Innovation & Job News

Oakland County's OakGov Challenge taps techies for apps

metromode Thursday, May 27, 2010

Oakland County is looking for a few good apps, or at least some for its OakGov Challenge.

The county teamed up with AT&T to offer $10,000 in cash prizes to software developers to come up with applications, or apps, for smart phones, or web-based software that will streamline local government, making it more efficient and cost-effective. The OakGov Challenge's organizers purposely haven't asked for any specific types of apps and haven't specified which problems they are to address.

"What happens over time is the general public's needs change," says Phil Bertolini, deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County. "We don't claim to know everything they want."

First prize receives $6,500, second prize is $3,000, with $500 for third. The competition is open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Oakland, Genesee, St. Clair, Lapeer, and Livingston counties. Anyone who creates an app or comes up with an idea for one can submit it by June 11. The finalists will be chosen by July 8 and the winners will be announced on August 13.

For information on the contest, click here.

Source: Phil Bertolini, deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland County set for big job gains next year

metromode Thursday, May 06, 2010

If it's always darkest before the dawn then the same sentiment rings true for job creation in Oakland County.

The fourth-wealthiest county in the U.S. took it on the chin in 2009, losing 60,000 jobs. It's set to lose another 9,900 jobs this year, but those numbers will start to reverse considerably in 2011 and 2012. Oakland County can expect to create 2,400 jobs next year and 8,000 the year after, according to economists George Fulton and Don Grimes of the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Labor.

A big part of this success is the county's efforts to diversify its economy away from over-reliance on the automotive and manufacturing industries. It's now capitalizing on other areas such as health-care and alternative energy.

"We feel we're quite diverse already," says Maureen Krauss, director of economic development and community affairs for Oakland County. "We know we have the assets that not only help the auto-supplying industry, but the robotics and alternative energy industries."

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson likes to call this plan a way to help make his municipality recession resistant. It's an economic formula that has been employed with success in other Rust Belt metro areas such as Pittsburgh.

"We understand that we not only need to invest in diversifying our economy but that it's a long-term commitment," Krauss says.

Source: Maureen Krauss, director of economic development and community affairs for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Rochester's Kittyhawk Studios launches new iPhone app

metromode Thursday, May 06, 2010

Kittyhawk Studios sees the future of Internet marketing in cell phones, specifically the applications it is developing for hot technologies like the iPhone and iPad.

The Rochester Hills-based firm just released its second iPhone application called Paces. The event and training app helps users get event agendas, special announcements, and audience interaction directly into the hands of their audience. Event maps and facts can be updated in real time.

The instant update app fits into the ethos of Kittyhawk Studios, which specializes in providing quick results from marketing techniques that specialize in the here and now.

"We specialize in real-time marketing," says Paul Bartlett, president of Kittyhawk Studios. "Our execution is very fast and very efficient. We look for measured results quickly."

The firm is composed of four employees and a collection of independent contractors. It hopes to add another person or two this year as it takes on more apps for the iPhone and iPad.

"We're always looking for engineers who might have something to add and are creative," Bartlett says.

Source: Paul Bartlett, president of Kittyhawk Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland County opens $500K microloan fund

metromode Thursday, April 29, 2010

Microloan funds are spreading through Metro Detroit faster than the flu, with the latest outbreak taking place in Oakland County.

The Oakland County Microloan Program will provide loans of $500 to $35,000 to small businesses. It is modeled after the highly successful Michigan Microloan Fund run by Ann Arbor SPARK. The idea of the microloans is to help fill the capital void for small businesses that want to grow and create jobs but are being hampered by the nearly frozen credit lines of the financial industry.

"We expect the demand will be high for these loans because traditional lending channels are all but dried up for small businesses," says Maureen Krauss, director of Economic Development and Community Affairs for Oakland County. "There are a lot of people who want to start their own businesses."

Eligible businesses must be based out of Oakland County, pay a $75 application fee, have a business plan if they are under three years old, and at least two letters of denial from traditional lending sources. Owners must be current on child support, student loans, and income taxes.

Oakland County, in partnership with the Center for Empowerment & Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration, is giving $100,000 towards creating the fund, as well as a $500,000 pool to start with.

The Michigan Microloan Fund draws from a $1.5 million pool and also from other six-figure funds provided by Washtenaw County and the city of Ann Arbor that are geared toward businesses in those respective communities. It expects to make 24-48 loans this year. Detroit's TechTown has also formed its own fund and Oakland University's OU INCubator is taking steps to set up its own program.

