TIME on Regional Development
From TIME.com: Regional Development Moving Forward So how do you get people to move to Michigan? Once they’re here, how do you get them to stay? Does anyone “get it” around here? Yup. There is a groundswell of activity toward these very goals. City administrators, development companies and non-profit business incubators are busy – trying to shed the past and get on with the future. So how do you do it? You get advertising. You get creative... [Read More...]
The Michigan Daily Covers Entrepreneurs and Incubators
Ann Arbor, Venture Capital is the headline of a great article written by Addie Shrodes of The Michigan Daily. The article covers entrepreneurialism in Ann Arbor and includes information about SPARK and the work we do assisting start-ups as well as on the student incubator, TechArb. Read the article. Read More →
Buycentives, CIMple Integrations and Local Orbit Awarded Microloans
Three Michigan companies recently received a combined total of $95,000 through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. Buycentives, CIMple Integrations, and Local Orbit received the funding to support commercialization of their core products. Microloans available through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program range from $10,000 to $50,000. To qualify, companies must be a small business located in Michigan, have ownership or license to innovative technology,... [Read More...]
Detroit Electric Holdings in AnnArbor.com and mlive.com
AnnArbor.com and mlive.com today posted stories about Detroit Electric Holdings. Detroit Electric Holdings, a startup electric car company with close ties to Asian vehicle manufacturers, is searching the Ann Arbor region for office space with plans to hire more than 500 engineers. Read more from AnnArbor.com. Detroit Electric Holdings, a startup electric car company, is searching the Ann Arbor, Michigan, region for office space with plans to hire... [Read More...]
Four Michigan Companies Receive Combined Total of $170,000
Four companies recently received a combined total of $170,000 in funding from the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. CTC Holdings, Energy Management Devices, MemCatch and Motor City Wipers will use the microloan funding to commercialize their products and accelerate business growth. Read more… Read More →
Four More Michigan Companies Receive Support from Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund
Four more Michigan companies recently received investments from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. To date, 38 Michigan companies have received seed funding from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan’s SmartZones. Combined, Mandy & Pandy, Algal Scientific, Axenic Dental, and RealBio Technology received $924,000 from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund. read more… Read More →
Thomson Reuters Named Coolest Place to Work in Tough Times
Crain’s Detroit Business recently named Thomson Reuters as one of the Coolest Place to Work in Tough Times. The publication runs Cool Places to Work lists bi-annually; and this year added the ‘tough times’ component given the downturn in the economy over the past year, particularly in Michigan. Continue reading… Read More →
“Open Source” Economic Development
Economic development in Michigan should take a page from the playbook of the ever-evolving software industry. Its “open source” philosophy – the source code that drives development should be open and available to all – is a model that can propel Michigan’s success in growing, retaining, and attracting business. Michael Finney, SPARK President & CEO Ann Arbor SPARK has taken steps to pilot this approach to economic development by designing... [Read More...]
21st Century Jobs Fund News
An update on the next round of 21CJF competition Our friend David Haviland went to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board meeting last month to find out what he could about the next competitive round of funding via the 21st Century Jobs Fund. Follow the link below for his report. It’s a good review of the big picture of the 21CJF program and the portion committed to the competition for early stage companies. David says the SEIC will meet in January... [Read More...]
Company Formation Loans Delayed
No loans in December, Wait to January The MEDC isn’t prepared to present the applicants for Company Formation Fund loans this month. They are still trying to catch up processing the loans approved last month. You will recall the program was opened the first of November. A rush of about 30 companies was processed and about 25 were approved for loans totalling more than $4 million by the MSF Board on Nov. 28. Now all the paperwork needs... [Read More...]
