Identity : Innovation & Job News

Jed Clampett might have accidentally struck black gold (a.k.a. Texas tea) with an errant shot but Geologix knew what it was aiming for when it started using the water below Mt. Clemens for its products.

The Birmingham-based company is utilizing the mineral-rich waters of Mt. Clemens as its base for a variety of skin and bathing products called Mineral Essentials. The firm's researchers have determined the Metro Detroit community's water is mineral heavy, containing two pounds of up to 34 natural minerals in every five gallons.

That mix makes it different enough to use in a broad-based product line that does everything from heal dry, chapped skin to soothing aches and pains. And the line is successful enough that it's used by the famous Greenbrier spa in West Virginia ...not to mention the four positions it's created at Geologix.

Susan Gans, president of Geologix, hopes its newest product line will allow the company to double that employee base this year and help a few people feel better.

"We're not saying it’s a cure, but it certainly helps people," Gans says.

However, people have been treating Mt. Clemens' water like a cure for more than a century. Train loads of rich and poor alike came to the Macomb County seat to take advantage of the soothing mineral baths, some staying weeks at a time. Enough people took notice that it became Mt. Clemens' calling card for decades.

"When they first heard about this water and its 'healing' powers they had people coming from all over the world in private railroad cars just for the baths," Gans says.

They still come today, though Mt. Clemens is only remembered for its bathing industry. But Gans company is helping keep that legend alive, and making a healthy profit on the side.

Source: Susan Gans, president of Geologix
Writer: Jon Zemke

This weekend, more than 2,000 lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered activists from around the country will descend on Detroit to learn, network and, well, party.

The occasion? The National LGBT Task Force is hosting its annual conference on LGBT equality, Creating Change, at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center through Feb. 10.

Detroit was chosen as the host city for Creating Change because of the numerous strong LGBT organizations in the area, including Triangle Foundation, Affirmations, the Ruth Ellis Center, the Black Pride Society and Between the Lines.

"There are a lot of activities going on within this community," says Gabe Javier, one of four co-chairs for the Detroit host committee. "There's also the size of our community and how vibrant and diverse it is."

He says not everyone realizes what a hotbed this area is for the LGBT community. "We had the first LGBT group on a college campus (University of Michigan, 1971) and we have one of the largest black gay pride events in the nation (Hotter Than July)," he says.

Keynote speakers include Eugene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopalian bishop and Julian Bond from the NAACP, who is famously quoted as saying, "Are gay rights, civil rights? Of course they are!" The workshops and academies offered to attendees run the gamut, from spirituality, media relations, fund raising, movement building, health, the youth and elderly and tons, tons more.

But Creating Change is not all work and no play. Friday night is the Awareness Ball. Javier describes the ball scene as one specifically rooted in urban queer culture. "There are different categories of competition," he says. "It's like a catwalk fashion show but much more high energy."

The Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, using a lowball estimate of 1,500 attendees, anticipates the conference pumping more that $3.6 million in into the local economy, and welcomes the opportunity to show off Detroit to a unique audience.

"The whole concept of 'creating change' is kind of what's happening in downtown Detroit," says Carolyn Artman, the bureau's media relations manager. "We want to showcase what's new in Detroit to as many people and as diverse an audience as we can."

For more information, a complete schedule of events or to register, go to the conference's website.

Source: Gabe Javier, Creating Change Detroit host committee and Carolyn Artman, DMCVB
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanuagh

X-OLOGY Magazine launched this past winter and just released its fourth issue. The quarterly publication of Automation Alley seeks "to promote new technologies that exist in Southeast Michigan, to promote the idea that there is more going on here than just automotive," says editor Jane Gleeson. "This area has been stuck in a rustbelt image, but we are well beyond that."

The current issue is themed "Green is Gold," and focuses on the greening of the automotive industry. Features include a profile of ArvinMeritor's chairman, president and CEO Chip McClure, profiles of several suppliers that are "greening"up their act like Cobasys, Electrojet and Borgwarner and an overview of alternative fuel technology under development by the Big Three.

The summer issue covered nanotechnology, the spring, alternative energy and the winter, life sciences. "Each issue features one spcific technology. Our coverage expands to Michigan -- you can't just focus on Southeast Michigan when you are focusing on an overall technology," says Gleeson. "But we focus on companies in Southeast Michigan."

The Winter 2008 issue will focus on engineering technology, a broad topic indeed, but Gleeson is focusing X-OLOGY's lens. "We're interviewing several engineering firms that are state-of-the-art in terms of product development," she says. "There are lots of companies adapting to what they see as a growing technology field."

Like engineering firms that are adapting to a new economy, Gleeson sees a few other common denominators between companies that have ridden out the economic downturn: willingness to partner, becoming saavy to the global nature of business and adaptability.

The publication has a circulation of 20,000 with an estimated 337,000 readers. It is mailed to businesses, universities and homes and is available for sale at Barnes and Noble.

X-OLOGY is published by Renaissance Media, which also publishes the Jewish News

Source: Jane Gleeson, X-OLOGY
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

While natives grumble about the economy and the weather, new residents of Southeast Michigan are pleased with the quality of life they find here. The low cost of living and hgiher-than-average salaries help, too.

Excerpt:

Chris Baum is an expert on the area's highlights. It's his job to sell Detroit.

Baum moved to Detroit from New York 18 months ago to become senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

He is a self-proclaimed auto nut, and he came to Michigan because he wanted to help rebuild Detroit. He knows what appealed to him about Detroit may appeal to others.

"The reality is that people believe what they see and are told. During the Super Bowl, the city looked good on TV. Belle Isle's Grand Prix? Those who watched it saw the beautiful island in the City of Detroit. The riverfront is cleaned up. The MGM Grand is open. We've replaced negative news with positive and hopeful news."

