Eastern Leaders Group Summer Update
The Eastern Leaders Group just released a summer update on activities in Eastern Washtenaw County. It includes information on the SPARK East Business Incubator and profiles of businesses that have received microloan funding. Read the update. Read More →
New Board of Directors Announced at Annual Meeting
New members to the Ann Arbor SPARK board of directors are Dr. Susan W. Martin, president, Eastern Michigan University, and John Hieftje, mayor, City of Ann Arbor. New to the Ann Arbor SPARK executive committee are Elliot Forsyth, senior vice president, human resources and operations, ProQuest, Jan Garfinkle, managing director, Arboretum Ventures, Leigh R. Greden, executive director of government and community relations, Eastern Michigan University,... [Read More...]
Terumo’s Scio Township expansion reflects global potential of its medical device technology
Annarbor.com’s Nathan Bomey joins Governor Granholm and Ann Arbor SPARK’s Mike Finney at Terumo’s expansion celebration today. Japanese medical device maker Terumo Medical Corp.’s campus in Scio Township is a sprawling illustration of a growth pathway for global life sciences companies in the Ann Arbor region. Terumo’s global sales success forced the company to expand its 55-acre campus on Jackson Road – a $3.5 million... [Read More...]
Ann Arbor SPARK Assists Applicants with Recovery Zone Bonds
Ann Arbor SPARK is assisting applicants with funding available through Recovery Zone Economic Development and Facility Bonds. Appropriated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Recovery Zone Bonds provide reduced rate financing and stimulate economic growth in Recovery Zones. In Washtenaw County, over $33 million is available through the Recovery Zone Facility Bonds program. An additional $17 million is available in the City... [Read More...]
New Eagle Receives First Eastern Washtenaw Microloan Fund
We are pleased to announce that New Eagle, a technology-enabled service provider, was recently awarded the first loan from the Eastern Washtenaw Microloan Fund. This is a funding opportunity for start-ups that’s part of the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. Washtenaw County helped to fund the Michigan Microloan Fund Program to help companies like New Eagle, based in Ypsilanti, Mich., who will use the microloan to commercialize its MotoHawk® software. Read... [Read More...]
Four Michigan Companies Receive $125,000 from Ann Arbor SPARK’s Microloan Program
Four more companies have received funding from the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, administered by Ann Arbor SPARK. Allinnova, Procuit, Solarflex, and The Whole Brain Group will use the funding to commercialize their products. The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, the Ann Arbor Local Development Financing Authority and Washtenaw County support the Michigan Microloan Fund Program. Read more… Read More →
Systems In Motion Selects Ann Arbor
Systems In Motion, a Silicon Valley-based IT services firm, has chosen to locate a new support center in the Ann Arbor region. Systems In Motion was approved today for state tax credits by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority board, and will also receive support from Ann Arbor SPARK, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services (ETCS-Michigan Works!), Michigan Department of Information... [Read More...]
Crain’s identifies SPARK as “scratching the entrepreneurial itch”
From Crain’s cover’s Washtenaw/Livingston …Goldschmidt is one of the nearly 70 new startups that have begun working with Ann Arbor Spark this year, a roughly 25 percent increase from the same period in 2008, according to Skip Simms, director of business acceleration services at Spark. Much of the spike is driven by an increased awareness of the resources available to Ann Arbor’s entrepreneurial community and an increase in... [Read More...]
Micro loans in Washtenaw County
I’m on You Tube. Nathan Bomey with Ann Arbor.com interviewed me last week regarding the new micro loans available to local start-up entrepreneurs. A new aspect of reporting the news at the new annarbor.com is recording interviews with a mini camera and posting them as part of the story. Here’s the link to that interview. Read More →
