The economic development agencies that make up the Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan helped bring more than $1 billion in investment to Metro Detroit in 2008, according to a report from Detroit Renaissance.

The coalition is made up of agencies like Ann Arbor SPARK and TechTown, which assisted 1,200 companies create 19,688 jobs last year through 183 projects. Automation Alley helped 24 companies to spur $9 million in investment and add 150 new jobs, thanks to $4.5 million of cash infusions.

"The water is not out of the tub in Southeast Michigan yet," says Kenneth Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley. "There is a heart beat here. There is still business going on in Southeast Michigan."

Source: Roger Curtis, executive director of Automation Alley
Writer: Jon Zemke

The money from all of those MacBooks, iPods and iPhones you see in coffee shops and classrooms isn't just going into Steve Jobs' pockets. Macprofessionals is getting its fair share and then some.

The Novi-based firm got its start in 2000, providing support for the growing contingent of Mac users. Today it employs 53 people and about 8-10 independent contractors on a consistent basis. That's up from 43 employees at the beginning of the year and it expects to hire up to five more people by year-end.

The firm, which is currently on the Edward Lowe Foundation's Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list, also recorded 25 percent revenue growth last year and expects to post a similar number next year.

"It's been growth year after year," says Maria Eby, finance controller for Macprofessionals. "A lot of companies are coming to us now."

It has been riding the Mac popularity wave and its own wave of good word-of-mouth marketing. Macprofessionals plans to focus on education this year as more schools get federal funding to provide computers and other electronics.

Source: Maria Eby, finance controller for Macprofessionals
Writer: Jon Zemke

Downtown Royal Oak is known for its boutiques but few have as many unique aspects as Burn Rubber.

The small business is more than a shoe store, it's a sneaker boutique. Customers don't come in to buy shoes. Sneakerheads spend days in line Star Wars-style to buy kicks that double as art and status symbols.

"We sell a lifestyle," says Roland Coit, co-owner of Burn Rubber. "It's more about being your own person. Most of the stuff we have they only make 1,000 pairs or 500, or even less, and they sell out fast. It's a lifestyle of exclusivity."

It explains why Coit and his partner Rick Williams need only 480 square feet of space and six people to do business. It's unnecessary to have a large retail floor for shoes that come in short supply, like Nike Air Yeezys (Kanye West's shoe) and Clark Kent Air Force 1s.

These shoes are often made of expensive leather and horse hair. It explains why prices can get into the $300s for a pair or even higher. Coit and Williams even know where to point people who are looking for personalized shoes with graffiti-like art.

"That makes a shoe that much more limited," Coit says. "It makes it one of a kind."

Source: Roland Coit, co-owner of Burn Rubber
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ever wonder what makes the vehicles and robots in the U.S. military go? DRIVE Developments does.

The Sterling Heights-based firm specializes in diagnostics and controls for those types of vehicles. The company has turned this into a business with about a dozen people, up from just one person when it started three years ago. It has already hired two more so far this year.

"We're looking at doubling the size of our staff within the next year," says Larry Osentoski, CEO and founder of DRIVE Developments.

It has been able to do that by expanding its client base into different agencies in the U.S. Department of Defense. It expects to continue this in the near future as it develops new products.

"We're developing a lot of new technologies that we expect to present to the military for funding," Osentoski says.

Source: Larry Osentoski, CEO and founder of DRIVE Developments
Writer: Jon Zemke

What was once JADI is turning into iTrack, taking in a nice tax incentive and planning to begin a big growth move next year.

"We are projected to grow to 25-30 people within five years," says Jerry Atkinson, CEO of iTrack.

The robotics firm got its start in Troy as JADI in 2004. It made the jump to Oakland University's SmartZone Business Incubator (OU INCubator) last year with the help of $250,000 from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund.

The company is working with a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Defense grant to develop a system that will allow people to track and control an autonomous robotic vehicle, like NASA's Mars Rover. Options are also being explored on the commercial market.

It made the change to iTrack earlier this year when it joined Oakland County's Emerging Sectors Program. It also formed a partnership that brought in a large state tax incentive to finish product development by next year. When that happens, it plans to leave the incubator and set up shop in Auburn Hills.

Source: Jerry Atkinson, CEO of iTrack
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland University wants to see more of its students getting their professional feet wet at local businesses. But the Rochester-based school doesn't sees it as a one-sided proposition. 

