2009 – Page 88 of 98

Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

By Newsroom

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February 11, 2009

Sometimes bigger can be better. With that in mind, officials at the Ann Arbor Airport are looking to lengthen its runways.The Ann Arbor City Council recently approved a environmental impact study on extending the airport's runway. However, if the extensions happen don't let your expectations get carried away. It won't be rivaling Metro Airport any time soon. It’s more about improving what the airport already has and making it more efficient.Airplanes using the airport have had trouble keeping to the current runway, sometimes having to taxi off the end. This extension would solve the problem."It makes us a safer airport," says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.The airport is already in the middle of expanding its facilities. It's spending $2.5 million to build six hangars and a new maintenance shed. The runway extension would probably start after that project is finished."If the stars all line up, you'd be talking sumer 2010, best case," Kulhanek says.Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor AirportWriter: Jon Zemke

Magellan plans to begin work on Federal Screw Works in Chelsea

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 11, 2009

The Federal Screw Works buildings in Chelsea are set to come down by the end of this winter or early this spring.Downtown Ann Arbor-based Magellan Properties are in the home stretch with city and state officials to finish the paperwork for the brownfield redevelopment. The firm hopes to have the buildings down and the shovels in the ground for a new group of commercial buildings by mid year. Right now all it needs is bureaucratic approval and a tenant for the project."We've been talking to some doctors about doing a surgery consulting office there," says John Langs, partner with Magellan Properties.Federal Screw Works started out as Chelsea Screw Works in 1913. At one time the industrial park just south of downtown on 500 S Main St. employed several hundred people. It closed in 2005. Magellan Properties has a long history of developing property in Chelsea. It has worked on the condos at Pierce Lake, Chelsea Shopping Center and Chelsea Community Hospital."We try to be the community developer in Chelsea," Langs says.Source: John Langs, partner with Magellan PropertiesWriter: Jon Zemke

Video The Leslie Science Center

By Keith Jefferies

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

Ann Arbor is well known for its natural spaces but the Leslie Science Center offers a uniquely up close and personal view of the critters that live in those spaces. Set on 50 acres of prairie and woods just five minutes from the city's downtown, you'll find eagles, snapping turtles and snakes. Oh, my!

Michigan Eye Bank moves into new Ann Arbor space

By Newsroom

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Healthy Communities

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February 4, 2009

Michigan Eye Bank has called Ann Arbor home since 1957, so it's no wonder why its choosing to expand in Tree Town."This is where we are established to do business," says Dan Reynolds, communications manager for the Michigan Eye Bank.The division of Midwest Eye Bank, also headquartered in Ann Arbor, is growing into an extra 6,400 square feet of space and hiring 11 more people this month.The eye bank is moving its administrative offices into the new space on Avis Driver. This will make room for a call center and base for logistics and screening of tissue donation. That space currently serves as the work center for the non-profit's 50 employees.The eye bank is dedicated to helping restoring sight by recovering, evaluating and distributing human eye tissue for transplantation. This is becoming increasingly in demand as the technological advances makes it more widely available."There is always a demand for transplantation of eye tissue similar to organ donation," Reynolds says.Source: Dan Reynolds, communications manager for the Michigan Eye BankWriter: Jon Zemke

NanoBio scientists find way to kill highly resistant bacteria

By Newsroom

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Innovation News

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February 4, 2009

Many people are scared of germs and bacteria. Even more fear the super bugs that are resistant if not downright hostile to antibiotics. Ann Arbor-based NanoBio has found a way kill at least some of these bacteria.Scientists at the University of Michigan spin-off have developed a topical nanoemulsion that kills the highly resistant strains of bacteria that cause chronic illness and death to people who suffer from cystic fibrosis. The hope is this new technique will help prevent pulmonary failure in patients and ultimately save lives.NanoBio employs about 20 people and three interns, including seven ex-Pfizer employees. It hopes to hire another dozen people or so in the near future.It has taken in tens of millions of dollars in venture capital to follow-through on the clinical trails for the drugs it is developing. It expects to start licensing these products this year.Source: John Coffey, vice president of business development for NanoBioWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Xoran Technologies adds 59 people in 8 years

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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February 4, 2009

