Innovation & Job News

TechTown sets up microloan fund for start-ups

metromode Thursday, April 01, 2010

Microloan funds are becoming the economic tool of the year for more and more regional business accelerator agencies. The latest is the First Step Fund in Detroit's TechTown business incubator.

Invest Detroit and Ann Arbor SPARK, which runs the Michigan Microloan Fund, are behind the First Step Fund. The idea is to create a funding source for local start-ups starving for seed capital in the midst of the credit crisis, whereas traditional lending institutions have at best been stingy with investment capital.

"If we're serious about dealing with the unemployment rate in the city of Detroit, which is now at 30 percent, we need to develop numerous sources of financing and we need to do it quickly," says Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown. "This is not a normal situation where we can respond normally."

He adds that TechTown currently has 1,300 entrepreneurs coming through its FastTrac program. About half of them have already graduated and are working toward establishing their entrepreneurial ventures. This fund would make loans to entrepreneurs and start-ups like this that range between $10,000 and $50,000.

The fund hopes to make 40 loans this year, possibly by mid-April. That's when a board independent of TechTown will decide which loans to make first.

"What we hope to do is deploy as much as possible, consistent with reasonable background checks to make sure our candidates are reasonably prepared," Charlton says.

The First Step Fund is part of the New Economy Initiative's effort to turn TechTown into one of the primary economic hubs of Michigan. The Kaufman Foundation and other institutions are investing millions of dollars to create thousands of new businesses in Detroit over the next couple of years.

Source: Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown
Writer: Jon Zemke

Macomb Comm. College, Wayne State split $5M federal stimulus grant

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

Wayne State University and Macomb Community College are splitting a $5 million federal stimulus grant to help further research and development of electrical vehicles.

The new electric drive vehicle engineering program known as E3 - Electrifying the Economy, Educating the Workforce is in accordance with President Obama's goal of putting 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

The program will develop advanced educational programs in electric drive vehicles at both institutions of higher learning. These degrees will feature a master's in electric drive vehicle engineering and a bachelor's in electric transportation technology. National workshops and outreach programs to secondary education classes will also be offered.

E3 received the grant last fall and just formed its executive advisory committee. It expects to begin kicking the program into high gear later this year.

Source: Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemke

Let's Save Michigan announces poster contest winner

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

And the winner is... Michigan! That seems to be the general consensus from the recent poster contest sponsored by Let's Save Michigan and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Tany Nagy won for her poster that features a number of hands and wind turbines. See the rest of the runners-up and other contestants' work here. The pieces will be on display at the iconic Fisher Building in Detroit's New Center neighborhood through the end of March.

"We're using this as a way to push forward advocacy for arts funding," says Sean Mann, director of the Ann Arbor-based Let's Save Michigan campaign.

More than 300 posters were submitted and more than 20,000 people voted for their favorite. Most had an art deco style, reminiscent of WPA art produced during the Great Depression. Think the Diego Rivera murals in the DIA.

The idea behind the contest is to leverage the state's creativity to show why its cities are attractive communities and what can be done to improve the quality of life here. One of the principals, Let's Save Michigan, is pushing to increase arts funding, seen as key to making the Great Lakes State a place with a high quality of life.

"The arts are a key asset for desirable communities," Mann says, adding that Michigan ranks No. 48 when it comes to arts funding per capita.

Source: Sean Mann, director of Let's Save Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Mi Estilo webzine celebrates local Latinos

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

A year ago, Jose Rodriguez and three partners started Mi Estilo, an online magazine dedicated to covering the lives and issues of Metro Detroit's Latino population. The weekly webzine continues on its tear, gaining readers and expanding its staff.

"It's unbelievable and overwhelming that we're still around after a year," says Jose Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of Mi Estilo.

The name is Spanish for My Style, which is meant to reflect the diversity of interests and talents in this segment of the population. It covers everything from Detroit's famous Mexicantown neighborhood to the cultural impact of Latinos to how that group spreading its roots into suburban Detroit.

The publication, which is based out of the Royal Oak/Troy area, keeps the four partners busy and has a staff of four regular writers who are a combination of independent contractors and interns. The website garners about 1,000 hits per month and is growing. It hopes to double that readership in its second year.

"It's about half and half returning readers versus new readers," Rodriguez says. "We're really well known at this point. We're recognized now for our good brand."

