Metro Detroit and Michigan are hitting the high end of the rankings when it comes to investment in biotech, according to the latest BioEnterprise Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report.

The Detroit-Ann Arbor region ranked second in Midwestern metro areas for biotech investment, with $70.8 million in investment from eight deals. That ranking is up from fifth in 2008 and sixth in 2007. The total investment has remained consistently between $64.9 million and 74 million while the number of annual deals also remained steady between five and eight.

Michigan ranked third in the Midwestern states region with $88.7 million over 11 deals. Minnesota and Ohio took the top two spots with more than $130 million each. The Great Lakes State ranked fourth last year and seventh in 2007 and 2006. Michigan's annual amount invested climbed from $38.9 million in 2006 to a high of $90 million last year.

Midwest health care startups reported $593 million in total investments across 140 companies through the first three quarters of 2009. Minnesota and Indiana lead the way in the rankings, with Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri making up the second tier.

Source: BioEnterprise
Writer: Jon Zemke

New and emerging sustainable technologies will be the focus of Automation Alley's latest conference - Green Michigan: Now and Tomorrow.

"It's an overview of where we are in regards to green technology and where we can go," says Katie Mullin, communications administrator for Automation Alley.

One of the main focuses will be on how to best take advantage of the federal block grants aimed at incorporating sustainable-oriented know-how into the local place. The speakers will also discuss the various ways that green tech is being used throughout the region, and where the future of energy is headed in Michigan.

The conference will be held on Nov. 10 at Automation Alley's Troy headquarters. Michele Soderstrom, market analyst at NextEnergy, and Conan Smith, executive director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, will be the marquee speakers at the event.

The seminar will be held between 8-10 a.m. Registration cost ranges from $20 to $50. For information, call (800) 427-5100 or info@automationalley.com.

Source: Katie Mullin, communications administrator for Automation Alley
Writer: Jon Zemke

Steve Dickinson and Mike McCowan didn't have to come back to Metro Detroit, but they did, and consequently created a thriving small business in Novi.

The Michigan State University graduates had jobs in Chicago and Connecticut when they came back to start Amistee six years ago. Today the duct-cleaning firm has taken advantage of a market both saw as under served in Michigan, a place the Livonia native longed to return to.

"We both love Detroit," says Dickinson, co-owner of Amistee, which is short for: A Mike and Steve corporation.

The company now employs 10 people after hiring four more this year. It plans to hire another five next year as it capitalizes on its growing sales. Dickinson says sales have doubled in the last year, mostly thanks to the company's customer service.

"It's pretty basic," Dickinson says. "You treat people the way you want to be treated."

Source: Steve Dickinson, co-owner of Amistee
Writer: Jon Zemke

Dan Irvin started 123.net in 1993 as a way to work from home and spend more time with his young family. Today the Southfield-based firm is becoming a family of companies, now that it has bought ZING Networks as part of its growth plan.

123.net (Irvin choose the name because it was easy to remember) is a communications service provider. It wanted ZING Networks, a wireless Internet service provider, because it is the sole 4G WiMAX network provider in Metro Detroit.

"It gives us another path to our customers," Irvin says. "We see it as a technology that has matured over the last 4-5 years."

Southfield-based ZING Networks' four employees will be folded into 123.net's operations, which already employ a dozen people, a summer intern and about half a dozen independent contractors. 123.net hired five engineers within the last year.

"I expect we'll double again in the next year," Irvin says.

The company has been on a tear in recent years and expects it to continue. It averages 30-40 percent annual revenue growth and has acquired more than 700 miles of fiber optics across the state. It has scaled up to the point where it doesn't have a problem competing here, or even on the West Coast.

"The last couple of years have been really exciting because the price points, size of our business, and demand for the Internet have made us very competitive," Irvin says. "We are big enough to compete with anyone around here."

Source: Dan Irvin, owner of 123.net
Writer: Jon Zemke

How entrepreneurial-minded is your city? The University of Michigan-Dearborn has a pretty good idea.

The university's iLabs recently released its 3rd annual eCities study, which assesses a municipality's ability to attract and retain entrepreneurial firms. The top performers in Metro Detroit this year are Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, and Wixom. Dundee, Auburn Hills, Southfield, and Troy (which were named last year) were recognized for their continuing efforts to support entrepreneurship.

"The underlying theme is how they are leveraging existing assets and resources for their macro economic climate," says Tim Davis, director of U-M Dearborn's iLabs. "They're taking what they already have and repositioning it for an entrepreneurial effort."

The study looked at 31 different factors, including tax rate, the size of the commercial tax base, and educational level, among others. The researchers followed up the examination with interviews with local stakeholders.