Source: Maureen Krauss, director of Economic Development and Community Affairs for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

GREEN SPACE: Earth Day special edition

metromode Thursday, April 22, 2010

Michigan's largest Earth Day celebration is expected to draw 100,000 people this year, according to organizer Steve Rogge of TriGreen Development L3C. The magnitude becomes very apparent when you do the math: three days of festival with 220 exhibitors and hourly speakers, one parade, one fun run, dozens of kids activities, and three nights of parties.

The main portion of the Michigan Earth Day Fest will take place at the intersection of Third and Water Streets in downtown Rochester April 22 to 25. This is the meat and potatoes of the event, where visitors can get up close and personal with information and products that touch upon food, energy, transportation, wellness, home and garden, and more.

There will be speakers every hour on the hour, covering topics that range from the creation of a state bank in Michigan, climate change, nuclear energy, composting, the origins of the green movement, and much more. Kids activities include rock-climbing, worm bins, energy demonstrations, and a labyrinth. All exhibits, films, and presentations are free of charge.

Michigan Earth Fest runs Friday, April 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is rain or shine, people -- there is 50,000 square feet of tent space.

Additional activities include a preview party Thursday, April 22 at 7 p.m.; a green career fair on Friday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; a parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 24; a fun run on Sunday, April 25 at 10 a.m.; and two Parties for the Planet on Friday and Saturday nights.

Rogge founded TriGreen with partner John Batdorf under a new tax classification, L3C, a non-profit/for-profit hybrid. Their mission is to build partnerships with local businesses, governments and non-profits to promote economic and community development that meets the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity. "A healthy economy and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive," he says. "Really, they are dependent on each other." Michigan Earth Fest is the company's flagship event.

Source: Steve Rogge, TriGreen Development L3C
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Intellitouch Digital hires 11 in Rochester

metromode Thursday, April 15, 2010

The company now known as Intellitouch Digital Solutions is bigger than it was when it rebranded itself last summer.

The downtown Rochester-based firm went from two to 13 employees and a couple of independent contractors. It's also looking to bring in some summer interns from Oakland University.

"We have seen tremendous growth in the last nine months," says Jeffrey Olszewski, vice president of sales and marketing for Intellitouch Digital Solutions.

Intellitouch Digital Solutions makes touch screen displays so customers can browse and order merchandise. It started with fast food kiosks in places like California Pizza Kitchen. Today its touchscreens have expanded to 42-inch Hi-Def TVs in places like ArtVan Furniture. The technology is much more sales friendly so customers can browse merchandise and get a better feel for it in smaller retail outlets.

"We're bringing life to the ordering boards," Olszewski says.

Intellitouch Digital Solutions hopes to bring its technology into more industries such as health-care by creating strategic partnerships with hospitals.

Source: Jeffrey Olszewski, vice president of sales and marketing for Intellitouch Digital Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Epitec Group acquires Rochester's Creative Logic

metromode Thursday, April 08, 2010

Southfield-based The Epitec Group has acquired Rochester-based Creative Logic, consolidating the two firms under Epitec's corporate umbrella.

The four employees from Creative Logic will join the 430 employees at The Epitec Group. Thirty-five staffers are based in Southfield, with the rest scattered across Metro Detroit. The company expects to make 15 more hires over the next year.

The Epitec Group specializes in technology services and staffing providers. Creative Logic works in the application and software development fields, servicing the financial services, high tech, health care, manufacturing, insurance, retail, and government sectors.

"It was really hard for us to penetrate the fixed prices of IT work," says Tony Hollamon, executive vice president of The Epitec Group. "We have been trying to break into that market. Creative Logic offered that credibility."

Source: Tony Hollamon, executive vice president of The Epitec Group
Writer: Jon Zemke

Royal Oak, Rochester go for Google Fiber

metromode Thursday, April 01, 2010

The bevy of Metro Detroit municipalities that are vying to become Google Fiber communities reads like a list of the best of the best when it comes to vibrant city centers in southeast Michigan.

Ann Arbor, Birmingham, and Detroit have now been joined by Royal Oak and Rochester. The cities believe they have what it takes to get on board with what promises to be the fastest broadband program in the world. And they all see it as a chance to bring even more value and economic opportunity to local residents and businesses.

"Everybody is thinking the same thing," says Nicholas Banda, director of economic and community development for the city of Rochester, which is teaming up with Rochester Hills in its bid. "This is just another edge."

Google plans to build and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in a small number of communities across the country. These lines will stream data at 1 gigabit per second, about 100 times faster than what most Americans get through their current cable and DSL providers.

Local metros are touting their advantages from varied economic landscape (Detroit) to a combination of suburban and urban infrastructure (Ann Arbor). Ann Arbor and Birmingham are also home to two of Google's offices, including the search engine's AdWords headquarters in downtown Ann Arbor.

Source: Nicholas Banda, director of economic and community development for the city of Rochester
Writer: Jon Zemke

Oakland INCubator plans to create microloan fund

metromode Thursday, March 11, 2010

Ann Arbor SPARK isn't going to be the only economic development agency with a microloan fund, now that Oakland University's INCubator is taking steps to create its own.

"During the spring and summer months we will be forming the microloan fund and seeking interested investors to initiate that fund," says David Spencer, executive director of the Oakland University INCubator. "As soon as that fund is fully formed we will be seeking candidates interested in participating with this new program."

Right now it's working out an agreement with the Rochester Downtown Development Authority. After that is finalized, the INCubator will begin fundraising efforts with a goal of raising $300,000-$400,000 in private sector cash. The Rochester DDA might also choose to match a portion of this fund up to $100,000. Spencer also stresses that the INCubator will not begin taking applications for loans until the fund is formed and an announcement saying as much is made.

After the money is raised the INCUbator will identify key emerging sectors to target with the money, such as Medical Mainstreet. It could also identify retail businesses that would be attractive to bring to downtown Rochester that currently don't exist.

Microloan funds make loans from between a few thousand to tens of thousands dollars to small businesses, usually of the new economy kind. Ann Arbor SPARK administers Michigan's Microloan Fund, plus a few geared specifically for Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor businesses.

The INCubator's microloan fund will provide loans from $5,000 to $50,000 to entrepreneurs, early stage ventures, and growth companies in an effort to attract more new companies to the northern Oakland County area. Organizers anticipate the loan fund will be available in the next 12-18 months.

The $1.5 million Michigan Microloan Fund Program is made up of three distinct microloan funds, including the Eastern Washtenaw Microloan Fund ($225,000), Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund ($1 million), and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Local Development Financing Authority ($275,000). The Michigan Microloan Fund Program, which is administered by Ann Arbor SPARK, has distributed $911,500 to 23 companies since last year.

Source: Oakland University and David Spencer, executive director of the Oakland University INCubator
Writer: Jon Zemke

Global Wave Today reaches from Rochester to China

metromode Thursday, February 25, 2010

Felicia Cheng wants to harness the economic opportunity evident in China into her start-up, Global Wave Today.

The Rochester-based firm specializes in helping local firms make the leap halfway around the world into the emerging markets in China. The idea is to bring the proven products and services sold here to the rapidly growing sectors in China. Cheng's firm facilitates this through its experienced staff and contacts abroad.

"People are kind of afraid of doing business overseas," Cheng says. "I have the knowledge and resources to help them do that."

Right now she is helping seven firms from across the U.S. and Canada make that jump and take advantage of those markets. She gives an example of how there are 300 million Internet users and 63 million Internet shoppers in China, and that's only 38 percent of its population.

"There is huge room for growth for companies to take advantage of," Cheng says.

Right now Global Wave Today is aiming to take advantage of its own growth prospects. The company is made up of Cheng, who holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a resume with GM and China experience all over it, one intern, and a partner in China. She hopes to add a few more people this year as the business grows.

Source: Felicia Cheng, CEO and co-founder of Global Wave Today
Writer: Jon Zemke

Bandals' sales up, plans to hire 10-12 in Rochester

metromode Thursday, February 11, 2010

Year one is in the books for Bandals International, and it was a solid step forward for the Rochester-based firm.

The firm makes adjustable thong-style sandals. Hardly a new economy start-up, but it's one that has created three jobs and plenty of work for a number of stakeholders in the firm. It has raised about $600,000 in seed capital, including a recent $250,000 loan from Hennessey Capital last year.

Then there are the sales numbers. Bandals International has sold 20,000 pairs of shoes and 40,000 pairs of the bands that go with them. It's been on QVC in both the U.S. and U.K. and has lined up 250 retail locations across the U.S. and even more distributors in Canada.

"We've sold a lot of shoes and we have a lot of retailers," says Joe Ferrario, a partner with Bandals International. "We're selling our product all around the world."

That's part of the validation of the company's promising future. Another is the growing number of competitors that are also trying to take advantage of the growing market, Ferrario adds. So much so that Bandals International expects its sales to grow even more, allowing it to hire another 10-12 people in 2010.

Source: Joe Ferrario, a partner with Bandals International
Writer: Jon Zemke

Rochester Hills' United Solar Ovonic wins another contract

metromode Thursday, February 11, 2010

Score another hit for United Solar Ovonic, now that it has nailed down another order for its solar panel products.

The Rochester Hills-based firm will provide up to 25 megawatts of its UNI-SOLAR photovoltaic laminates to Italy-based Enel Green Power. The solar panels will go on top of buildings in Italy owned by Enel Green Power, Italy's largest utility.

The UNI-SOLAR products will be installed on a variety of commercial and logistic buildings. They are expected to begin producing power later this year and to produce 33 million kilowatt hours annually once they're fully operational. That's enough renewable energy for 13,000 households, an amount of energy that would produce 21 tons of CO2 emissions annually from traditional energy production.

United Solar Ovonic is a subsidiary of Rochester Hills-based Energy Conversion Devices. The alternative energy firm has notched a number of high-profile orders, which can be seen here and here.

Source: United Solar Ovonic
Writer: Jon Zemke

Familymint.com gives money lessons for kids

metromode Thursday, February 11, 2010

Few things make adults shake their heads more than watching a freshly minted honor roll-level student graduate from high school and not know how to save money, or even how to balance a checking account.

A Rochester Hills-based start-up plans to help parents teach those sorts of simple financial lessons to their kids before they even get into secondary school. Jeff Eusebio and Bob Masterson came up with the idea for FamilyMint.com after realizing their kids had more money than they knew what to do with and no clue on how to manage it.

"They wanted to spend all of it all of the time," Eusebio says. "They didn't know what they had and we didn't know either. We thought there had to be something better than an Excel spreadsheet."

So they started building FamilyMint.com last May. The idea was to create an online money-management system for kids where the parents serve as the bank. That means the kids figure out what they can do with the money they have and then go to mom and dad when they want to make a withdrawal.

The company is keeping Eusebio and Masterson busy and letting them farm some work out to local firms specializing in public relations and web development. They just rolled out a public alpha version of the site and hope to debut the Beta version in May.

The goal is to reach 10,000 users in 2010 and hopefully add a few employees as the company grows.

Source: Jeff Eusebio and Bob Masterson, partners with FamilyMint.com
Writer: Jon Zemke

United Solar Ovonic wins $13M in stimulus funds, to add 600 jobs

metromode Thursday, January 28, 2010

Uncle Sam wants United Solar Ovonic to spend his federal stimulus money wisely and create green technology and jobs. It's a task the Rochester Hills-based firm believes it's up to.

The solar panel laminate firm recently received a $13.275 million tax credit as part of the company's planned investment into its Auburn Hills-based manufacturing plant. The plan is to both increase the efficiency of manufacturing the solar panels and to drive down the manufacturing costs. And it's expected to create about 600 jobs in Michigan.

United Solar Ovonic is a subsidiary of Rochester Hills-based Energy Conversion Devices. The company makes thin film solar panel material that can be used in roof materials to create renewable energy.

It has invested significantly mostly in Michigan. Besides its plant in Auburn Hills, it also pledged to open another manufacturing facility in Greenville, Michigan shortly after the main employer, Elctrolux, decided to pull up stakes. United Solar Ovonic also performs most of is research from the Rochester area.

Source: United Solar Ovonic
Writer: Jon Zemke

Michigan Microloan Fund makes $170K in new loans

concentrate Thursday, January 21, 2010

Small businesses are gathering at the trough of the Michigan Microloan Fund to feed, feed, feed on the available capital.

Excerpt:

The Michigan Microloan Fund Program has struck again, continuing what promises to be a common occurrence in 2010.

The program made $170,000 in loans to CTC Holdings, Energy Management Devices, MemCatch, and Motor City Wipers. All of the companies are from southeast Michigan and half of them are from the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area.

The micro loans provide funding for start-ups so they can either commercialize their product or accelerate their business growth. The $1.5 million program will make anywhere from 2-4 loans of a few thousand dollars each per month for 2010. That's another 24-48 fledgling local businesses receiving financing during a time when loans for small businesses are almost non-existent.

"I don't think the demand is going to decrease," says Skip Simms, fund manager for the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. "It has become a very popular way for start-ups to get a small amount of capital to get them to a significant milestone."

Read the rest of the story here.

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