Mi Estilo is smartphone compatible and is reaching out through social media marketing efforts, such as on Facebook. It's also diversifying its media offerings to include both audio and the written word, and may branch out into video reporting.

"We have lots of ideas of what we would like to do," Rodriguez says. "It's just a matter of when."

Source: Jose Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of Mi Estilo
Writer: Jon Zemke

TechTown throws hat in Google Fiber ring

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

Detroit is turning one of its stereotypical negatives of poverty into one of its primary selling points as it takes a shot at becoming one of the Google Fiber communities.

Officials from the TechTown business accelerator based in the city's New Center neighborhood are making the argument that Detroit has just about everything Google needs to test out all of the facets of its super-fast broadband experiment.

Detroit has both people who are struggling and without Internet access and affluent users who depend on it. The Motor City has both huge multi-national corporations and small businesses. It has both traditional businesses and cutting edge start-ups. Plus, it has all of the infrastructure in place in an area that would both help prove Google's business model and benefit greatly from its presence.

"We offer a diversity to the pilot that few others can offer," says Vita Merlotti, a SmartStart support leader at TechTown who is quarterbacking the effort. "We offer every end of the spectrum."

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. Think of this pilot project as having the potential to give your Internet connection Millenium Falcon speed.

Several cities in Michigan have applied for the Google Fiber installations, including Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Saline/Pittsfield Township, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

Ann Arbor got on the bandwagon quickly, launching A2Fiber, a Facebook fan page, a YouTube contest, and other online efforts to rally support for its application. The University of Michigan and Ypsilanti are backing Ann Arbor's effort.

Source: Vita Merlotti, a SmartStart support leader at TechTown
Writer: Jon Zemke

Asterand subsidiary partners with Japanese pharmaceutical firm

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

Asterand continues to spread its wings as the bio-tech research firm and its subsidiaries lock down more partnerships.

The Detroit-based firm's subsidiary, BioSeek, has agreed to a partnership with Japanese-based Ono Pharmaceutical. Both have signed a three-year drug discovery collaboration agreement.

The plan allows BioSeek to apply its proprietary BioMAP platform on a specific drug target class designated by Ono. Put simply, the agreement allows the firm to use Ono's research to continue developing drugs and parts of future drugs. BioSeek will receive research funding as it hits certain milestones while Ono will keep the rights to develop and sell the pharmaceutical products discovered through the collaboration.

BioSeek's BioMAP Systems concentrates on primary cell-based models of human disease biology, designed to replicate the intricate cell and pathway interactions as they are observed in human pharmacology and toxicology. This can provide insight into properties of compounds, such as on- and off-target effects and dose responses in humans.

Asterand is the leading global supplier of human tissue samples and human tissue-based research services to drug discovery scientists. It is the main tenant in the TechTown business incubator in Detroit's New Center neighborhood.

Source: Asterand
Writer: Jon Zemke

GREEN SPACE: DTE launches program to help homeowners lower utility costs

metromode Thursday, March 25, 2010

DTE Energy has started offering a new service, YourEnergySavings.com, to its customers in an effort to help increase their energy efficiency. And why would a utility company that makes its money from energy usage do such a thing? It's the world we live in, says Emmett Romine, the manager of DTE's energy optimization program. "The key here is that we recognize the state of the economy in Michigan and our customers' difficult state economically right now, and anything we can do to help them with their bills, their energy costs...is a good thing."

The site has how-to videos, energy savings tips, and information on energy efficiency programs and rebates available to DTE. It has two new videos, one on sealing air leaks and another on installing insulation, that were filmed in Ann Arbor and feature DTE Energy customers.

The site also offers information on compact fluorescent bulbs: how much they'll save you, how to pick the right one for particular fixtures, and where to buy them at discounted prices.

Special for spring, there's info on roof ventilation and air conditioner maintenance, furnace replacement, and landscaping. Plans are to rotate tips according to the season.

Source: Emmett Romine, DTE
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Wonderstruck Studios to open in Ford Field

metromode Thursday, March 18, 2010

Wonderstruck Studios plans to set up shop in the Ford Field complex in downtown Detroit.

The digital content studio specializes in creating material for a broad range of film industry niches, such as movies, TV, video games and other forms of media. Much of that content includes animation, graphics, images, and video.

Wonderstruck Studios announced a little more than a year ago that it would open its studio in the old MGM Grand building on the west side of downtown Detroit's Central Business District. That plan, called Detroit Center Studios, called for an $85.9 million investment to create 413 jobs. A $16.9 million state tax credit had also been approved. However, that deal fell through late last year.

Source: Wonderstruck Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke

Karmanos Cancer Center expands into Monroe, Toledo

metromode Thursday, March 18, 2010

Detroit-based Karmanos Cancer Center is spreading its wings into the Monroe and Toledo markets with its new Monroe Cancer Center.

Karmanos, which is based next to the Detroit Medical Center campus in Midtown, is partnering with Mercy Memorial Hospital of Monroe and ProMedica Health System of Toledo to make this happen.

"The Monroe area doesn't have any sort of comprehensive cancer facility at all," says Mary Short, vice president of the Karmanos Cancer Center. "People who live there have to travel quite a ways for care."

The partnership broke ground this week on the new cancer center at 800 Stewart Road, near the campus of Mercy Memorial Hospital. They plan to create a world-renowned cancer treatment facility in Monroe, the first integrated cancer center in the area offering medical and radiation oncology services under one roof.

The $5 million project will allow for the delivery of individualized cancer therapy, the latest protocols for medical oncology, and advanced technology for radiation oncology. The facility will include physician offices and offer laboratory and other oncology-related services.

Karmanos employs about 1,000 people, mostly in Detroit's greater downtown area. It has 23 open positions for everything from nurses to laboratory technicians.

"We're always looking for people," Short says.

Source: Mary Short, vice president of the Karmanos Cancer Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

WSU's Ligon Research Center of Vision lands $1M grant

metromode Thursday, March 18, 2010

Things are becoming a bit clearer for Wayne State University's Kresge Eye Institute, but a $1 million grant will do that.

The Dryer Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to the Ligon Research Center of Vision at the institute last week. The interest from the new endowment will allow the center to hire more staff to help fight blindness and other vision problems.

"We have plans to recruit a researcher who will focus on disease of the retna and fighting blindness research," says Erika Walker, director of development at the Kresge Eye Institute. Walker quarterbacked the grant application.

The Dryer Foundation is named after banking industry executive Edward Dryer and his wife, Ellen. They were lifelong residents of Detroit. Edward Dryer suddenly lost his sight while traveling on business in New York, which resulted in the loss of his job. His wife helped him follow the market by reading him The Wall Street Journal and other financial publications. That allowed Dryer to begin investing in the stock market, where his investments grew.

The couple died 11 years ago. The foundation was established from their estate. It now has a mission to aid people who have limited sight and to aid research for the prevention of blindness.

Source: Erika Walker, director of development at the Kresge Eye Institute
Writer: Jon Zemke

DTE Energy signs $18M solar energy contract

metromode Thursday, March 11, 2010

DTE Energy is taking another step toward reaching Michigan's new Renewable Portfolio Standard for alternative energy, now that it's getting ready to install a whole bunch of solar panels.

Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of the downtown Detroit-based firm, has signed an $18 million contract with Novi-based Nova Consultants. The two will work with the utility's SolarCurrents renewable energy program to create three megawatts of new solar panels in southeast Michigan over the next year.

Nova will analyze the feasibility, design, and installation of photovoltaic solar systems on the roofs of both Detroit Edison-owned buildings and those of its customers. Think large industrial buildings.

"We're in the beginning stages of a number of different solar projects," says Scott Simons, a spokesman for DTE Energy.

The RPS requires that 10 percent of the utility's power generation come from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2015. DTE Energy has acquired easements on 75,000 acres of land in Huron County in Michigan's Thumb region for development of large-scale wind farms. The company also has two solar energy pilot projects that could produce about 20 megawatts of power.

Source: Scott Simons, a spokesman for DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke

Stunt3 Multimedia hires 6, plans to hire more

metromode Thursday, March 11, 2010

Stunt3 Multimedia might be working on a film about the little leagues, but it's starting to line up some big league hits.

The downtown Detroit-based start-up is finishing a promising documentary about Little League Baseball and is getting ready to take on an even larger project about it this year. All of this work has allowed the company, which works out of the Ford Building, to hire six people, bring on an intern, and give work to two independent contractors. The company hopes to double or even triple its employee staff of seven people within the next two years.

Brian Kruger started the company a year and a half ago after he sustained a profitable exit from another company he started in 2002. Stunt3 Multimedia focuses on motion picture production, film restoration, and online media software.