OU is starting a free workshop on creating an internship program for local businesses through Automation Alley. The workshop will cover the benefits companies enjoy by having interns. Those incentives range from lower costs to bringing in creative young people with fresh ideas.

"It's a win-win situation for both the employer and the students," says Michael Stromayer, job locator developer coordinator for Oakland University.

It will also show businesses how to find, process and treat an intern. The workshop will also detail how (in)expensive it is to keep an intern around to help out with work.

"It doesn’t cost a lot of money," Stromayer says. "A lot of internships are unpaid."

The all-day workshop is set for July 7 at Automation Alley's headquarters in Troy. For information, call (248) 370-3250 or click here.

Source: Michael Stromayer, job locator developer coordinator for Oakland University
Writer: Jon Zemke

Three workshops to be held over multiple dates throughout the summer will be designed to explain to business owners and nonprofits how to green their buildings, improve energy efficiency and -- perhaps most importantly -- finance their projects.

Here's the deets.

The intro class "Go Green to Improve Your Bottom Line" is free of charge and is intended as an overview of energy efficiency and green building principles and an explanation of the triple bottom line. It will be held twice in Detroit: June 23 at Hannan House (4740 Woodward) and July 1 at Sts. Peter & Paul (3700 Gilbert). Both take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Both of the other classes cost $25 apiece, but you can save $10 if you register for all three.

The second is called "Re-Energize Buildings, Systems and Behaviors". The focus is on planning the steps necessary to make significant energy changes in a building and, accordingly, evaluation tools will be presented. Dates are July 7 at Hannan House and July 8 at Sts. Peter & Paul.

The final class, "Financing Your Green Project', will be held July 21 at Hannan House and July 22 at Sts. Peter & Paul.

All classes take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

The classes are presented by WARM Training Center and Rebuild Michigan. Host organizations include Michigan Avenue Business Association, Greater Corktown Development Corporation, Southwest Detroit Business Association, and the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation.

Register online at www.warmtraining.org.

Source: Dian Van Buren Jones, WARM Training
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

It might not be pretty and it might not be ideal, but the Russell Industrial Center has become home to hundreds of businesses in Detroit.

Excerpt:

Small businesses continue to flock to the Russell Industrial Center and Bazaar, making the old Rustbelt factory turned creative enclave arguably the most successful business incubator in Michigan.  

Today more than 285 fledgling firms call the structure home. Six new tenants joined the complex in May, including a photographer, artist and lighting company. So far another four have signed up for space in June, including a web and graphic design firms.

The Russell Bazaar, a flea-market-style retail center, continues to attract more clients, too. Occupied by independent retailers, the Bazaar's tenants range from clothing makers to computer repair shops. With 125 businesses, it is now 70 percent full and continues to grow.

"We're seeing people coming in asking for more square footage," says Eric Novak, the Russell Industrial Center's leasing agent, adding that recent square footage requests he has seen have started at 10,000 square feet and up.

Read the rest of the story here.

Just because some of Ann Arbor's young talent leaves doesn't mean it doesn't come back and create jobs.

Excerpt:

HookLogic opened its new Ann Arbor office with three people about a year ago. Today that office employs 13 people and a few interns and expects to hire another 2-5 people this year.

That shouldn't cause too much of a surprise. Most of the New York-based firm got its start at a few software development firms in Ann Arbor at the height of the tech bubble about a decade ago. After the tech bubble burst those people moved to New York and started HookLogic before coming back to drink from the Ann Arbor talent pool.

"There is a lot of great talent in this city," says Gary Evans, general manager of HookLogic's Ann Arbor office. "We can get it a lot more reasonably priced here than we can in Manhattan."

Read the rest of the story here.

Business incubators and co-working spaces are popping up like dandelions in Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

"What about a place for the kids?" is a statement sure to make most eyes roll, but a group of University of Michigan students are dead serious about such a subject when it comes to business incubators.

These young adults know about Ann Arbor SPARK and co-working spaces in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, but they want their own home geared toward their needs. So instead of waiting for the grownups to get their act together, these kids decided to create their own – TechArb.

"The needs (that places like Ann Arbor SPARK cater toward) didn't necessarily cater to students," says Jason Bornhorst, an organizer behind TechArb. "The needs of students are definitely different than someone who has graduated."

Read the rest of the story here.

A trio of generous tax incentives approved by the state on Tuesday are expected to help create 209 jobs and retain hundreds more in Metro Detroit.

