2010 – Page 2 of 78 – Concentrate

Ann Arbor firms score big wins at Accelerate Michigan competition

By Newsroom

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December 15, 2010

It has been hard to separate the words Ann Arbor from last weekend's Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. The winners really added an exclamation point to the event.If the top prize winners weren't from Ann Arbor, they at least had strong ties to it. Arbor Photonics took second place ($150,000) and University of Michigan studentpreneurs swept the top four places in the student competition with its $60,000 in prizes. The winner of the big prize ($500,000), Kalamazoo-based Armune BioScience, is developing technology that originated from U-M.Ann Arbor SPARK took the lead on organizing the event held at U-M's new North Campus Research Complex, formerly the old Pfizer campus. The other business accelerator agencies in southeast Michigan (TechTown, Automation Alley and Macomb-OU INCubator) made the event happen with funding from of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan."Innovation is alive and well in Michigan," Dave Egner, executive director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, said during his remarks at the event. "We have definitely seen that in the last three days."Among the other winners that happened to be based in Ann Arbor are Life Magnetics of the AARP Encore Award, Accio Energy for the Alternative Energy Award, Evigia Systems for the Defense and Homeland Security Award, Hygieia for the Medical Devices Award and Ix Innovations for the Products and Services Award. Each received $25,000 from a prize pool worth $1 million.Organizers hope to hold the event again next year. However, they are also looking to expand the prize pool to help attract more entrants and provide more seed capital to Michigan-based companies."Now if we can only get our sponsors to give us 10 grand prizes ($500,000 each)," Michael Finney, formerly the president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK and the newly minted head of the Michigan Economic Development Corp, said during his remarks at the event. "They're going to give these companies what they need to take it to the next level."Source: Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition; Dave Egner executive director of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan; and Michael Finney, formerly the president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK and the newly minted head of the Michigan Economic Development CorpWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ypsilanti start-up Fusion Coolant Systems enters market place

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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December 15, 2010

Fusion Coolant Systems expects to close its first sale this month and expects to begin generating enough revenue in 2011 to sustain itself.The downtown Ypsilanti-based start-up, which calls Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator home, is commercializing an environmentally friendly cutting fluid for industrial uses. That technology eliminates toxic cutting fluids in metal processing for industrial sectors such as aerospace. It also improves cutting tools performance while reducing the wear. It recently received a shot in the arm from the Michigan Microloan Fund. That bit of hard-to-find financing will help it tie up a whole host of business loose ends, such as product development, marketing, and sales development."It's difficult to get. There is tremendous competition," says Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant Systems. "Without this funding, this technology would still be sitting in a lab at the University of Michigan."The company has grown its team to seven people, adding one more since this fall. Source: Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant SystemsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Happy Holidays

By Concentrate Staff

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General

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December 15, 2010

With the New Year just around the corner, Concentrate wishes you the warmest of holiday wishes ...before its staff indulges in three weeks of rest, relaxation, and gift returns. We'll be back January 12th with more stories about the people, companies and innovations that fuel Ann Arbor's creative and economic growth.

High School 2.0

By Amy Kuras

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General

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December 15, 2010

Next fall Washtenaw County will be opening its very first International Baccalaureate high school in Ypsilanti. This conceptually driven, trans-disciplinary high school is viewed as the next generation in secondary education, and a natural fit for our ever-innovating region.

Big Chill media spotlight casts warm glow on U-M’s strong points

By Newsroom

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Arts and Culture

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December 15, 2010

The Big Chill was more than a hockey game in a giant venue. It was a lightning rod for a number of positive strikes, ranging from the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition to improved public perception of southeast Michigan. Taking a common complaint about the Great Lakes State, snowy weather, and turning it into a fun asset has good implications for a broad swath of areas.Excerpt:To whet the appetite of Capitals fans looking forward to the Winter Classic, I visited the Big Chill at the Big House college hockey game Saturday in Ann Arbor, and if the New Year's Day game in Pittsburgh goes even nearly as well, fans are in for a treat. From weather to logistics, the event could not have come off much better than it did. You can read more here and then, more impressively, see more here.Read the rest of the story here and more from The Wall Street Journal here.