Source: Tim Davis, director of University of Michigan-Dearborn's iLabs
Writer: Jon Zemke

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved 10 brownfield projects that are expected to create 1,500 jobs and help seven companies invest $254 million.

The projects include the normal automotive-centric projects and an IT center development in Detroit. The idea behind the tax credits is to turn some of the state's brown fields into viable commercial spaces available for investment and job creation. Michigan's definition of brown fields ranges from polluted land to obsolete buildings.

The Metro Detroit projects include:

• Ohio Module Manufacturing Co. taking over ArvinMeritor's Southwest Detroit plant, saving 200 jobs that manufacture complete chassis modules for the Jeep Wrangler. The Toledo-based company plans to invest $21.4 million into the facility.
• Detroit-based Strategic Staffing Solutions plans to spend $7.3 million to open a new IT center in the Motor City. That deal is expected to create 437 jobs.  
• Williams International expects to invest $12 million to update its Commerce Township facility so it can build small gas turbine engines for military, industrial, and commercial aircraft applications
• The transformation of the old Ford Wixom plant received a big boost with $137 million in tax credits over 20 years. Clairvoyant Energy Solar Panel Manufacturing and Xtreme Power plan to turn the facility into an alternative energy manufacturing base that will create 3,250 jobs as part of an $856 million project.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp
Writer: Jon Zemke

Medical Device 101 scheduled for Dec. 8 from 1-5 p.m. at the MSU Management Center is the fourth in a series of manufacturing diversification seminars hosted by Oakland County and Crain's Detroit Business. It is designed to introduce companies to the medical device sector and to show them how they can become suppliers to this industry.

This half day seminar will allow companies to meet some industry leaders and experts who will introduce companies to their prospects for future growth. The key note speaker is Dr. Michael D. Witt, Entrepreneur in Residence and Lecturer, School of Management at the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Witt is a frequent advisor to medical technology companies and internationally recognized expert in the field of technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. He serves on the Board of Directors of Performance Genomics, Inc., Mid-Michigan Global Link, LLC, and TEDCo, Inc. He is also host of the Michigan Public Media TV Series "A New Deal: Reshaping Michigan's Economy." Dr. Witt will provide an overview of the industry.

Other sessions will include:

• Michael Tanner, Director, Technology Development
• Beaumont Hospitals Commercialization Center speaking on medical device supplier quality standards
• A representative from Stryker who will provide the OEM perspective of the industry

The seminar will be capped off with a session moderated by The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center with a panel of companies which have successfully diversified into the medical device sector.

Attendees will walk away with information, exposure and connections that will enable them to benefit from the dynamic medical device sector.

While St. John Health System is seeking highly qualified nursing professionals, Oakland University's School of Nursing has a multi-year waiting list for students. Good news for both institutions will be the official opening of the Riverview Institute of Oakland University, which is set from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The Riverview Institute, formerly St. John's Riverview Hospital, is a collaboration of influential institutions that has resulted in a state-of-the-art facility that can better handle the growing demand for health care professionals through accelerated second degree (ASD) programs. At Riverview, such programs cater to the diverse needs of students by providing those who already have a bachelor's degree with a bachelor of science in nursing degree in just 12 months. Graduating nurses have the opportunity to be hired at one of St. John's area hospitals.

"The accelerated program is an excellent alternative for our students who need to finish their degree work quickly," said Barbara Penprase, director of the Accelerated Second Degree Program. "Finishing a BSN degree in 12 months enables our graduates to take advantage of career opportunities that are available right now."

In addition, Riverview will offer a variety of workforce development programs, such as Patient Care Technician and Licensed Practical Nurse, as well as community programming such as healthy cooking, proper exercise and healthy eating. Public seminars and workshops on topics like aging well, health and nutrition also will be offered. The Agency on Aging provided additional funding for these community projects.

With 60,000 square feet of teaching area, Riverview is able to showcase an updated and expanded curriculum featuring technological and equipment improvements. To ensure students are experienced in the very latest in health care advancements, the site boasts two hospital-replicated teaching labs that include state-of-the-art human and critical care room simulators.  

The Oakland University School of Nursing has taken its three-decade commitment to nursing excellence and added Focus: HOPE's successful pre-program techniques to a curriculum that focuses on the "3 A's" – attitude, attendance and achievement – in an effort to further benefit the future health care professionals.

"This facility offers our students a wonderful learning environment," said Jaime Sinutko, project manager. "Plus, the collaboration with Focus: HOPE and the expertise that they bring in career coaching and their ability to break down learning barriers make our newly expanded curriculum that much better."
The Oakland School of Nursing Riverview Center is located at 7733 E. Jefferson Avenue. For more information about the Riverview Institute, call Tom Schumann at (248) 370-4510.
 
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