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved tax breaks to Webasto Roof Systems, Ralco Industries and RS Technologies Acquisition Corp. These breaks range from a 50 percent to 100 percent retention of employment tax credit over seven years. Another 70 percent high-technology employment tax credit over seven years was involved, too.

Auburn Hills-based Ralco Industries plans to move to a bigger facility in Pontiac, which will serve as its corporate and manufacturing headquarters, to accommodate its rapid growth. The supplier of welded assemblies and metal stampings plans to invest $6.8 million in this expansion and hire 108 new people on top of the 50 it already employs.

"The talent here is exceptional and readily available, but that's not new news," says Tom Gitter CEO of Ralco Industries.

Webasto Roof Systems is the largest North American supplier of sunroof and panorama roof systems for automobiles. It plans to consolidate its operations in Metro Detroit, where it employs 490 people in Rochester Hills, Livonia, and Fenton. That means three new assembly lines in Rochester Hills and 61 new jobs as part of the $3.6 million investment.

"We have an existing, long established employee base here and we'd like to retain that," says Ted Zimbo, CEO of Webasto.

Last but not least is RS Technologies Acquisition Corp. The high-tech manufacturing firm plans to invest $1.7 million in Farmington Hills, while creating 41 new jobs. It already employs six people in Metro Detroit. The company's products range from portable battery powered systems to automated laboratory systems.

Source: Tom Gitter, CEO of Ralco Industries and Ted Zimbo, CEO of Webasto
Writer: Jon Zemke and Ivy Hughes

When it comes to making the best use of interns, Metro Detroit firms should pay attention to Gongos Research.

The Auburn Hills-based company has hired four interns since the start of 2008, including one of its two hires so far this year. Those interns make up some of the 21 people the company has hired since January of last year. It has expanded its payroll from 75 people last summer to 80 this year.

Gongos Research conducts consumer research for businesses of all sizes, including the big boys like Domino's Pizza and GM. One of the ways it does this through polls, surveys and dialogues within consumer online research communities. That information helps tailor ad campaigns, new products, or even menu items.

"What we have seen is more clients looking for more ways to conduct traditional research within online communities," says Greg Heist, director of research innovation & technology at Gongos Research.

But the company sees that mindset changing this summer, enough that it expects its new clients to grow their workload as things get back to normal. Moving forward, its new products, like iCommunities, are expected to spur even more business.

"We've already laid the ground work to make that happen," Heist says.

Source: Greg Heist, director of research innovation & technology at Gongos Research
Writer: Jon Zemke

The film industry incentives are spinning out in a number of different ways, with Specs Howard School feeling the latest vibrations.

The Southfield-based broadcasting school is offering classes focusing on teaching how to best take advantage of the emerging film industry. The Specs Howard On Location classes will be held in a new Studio Center motion picture production complex in Farmington Hills. 

The courses will cover everything from basic education on movie making to editing films. Each class runs about two months and is meant to convey a comprehensive view of what is expected of employees in the film industry.

"We're thinking of it as a graduate course, almost," says Lisa Zahodne, president of Specs Howard School. "A lot of our graduates are interested in this."

The classes will cover both the macro view of the film industry and micro level of specific areas, such as editing and camera work. Instructors include people who have worked on independent films, at major television stations, and won major awards, such as Emmys.

Specs Howard School is looking at expanding this into its full-time curriculum in the near future. The idea is that the new movie incentives aren't going anywhere, and will promise to create a lot of new jobs Metro Detroiters may not be all that familiar with.

"We see this as here and here to stay," Zahodne says.

Source: Lisa Zahodne, president of Specs Howard School
Writer: Jon Zemke

A couple of significant investment firms in Oakland County have become joined at the hip and expect to grow through the new merger.

Bloomfield Hills-based Planning Alternatives and Southfield-based Oakland Wealth Management combined forces earlier this month. Planning Alternatives is the been-around-the-block player, serving Metro Detroit for 27 years. Oakland Wealth Management is the new kid on the block that's enjoying a rapid growth spurt, according to the combined firms' new managing partner, Nathan Mersereau.

"It will build confidence that this firm will be around for a very long time," Mersereau says.

What is now Planning Alternatives employs 15 people. Mersereau expects to hire more in the near future as the new firm capitalizes on the established name and rapid growth of the combined firms.

Planning Alternatives has approximately $375 million under advisement and provides strategic consulting services to clients in 26 states.

Source: Nathan Mersereau, president of Planning Alternatives
Writer: Jon Zemke

ASC, short for Anesthesia Staffing Consultants, is the type of business that can put you to sleep, literally.

