Coverage of projects, big and small, and the people who create them, which promote the economic health of a community, including manufacturing, retail, office, and hospitality developments.
Think you're a true blue Metro Detroit locavore because your milk comes from Calder and your veggies come from the neighborhood farmstand? Think again. There are homegrown companies producing everything from vodka to soap to furniture to toys in Southeast Michigan. Metromode's Kim Shine North imagines what the ultimate "Buy Local" home might look like.
"When it comes to U.S. job growth, startup companies aren't everything. They're the only thing."-Kauffman Foundation study on U.S. job growthJoin us October 13 at the Max M. Fisher Center to learn about innovative new initiatives fueling start-ups in Detroit. Mahendra Ramsinghani will talk about a unique partnership between Invest Detroit, TechTown and Ann Arbor SPARK. We'll also hear from Brendan Calder, an innovation expert and venture capitalist from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.
Much of the work on Utica's hike-and-bike trail and river walk is wrapping up for the season, with the pedestrian bridge soon to come, also.Utica Mayor Jacqueline Noonan says the manufacturer ran into a couple of glitches that delayed the project a bit, but the city is still set to take delivery of the bridge by next month. The hike and bike trail is being finished up, installation of the canoe livery is expected to be completed this month, and the riverfront park and the river walk are also scheduled to be about 2/3 done by mid-month."We'll have an unveiling of everything and a grand opening by next spring," Noonan says.The bridge, a component of the 70-mile hike-and-bike trail throughout Macomb County, will connect the Macomb Orchard Trail to downtown Utica as well as the Clinton River Trail in Oakland County. It will provide pedestrians and bicyclists with a safe place to cross the river without having to navigate the busy Van Dyke/M-59 intersection.The project is funded with grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Michigan Department of Transportation's Transportation Enhancement program, with matching funds from the Utica Downtown Development Authority and support from the city's Parks and Recreation Department."We're wonderfully excited," Noonan says. "It's going to be absolutely gorgeous."Source: Jacqueline Noonan, mayor of UticaWriter: Kristin Lukowski
Downtown Birmingham's Pierce Street parking garage will soon have a smoother ride up to your car, and be better lit while doing so.The city plans to install LED lights in the structure's 227 fixtures, replacing old high-pressure sodium bulbs, for a cost of $350,000; $125,000 of that will be federal stimulus money.Brendan Cousino, assistant city engineer for Birmingham, says he received the final design last week for review, but expects the contract to go out for bid within the next three weeks or so. "The lighting is roughly 25 years old. It's outdated, and we're repairing lights on a regular basis."He says replacing lights will not only improve the garage's energy savings, but the quality of light in the garage as well. LED lights use a fraction of the electricity of normal bulbs, and they also last several years longer than normal street lights. The city of Birmingham expects to save $18,000 in electricity annually, plus thousands more dollars in maintenance costs.Also in the Pierce Street parking structure, plans are to replace the elevators this coming summer, first with the elevator at the Brown Street entrance, scheduled to close Oct. 25, and then on the Pierce Street side, scheduled to close in January. The project will run just under $410,000; the elevators currently in place are original to the early 1960s building."It's just time," Cousino says. "They've reached the end of their service life."In another parking structure, the North Old Woodward parking deck, resealing the exterior has been completed, and very smoothly, too, Cousino says, coming in on time and budget. The city added some other work to that job, at the Chester Street parking structure, including replacing some stairs and decking worn down by regular use, for an additional $77,000 or thereabouts to the original $499,000.And although parking structure maintenance may seem low on the priority list, the interior of a structure is one of the first things a visitor to Birmingham sees, after all. "We hope to maintain a high level of customer service here," Cousino says. "Overall, our goal is to extend the life of these structures as much as possible, and replace as much equipment as possible before it fails."Source: Brendan Cousino, assistant city engineer for BirminghamWriter: Kristin Lukowski
OK, let's get the obvious pun out of the way -- a new bar in downtown Royal Oak promises to be the "coolest" place in town.But seriously -- Luigi Cutraro, owner of the new Fire and Ice bar, inside the Sky Club above Sangria restaurant, says he wanted to do something "trendy and cool" by opening a bar completely made of ice. It's the first one in Michigan, and only one of a handful in the country.Fire and Ice officially opened last Friday, after a soft opening over Labor Day weekend during Royal Oaks' Arts, Beats and Eats festival. "The first thing that comes out of their mouths is 'Wow,' " Cutraro says of visitors to the bar.Cutraro started thinking about an ice bar, popular in Europe and colder climes, after seeing one at the winter Olympics in Vancouver this year. It's not a money-making venture, and in fact it was a nightmare setting up the refrigeration system, he says, as the bar is pretty much a 600-square-foot freezer, kept at 16-22 degrees. "It was worth it, but it was a lot of work," he says. "We plan on keeping it. We've found this thing is perfect for private parties."He says he's found many bars are offering the same old thing, and he wanted to do something different. "That's what we're missing in our area," he says. "We all do the same thing, especially the night life. You don't have to be in Chicago, New York or Los Angeles."The bar, designed by Fenton-based Icon Ice, can accommodate up to 25 guests, who can wear provided parkas and gloves if they choose. Cutraro says the furniture, and even the glassware, is made out of ice as well."There are not many places where you can drink your drink, and then eat it," he jokes.Source: Luigi Cutraro, owner of Fire and IceWriter: Kristin Lukowski
