Detroit

Peoplemovers aims for profits with new website, staff of 200 in 3 years

By Newsroom

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January 8, 2009

Peoplemovers hopes to do for community outreach what LinkedIn did for business networking. Excerpt: Keith Zendler's Peoplemovers has upgraded with a new look and more changes are planned this year. The web site, which he launched from his Boston-Edison home in 2003, serves as a social networking community, like Facebook or MySpace, that focuses on community outreach. "We're providing a low-cost way for communities and organizations to work together so these communities can thrive," Zendler says. Read the rest of the story here.

Smaller spaces for renters and buyers becoming more attractive

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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January 8, 2009

Sometimes smaller is better. Renters and buyers are considering smaller places these days. The economy probably has something to do with it. People want to save money but financial considerations aren't the only motivation. Some are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by having less stuff.Excerpt:The obvious appeal is that they are, for the most part, less expensive. Empty nesters and young professionals are also drawn to the eco-consciousness of smaller spaces that require less water and energy. They also enjoy features such as stainless steel kitchens, industrial touches and on-site amenities such as party rooms and health facilities. "People want that high-quality finish, but they don't need the 2,000 and 3,000 square feet of space," said Chadd Fox, developer of Research Lofts in Detroit, near Wayne State University. Fox said he and partner John Biggar have attracted unprecedented sales since opening in early 2007. "We are 70% sold and closed and that truly is what I believe to be the best-selling product in the marketplace right now," Fox said.Read the entire article here.

Detroiters Want to Recycle Here

By Jon Zemki

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Community Development

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January 6, 2009

The nonprofit Recycle Here! center is slammed with Detroiters unloading their unwanted paper, plastic and glass, but soon many Detroiters will have a curbside option, too. Green could be very "in" in Detroit in '09.

TechTown hosts faith-based forum on integrating new technology

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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January 6, 2009

TechTown sees faith-based tech firms playing a significant role in the local new economy, so much so that the WSU biz incubator has a Faith-Based Business Club. The club's featured speaker for next Wednesday morning's meeting will be Howard Brown, co-founder and CEO of CircleBuilder Software. The start-up helps Christian-based organizations become more efficient and grow through things like online networking, fundraising and organizing.Brown is a veteran of Silicon Valley-based start-ups during the 1990s and early 2000s. His resume includes serving as vice president of sales for Liquid Audio and NaviSite before starting PlanetJewish in Oak Park in 2001. PlanetJewish offers online services for Jewish communities. It proved so successful leaders of Christian communities courted him to start a similar service for churches and other Christian-based organizations. That led to the creation of CircleBuilder in 2006. Brown has raised $1.5 million in venture capital for it and has begun a second round of fundraising.Howard will speak at 9 a.m. in TechTown. For information contact Ebony Johnson at ebony@techtownwsu.org or (313) 879-5251. Source: Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

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

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 18, 2008

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

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 18, 2008

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.

Detroit’s Lee Plaza building shopped to developers

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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December 18, 2008

Detroit's Lee Plaza might have some life left in it yet as the city shops it to potential developers.Excerpt:Lee Plaza may just see new life: Its owner, the City Housing Commission, is looking to work with a viable developer to build the financing necessary to revive the property. In the case that the numbers could be made to work, the agency would part with the building for $1.Built in 1929, the 15-story Art Deco tower is located on West Grand Boulevard and has sat vacant for since the early 1990s. Mildred Robbins of the West Grand Blvd. Collaborative has hopes that a renovated Lee Plaza would be of great benefit to the neighborhood. "If something were to come of this, it could create a revitalized environment," she says. "It can mean jobs, sustainability, more community in terms of businesses, retail and housing."Read the rest of the story here.

Woodward Action looks to help fund next streetscape project

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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December 18, 2008

The Woodward Avenue Action Association wants to help the communities along Michigan's Main Street put their best face forward with its new streetscape grant program.The association recently received $160,000 from the Federal Highway Administration to help fund streetscape design or improvements along the Woodward Avenue corridor."We are looking for projects that will actually come to life," says Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator for the Woodward Avenue Action Association. The grants will range between $10,000 and $50,000. The projects can be for things like crosswalk improvements, new signage or decorative streetlights. Applicants can be either municipalities or non-profits that border the Woodward corridor.Applications are due by Jan. 16. For information, call (248) 288-2004.Source: Nicole Brown, outreach and promotions coordinator for the Woodward Avenue Action AssociationWriter: Jon Zemke

Wayne State prof’s research pushes autism treatment forward

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 16, 2008

Alexander Gow, a Wayne State University School of Medicine professor, is pushing forward research into a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as autism and schizophrenia.His latest research, published in the Journal of Cell Biology, sheds light on why these diseases develop and how they might be treated.It basically breaks down to the white and gray matter in the brain and how they communicate. Those lines of communications that send signals for everything from sneezing to wiggling a toe sometimes fail. Gow's research shows that a leak in the myelin sheath of these communication lines might play a part in developing diseases like autism and schizophrenia. Although far from a cure, if further research shows this is the case, it could give scientists a big clue on how to treat and possibly prevent such diseases.Source: Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Wayne State’s GO-GIRL program looks to inspire young girls

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 16, 2008

Wayne State is looking to get some more girls from Detroit interested in the STEM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.The university's College of Education will kick off the 10th edition of its GO-GIRL program (Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life) in January. The program aims to get more girls interested in science and math subjects. The hope is this will inspire them to pursue careers in these fields.The free program will be held every Saturday for 10 weeks. It is open only to girls in the 7th grade. For information, contact Prof. Sally Roberts at gogirl@wayne.edu.The program began in 2002. More than 400 girls from both private and public schools in Detroit have graduated from it. They have enjoyed the high-tech resources of the university and one-on-one tutoring from university mentors.Source: Wayne State UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke