Sterling Heights

RAVE Computer hires 5 as it expands local clientele

By Newsroom

●

February 7, 2013

RAVE Computer, formerly Rave Computer Association, has been growing its clientele through adding more business with Michigan-based firms. It's a plan that has allowed the Sterling Heights-based company to hire five people over the last year. "The growth has been in our presence in Michigan," says Rick Darter, president & CEO of RAVE Computer. "It's been phenomenal." RAVE Computer works in modeling, simulation and visualization work. It is the anchor tenant of the Macomb-OU INCubator, allowing it to focus on growing its business with firms based not only in the Great Lakes state but in the defense industry. A few years ago, about 3 percent of the company's customer base came from Michigan. Now it's well into the double digits. The firm now employs 40 people and one intern. Its new hires work in areas that focus on government contracting expertise, product development and marketing. Darter expects to keep hiring in 2013. "We will continue to hire a strong presence in the defense industry," Darter says. "I see a large portion of our growth being in the commercial sector right here in Michigan." RAVE Computer is also serving as a mentor advocate for the Women In Defense Michigan chapter's GRID Mentorship program this year. The program assists Women In Defense Michigan members looking become more active in the defense and national security industries to help grow the military business sector in the Great Lakes State. Source: Rick Darter, president & CEO of RAVE Computer Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

From Inmates To Infants: An Entrepreneur Finds His Niches

By Patrick Dunn

●

General

●

January 17, 2013

Ryan Santangelo is what folks in the biz call a serial entrepreneur. First he launched the firm Dynamic Media. Then Secure Media Systems. His latest effort is SafeToSleep, which is bringing infant monitoring into the new millennium. And all three businesses are thriving in Sterling Heights, a place he calls the Silicon Valley of Michigan.

Growing Precision Global Systems moves to bigger Sterling Heights facility

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 20, 2012

Precision Global Systems is moving into a 60,000-square-foot space in Sterling Heights, bringing it closer to many of the manufacturing customers it counts as clients. The new office at 6600 E. 15 Mile Road becomes the company's second metro Detroit location. The other is in Troy. When that space was outgrown PGS chose a recently renovated building in Sterling Heights that is co-occupied by the Macomb Group. The Sterling Heights facility is ideally located near many of Precision Global Systems' customers, and it will be used for warehousing and distribution functions. The nearly 30-year-old company provides specialized manufacturing and engineering services and consulting to companies such as Ford, Chrysler, Dana and Bosch. Five full-time jobs are being created with the office opening. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Teresa Jarzab, management assistant, City of Sterling Heights and Kasey Green, economic development manager, City of Sterling Heights

Flavor Flav to open restaurant in Sterling Heights

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

December 6, 2012

I guess with a name like Flavor Flav how could you not open a restaurant? Metro Detroit joins Iowa and Las Vegas as a locale for the celebrity's chicken and shrimp joints. Excerpt: "Flavor Flav’s Chicken & Ribs is coming to metro Detroit with a grand opening scheduled for December 16, according to the chain’s Facebook page. Flavor Flav’s, described on Twitter as “a quick serve dining experience with 5 star quality” will be located at 8200 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights." Read the rest here.

And the band plays on for Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, reopens in June

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

December 6, 2012

The operators of Freedom Hill Amphitheater in Sterling Heights, a venue that closed in 2009 after 10 years in business and in the midst of legal disputes, is reopening and predicting its second shot at success will stick. The venue is pinning that prediction on the music promoter who will book acts for the 7,200 seat outdoor theater. With the reopening will come jobs and crowds again. The theater is located at a Macomb County park on Metro Parkway near Schoenherr and will open in June. The first major act announced for the re-opening is Lady Antebellum for a June 13 performance. Freedom Hill, which is a partnership between president & CEO of Andiamo Restaurant Group, Joe Vicari, and Luna Entertainment CEO and owner of MotorCity Harley-Davidson, Tom Celani, will work with concert promotor AEG Live instead of Live Nation, which sued the amphitheater over disputed concert revenues. Freedom Hill's location on Metro Parkway near Schoenherr taps into markets in northern and eastern suburbs not so easily served by larger venues and also pulled from the metro Detroit region and around the state. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Crain's Business Detroit and Jason Brown, PublicCity PR

