Newsroom

Newsroom's Latest Articles

Skilled Trades Training Fund to award $8.6M in job training grants

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 4, 2014

Heading into 2015, the money pool for training in Michigan's high-demand skilled trades is getting $8.6 million deeper. Excerpt: "...[Skilled Trades Training Fund] recipients will distribute the funds to 236 Michigan employers in their regions, who will use the funds to upskill 6,085 current employees and 2,529 new employees and create up to 771 new jobs as a result of the training. Employers will leverage the grants with an estimated $99 million in additional funds." More here. 

Eagle Ottawa invests $10M into Rochester Hills tech center

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

December 4, 2014

Eagle Ottawa is investing $10 million in expanding its tech center in Rochester Hills. The Auburn Hills-based automotive supplier employs 150 at its headquarters and another 160 people at its tech center. That number will rise at its tech center after the expansion project is complete. "We see growth in the employment there," says Brad Jackson, spokesman for Eagle Ottawa. "We are making room for 50 more employees." Eagle Ottawa is an automotive supplier that specializes in leather work. It is 150 years old and has grown its revenue by 18 percent over the last year. It has had a 25-percent compounded annual growth rate since 2011. The firm has invested $75 million in global innovation initiatives and resources including design, R&D and marketing. Its $10 million expansion in Rochester Hills is part of that. The project will expand the building to 16,500 square feet to accommodate more prototyping and validation work. There will also be a new customer co-creation center aimed at empowering customers to ideate, prototype and validate their inspirations. "Eagle Ottawa is committed to research and development and continually investing in its development," Jackson says. Source: Brad Jackson, spokesman for Eagle Ottawa Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

A call for unifying Michigan’s “three economies”

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 4, 2014

Three different types of businesses tend to congregate in different regions of Michigan, leading to lost opportunities and uneven economic growth. A U-M professor suggests a solution. Excerpt: "When it comes to economic growth in  Michigan, one size does not fit all. Take a look at the varying scope and scale of companies here and you’ll find a general pattern of three different types of businesses associated with different regions:   large multinational corporations in Southeast Michigan, small high-tech start-ups in Ann Arbor, and family-owned, mid-size companies in Western Michigan... In an ideal world, these three different economies would be interconnected like concentric circles with the large companies at the center, encouraging the growth of adjacent mid-size companies, in turn promoting the development of surrounding smaller companies. The problem is that these three economies simply don’t sync up. They are so disconnected from each other, both ideologically and economically, that we don’t benefit from the rewards of their potential synergistic relationships. It’s time to bridge the gaps between these three regions." More here. 

ShareSpace Rochester revives downtown co-working spot

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

December 4, 2014

Plans for a co-working space in downtown Rochester are back on after the investor/owner's decision to return to full-time living in Rochester. Doug Van Slembrouck, founder of ShareSpace Rochester and owner of digital strategy company Red Pawn Creative, plans to open the shared work space, which would be outfitted with desks, WIFI, conference tables, and other office amenities, at 150 S. Elizabeth St., just a few feet away from the Clinton River Trail and directly behind Rochester Play, an indoor activity center for children and families. For a fee, ShareSpace will give independents, freelancers, and office-less employees all the perks of an office, including meeting space, people to talk to, and no coffee shop or home office distractions. "It's perfect for access to downtown, a brief stretch of the legs or bike ride, and great if you need to parent and work at the same time. We're now accepting memberships and visitors," Van Slembrouck says. The plan was put on hold after Van Slembrouck's work had him commuting to Chicago throughout the week, and "I quickly realized that ShareSpace would require significantly much more attention." In addition, a Kickstarter fundraising campaign for ShareSpace fell short. Projects that fail to meet their fundraising goal get no money. "We did learn the community of freelance and mobile professionals in the greater-Rochester area is quite large," he says. "The supporters of our campaign were so interested in bringing co-working to the area that they still offered their original donations, essentially prepaid two-month memberships, regardless of the overall Kickstarter results. In the end however, I didn't feel comfortable accepting funds if I couldn't be there full-time to be involved in the day-to-day operations." He says he's excited to make it work this time. His own company, Red Pawn Creative, will have its office at ShareSpace. "I believe Oakland County needs a place for people with the flexibility to work anywhere, anytime to call home." Source: Doug Van Slembrouck, founder, ShareSpace Rochester Writer: Kim North Shine

Pontiac’s Mobile Comply adds 4 jobs, clears way for mobile certification

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

December 4, 2014

Mobile Comply grew up quite a bit in 2014, mostly by living up to its name. "We have completely exploded in a great way," says Eliana Farnsworth, CEO of Mobile Comply. The downtown Pontiac-based company helps educate businesses and institutions (think higher education) on how best to leverage mobile technology. Last year it provided training and wrote the textbook for CompTIA, a Chicago-based non-profit that developed the A+ certification. That bit of work led to Mobile Comply creating the certification for mobile technology. "We became the only company in the world that provided mobile certification," Farnsworth says. That led to a 35-percent jump in revenue over the last year. The company has hired four people over the last year, expanding its staff to 20 employees and 100 independent contractors. It is also looking to hire another two people in the first quarter of next year. In 2015 Mobile Comply is looking to expand its mobile certification activities to the automotive market. "We would like to expand to not only certifying individuals but also supporting the growth of connected vehicles," Farnsworth says. Source: Eliana Farnsworth, CEO of Mobile Comply Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Dye & Dash express haircolor salon opens in Troy

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

December 4, 2014

The owners of two successful metro Detroit hair salons are the creators of a new specialized salon that's dedicated to quick and affordable hair coloring. Dye & Dash opened Dec. 2 at 3296 Rochester Road in Troy. Industry veterans Tomy Lulgjuraj and George and Johnny Nikollaj, co-owners of 6 Salon in Birmingham and Royal Oak, partnered with longtime employee Constance Abro to oversee a trained, experienced staff that specializes in matching, formulating and applying hair color. With the tagline, "We Dye, You Dry," the 2,000-square-foot salon includes a blow-dry bar where customers can use blow dryers, flat irons, hairbrushes and hair products at no extra charge after a color. Dye & Dash is likely the first salon of its kind in metro Detroit, and the concept has taken root in other states. Dye & Dash offers color for men and women with services such as touch-ups (the Take Root service is $30), highlights (the Bombshell's full head of foils is $65, and the Lucky 7 with seven foils is $30), Bump the Base for $30 and low lights for $5. A sweet treat conditioning is $15.   “Two things inspired us to create the Dye & Dash concept, with the first being the continued demand for salon service segmentation,” says Abro, a co-owner and manager of Dye & Dash.  “Not everyone has the need, time, desire or budget for a full-service salon experience every time, and we understand that." The color salon is the latest evolution of beauty salons, he says. "First came blow-out bars, then eyebrow bars, and we see color bars as the next logical step…,"he says. The owners also see potential to attract the at-home colorers. It is "our mission to get both men and women to move away from the pitfalls of home hair coloring,” Abro says. “There are endless reasons why hair coloring should be left to professionals. Hopefully by lowering the cost barrier to color treatments, we can convince some DIY hair dye enthusiasts to see what a difference a salon can make.” Source: Monica Cheick, PublicCityPR Writer: Kim North Shine

Climate Technologies develops new way of cutting pollution emissions

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

December 4, 2014

Climate Technologies has reinvented itself in recent years as a company that works in both the automotive and green-tech sectors. Today the Farmington Hills-based company is growing at a healthy clip while it continues to develop both ends of its business. Its revenue is up 15 percent in the last year, enabling it to hire another engineer in that time. It now employs six people. "It's the rebounding of the automotive industry primarily," says Walt Zimmerman, CEO of Climate Technologies. The 44-year-old company got its start providing temperature and humidity-control services for the automotive suppliers. The rebounding automotive industry has helped beef up that business. It has also gotten work from larger organizations, such as hospitals and universities. Climate Technologies has also been developing a new way of cutting pollution emissions. The climate-control technology captures toxic gases and concentrates them so they can be used in things like fuel cells. It's now working on a next-generation version that integrates natural gas into the mix to make it more efficient. "It's a large step forward," Zimmerman says. "It makes the technology appealing to people with pollution-control issues." Source: Walt Zimmerman, CEO of Climate Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Construction starts in Dearborn for state’s first Artspace community

