Economic Development

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.

Farmington Hills’ St. Claire plans growth in safety sector

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 4, 2010

St. Claire doesn't have one product. It offers a diversity of services for a variety of clients, a business plan that is allowing it to survive today so it can grow tomorrow.The Farmington Hills-based firm got its start in 1941 doing military documentation during World War II. It transferred that business to the private sector post war and has since morphed into helping firms comply with OSHA, create safety signs, and develop software."We have quite a gamut of professionals working here," says Tony Tonchev, vice president of St. Claire. The 16-person firm with the occasional intern has streamlined its working process in the last year. The thought behind the action is to find ways to save its customers money and thus strengthen their business relationships."Complacency has no place here," Tonchev says. "You can't sit back and wait for the phone to ring. You have to be aggressive."The company will focus its growth plans on its safety sector business. Tonchev hopes to hire a few more people this year to correspond with the new business his firm expects to nail down in 2010.Source: Tony Tonchev, vice president of St. ClaireWriter: Jon Zemke

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Wayne State collects millions in new research grants

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 4, 2010

Wayne State University continues to rake in the research dollars, taking in even more federal and stimulus funds.Among the recent wins are $775,000 to study PCBs and their relation to cancer, $60,000 for Schizophrenia research and $2.7 million to investigate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. This caps what looks to be a big year for research at the Detroit-based university, which has counted $175 million in federal research grants so far for 2009, including $31 million in federal stimulus funds.The biggest recent research victory is the $2.7 million from the National Institute of Mental Health. Wayne State researchers will track the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the brains of children and teens in the hope of developing more effective therapies. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common childhood illnesses.The federal stimulus is funding two grants totaling about $775,000 to study the potential role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the progression of breast cancer. Wayne State researchers will also delineate the role of a liver enzyme in the development of metabolic diseases such as heart disease, abnormal cholesterol metabolism, and insulin resistant type II diabetes. The Wayne State University School of Medicine received a $60,000 Young Investigator research grant from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression. The money will be used to develop a better understanding of the neurochemical and functional bases of schizophrenia, one of the most debilitating mental illnesses in the world. Research suggests the illness is related to disordered brain neurochemistry and function. Source: Julie O'Connor, spokeswoman for Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Urbane Apts turns rental biz into new media start-up

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 4, 2010

Managing apartment buildings isn't just about helping people move and fixing the occasional leaky pipe. It's also about finding people to put into those units, a job that spurred a whole new revenue source for Urbane Apts.The Urbane Way, the downtown Royal Oak-based firm's marketing arm, focuses on attracting tenants through viral and social media methods at minimal costs. Eric Brown, co-owner of Urbane Apts, calls it moving the Google needle for apartment complexes hungry for tenants.The circa-2003 firm now employs its regular management team of six people and is in the market for hiring another person to help satisfy the demand for the company's new marketing services. Brown's expertise has become so in demand that he regularly serves as a speaker on the subject at conventions across the country."A lot of folks are following what we are doing," Brown says. "We have scrapped the traditional marketing methods in place of social marketing."Urbane Apts. has taken on four clients who have apartment buildings all over the U.S., including Denver, San Francisco, and Chicago, among others. Brown's team helps these complex websites move up toward the top of Google searches and establish a presence in places like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare to attract more tenants."These are the tools," Brown says. "Bottom line is, the direction of marketing has changed so you can't just buy block ads these days. You need a more personalized touch."Source: Eric Brown, co-owner of Urbane AptsWriter: Jon Zemke

A Tale Of Two Downtowns

By Jon Zemke

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Arts & Culture

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February 3, 2010

Many believe the key to rejuvenating Metro Detroit entails restoring and evolving our urban core. Metromode's Jon Zemke contrasts the actions of two communities - Lincoln Park and Royal Oak - and how they're developing their downtowns.

EDGE Community Development Spotlight: Completing the Past on MLK Day

By Rosemarie I. Di Rita

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Arts & Culture

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January 29, 2010

Contrary to the words of Thomas Wolfe, you can go home again - even if it takes a law suit and 40 years. On Monday, January 18th, among hundreds of events and ceremonies honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King, a celebration took place at Corinthian Baptist Church in Hamtramck. The event was a testament to tenacity, vision, and a commitment to the goal of righting a 40 year wrong. Dr. King would have been pleased.

EDGE Company Spotlight: General Electric

By Bryce Kelley

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Community Development

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January 29, 2010

General Electric's world-class facility in Wayne County advertises a culture committed to driving innovation and state-of-the-art communication infrastructure. It is home to next-generation virtual meeting technology, collaborative workspaces, and a host of amenities for its employees.

Community Spotlight: Westland

By Cindy King

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Community Development

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January 29, 2010

Westland is Michigan's 10th largest city. An "All American City," Westland has the location, the land, the infrastructure and the leadership under Mayor William R. Wild, to attract new industry and help existing businesses stay competitive in today's global economy.

EDGE Video: Welcome to the Guardian

By Tom Hendrickson

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Arts & Culture

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January 29, 2010

Wayne County moves from Randolph Street to the Guardian Building. It's a move that not only saves a few bucks for the County but also is a step toward historical preservation. This month's featured video takes you through what the move means.

Guest Blogger: Guiding Companies to New Capital and Better Financial Plans

By Richard King

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Community Development

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January 29, 2010

Are you a manufacturer who is having problems getting bank financing? Have you had trouble with your bank decreasing or eliminating your line of credit? Would like to learn ways to squeeze more cash out of your balance sheet? You can get help with all of these questions and more from the help of the newly created Michigan SBTDC Manufacturing Assistance Team (MAT).

Director’s Corner: Development Ready Sites

By Turkia Awada Mullin

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Community Development

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January 29, 2010

The Development Ready Communities (DRC) program is designed to dramatically increase coordination on development projects between Wayne County and its local communities. The DRC is a participatory program, and requires that local units of government agree to provide certain resources and access to information to Wayne County.