Vectorform started a hiring binge about two years ago, about doubling what became its worldwide staff.

The software-design firm had to shrink a bit late last year when the economy crashed, but it still employs 70 worldwide. About 25 people work from its Royal Oak headquarters, including about half a dozen interns and a few independent contractors.

"In the past two years, the company has expanded quite a bit," says Markus Sheldon, an account manager for Vectorform. "We're in a very good position to grow."

The firm hopes to grow another 10-15 percent within the next year, and is looking for talented developers, designers, and project managers. For more information on Vectorform's current openings, please visit careers.vectorform.com.

Vectorform specializes in Interactive design and development. Think web design and multi-touch hardware, such as the iPhone and Microsoft Surface. It recently debuted MeetMe, a new iPhone application, as part of a partnership between a number of local new economy entrepreneurs.

MeetMe specializes in finding the right place for two people to meet halfway between each other. It utilizes the likes of Yelp and Google maps to find an area halfway between two distant points to meet, and aids in the choice of a best place for that lunch/dinner/coffee meeting.

Source: Markus Sheldon, an account manager for Vectorform
Writer: Jon Zemke

Hennessey Capital finances again, this time striking five deals. Three of them will provide funds to help a few Michigan-based firms grow.

The five deals represent $4.6 million in financing. That's on top of the $3.6 million in deals that the firm brokered earlier this spring, with more expected to be announced later this year.

"We don't stop," says Mike Semanco, president of Hennessey Capital. "My objective is to do as many deals as we did in the first half."

Its loans include $1 million for a printing and creative design firm, $500,000 for a staffing company, and $50,000 for a precision machine shop.

Hennessey Capital, based in Huntington Woods, is a specialty finance company that provides working capital to small and mid-sized businesses. This funding allows the companies to grow and often pays for payroll expansion or equipment investment.

Source: Mike Semanco, president of Hennessey Capital
Writer: Jon Zemke

The new firms are the ones that usually steal most of the spotlight when it comes to taking advantage of Michigan's new film incentives. Dark Spark Media is one of those companies that has been around a while.

The video production firm used to specialize in creating training films for the likes of the automotive industry. It began to diversify into live exhibits and other filming when the car sector began contracting. Last year it did work for its first feature film.

"We want to diversify into more films," says Annie Harrelson, sales and marketing manager for Dark Spark Media.

Its latest hire came about the same time it began branching out to feature film work last summer. Now the downtown Royal Oak-based firm employs eight people, two interns and a few independent contractors as needed. Its two interns are Royal Oak natives who have been working with Dark Spark for the last four years.

The company got its start about 25 years ago as Visual Concepts, a production firm. One of the founder's sons started a post-production firm, Video Design. The two firms merged and became Dark Spark Media seven years ago when the original founder retired. Now the company specializes in taking film production from concept to reality.

Source: Annie Harrelson, sales and marketing manager for Dark Spark Media
Writer: Jon Zemke

Most entrepreneurial-based grants usually have something to do with making new business dreams become reality. That's not the case with Lawrence Technological University's spiffy, new $70,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration.

The funds will enable Lawrence Tech to study Metro Detroit's entrepreneurial environment in order to identify the area's strengths and weaknesses and how to improve/capitalize on both.

"It's going to take a look at what's being effective for innovation and entrepreneurs in the region," says Mark Brucki, executive director of development and government relations at Lawrence Tech and project director of the study. "It will map out what is being done and what isn't being done."

The university is doing this as part of a $146,000 feasibility study. The Detroit Regional Chamber is also chipping in with $10,000, with Lawrence Tech making up the balance.

Among the things the study will determine is the feasibility of creating a regional Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Recommendations on that and other areas to improve the region's entrepreneurial infrastructure will be made within a year.

Source: Mark Brucki, executive director of development and government relations at Lawrence Tech
Writer: Jon Zemke

Energy Conversion Devices is growing through acquisition these days. The Rochester Hills-based manufacturer of thin-film flexible solar laminate solar panels is merging with California-based Solar Integrated Technologies, a deal that is expected to be set in stone within 60 days.

Solar Integrated Technologies builds integrated photovoltaic roofing systems. The acquisition is a logical move for Energy Conversion Devices, which has served as a customer of Solar Integrated Technologies for years.

To benefit its European operations and grow its U.S. market, Energy Conversion Devices is paying $11.2 million cash and assuming Solar Integrated Technologies debt. The deal is valued at $16.3 million.

Energy Conversion Devices is a subsidiary of United Solar Ovionic, which is also based in Rochester Hills.