The Bingham Farms-based firm provides staffing and consulting for hospitals and private practices in the anesthesia area. That basically means they provide the people and advice that help patients drift off to sleep just before surgery.

"We're basically a niche market," says Teri Raisanen, director of marketing for ASC.

It may be a small market, but it's a growing one. The company is recording five percent growth, which has allowed it to expand to 23 employees and 100 independent contractors. It has hired 3-4 people within the last year and hopes to do it again in the same time frame.

The company got its start in 1991, but has been on a growth tear lately. It was named one of Michigan's 50 Companies to Watch by the Edward Lowe Foundation. But what would one expect from a business based on knocking people out?

Source: Teri Raisanen, director of marketing for ASC
Writer: Jon Zemke

Automation Alley is gearing up to open a new office in Macomb County that will focus on the defense industry.

The economic development agency plans to staff between 4-6 people at the office. Automation Alley's leadership is looking at opening it in either Sterling Heights or Warren before the summer is over.

"Our intent is to find defense procurement opportunities for businesses in southeast Michigan," says Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley.

Automation Alley choose Macomb County because of the federal military lab located in Warren. There are also a number of defense contractors that have set up shop in Sterling Heights.

Source: Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley
Writer: Jon Zemke

Detroit's Garden Resource Program (GRP) is busier than ever. It works with over 800 family and community gardeners in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park by providing plants, mulch, compost -- and educational opportunities ranging from rain barrel classes to canning demos.

One such opportunity coming up this weekend might be of interest to even the non-gardener with a salient interest in healthy food systems. Some of GRP's partner orgs and friends -- Greening of Detroit, MSU Student Organic Farm, Earthworks Urban Farm and Green Ribbon Collaborative -- are bringing Eliot Coleman, author of Four Seasons Harvest and The New Organic Grower, to Detroit on June 19 and 20.

On Friday the 19th, Coleman will speak at Detroit Waldorf, located at 2555 Burns in Indian Village on the topic of Food and Farming in the 21st Century. On Saturday the 20th, he will host a four-season farming workshop at Gleaners Food Bank on 2131 Beaufait, near Earthworks. The speech is free; the all-day workshop requires registration and is proced on a sliding scale of $10 to $100.

For info and registration, contact Kido Pielack at 313-237-8733 x243.

While on the topic of food, it's worth mentioning that GRP and, again, friends and partners, facilitate the Grown in Detroit program, which allows family and community gardeners the opportunity to sell extra produce at local farmers markets. Find them at Eastern Market and the East Warren Farmers Market every Saturday, the Wayne State University Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Northwest Detroit Farmers Market on Thursdays.

Buying local is becoming really, really local.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

GradeCheck.net is checking off a few more milestones in its growth plan as it continues to expand in TechTown.

Excerpt:

More than 4,000 student-athletes took advantage of GradeCheck.net's services last year and it's looking to pump up that number into the five figures in 2009.

Last year those clients were able to leverage more than $2 million in college scholarships. The 10,000 clients are expected to bring in well over $3 million this year.

GradeCheck.net focuses on making sure student athletes, mostly at the high school level, keep up their academics so they can qualify for college and possible scholarships. It also helps these student athletes take steps so they don't fall through cracks.

"They see us as being a tool they can implement so they can improve their students' educations," says Sheila McBride, founder and CEO of GradeCheck.net.

Read the rest of the story here.

Well, if we can't beat 'em at football we'll have to be content to take their businesses.

Excerpt:

Ann Arbor took another one from Columbus, and this doesn't have anything to do with sports.

Axiobionics has called Columbus home for 15 years, but it's packing up and heading to the land of Maize and Blue before the summer is over. The life sciences company, formerly BioFlex, is bringing its dozen or so jobs and plans to hire another 100 here within the next five years.

Read the rest of the story here.

A longtime business institution in Dexter plans to stay even longer, and create a few more jobs in the process.

Excerpt:

Sometimes the siren call for strategic partnerships is too strong to keep companies where they were founded. Not so with the Dexter Research Center.

The 31-year-old firm has renewed its lease on life by choosing to expand in its hometown, a move that will lead to 47 new jobs in the next five years. The defense contractor has strategic partnerships in Ohio and Massachusetts that were wooing the firm away from Michigan. A $313,000 state tax credit over seven years helped quiet them.

"We have always been here in Michigan," says Cory Ziegler, controller of the Dexter Research Center. "We enjoy being here."

Read the rest of the story here.