metromode - Job News

S3 Entertainment Group creates $10 million financing fund for film

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

Cast & Crew Payroll opens new office in Ferndale

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

Motor City Interactive moves to downtown Brighton, expands staff

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

Metal Imagination turns hobby biz into rapidly growing firm

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

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

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

GREEN SPACE: Holiday tips and tricks

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

$7 million to fuel energy efficient bus manufacturer

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Global Wind Systems investing $32.3 million in new Novi facility

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

After 5 Detroit launches new website spin-off, Connect After 5

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After 5 Detroit is expanding, creating another website of a similar name.

Excerpt:

After 5 Detroit has become so successful it's spinning out subsidiaries. The latest addition is Connect After 5, a web site aimed more at businesses than people.

The idea is to help area employers attract and retain young professional talent and boost employee morale by helping organize after work events, like a broomball tournament at Campus Martius for the likes of Compuware, Ernst & Young, Miller Canfield, Health Plan of MI and Marketing Associates.

"We create fun events and opportunities for the employees to engage in outside of company walls," says Kerry Doman, founder & CEO of After 5 Detroit.

Read the rest of the story here.

Renaissance VC Fund invests $5 million into Arboretum Ventures

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Detroit Renaissance's venture capital fund is getting the investment ball rolling quickly in Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

The Renaissance Venture Capital Fund isn't wasting time when it comes to investing in Michigan and bridging the gap between Detroit and Ann Arbor.

The VC, formed by Detroit Renaissance, made its first investment of $5 million into Ann Arbor-based Arboretum Ventures II. Renaissance expects to invest another $10 million to $20 million in 2009. That money will go either toward venture capital firms looking to invest in the state or firms based in Michigan, such as Arboretum.

"It is clearly a fast-rising venture capital firm right now," says Chris Rizik, CEO of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. "It is a really smart firm with the right niche. Even with the current economic problems we're finding they are really well positioned to be successful."

Read the rest of the story here.

Breeze Design Studio expands to 33 people with affordable products

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lots of people had lots of advice for Rukmal Fernando when he started Breeze Design Studio in January of 2007.

"Everybody pretty much told me get out of Detroit," Fernando says. "They said I should be in LA, Miami, Chicago or some other market."

Luckily for Metro Detroit Fernando didn't pay any heed to those warnings. He actually was quite active with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, and paid more attention to what the people there were saying.

"They said don't look at it like an obstacle but an opportunity," Fernando says.

That philosophy is why the start-up has grown to 33 people around the world. About half a dozen of those employees call Breeze Design Studio's offices in Birmingham's Rail District home.

The firm specializes in making good design affordable. Fernando allows young, struggling businesses to take advantage of his firm's services cheaply today to help the firm keep its overhead down. The idea is Breeze Design Studio will get a cut of future profits.

"We think that struggling young businesses will grow if we make good design affordable," Fernando says.

It has worked so far. The company plans to keep up with that philosophy for the foreseeable future and it expects to keep growing at its current pace.

Source: Rukmal Fernando, founder and president of Breeze Design Studio
Writer: Jon Zemke

Marketing/PR firm pushtwentytwo expands staff in Pontiac

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pontiac-based pushtwentytwo is still pushing to expand its business in Michigan.

The marketing/PR firm just added another employee, rounding out its staff to 18. The company also has the occasional intern, usually in the summer.

The firm's newest employee will serve as the associate creative director. That new person, Gil Lapastora, is responsible for supervising pushtwentytwo’s creative activities in places like print and digital media.

Pushtwentytwo has steadily grown since it was formed more than 20 years ago. It has grown its client list to a diverse group, ranging from automotive-based clients to healthcare to technology firms.

Source: Christine Fisher, spokeswoman for pushtwentytwo
Writer: Jon Zemke

Support the Auto Industry centralizes auto deals on one website

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Iterotext knows which hands feeds it, and it’s grateful. It’s why the translation services firm wants to do something to support the auto industry in its time of need -- spearheading SupportTheAutoIndustry.com.

“We have been successful because of them and we want to help them,” says Beverly Cornell, spokeswoman for SupportTheAutoIndustry.com.

