biz

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

Privately-held Gene Codes Corp. relies on sales of its proprietary software to fuel its growth, which has increased from less than 20 in 2001 to almost 50 today.

Biotechnology , Life Sciences , Software Design

Ann Arbor

Red Level expands services and staff, opens new Novi office

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

Red Level Networks, a full-service IT company, will officially celebrate the grand opening of its new Novi office on July 31, necessary because of the company's growth in both offerings and employees.

IT

Green Space: Ready, set, don't drive

Source: metromode, 7/26/2007

In this week's installment of metromode's weekly sustainability article Kelli B. Kavanaugh shares her thoughts on driving less.

Sustainability , Transit , Transportation

Ypsi logistics firm adds major client and an employee

Source: Ann Arbor Business Review, 7/26/2007

Specialize Global Logistics Services Inc., based out of Willow Run Airport, landed a contract to transport a part for the new Chrysler Sebring. The company also added one employee to its roster of 50.

Logistics , Manufacturing

Ypsilanti

Mopec credits lean manufacturing with growth, staff has doubled to 50 since 2004

Source: Oakland Business Review, 7/26/2007

Outsourcing what? Oak Park-based Mopec, a maker of medical and scientific equipment, has grown in revenue and staff size by adopting lean manufacturing techniques.

Healthcare , Manufacturing

United Solar Ovonic sells $108M of panels to Florida co.

Source: Great Lakes IT Report, 7/26/2007

United Solar Ovonic LLC has contracted with Florida-based Advanced Green Technologies Inc. for $108 million of photovoltaic products.

Alternative Energy , Green Building , Sustainability

New Guardian distribution center to employ 6 initially

Source: Ann Arbor Business Review, 7/26/2007

Guardian Automotive has opened a new distribution center for windshield parts in Plymouth Township, which will initially employ 6 with the potential to grow to 15.

Logistics , Manufacturing

Plymouth

Royal Oak's Bellyache sells nostalgic candy & Detroit music to the world

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

Not since "The Good Ship Lollypop" has candy and music converged so deliciously as with Royal Oak-based Bellyache Candyshoppe.

Internet , Music

Royal Oak , Berkley , Ferndale

Bottled water is so 1990's

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

One more piece of convenience is on its way out of fashion: the ubiquitous disposable water bottle. Kelli B. Kavanaugh tells you why the tap is back.

Sustainability

Franco PR nabs creative awards, will continue to add employees

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

Detroit-based Franco PR was just awarded three Hermes Creative Awards and has seen slow- but-steady growth of its staff to 20.

Detroit Riverfront Conservancy , GM Renaissance Center , PR/Marketing

Detroit

BASF adds 175 jobs to its Wyandotte operation

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

BASF is relocating 175 jobs from Wisconsin to its Wyandotte operations.

Investment , Manufacturing

Wyandotte

Christopher Coppola's PAH-FEST a convergence of digital media

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

Christopher Coppola -- he of the film family dynasty -- brings his all-things-digital PAH-FEST to Motown. It's a week-long multi-media event and its goal is simple: to forego the Hollywood system and enable average Joes and Jolenes to tell their stories.

Arts & Culture , Film , Higher Education

Detroit

Aastrom expands operations, expects to add more than a dozen positions

Source: metromode, 7/19/2007

Aastrom has expanded its operations to 30,000 square feet and has grown from 48 to 61 employees since 2005. Two of its tissue repair cell products are in the later phases of FDA-mandated clinical trials.

Life Sciences

Ann Arbor

Locally, green buildings on the rise

Source: MetroTimes, 7/19/2007

MetroTimes profiles several local green buildings, including the Student Services Center at Lawrence Technological University, Affirmations in Ferndale and the Kresge Foundation's Troy headquarters.

Alternative Energy , Architecture , Green Building , Sustainability

Rochester , Birmingham , Detroit , Ferndale

UM prof able to shrink lightwaves, could increase CD storage by 100x

Source: WWJ, 7/19/2007

Roberto Merlin, a physics professor at University of Michigan, has developed a formula that will remove wavelength limitations that currently restrict the amount of data that can be stored on CDs. He is now working to build the device that will carry out the task.

Higher Education

Ann Arbor

NJ-based communications tech company opens regional office in Novi

Source: Great Lakes IT Report, 7/19/2007

New Jersey-based Consultedge, Inc. -- an integrated communications firm specializing in IP Telephony, contact center/CRM, and messaging -- has opened a regional office in Novi.

IT

New Novi Nordstrom will employ 300

Source: Crain's Detroit Business, 7/19/2007

A new Nordstrom in Novi's Twelve Oaks Mall will begin hiring 300 employees on July 23.

Novi