Source: Energy Conversion Devices
Writer: Jon Zemke

Libraries aren't just places for books and shelves anymore. These days, it's getting to the point where the books don't even need shelves.

It's why the Dearborn and Canton libraries are welcoming the Digital Bookmobile this week. The idea is to teach users how to access the library's information electronically, which these days means reading books on iPods and computer screens.

"Libraries are information specialists (these days)," says Maryanne Bartles, director of the Dearborn Library System.

So even though the Digital Bookmobile will specialize in digital reading devices, the Kindle won't be part of the discussion. The libraries will be touting devices that allow for the free exchange of material; by comparison, Kindle users have to buy their books online.

For information, call (734) 397-0999 or (313) 943-2049.

Source: Maryanne Bartles, director of the Dearborn Library System
Writer: Jon Zemke

Consumers Energy has announced the start of its Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP), in which the utility company will purchase energy generated through solar photovoltaic systems for the rate of $0.45/kWh in 2009 and $0.37/kWh for 2010 and beyond, for up to ten years. Considering you are likely paying in the range of $0.11/kWh, Consumers is hoping to incentivize, in a pretty big way, some of their customers investing in renewable energy sources.

The bad news for us in Southeast Michigan is that DTE Energy does not currently have a similar program in place. But one is definitely in the works: Michigan's Renewable Portfolio Standard, which mandates that 10% of Michigan's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2015.

Consumers is willing to put money into its, well, consumers doing some of the heavy lifting towards its compliance to the RPS. The bonus for anyone getting on board -- besides making some money from clean electricity generation -- is that current federal tax credits will pay for up to one third of the cost of installing a photovoltaic array.

Consumers' program is purely for an array that feeds directly into its grid, without first feeding the business or home on which it is housed. The possibility does exist for the installation of two arrays: one that feeds the grid and one feeding the host.

One potential downside of buying into the program is the chance, however slight, that electricity rates go above $0.37/kWh within the next decade. Nate Koetje of Feyen Zylstra, a Grand Rapids-based renewable energy consulting company, thinks a raise of that magnitude is unlikely, but concedes that some speculators would not be comfortable being locked in at one price for such a long period of time.

Feyen Zylstra is working with its customers to navigate the application and installation process; for more information, email info@fzcorp.com.

Read more about solar projects in Metro Detroit in the Metromode feature: "Let The Sun Shine In."

Source: Nate Koetje, Feyen Zylstra
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

The start-ups in TechTown aren't the only ones making hires in the Detroit-based business incubator.

Excerpt:

TechTown is growing its staff as it prepares to service hundreds of more start-ups at the business incubator.

The economic development agency recently hired four people to handle everything from communications to facilities management. Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown, expects to bring on another 15 people within the next 18 months. These hires will allow TechTown to facilitate the creation of another 400 start-ups through the New Economy Initiative.

"This requires us to scale up our programs dramatically," Charlton says.

Read the rest of the story here.

One of the University of Michigan's own is coming home to run Google's Ann Arbor office.

Excerpt:

Google reached back to Michigan to find the next person to head up its operations in the Great Lakes State.

University of Michigan alum Mike Miller has been tapped to take over the AdWords, which is based in downtown Ann Arbor. The Grosse Pointe native and University of Detroit Jesuit High School grad worked at Cisco before joining Google in 2006, where he served in the leadership of the Internet search engine's online sales and operations.

Read the rest of the story here.

Research continues to grow in Ann Arbor as SRI International hires for its Tree Town office.

Excerpt:

There is a reason SRI International is growing in Ann Arbor. Actually there are a lot of reasons, and that's a big part of why the newly established research institute is hiring.

"Ann Arbor has a lot of talent," says Kenneth Augustyn, director of the Ann Arbor office of SRI International. "A lot of it is in little companies and some of it is in bigger companies."

Read the rest of the story here.

Michigan wants to speed up the transition from an automotive to an alternative energy focus in some smaller manufacturing plants  And its plans to pony up some dough to do it.

The state is offering $15 million in federal stimulus funds to manufacturers that plan to diversify their portfolio and create new jobs in the alternative energy sector. That could mean turning a plant that makes car doors into one that also makes wind turbine blades, thereby saving manufacturing jobs while diversifying the state's economy.

Michigan companies with fewer than 500 employees, as well as businesses that relocate to Michigan by the time of the award, will be eligible. Interested firms will go through a Request for Proposal grant process to obtain the funding. The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth will oversee the application process.

The business must be willing to diversify into manufacturing renewable energy systems or their components. That could include everything from wind turbines or solar panels or even either of their components. The only catch is, they must contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Michigan has been aggressively courting the alternative energy industry in recent years and has provided more than $1 billion in tax incentives for advanced battery companies and solar firms. For information on applying for the $15 million in manufacturing grants, click here or call (517) 241-6228.  

Source: State of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

What started out as a lark of a self-guided tour for foodies in Ann Arbor has turned into a growing company called Taste-Full Tours.

Laura Gononian and Laura Romito are self-described foodies – those who can't get enough of cooking and fine food. Last winter, while on a tour of Ann Arbor's fine culinary spots like Zingerman's, they wondered, why not offer this service for others?

Within a few weeks, they had enlisted the help of The Night Move bus and were taking customers to culinary hot spots in Metro Detroit, such as Toast in Ferndale and Avalon International Breads in Detroit. What began with a goal of doing one tour a month turned into six tours a month, plus private trips for corporate clients and dinner clubs for the Royal Oak-based start-up.

"The goal is to take people to little-known markets and restaurants," Gononian says. "Places that really aren't on anyone's radar."

The tours often have themes, such as pizza or beer, and tell the story behind foods, restaurants and markets. For instance, if a certain market has been owned by a family for generations, Taste-Full Tours will make sure to make a point of it. This often leads to a good bite of economic stimulus and a decent number of new customers for local small businesses.

Today, Gononian and Romito run Taste-Full Tours with the help of a few independent contractors and are looking to increase the number and variety of excursions this year.

Source: Laura Gononian, co-owner of Taste-Full Tours
Writer: Jon Zemke

Growth isn't necessarily the top priority for o2 Creative Solutions. It's why the Royal Oak-based firm is happy with an average of 15 employees and a handful of independent contractors and interns.

The experience design firm has a goal of combining multiple disciplines, such as branding or tech development, into one company. That way it can meet with, say, the likes of Lexus, and offer the best, most creative plan without limitation. Staying small helps accentuate this notion.

"The minute you get too big you can create compartments and people stop communicating with each other," says Brian Hords, founder and executive creative director for o2 Creative Solutions. "That takes away from our creativity."

For example, the firm has partnered with Ghostly International to create a new iPhone application called GHOSTLY DISCOVERY. The free application is a mood-based radio station featuring the Ghostly International and Spectral Sound catalogues. It lets users set the MOOD wheel to a color that best reflects their state of mind and then builds a music playlist from the catalogue, based on that mood. Users can then learn and purchase the song as it plays.

Hords started o2 Creative Solutions eight years ago with three people. He hopes to keep his firm at its current staff size for the foreseeable future.

Source: Brian Hords, founder and executive creative director of o2 Creative Solutions
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Michigan Economic Growth Authority is swinging for the fences with its latest round of tax incentives as it maxes out its tax break allotment for this year.

The highlight is the long-awaited deal that brings Quicken Loans to downtown Detroit. The nation's largest online lender plans to move its headquarters and 1,800 employees from Livonia into a few empty floors of the Compuware building overlooking Campus Martius. Quicken Loans is consolidating its executive, management, loan production, title production, and administrative functions there. Quicken Loans is also planning to build a new headquarters in downtown Detroit, with the assistance of $37.2 million in state tax credits over 12 years.

Magna Seating is also bringing auto jobs back to Highland Park. The automotive supplier plans to invest $18 million in a multi-product (think car seats) facility in the old Chrysler headquarters, with plans to create 420 jobs there. The state approved a $4.5 million state tax break over seven years and the city of Highland Park is considering a $1.5 million abatement for the project.

Continental Automotive Systems Holding is also expanding its operations in Auburn Hills. The $26.9 million project would create up to 230 new jobs. Two 10-year state tax credits worth $24.4 million helped push the company towards doing the project in Metro Detroit and retaining its existing workforce of 268 people.

The state also approved big tax-break deals for AVL Powertrain Engineering in Ann Arbor and Molded Materials in Saline.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Jon Zemke

Not everyone needs a new degree to make it in today's new economy. Lots of people already have a bachelor's or higher, which is why Lawrence Technological University came up with certificates.

When Lawrence Tech recently started focusing on retraining people who have lost their jobs for new careers in industries with ample opportunities, university officials quickly realized a lot of these people weren't your stereotypical high school drop-out metal bender.

"The majority of these people have is not two degrees but at least one degree," says Lisa Kujawa, assistant provost for enrollment at Lawrence Tech. "What they're looking for is short-term learning opportunities so they can transition into another career."

That's where Lawrence Tech's 36 new certificates come in. They are focused on emerging fields in the new economy, such as alternative energy, film, or sustainable architecture.

For information on these certificate programs call (800) CALL-LTU ext. 1, send an email to admissions@ltu.edu or click here.

Source: Lisa Kujawa, assistant provost for enrollment at Lawrence Tech
Writer: Jon Zemke

Novi-based ITC Holdings is expanding on its Green Power Express program with a new partnership.

It has reached an agreement with MDU Resources Group to help transmit the source of alternative energy (think wind farms in the Dakotas) to Michigan. North Dakota-based MDU plans to help ITC Holdings invest in its Green Power Express and secure approvals for it.

The Green Power Express program plans to grow a transmission network grid between sparsely populated wind farms in the upper Midwest to the region's population centers, like Metro Detroit. ITC Holdings is working to establish about 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage power lines at a cost ranging from $10-$12 billion. The Green Power Express is expected to transmit 20,000 megawatts of alternative energy, about as much as 7-9 coal plants produce.

ITC Holdings specializes in electricity transmission. Think of the huge power lines that supply electricity across the state. It has been investing in upgrading Michigan's power grid in recent years.

Source: ITC Holdings
Writer: Jon Zemke

RepairClinic.com is a perfect tale for this time: the combination of environmental sustainability, economic thriftiness and a growing business in Southeast Michigan. The company, founded in Canton in 1999, aims to be an easy and convenient online resource that helps do-it-yourselfers fix their own home appliances -- thus keeping them out of the landfill. Parts and information are available on a variety of home appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, ovens and dishwashers.

RepairClinic. com was recognized as one of Internet Retailer’s "Hot 100 Best Retail Web Sites" for 2008 and boasts more than 1.2 million customers across the U.S. "2008 was our best year ever, and 2009 [is looking] better than that," says president Chris Hall, who co-founded the company with CEO Larry Beach. "People are fixing things more than in the past."

Obviously, frugality plays a role in that increase in home-handiness. Hall estimates that typically, 75% of the cost of appliance repair is for the technician, while 25% is in parts. By empowering consumers with the proper instruction and correct parts, RepairClinic.com can make repair a more affordable option, prolonging the life of a machine.

Meanwhile, that old appliance is reused -- one of the three main principles of environmental stewardship, along with recycle and reduce.

One environmental downside to appliance repair in general is that newer equipment tends to be more energy efficient, particularly when it comes to washing machines, notes Hall. But he points out that refrigerators made in the past decade are all relatively efficient because most major strides were made prior to that, that the efficiency of gas stoves has remained relatively constant, and that improvements to dishwashers have mostly been with how well they clean dishes.

Bottom line? "It is more efficient and economical and more ecologically friendly to fix appliances than to throw them away," says Hall.

Source: Chris Hall, RepairClinic.com
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Another small business, an Internet radio station, moves out of the basement and into its first office in the Russell Industrial Center in Michigan.

Excerpt:

Stacy'e Jones has been making beats in her basement for years. The president and CEO of Stanford-Jones Media started her Internet radio business out of her home two years ago. Now she's moved to the Russell Industrial Center with plans of growing her business even more in Detroit.

"I just had to get a place for myself," Jones says. "There is a lot of freedom here. I don’t have to worry about my security deposit if I paint the walls a different color."

She runs R&B and hip hop stations from her 800-square-foot place at the Russell today and plans to start a third this summer. The new station will be centered completely on Detroit-based music and is expected to come online by August. You can find her stations here.

Read the rest of the story here.

MyBuys is setting up a growing presence in downtown Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

It's no mystery why Silicon Valley-based MyBuys opened up an office in downtown Ann Arbor.

The start-up's founder, Robert Cell, is an Ann Arbor native, graduating from Gabriel Richard High School and the University of Michigan. It's no wonder why he envisioned bringing a key office to Ann Arbor. So far the office, which opened last year, houses nine employees and five interns. It recently hired two interns as full-timers.

"There are some very bright, talented young people at the University of Michigan," says Drew Stirton, general manager of MyBuys. "We want to attract some of them to MyBuys."

Read the rest of the story here.

Stout Systems staff is becoming a bit more robust in Ann Arbor.

Excerpt:

Ann Arbor's Stout Systems takes the "fake phone call to get out of a painfully long meeting" to a new level with its first iPhone application – ISoBusy.

"Most of them (the other programs) ring your phone and you pretend you're having a conversation," says John W Stout, president and founder of Stout Systems.

ISoBusy actually provides a fake conversation to go with the fake phone call. They range from everything from a trainer yelling at you to work out to a fishing scam artist trying to steal money from you. Stout Systems hopes to capitalize on this with more iPhone applications.

Read the rest of the story here.