2009 – Page 77 of 98

Quantum Learning Technologies’ virtual project to create 47 real jobs

By Newsroom

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March 18, 2009

Ann Arbor's Quantum Learning Technologies is investing $930,000 in the launch of its first educational virtual-world computer game for the consumer market.The new project is expected to create 47 jobs for the Ann Arbor community. Half of these new jobs will involve software development and the other half will require flash animation skills. The Ann Arbor-based company currently has 10 employees. “The decision to stay here, for me, was the access to resources and the cost of those resources — those two resources being people and capital,” says Quantum Learning Technologies President and CEO Alan Aldworth. “There’s also a large supply of technological resources that we need and we’ve never had a problem finding talent for the jobs we have.”The two-year-old start-up is well known among educators who use Quantum’s SkateKids Online educational Web program in the classroom. Aldworth says the growth may prompt the company to expand its physical space as well.“We have some room for expansion in the space we’re in now, but we’re probably going to need some additional space,” Aldworth says. “It will depend on how many employees we plan to add.”A $778,978 MEGA credit over seven years encouraged the company to stay in Ann Arbor rather than relocating to competing sites in Illinois and Texas.“Working with Ann Arbor SPARK and the MEDC really encouraged us to stay here,” Aldworth says. Source: Chelsea Nimiac, DP CompanyWriter: Ivy Hughes is the managing editor of Capital Gains.

Is high-speed rail in Ann Arbor’s future?

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In The News

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March 18, 2009

Could high-speed rail be on the fast track to Ann Arbor? It's a dream that's starting to cross over into reality.Excerpt:It's actually not that hard to envision: the University of Michigan's Michigan Stadium in the summer packed with thousands of screaming soccer fans who filter out of the venue after the game and visit local restaurants and shops. This is the kind of image Rich Sheridan sees when he discusses why a national investment in high-speed rail infrastructure could boost Michigan's economy.Chicago, for example, is vying to host the 2016 Summer Olympics - an event that always requires dozens of athletic venues, often many miles from the city actually "hosting" the Olympics.The construction of a high-speed rail line from Chicago to Ann Arbor to Detroit would revolutionize travel and introduce countless new visitors to the state. Olympic visitors, too, perhaps."Let's say Chicago does get the 2016 Olympics. Now all of a sudden you could actually have events maybe at Michigan Stadium because it would only be a couple hours away. That wouldn't be unreasonable for an Olympic venue to be a couple hours away," Sheridan said.Read the rest of the story here.

Coalition formed to save Shaman Drum

By Newsroom

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General

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March 18, 2009

The words "Save Shaman Drum" have entered the local lexicon, as fans of the indie bookstore try to keep it an Ann Arbor institution.Excerpt:A new coalition has been formed to save Ann Arbor literary institution Shaman Drum Bookshop, according to a letter distributed Friday by University of Michigan professor Julie Ellison.The group envisions turning the store into a nonprofit "humanities commons," possibly linked in some way to U-M through a campus/community alliance.Read the rest of the story here.

Cybernet Systems approved to bid as primary defense contractor

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Community Development

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March 18, 2009

Ann Arbor's Cybernet Systems is branching out into a whole new part of the business world.Excerpt:Ann Arbor-based engineering research and development firm Cybernet Systems Corp. this week received two contracts allowing it to bid on up to $17.5 billion in defense simulation projects through the U.S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation program. The contracts themselves have only a nominal $5,000 value, but give Cybernet the standing to bid competitively with dozens of companies nationwide on military projects over the next 10 years, said Charles Cohen, vice president of research and development for Cybernet. The company signed the first of the two contracts on Monday. “The real significance is in relation to what could have happened if we had not won the contracts,” he said.Read the rest of the story here.

Young Ypsilanti entrepreneur thriving in housing market

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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March 18, 2009

Stewart Beal's role in redeveloping Ypsilanti is growing. And so too is his company.Excerpt:While some are saying that we are facing an economic meltdown, others call it an opportunity.Stewart Beal, the 25-year-old Eastern Michigan graduate who owns Beal Properties and Beal Inc., is one of the latter.With the deeds to 20 Ypsilanti buildings in its possession, Beal Properties rents out 120 apartments and saw its sales nearly triple from 2007 to 2008. Beal Inc - a multifaceted company providing services from waste hauling to building maintenance to asbestos abatement - saw its sales almost double $1.4 million in 2007 to $2.5 million in 2008. Read the rest of the story here.