The water-filtration technology from Biomin International isn't just limited to its Oak Park headquarters. It's spreading around the world.Oilsorb helps take impurities, such as oil, out of water. It is targeting three markets on three continents, including Africa, Asia (the Middle East), and Australia. The company hopes to reach a high enough point in sales in countries such as Ghana to enable it to create a manufacturing subsidiary there.Oilsorb hopes to make its technology available in rural areas that don't have the resources of bigger population centers. "It's a highly mobile wastewater treatment system that can fit on the back of a trailer," says Joseph P Cool, international business development and export director for Biomin International.Biomin International has 20 employees and an intern. It hopes to continue hiring as its overseas presence grows.Source: Joseph P Cool, international business development and export director for Biomin InternationalWriter: Jon Zemke
Sure, every conservatory has plenty of green on the inside -- but landscape firm Planterra has included a slew of green features in its new building.The new greenhouse, which is selling its inventory to retail customers for the first time in years, has features that range from the high-tech weather station on the roof to simply orienting the building so it faces south to let in light and heat, explains Planterra president Shane Pliska. Facing south allows the building to get by using very little lighting and heating, and having the northwest corner built into the earth shelters it from the elements."What this building orientation allows us to do is essentially operate in the middle of the winter, in the middle of the day, without any heat on at all," he says. "The solar heat gain that we can get inside this building is significant."During the summer, shade curtains and ventilation keep the building cool. Another feature is recycling both rainwater and runoff water from inside the greenhouse, which goes through the pervious floor into a cistern to be reused. This is not a new technology, Pliska points out, but something farmers used years ago.A new innovation, however, is a weather station on the roof that controls the vents, shade curtains, and hot water heating, and can adjust to the actual weather statistics outside, instead of trying to control everything from an indoor thermostat. "And, of course, because this is a greenhouse, we have natural light just about everywhere," he says. "We don't even need to use our lights throughout the day."The new building replaces the old greenhouses that were cobbled together, he says; it's not a square footage increase, but a more efficient use of space. Also, much of the greenhouse was recycled, and some of the wood was used for the interior finishes of the new building.Pliska, who works at Planterra with the CEO, his mother, Carol, and the chairperson, Larry, his father, calls the new building a "dream facility." Although making the decision to incorporate green technology is good for the planet, he says, in many cases it's practical."We do it because it truly make sense to recycle our rainwater," he says. "It's really really good water for our plants, so why wouldn't we want to use that water? For us to have a weather station instead of a thermostat, yes, there's a cost, but at the same time it really makes a lot of sense."The doors of the $3 million, 23,000-square-foot facility officially open Oct. 5.Source: Shane Pliska, president of PlanterraWriter: Kristin Lukowski
Most companies that took a hit and are trying to rebound after the recession. Brand Labs isn't most companies.The Rochester-based e-commerce firm didn't miss a beat over the last couple of years, continuing to grow and hire at an accelerated pace. It started with four people, including its two co-founders, in 2004. Today the firm employs 36 with a couple of interns and independent contractors. It has hired at least 12 people over the last year and expects to maintain that pace for the foreseeable future."We have seen a huge influx of business," says Kevin Skinner, director of marketing for Brand Labs. "We have been hiring steadily and we have an ad out for an associate designer right now. We have never let anyone go."Driving this growth is Brand Labs' focus on Volusion, a popular software platform that provides an easy platform for businesses to establish an e-commerce presence. Brand Labs basically handles the website design, marketing, call center, and shipping. It's planning to begin a major marketing push this fall to supplement its continued growth.Source: Kevin Skinner, director of marketing for Brand LabsWriter: Jon Zemke
David Hall, the name and voice that once graced the marketing materials of Quicken Loans, is now the brains behind Metro Detroit's newest mortgage company -- Hall Financial. The Birmingham-based company is in its first year and has grown to a staff of 14 employees, three independent contractors, and a few interns. Hall points out that growth is organic and he expects it to continue as he focuses on creating commerce, jobs, and a successful business."We're hoping to have 20 employees by the end of the year," says Hall, president of Hall Financial. "We think we're going to make it."The company specializes in residential home mortgages, but hopes to grow its product offerings as it expands. Hall would also like to become more involved with the local philanthropic community as Hall Financial establishes itself over the next year. He may even be open to doing a commercial or two in the not-too-distant future."Maybe in the future," Hall says.Source: David Hall, president of Hall FinancialWriter: Jon Zemke
Cosmetics and sustainability aren't two words that normally go together. That is until you walk into Ecology, downtown Birmingham's newest store.The new emporium opened last week and specializes only in makeup and skin products that have either been sustainably produced, are organic, or both. Marla Shapiro and Carra Stoller started the business because they wanted to provide an earthier alternative to mass-market items."We're hoping to educate more people on the importance of going natural and organic and the role it plays in their lives," Shapiro says.The partners plan to establish the retail this year and then start their own Ecology skin care and cosmetic product line that offers the same type of organic and sustainable products available in their store. Source: Marla Shapiro, co-owner of EcologyWriter: Jon Zemke
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