But this is more than the stereotypical "Buy American" campaign. The website is pooling deals and discounts available throughout the auto industry. The idea is to make supporting the American auto companies a win-win for both the company and the customer.

These deals range from local dealerships offering employees pricing to gas stations willing to give away free gas with proof of purchase of a new car. Think of it as more of a customer-based bailout for local businesses.

"We think this can be a grass roots movement," Cornell says.

The website is only one month old but so far traffic is up more than 200 percent and growing.

Source: Beverly Cornell, spokeswoman for Support the Auto Industry
Writer: Jon Zemke

Michigan Suburbs Alliance expands its office space virtually

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The size of Michigan Suburbs Alliance is growing physically but its office space is expanding virtually.

The non-profit calls a 500-square-foot office in downtown Ferndale home for its eight employees. But that space has become increasingly cramped as the staff has grown, leaving the alliance with a choice – expand or go virtual. It choose to go virtual, expanding its staff's technical capabilities and its office's flexibility.

"We figured out we need to use out office space in a different way than we are right now," says Melanie Piana, associate director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance. "We already have a second office. It's the Woodward Avenue Brewers."

That's Piana poking fun at the idea of working in a public place, like a coffee shop, bar or library. The alliance has invested in new laptops, video-conference technology and cell phones for staff. The idea is to make the staff flexible enough to work virtually from home or a coffee shop.

It has also invested in furniture that allows the employees to easily rearrange the office to suit it needs to a specific circumstance.

The alliance will let its newest troop of 20 interns work virtually this summer. The interns will work from city halls across Metro Detroit, but keep in touch with the alliance's leaders through the Internet, phone calls and meetings.

Source: Melanie Piana, associate director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance
Writer: Jon Zemke

Great Lakes Recycling opens 2 facilities, adds 100 people

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The company that is now Great Lakes Recycling completely reinvented itself a little more than two years ago. Since then the Rosseville-based firm, which traces its roots all the way back to 1927, has added about 100 people to its payroll and taken on two new facilities.

GLR recently bought another recycling firm in New York and also opened up a new facility in Flint. The Flint location processes cardboard and paper brought in from waste haulers, recyclers and shred companies. It hopes to expand it operations there, too, as it looks to expand even further.

"We have a few more irons in the fire," says Jim DiMarco, a spokesman for Great Lakes Recycling. "There's another location in Huron Township that is on the horizon."

That could mean another 45 jobs at Great Lakes Recycling.

The company has the only single-stream recycling facility in Michigan. It provides recycling and environmental services throughout the state.

Source: Jim DiMarco, a spokesman for Great Lakes Recycling
Writer: Jon Zemke

Student's robots take on urban challenge at Lawrence Tech today

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The next generation of smart-car scientists will put their latest innovations on display at Lawrence Technological University tonight for the school's mini urban challenge.

Autonomous robots created by advanced high school and college students will navigate an obstacle course starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Buell Management Building on the university's Southfield campus.

The robots are built from the L2Bot platform that was developed at Lawrence Tech. It's part of an intelligent robotics project that is similar to the smart-car technology state and auto manufacturers are currently developing.

Each robot uses an onboard camera as a sensor for a vision guidance software system. This allows the robot to navigate a course made to simulate urban roads with a tunnel. A video of last year's competition can be found here.

The teams represent Romeo Engineering & Technology Center, Cranbrook Schools, a home school group from Bloomfield Township, Berean Academy from Rochester Hills and Lawrence Tech computer science students.

The event will also feature a demonstration of H2Bot, the world's first fuel-cell-powered autonomous robot.

For information, click here or send an email to robofest@ltu.edu or call (248) 204-3569.

Source: Lawrence Technological University
Writer: Jon Zemke

GREEN SPACE: Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. event at DIA this Saturday

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The worlds of energy and art will collide this Saturday when the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association hosts its annual meeting at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

GLREA works primarily in education and advocacy for alternative energy -- their goal is to make such technology "mainstream." The statewide organization has been around since 1991 and is HQ-ed near Lansing. But they're bringing their message to the masses this weekend.