Read the entire article here.

The University Research Corridor -- Wayne State University, University of Michigan and Michigan State -- contributed significantly to the state's economy in 2006. An independent study demonstrates that the trio contributed 68,803 jobs to the state with a net economic benefit of $12.8 billion.

Excerpt:

"This report documents how Michigan's URC universities have become a vital economic engine for the state," said Patrick Anderson, principal and CEO of Anderson Economic Group, who led the four-month effort. "These institutions attract enormous amounts of research dollars, produce highly trained graduates that attract employers around the country, and are some of the largest employers in the state. At a time when Michigan's economy is suffering, it is important to note this is one sector where we have truly world-class institutions."

Read the entire article here.

What is projected to create up to 60,000 jobs, exhibits true regionalism and would make Thomas Friedman squirm with delight? It's the aerotropolis being developed that would link Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Willow Run and to port and rail terminals throughout the area. 

The reason for all the attention to an aerotropolis, or airport city, is that logistics jobs are growing and cannot be outsourced – hence the Friedman, AKA World is Flat author, joke above. In Alex Diasdosz's recent metromode feature, he describes the logic behind the concept as: "Cities of the past rose at hubs of transportation — seaports, rail stations, and most recently, highways; accordingly, cities of the future will sprout around airports, the nuclei of global travel." 

Now, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano has announced the task force that will be charged with executing the concept. It will be co-chaired by John Rakolta, Jr. from Walbridge Aldinger and Joseph Palamara of the Wayne County Commission. 

Private sector members run the gamut and include an architect, non-profit representatives, auto manufacturers and suppliers, the airline industry and consumer product manufacturers such as Masco. 

Public sector members represent Wayne County, Taylor, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Belleville, Washtenaw County, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Van Buren Township, Romulus, Huron Township, Wayne County Airport Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation and SEMCOG. 

The group is charged with developing public and private sector support and serving as an advisory body for the creation of the master development, economic impact, business attraction and marketing plans for the aerotropolis. It will also recommend a long-term governance structure, a key component to making the plan a reality. 

Source: Wayne County
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Ann Arbor city officials are making a case for local residents to drink their tap water and stay away from bottled water, claiming it's better for the environment.

The Ann Arbor City Council has banned the city from buying or serving commercial bottled water at any functions. The resolution says that bottle water is not environmentally friendly because manufacturing new plastic bottles uses crude oil and energy, while disposing of those bottles creates more waste. It further argues that transporting that water creates air pollution, such as greenhouse gases.

It also states that withdrawing water from streams and wells is ecologically dangerous because it depletes wetlands, streams, lakes and other finite water resources. It also undermines confidence in city tap water, the resolution claims, adding "continuing to bottle water from non-renewable sources is dangerous to Michigan’s ecology and counter to the principles of a Green Society."

Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc. will hold their second national conference at Dearborn's Arab American National Museum May 17-20.

Between 120 and 160 attendees will gather for readings, panel discussions and celebration under the theme of "Writing While Arab: Politics, Hyphens, and Homelands."

RAWI secretary Deborah Alkamano notes that, while most attendees will come from around the United States, others will be attending from Canada and the Middle East. "The focus is less on being American and more on being Arab," she says. Of the attendees she notes, "They are not only writers in the traditional sense—poets, playwrights and novelists—but academics, bloggers, film-makers and activists."

The conference was first held in New York in 2005, and Alkamano, an area resident who teaches at Henry Ford Community College, is excited to bring her peers from all over the country to the AANM. She notes that not only will visitors get a chance to see the museum but will be able to connect with visual works current on display such as those by Adnan Chararra.

The conference includes 17 panels including ones on on-line writing, the publishing industry, Palestine, memoirs and race and ethnicity. Other events include readings from Pushcart Prize winner Naomi Shihab Nye on Thursday evening, and a Friday evening screening of conference coordinator Rola Nashef's film, "Detroit Unleaded" followed by a dance party. Saturday evening will feature the RAWI awards dinner.

Alkamano is particularly proud of RAWI's collaboration with Detroit organization InsideOut, which will bring together 15 Detroit students with 15 Dearborn students in a 2-hour writing workshop led by Nye.

For full conference schedule and registration information, click here.

Source: Deborah Alkamano, RAWI
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Paul Schutt, co-founder & publisher of our own Model D and metromode, will be the keynote speaker at this Friday's 2007 Regional Redevelopment Summit.

Hosted by The Michigan Suburbs Alliance the event will be held FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd at The Fairlane Club in Dearborn (map) and is an opportunity for local leaders to learn how to craft an image that draws new investment.

Schutt will discuss how media is providing "alternative narratives" for neighborhoods, cities and metropolitan areas. Local officials, developers, realtors and others involved and interested in redevelopment are encouraged to attend.

(Attendees mentioning either metromode or Model-D get 75% off the ticket price.)

The half day event also includes panel discussions with Jim Townsend, executive director of Tourism Economic Development Council, Michael Finney, president and CEO of Ann Arbor Spark, Bill Milliken, Jr., president of Milliken Realty and Commercial Board of Realtors and Doug Brown, director of development at ASTI Environmental.

For speaker presentation overviews and a full agenda, visit the Suburbs Alliance website.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Tickets are $80
but metromode and Model D readers
can buy tickets for just $20! 

Register online or visit the Michigan Suburbs Alliance website to pay by check.

Questions?  Contact Melanie Piana at (248) 546-2380 or melanie@suburbsalliance.org. 

More information about the 2007 Regional Redevelopment Summit can be found at www.suburbsalliance.org/new_and_events/events.