The company has spent the last eight months working on The Girl in Centerfield, a full-length documentary about Carol King and how she became the first girl to play Little League Baseball in 1973. It is looking at either taking the film through the festival circuit or selling it to a premium cable TV channel, such as HBO.

"We're planning for a June 1st release date," says Kruger, who serves at Stunt3 Multimedia's president and CEO. "It's 90 percent done."

The company is also planning to film a series of 5-10 minute vignettes about famous Little League players for ESPN this summer. The series would focus on people who might be legends in the Little League world but didn't necessarily latch on to professional sports.

Stunt3 Multimedia is also trying to bring film restoration (both traditional and digital film) work to Detroit. The industry, which is mainly based in India at present, could lead to 100-200 new jobs at the company if it can pull off its plans to make that happen.

Source: Brian Kruger, president and CEO of Stunt3 Multimedia
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M, WSU lead new transportation consortium

Concentrate Thursday, March 11, 2010

Transportation has been getting people to their jobs in Michigan for a century, and a new University Research Consortium program wants to reinvent that business model so people in Metro Detroit have better ways to access paying opportunities.

Excerpt:

If there is one thing Ann Arbor knows, it's research. And if there's one thing Metro Detroit knows, it's transportation. The two areas are combining these two strengths to create Transforming Transportation: Economies & Communities.

The University Research Corridor's new program promotes multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research that supports industry, community, and government policy-making and planning. The University of Michigan and Wayne State University will lead the charge with this new effort that hopes to serve as a nerve center for transportation innovation in the regional, state, national, and global economies.

"It's an idea whose time has come," says Allen Batteau, an anthropologist who heads Wayne State's Institute for Information Technology and Culture.

Read the rest of the story here.

Intern in Michigan site attracts 10,000 students; more growth ahead

metromode Thursday, March 04, 2010

Intern in Michigan is looking to focus on two things in its second year � increasing participation and improving the technology that facilitates said participation. The bottom line is to not only staunch Michigan's brain drain but to also attract the next generation of workers to local employers.

"It's a very savvy strategy for them to attract top talent," says Britany Affolter-Caine, director of Intern in Michigan.

The Detroit Regional Chamber initiative has attracted 10,000 students and nearly 900 employers to its website. So far more than 500 internships have been listed and/or posted on the site.

And that's from using the first generation of software. Intern in Michigan plans to upgrade its software this year so it can build individual websites for companies that want to post internships. These sites would explain what the companies are all about and what they offer.

It's part of a tech outreach program the chamber is pushing. The idea is to make it easier for local businesses to utilize the site and bring on more interns.

"So it can truly handle the capability of 25,000 internship applications within five years," Affolter-Caine says.

The chamber is also launching a new pilot program this spring called D.E.T. for Discover, Engage, Transform. The program will educate interns on how and why Michigan, particularly Metro Detroit, is the ideal place for them to stay. It will give the interns a better understanding and knowledge of the region, while allowing them to network with more professionals outside of their workplace and make contacts in other fields.

Source: Britany Affolter-Caine, director of Intern in Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Detroit's Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes targets new shops

metromode Thursday, March 04, 2010

One of downtown Detroit's favorite small businesses is spreading its wings not only across the Metro Detroit region but across the Midwest.

Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes is opening up a new location in Toledo and building out a new space in Grosse Pointe. The Detroit-based creperie is also looking at opening in a few other spots in southeast Michigan and even other major metro areas in the Midwest, such as Chicago. This latest burst of expansion is expected to grow the company's payroll from eight people today to 24 by the end of the year.

Expanding in today's tight credit market is no easy feat for small businesses. Torya Blanchard, Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes' founder and owner, says she is accomplishing this by taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to her. For instance, Blanchard says the Toledo location, which is near the University of Toledo, was formerly a caf�, making the expansion inexpensive.

"It's a lot of hard work and good luck," Blanchard says. "You need to keep your nose to the grindstone and make rational decisions."

She adds that she is expanding the creperie in the Park Shelton building (next to the DIA) in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood from 900 to 1,700 square feet. The original small stand in downtown Detroit next to Oslo is closed for good while Blanchard focuses her business on sit-down spaces.

"I feel very nostalgic for that location. It's my baby," Blanchard says. "But it takes as much work as a sit-down location. I hope someone else can use that location as a place to get their start now."

Source: Torya Blanchard, owner of Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes
Writer: Jon Zemke

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