Because Michigan finally adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard, which calls for 10% of all energy consumed in the state to come from renewable sources by 2015, GLREA is poised to become a real player in the alternative energy industry. Its board is comprised of utility company reps, renewable energy manufacturers and installers, energy efficiency advocates and organizations like the Michigan Energy Office. So, yeah, they're up for the job.

There will be business conducted at the meeting, such as electing board members, and a keynote address by Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez about the RPS and other state regulations. It starts at 2 p.m. with some mingling time and is scheduled to wrap up at 4:45 at which time attendees can network and wander the galleries. The cost is $30 for members or $50 for non-members. You can register on-line here.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Uplift develops Strong Reader software for at-risk high school students

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Detroit-based Uplift thinks it has developed a new tool in fighting illiteracy with its Strong Reader program.

Excerpt:

The people behind Uplift don't think all of the kids of today learn to read in the same tried-and-true ways pioneered yesterday. It's why the Detroit-based non-profit came up with its STRONG READER program.

The program lets students learn through an Internet-style computer class. The program includes video lessons, video games, avatars and puzzles.

"When you put kids on the computer you find that they're very tech savy, even though they might not do well in math or science," says Ida Byrd, president of Uplift.

Read the rest of the story here.

Businesses plan to innovate with Ann Arbor Region Success Strategy

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ann Arbor is already known as a center of innovation, but local leaders are working on plans to make the college town the center of innovation.

Excerpt:

A large group of prominent Ann Arbor locals have transformation on the mind.
Dozens of leaders (in excess of 70) from local businesses, governments, non-profits and other institutions are working on the new Ann Arbor Region Success Strategy. The idea is to change Ann Arbor into a center of innovation in the mold of Silicon Valley or Research Triangle Park.

But doesn't the Ann Arbor area already enjoy that reputation? Global economic powerhouse Google set up its AdWords headquarters here. Local start-up HealthMedia just sold itself for a huge chunk of change to Johnson & Johnson, which plans to grow it even more here. This is still the home of one of the top research universities in the world – the University of Michigan.

Read the rest of the story.

GM to send 50 engineers to U-M to develop electric car technology

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

GM and U-M are about to share something more than a letter.

Excerpt:

The University of Michigan and General Motors have long been bastions of innovation, often by working together. Now the two institutions are ratcheting up their cooperation as GM sends more of its engineers to U-M to develop the next generation of electric cars.

"This is a big problem," says Ann Marie Sastry, director of the Energy Systems Engineering Program at the University of Michigan. "Electrification of the vehicle is a paradigm change. It affects every system in the vehicle."

Read the rest of the story here.

Media Genesis creates 30 new jobs in two years, plans to hire more

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

About a dozen years ago, four guys were working at EDS. Their main job was launching GM.com. Like so many entrepreneurs before them, this group of guys realized they could do the same thing their employer was doing, only better. And thus Media Genesis was born.

Well, those four guys have grown their Troy-based firm to 64 people, including independent contractors and interns. The company averages about 50 percent annual revenue growth, including 70 percent last year. That has allowed Media Genesis to add nearly 30 people to its payroll in the last few years and it looks forward to keep growing for the foreseeable future.

"We want to be careful that we don’t grow faster than we can manage," says Antoine Dubeauclard, president of Media Genesis.

The company hopes to sustain this new growth by moving into new markets. It's also committed to helping diversify Michigan's economy and by working with a number of non-profits and maintaining a regional perspective.

"We're helping out the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. We're helping out all of the chambers of commerce," Dubeauclard says. "A lot of what we're doing is working on this as a regional venture."

Source: Antoine Dubeauclard, president of Media Genesis
Writer: Jon Zemke

Lincoln Park looks to create business incubator in downtown

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Lincoln Park has plenty of space for new businesses in its historic downtown. However, today's economy isn't doing much to help fill that space.

So the city has decided to help itself. Lincoln Park officials are working on plans to turn one of the downtown's vacant buildings into a business incubator.

"Ideally, I’d like to get some of these home-based businesses and offer them this as a place to do their business," says Gib Turner, economic development director for Lincoln Park.