Metro Detroit firms take top prizes at Accelerate Michigan

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

November 29, 2012

Metro Detroit start-ups ran away with the top prizes in this year's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition earlier this month. Plymouth-based Algal Scientific took home the grand prize of $500,000 in seed capital for its wastewater treatment system technology that uses algae to remove nutrients from contaminated water, leaving the raw materials for biofuel production. Livonia-based nanoMAG took home the $100,000 runner-up prize for its work developing a new type of Magnesium compound that can be used for biocompatible stents and implants. Six people and an intern are now employed at nanoMAG, which moved from Ann Arbor to Livonia about a year ago to take advantage of a manufacturing facility. It expects to hire a few more people next year as it continues development of its technology. Steven LeBeau, president of nanoMAG, plans to use the cash and the win to leverage an even bigger seed capital round next year. "We're using the contest as a PR tool to get in touch with people we have been in contact with over the last year for fundraising," LeBeau says. "We're hoping to leverage the $100,000 into seven figures." Other Metro Detroit winners include: - InfiChem Polymers, which won the $25,000 prize in the the Advanced Materials category. The Sterling Heights-based start-up reuses a main chemical in polyurethane foam as a basic building block to manufacture new polyurethane foam. The old polyurethane foam comes from post-industrial scrap that is normally landfilled. - BioSavita, which won the $25,000 price in the Life Sciences category. The Plymouth-based start-up is developing biotechnology focused on accelerating therapeutic antibody development. - Coliant, which won the $25,000 prize in the Next Generation Manufacturing category. The Warren-based start-up's Powerlet brand is an electrical accessory in the powersport industry that allows users of things like motorcycles and ATVs to plug their gadgets into the vehicle. Source: Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition and Steven LeBeau, president of nanoMAG Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Sterling Heights and Troy singled out for their biz dev virtues

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

November 1, 2012

In an eCities study, eight Michigan communities were singled out by U-M Dearborn's iLab for their innovative approaches to business development. Sterling Heights and Troy made sure Metro Detroit was properly represented. Excerpt: "Eight communities across the state of Michigan are top performers at fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development, according to the annual eCities study. The study, conducted by iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation and Research, identified Alpine Township, Grand Blanc, Grand Rapids, Imlay City, Meridian Township, Midland, Sterling Heights and Troy for their incentives, innovative programs and best practices geared toward business development." Read the rest here.

BEET lands $1.25M in seed capital, including Michigan Pre-Seed Capital

By Newsroom

●

General

●

November 1, 2012

BEET Analytics Technology has locked down $1.25 million in seed capital in its first year, setting the stage for it to launch its manufacturing software and help it gain traction. The Plymouth-based start-up, which utilizes the services of the Macomb OU-INCubator, provides diagnostic and analytic software for automation and manufacturing markets. Its software provides insight into manufacturing quality and maintenance performance, along with monitoring capabilities to component level activities. The 1-year-old company is set to launch its product later this year. "We would like to be the premier automotive intelligence software provider," says Edward Kim, president of BEET Analytics Technology. "We would like to help company in the automotive industry improve production through cost savings." BEET Analytics Technology currently employs nine people. It has recently hired two people and expects to hire another in the near future. The recent infusion of $250,000 from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund is expected to help fund that staff expansion. Source: Edward Kim, president of BEET Analytics Technology Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Coliant expands by 6 people, opens new office in Sterling Heights

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

November 1, 2012

Coliant has opened a new office in the Macomb-OU INCubator with offices at the Velocity Collaboration Center in Sterling Heights, a move that has led the Warren-based company to expand its staff. The 8-year-old firm employs 17 people and the occasional intern. It has hired six people over the last year, many of which are staffing the new office in Sterling Heights. Coliant created Powerlet, an electrical accessory in the powersport industry that allows users of things like motorcycles and ATVs to plug their gadgets into the vehicle. The company has expanded its domestic sales of this product and is expanding into military markets. "By focusing on sales we have grown exponentially," says Adam Bonislawski, vice president of sales for Coliant. Coliant is also a semi-finalist in the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. The company hopes to win the competition's $500,000 grand prize or one of its secondary prizes, which are usually in the five-figure range. "Access to capital is always necessary for a growing business," Bonislawski says. "We have to keep an eye out for any opportunities for new capital." Source: Adam Bonislawski, vice president of sales for Coliant Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

State awards $5.25M to SE Michigan to fuel tech innovation

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

October 11, 2012

Tech entrepreneurship doesn't just happen. Sometimes it needs a push or helping hand. The state has awarded strategic funds to organizations like the Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy at the University of Michigan, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center in Plymouth, and the Macomb-Oakland University Incubator in Sterling Heights. Excerpt: "The awards, which are designed to help organizations fill gaps in entrepreneurial service areas, were among several items approved Thursday by the Michigan Strategic Fund. A total of $3.25 million in assistance will help Next Energy in Detroit, the Macomb-Oakland University Incubator in Sterling Heights and the Michigan Small Business Technology & Development Center, housed at Grand Valley State University, to provide commercialization matching funds to companies receiving federal technology research grants. Next Energy will receive $700,000 over three years; Macomb-OU will receive $766,036 over two years, and the Small Business Technology & Development Center will receive $1.75 million for one year, according to state information." Read the rest here.