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

December 4, 2014

Construction on City Hall Artspace Lofts, a live, work & sell artists community in Dearborn, will begin this month. The sale of the property, the former Dearborn City Hall, will be complete this week after closing. Artspace is a national organization that builds residential-retail community, art-based developments around the country. The Dearborn Artspace is the first in Michigan. Supporters of the project, from city officials to private developers, see it as a positive economic development locally. And they see it potentially as a regional draw for art-seekers and artists from any artistic genre to hone and sell the things they make or services they offer. The nearly $17 million development at 13615 Michigan Ave. will include about 45 residential lofts with commercial spaces and public spaces -- indoors and out. Painters, dancers, and furniture makers could set up shop or home at City Hall Artspace Lofts. Artspace's motto is "Building better communities through the arts." The Monahan Company is the general contractor on the project and the first phase of construction will include the demolition this month of the parking garage behind the old City Hall. Dearborn's city offices have been consolidated in a building down the street from the older, more historic city hall. Construction will be fully underway in January, says Heidi Kurtze, vice president of property development for the Minneapolis-based Artspace. During construction there will be information sessions and meetings to inform artists and commercial retailers about the project, she says. "Artspace is thrilled to be working in Dearborn and converting the iconic City Hall into a thriving creative center for the arts," says Kurtze. Source: Heidi Kurtze, vice president of property development, Artspace Writer: Kim North Shine

Dragonmead Brewery expands with new brewing system

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 4, 2014

Dragonmead Microbrewery  has expanded its brewing system, filling up the entire 11,000-square foot facility where it brews award-winning beers -- and ales and mead -- in Warren. The facility at 14600 E. 11 Mile Road includes a 1,000-square-foot tap room that sells dozens of beers on tap and serves food from nearby Lazybones Smokehouse. By installing a smaller batch brewing system, the expansion allows the brewery to not only keep up with overall demand but to offer the variety Dragonmead faithfuls expect, says Larry Channel, a founding member of the microbrewery, which began in 1997. “Having the variety system in place and producing again will allow us to once again offer over 40 different styles of beer on tap at our taproom here in Warren,” says Jennifer Locher, pub manager for Dragonmead. “The variety will be in place in time for the holidays.” The latest expansion follows the addition last year of a 20-barrel brew house. This year the company is introducing a seasonal line of products in both bottles and draught: Oktoberfest, Devil’s Knight Pumpkin Ale, Jul Øl, a Norwegian Spiced Christmas Ale and St. Nicole’s Weizenbock. Sin Eater, a high-gravity Dark Belgian Ale, is soon to be released in bottles as a year-round product. Sin Eater is currently available in the Tap Room in Warren. Source: Larry Channel, founding member of Dragonmead Microbrewery Writer: Kim North Shine

Troy’s blueRock Technologies makes 5 hires on 30% sales growth

By Newsroom

●

General

●

December 4, 2014

Troy-based blueRock Technologies has earned a couple of nice spikes over the last year. The first comes from an additional five hires in technical and project management positions, expanding the company’s staff to 19 employees. It is also looking to hire another two technical staff right now. The second is in its revenue. The IT company enjoyed a 30-percent bump over the last year. Most of those new sales have come from the hospitality industry. The 14-year-old firm has a number of clients that are nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels on the east coast. "We have really increased our footprint in those areas," says Peter Marsack, vice president of consulting for blueRock Technologies. "We have a lot of clients in this area as well." The IT firm also provides consulting and cloud-based services for its clients. One of its aims is to help pair clients with the best technology for their business model. The strategy is paying off, and blueRock Technologies is optimistic about its near-future prospects. "We're going to continue growing the business in the hospitality market," Marsack says. "We're definitely going to be bringing on more people." Source: Peter Marsack, vice president of consulting for blueRock Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.