The building is 1673 Fort St., a vacant single-story structure that the city's Downtown Development Authority owns. Turner estimates that the mid-20th Century building would be big enough for four or five spaces that could be used as anything from an art gallery to a professional office.

"They would have to have a business plan," Turner says. "We're not just going to give the space away."

These businesses would have access to the space at little to no cost. Turner is also looking into the possibility of renovating the building to make it environmentally friendly, possible going for a high LEED certification.

He is putting the plan together right now and hopes to make a presentation to City Council early next year. Construction could begin as early as next summer.

Source: Gib Turner, economic development director for Lincoln Park
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland County opens Venture Forward program for entrepreneurs

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Oakland County is looking to give its budding business community a hand up.

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center will start its Venture Forward program next spring. The idea is help mentor, counsel and support entrepreneurs looking to start their own business.

The 10-week program will use the FastTrac GrowthVenture system to help those attending evaluate their opportunities and issues while coming up with a plan to drive sales and profits.

The entrepreneurs will develop an overall business strategy for growth, plan for financial needs so they can avoid cash-flow problems, a structure for efficient operations and how to find the right people to get the job done.

The 10 sessions will take place on Friday morning between March 6 and May 8. People can sign up now for $250 or $299 next year. For information, call Lola Aré at (248) 858-2021 or click here.

Source: Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M Dearborn upgrades its engineering options to PhD status

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is looking to send a few more doctors out into the world now that it's starting to offer PhDs in engineering.

U-M-Dearborn's College of Engineering and Computer Science will start to offer doctoral engineering programs in information and automotive systems starting next fall. The idea is to provide more engineers with advanced knowledge and research experience to help boost the local new economy.

"This is the best of times to be in the field of engineering research," says Subrata Sengupta, dean of College of Engineering and Computer Science. "The only survivors will be the leaders and firms able to lead the reinvention of the auto industry through new technology."

The doctoral programs will help fill the roles for advanced automotive engineering and web technologies. The information systems engineering program will help the students learn how to process of new types of multimedia, graphics, interface technologies, telematics and global manufacturing logistics.

Source: University of Michigan-Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke

Lawrence Tech launches ambitious stimulus package for displaced workers program

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not all stimulus packages come from the feds. Lawrence Technological University is offering its own "Stimulus Package for Displaced Workers" that promises to help retrain layoff victims in Metro Detroit at a significantly reduced price.

The new initiative plans to help these prospective students in three distinct areas -- with reduced tuition, expanded new economy-based curriculum and career networking opportunities.

"The Recovery Starts Here package is an investment in the future of our state and nation, and the right thing to do," says Lawrence Tech President Lewis N. Walker. "We believe this is the first comprehensive package of recovery initiatives set forth by any university in the nation. The recovery starts here and it must start with us."

The biggest incentive will go to 400 displaced workers -- 50 percent off tuition. The half-off deal, called Recovery Grants, will be earmarked for new academic programs focused on diversifying and strengthening the state’s economy, such as sustainability, alternative energy and life sciences.

Lawrence Tech is also expanding its offerings in those areas. The idea is to change with the times so Michigan’s workers will be prepared to compete in a global economy. The university will also offer more networking receptions and workshops that will be open to anyone interested in working toward or capitalizing on a college degree in one of these fields.

Applicants must have a buyout letter, separation agreement of unemployment application to receive one of the grants. The grants will initially be divided evenly between undergraduate and graduate programs. Recipients must be full-time students.

Lawrence Tech will hold a number of open houses on the new initiative, including one at 6 p.m. today at the Buell Management Building on the Southfield campus. Others will be held on Dec. 11, 13, Jan. 6, 8 and 10. For information, send an email to recovery@ltu.edu or call (248) 204-4100 or click here.

Source: Lawrence Technological University
Writer: Jon Zemke

GREEN SPACE: Opportunity for public input into LEED for neighborhood development

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has emerged as the go-to measuring stick for a building's greenness. It's not that it doesn't have its critics, but it is a standard that continues to evolve.

In that vein, LEED's proud parent, the United States Green Building Council, is birthing a new child, one that does not just look at one building or one development. Their new LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system utilizes the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building to create the first ever standard that attempts to quantify the sustainability of a neighborhood.