When entrepreneurs dream of making it big, those dreams would probably try to copy Xoran Technologies' business trajectory.The Ann Arbor-based company got its start with a National Institute of Health grant to build a better mouse trap, errrr… CAT scan. U-M graduates Neal Clinthorne and Pedja Sukovic started with only each other in 2001. Today their company employs 61 people, making it Michigan sixth largest bio-tech firm and the fifth fastest for growth. It's nearly doubled its employee base since the end of 2005.Xoran Technologies has taken home the "Michigan Innovator's Award" twice and is listed as one of the "50 Companies to Watch in Michigan" by the state's Small Business & Technology Development Center. Sukovic, the company's president and CEO, was named one of Crain’s Detroit Business 40 under 40.And it's done all of this without the help of venture capital or angel investors. It's principals own it and all of its profits.Xoran Technologies’ now makes a variety of CAT scans, such as -CAT, MiniCAT and xCAT. They all help bring high-quality images of patients to doctors while doing so with low doses of radiation. Source: Susie Vestevich, manager of public relations and corporate communication for Xoran TechnologiesWriter: Jon Zemke

EMU speaker to talk about buyouts, entrepreneurship in Ypsilanti

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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February 4, 2009

Eastern Michigan University has a few ideas about what locals can do with their buyout checks – start their own business. The university's College of Business is hosting entrepreneur Robert J. Skandalaris on Friday morning for its "Breakfast with the Dean" series.Skandalaris isn't exactly a household name but he has lived the life that most people would remember. He founded Noble International, a tech company listed on the NASDAQ that specializes in supplying laser-welded blanks and structural tube parts to the automotive industry.Quantum Ventures of Michigan is another notch on his belt. The company acquires and development of middle-market firms. He also wrote "Rebuilding the American Dream," a book about innovation and entrepreneurship. He will be speaking about "the economy and its impact on the buyout world."The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will take place in room 114 of the College of Business, 300 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Ypsilanti. Free parking is available in the college’s parking structure on Pearl Street. For information, call Shirley Wentz at (734) 487-4140.Source: Eastern Michigan UniversityWriter: Jon Zemke

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione uses Pfizer closing to spur growth

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

The Ann Arbor office of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is using some of the castaways of the Pfizer's sinking ship to keep itself growing these days.The intellectual property law firm is based in Chicago but has had an office in Ann Arbor since 2000. Back then it started with a modest five people, but today it boasts an office of 40 with plans to add 3-4 more each year for the foreseeable future. But some of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione most recent hires have been its most important. The firm brought on four patent attorneys from Pfizer when the drug-maker announced it was closing its Ann Arbor campus and skipping town. It turns out they have played a key part in diversifying the office's client base."They didn't want to leave the community," says Steven Oberholtzer, managing partner of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione's Ann Arbor office. "Those four service the spin-off businesses from Pfizer."That type of pick-up is why Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione decided to set up shop in Ann Arbor in the first place. Tree Town's base in the new economy opens up a lot of opportunity for an intellectual property firm that knows no bounds. Not to mention the city's high quality of life."This is a very dynamic area for creativity," Oberholtzer says. "It has a very diverse economy."Source: Steven Oberholtzer, managing partner of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione's Ann Arbor office and Lawrence G Almeda, shareholder with Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione's Ann Arbor officeWriter: Jon Zemke

Xchange Network turns napkin idea into Ann Arbor start-up

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 4, 2009

Xchange Network got its start in the most clichéd of places in 2002."It started on the back of a napkin at a local establishment," says Bill McManus, co-owner of Xchange Network. "One of the other partners made a prototype and it held, so we decided to formalize the company."That prototype is a software program that allows different computer systems to seamlessly speak to each other, allowing a maverick techie with Mac or Linux system to speak to his PC-based co-workers."The guys with the PCs, the crowd rules so the Mac is left out so to speak," McManus says.The Ann Arbor-based start-up has brought all of the original four founders into the start-up entrepreneur fold. What started out as their side project turned into their full-time jobs with enough work left over for a handful of independent contractors. The company is also looking at setting up an internship program.Xchange Network has about 20,000 users around the world in 25 countries. The firm wants to continue to grow that number but is concentrating on holding its own in the near term.Source: Bill McManus, co-owner of Xchange NetworkWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor businessman poised to lead state Republicans

By Newsroom

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General

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February 4, 2009

One of Ann Arbor’s own is set to take the reigns of Michigan’s Grand Old Party.Excerpt:Ann Arbor businessman and former ambassador Ron Weiser has a clear path to the Michigan Republican Party chairmanship, following Tuesday's withdrawal from the contest by his last challenger, former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk.Hoogendyk, an unsuccessful challenger to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin last year, said in an e-mail to supporters: "I am writing today to announce my decision to withdraw from the race for party chairman. This comes after a great deal of careful consideration and discussion with close friends and family."I congratulate Ron Weiser for his strong and successful campaign. I wish him well in his new role as chairman and pledge to do what I can to help strengthen the party and deliver victory in 2010."Read the rest of the story here.