The Ann Arbor bubble

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In The News

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March 18, 2009

Is the Ann Arbor bubble protecting the college town from today's economy?Excerpt:Just a few miles from downtown Ann Arbor, American bison roam near the M-14 entrance ramp, peacefully grazing in front of a sprawling office park.These bison aren’t exactly wild. They live at the Domino’s Farms Petting Zoo. But the visual does encourage a certain notion of an urban city surrounded by frontier.In many ways, Ann Arbor seems to be isolated. Sitting a comfortable 35-odd miles from Detroit, the city also enjoys some economic and geographic distance from the Motor City’s current woes.At just below seven percent, Ann Arbor boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. In December 2008, the most recent regional statistics available from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, the unemployment rate in Wayne County — where Detroit is located — was 11.7 percent. The unemployment rate in Oakland County, where much of metro Detroit’s upper crust reside, was 8.6 percent.Washtenaw County’s rate was 6.9 percent, nearly four percentage points lower than the state average of 10.6 percent for the same month.Read the rest of the story here and five ways U-M benefits the region here.

Ann Arbor invention clocks hours of sunlight

By Newsroom

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In The News

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March 18, 2009

They're not exactly building sun dials at the University of Michigan. The hours of day light clock is coming to a computer near year courtesy of a local inventor.Excerpt:ANN ARBOR -- John Rosevear's opus, 40 years in the making, can be seen projected on a wall at the Slusser Gallery on the University of Michigan North Campus. Or you could order one for your computer desktop. It's called the Skyclock -- an invention that takes a standard analog clock view and uses precisely calibrated data for geographic points to mark sunrise, sunset and how long twilight will last on any given day in any given place. Rosevear and his business partner, Rob Baxtresser, are hoping the concept will open new horizons for clock-watchers everywhere. Read the rest of the story here.

Ypsilanti’s downtown scores low vacancy rate despite economy

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Development News

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March 18, 2009

Ypsilanti's downtown is enjoying a low vacancy rate these days, bad economy be damned. So much so that the downtown has half the vacancy rate of revered downtown neighbor Ann Arbor.Ypsi's vacancy rate measures a reasonably healthy 7 percent so far this year. Tree Town's comes in at 14 percent while Depot Town's vacancies hit 11 percent - but is expected to dip below 10 percent within a few months."A lot of other downtowns have vacancy rates above 7 percent ..." says Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authoritie. "And a lot of the strip malls are ghost towns these days."Downtown Ypsilanti has experienced a boom in eclectic boutique and cafe-culture businesses setting up shop in the city's center. The opening of the Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator in the newly renovated Mack & Mack building is only the latest in a long string of blights storefronts turning into entrepreneurial bright spots.There are even plans to reopen the recently closed TC’s Speakeasy storefront on Michigan Avenue."We have people who are working on their business plan to purchase it," Vosburg says.Source: Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authoritiesWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor orders new solar-powered parking meters

By Newsroom

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Development News

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March 18, 2009

You might not like paying for parking in Ann Arbor but at least it's about to become a more sustainable endeavor. The city’s Downtown Development Authority has order a pilot set of solar-powered parking meters.The DDA ordered 25 solar meters and expects to install them within the next six weeks. They will be placed on Main, Liberty and State streets as the first test phase before replacing all of downtown’s 1,500 parking meters."They’ll be in the most visible places so people get used to using them," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.Right now traditional parking meters stand vigil over those spaces. Pollay hopes to eventually swap out the vast majority with the 175 solar-powered meters. One meter station can cover about half a dozen parking spaces. The poles for the traditional meters will remain to help mark the parking spaces for each station.The solar-powered parking meters come equipped with a solar panel that enables them to remain entirely off the grid. These stations can accept coin and credit card payments. They will also allow patrons to plug their meters from any of the stations in the city. The DDA is spending $400,000 to install the sun-powered parking meters. They cost $325,000 to buy and the DDA set aside another $75,000 for installation.Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor racks up millions in federal earmarks

By Newsroom

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Development News

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March 18, 2009

When it comes to federal dollars in Washtenaw County there is "Stimulus" cash and "Omnibus" cash. Right now the difference is we know where the Omnibus money is going and Ann Arbor is one of the big winners.Omnibus is short for the Omnibus Appropriations Act, which is the budget bill that Congress passes each year. These are notorious for earmarks, federal dollars set aside by members of Congress for projects back in their districts, which make up a fraction of overall bill (this year's earmarks total approximately 3%). What some talking heads like to decry as pork turns out to be valued funds for getting stuff done outside the beltway. That means $2.5 million in projects that will directly impact Ann Arbor. The big winners include: $950,000 for the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail project $951,500 for a wind generator for Ann Arbor's water treatment plant $381,000 for facilities and equipment upgrades at the University of Michigan Health System $237,500 for the Allen Park GreenwayThe Omnibus bill also includes language directing the Federal Transit Administration (the agency that doles out funds to build mass transit lines) to give "priority consideration" to the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. That project is expected to come on line in the fall of 2010.Source: Offices of senators Carl Levin and Debbie StabenowWriter: Jon Zemke