This rating system being presented builds upon 240 neighborhoods that were monitored since summer 2007; ultimately, 18 have been certified. It looks at brownfield redevelopment, pedestrian- and bike-friendly infrastructure, energy effiency,and a lot more -- it's 127 pages, FYI.

Now the public is invited to comment on the draft -- at least until January 5; to do so, visit this website. To learn more about LEED as a whole, read this article.

Here's your chance to give those LEED-ers an earful.

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

MEGA Grants Bring to $32.4 Million, 550 Jobs to Troy, Bloomfield Hills

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Troy-based CareTech Solutions and Broomfield Hills-based ESI North America are investing a combined $32.4 million in the state over the next five years, a commitment that’s expected to create 550 new jobs.

"It’s a win for the State of Michigan," says CareTech President and CEO Jim Giordano. "As we expand our business in other states, 50 percent of the jobs created will remain in Michigan."

CareTech is a health care information management company with 590 Michigan-based employees, a payroll count that will jump by 440 new employees in the next five years. CareTech is investing $28 million in its 65,000 square foot Troy-based headquarters, which will be expanded to 110,000 square feet. The first 10,000 square foot addition should be complete within the next six months.

The MEGA grants funneled through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) encouraged both companies to stay in the mitten. CareTech was exploring an Ohio location and had been approached by representatives in Florida, Pennsylvania, both Carolinas and West Virginia. A $7.8 million Michigan state tax credit encouraged CareTech to remain in Michigan.

Digital simulation software company, ESI, was considering an expansion to Alabama or California. However, a $2.8 million Michigan tax credit encouraged ESI to stay in Bloomfield Hills.

ESI is investing $4.4 million to expand its 10,000 square foot facility by 5,000 to 10,000 square feet. Eventually ESI will move its headquarters to a larger facility within Oakland County.

"I am convinced that the support of the State of Michigan and Oakland County will allow ESI to expand not only our facilities, but our capabilities and ultimately, our client base," says ESI President Michael Bloor.

Source: Chelsea Niemiec, DP+Company
Writer: Ivy Hughes (managing editor of Capital Gains)

Stout Systems cements presence in new TechTown space, plans to hire

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A native son returns to Detroit to open an office for his Ann Arbor-based company and create a few jobs.

Excerpt:

John W Stout has a stake in his native Detroit. It's why the president and founder of Stout Systems opened an office for his Ann Arbor-based firm in TechTown this year.

"TechTown is clearly the center of a lot of the growth in Detroit," Stout says. "I am very interested in seeing Detroit reborn and I think TechTown is a focal point of that rebirth."

Stout Systems started 15 years ago with just Stout. Now it employs 25 people, gives work to another five people and is looking at starting an internship program. It has anywhere between 1-3 people working out of its Detroit office at any given time.

Read the rest of the story here.

Above the Tree Line hires 5 in 2 years in Ann Arbor, plans to do it again

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Above the Tree Line is staying above its competition as it grows in Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

John Rubin is a good son. Seven years ago he was a management consultant working out of Ann Arbor while his mother ran an independent bookstore in Chicago. Rubin regularly advised her on how to modernize her 30-year-old business.

It wasn't long, however, before Rubin realized that a number of other small bookstores needed similar advice on how to take advantage of new technologies, such as online sales. The CFL went off over his head and he started Above the Tree Line.

"They were all out there all alone and you can use technology to link them together," Rubin says.

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Ann Arbor's Shepherd Advisors helps create more green jobs in Michigan

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Shepherd Advisors is helping bridge the gap between Michigan's clean-tech potential and reality.

Excerpt:

In 2000 Loch McCabe saw a need and started to fill it. Given the recent focus on sustainable industries, he was a bit ahead of the curve. McCabe's Ann Arbor-based Shepherd Advisors helps businesses and institutions either break into the clean-technology sector or helps them become greener.

"There was a huge gap between the potential for clean technology companies in Michigan and what was actually happening," McCabe says. "I started Shepherd Advisors to help the progress of clean technology companies in Michigan."

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