Energy Works Michigan plans energy-efficiency for all 5,500 state schools

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 8, 2010

When it comes to making a building energy efficient, a school may just be perfect.Schools are often built in an open space, with a flat roof and can save some money by saving or generating energy. Students can learn about the how and why of energy efficiency in their science classes. And they then grow up alongside technology such as solar panels, and knowing how they work.That's the idea behind Energy Works Michigan, a nonprofit launched by Recycle Ann Arbor and The Ecology Center as partner non-profits about a year and a half ago. Through a $3.5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission, Energy Works Michigan administers the Michigan Renewable Schools program, which funds energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in Michigan schools.Emile Lauzzana, director of Energy Works Michigan, based in Ann Arbor, has been with the program since before it started, writing the founding grant a year and a half ago, and watching it grow to seven employees -- two educational specialists, and the others with architectural backgrounds. He explains that when they partner with a school, the first order of business is an assessment of its energy profile to get a feel for the building's energy efficiency. They then provide the planning and followup meetings and steer them toward any programs that would benefit the school.If the school participates in a renewable energy program, Energy Works Michigan can provide financial incentives for installing solar or wind projects, all which come with a weather station and the means to stream data to a public website, for access by students -- to use in the classroom -- or the public. "We're happy with the educational tool that provides," he says. "We're starting to already see a lot of our partner schools using this data in the classroom."The energy efficiency program is free to schools, but the renewable energy program does require a contribution, he says. They've seen successes so far through partnerships, benefactors, and fundraisers that schools are able to come up with the money needed.And they do offer lesson plans for elementary students, so students of all ages can benefit from learning about energy efficiency at their own school. "The lesson plans are hands-on, inquiry-based, and come with lab equipment," he says.Lauzzana says his ultimate goal is for each of the 5,500 Michigan schools to achieve energy efficiency within the next few years. They've been able to spread the word through other nonprofit organizations and school business officials, and have able to help 60 schools in less than eight months, with a waiting list of about 25 more. "We're seeing a lot of demand and a lot of enthusiasm for these projects," he says.Before they continue the program, they want to evaluate where it stands now and see how they can improve."For our team, this is really a dream project," he says. "We've been involved, all of us, in environmental issues and energy issues our entire careers. The school partners are great to work with."Another way they're getting students involved is through their ShowGreen TV project, challenging students to make short films about climate change. Their second contest wraps up next week, and a free screening is scheduled for next month in Ann Arbor. Click here for details.Source: Emile Lauzzana, director of Energy Works MichiganWriter: Kristin Lukowski

Skate on Saline’s ice rink this winter

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 8, 2010

Don't stay inside bundled up all winter -- dust off your old ice skates and head to downtown Saline for some cold-weather fun.The city's portable ice-skating pool was set up last Thursday. "Now we're waiting for Mother Nature to work her magic, and make water ice," says Downtown Development Director Art Trapp.Trapp explains that there was an ice rink in Henne Field years ago, and recently there's been a push to bring one back to Saline. The city did some research, including on the one the nearby village of Dexter has, and through some discretionary funding and a donation from the Rotary, the $5,000 was raised to put the rink in place.The rink is 60 by 100 feet, located in the northeast corner of Henne Field, off Bennett Street. It was still liquid last week, needing a few days of cold weather to freeze it up yet. After it freezes, the ice has to be surfaced so it's smooth for skating.Trapp says he hopes the rink will draw people outside into downtown, even if it is a little chilly outside. "It's something to do downtown," Trapp says. "Hopefully, it will draw people out, and people will go downtown and visit our stores and restaurants."Skaters can click here and on the "events" link to get skating rink updates.Source: Art Trapp, downtown development director for the city of SalineWriter: Kristin Lukowski

Pizza House owners hope to add another high rise to Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Development News

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December 8, 2010

The owners of Pizza House are hoping to break into the Ann Arbor campus area's high-rise game, with plans to build atop their own restaurant.Dennis Tice, who is co-owner of Pizza House with his brother, Matt, and the property with his brother and father, William, says they're still talking to potential partners about building above the restaurant. "This is a desirable location for students who want to live on campus," he says. "We knew that long-term, when we got our new zoning down here, people would build nice, state of the art, modern upscale housing so that students would like living here. My brother and I have had this in the back of our minds for years."Since that zoning, Zaragon Place opened last year, with a sequel, Zaragon 2, now in the works; 601 Forest is another project underway. The Tices know there's room for more upscale housing, but no one knows how much, yet, Dennis Tice says. But, he says they believe they're getting in the market early enough to have their risk pay off eventually.Peter Allen, a developer acting as the project's broker, says the owners are open to a partnership, or sale or lease of the air rights above the building. "We hope that someone will be a partner or buy it outright," Allen says. It can withstand a major structure on top, and a 12-story building is consistent with zoning, he says. They're still figuring out the ideal occupant to market to, whether it be undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff, or some mixture.The Pizza House project is using generic floor plans, but it's likely that any developers they come into an agreement will implement their own. They do know, however, that they're looking at somewhere between 180-240 beds in the high rise.Source: Dennis Tice, co-owner of Pizza House; Peter Allen, broker for construction projectWriter: Kristin Lukowski

Ann Arbor’s EJustice Solutions expands into Texas

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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December 8, 2010

Ann Arbor-based EJustice Solutions is finding considerable success south of Michigan's border, specifically in Texas.The Lone Star State has proved to be a fertile growth area for the recently reformed company. EJustice Solutions has hired about half a dozen people in 2010, thanks to 30-plus new customers, many of which are from Texas."That's a big growth area for us," says Dennis Blanchette, CEO of EJustice Solutions.EJustice Solutions creates and manages electronic record systems for law enforcement agencies and incarceration facilities. It is one of three companies working with the equivalent of the Texas State Troopers to provide a record management system. Blanchette has high hopes for the new partnership and expects "more aggressive and significant growth" in 2011.That growth should allow EJustice Solutions to add a few more jobs next year. It currently has a staff of 25 people and 5-10 independent contractors. Those jobs are located at the company's Ann Arbor headquarters, and in Colorado and Texas.Source: Dennis Blanchette, CEO of EJustice SolutionsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Monarch Antenna to launch ‘smart’ antenna tech

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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December 8, 2010

There isn't much technology they can't make smart these days. The latest example is Monarch Antenna, a company that is marketing a 'smarter' antenna.The Ann Arbor-based company is commercializing technology spun out of the University of Michigan for military, industrial and consumer electronics markets. The technology alters the electronic properties of an antenna so it can maximize signal quality.Monarch Antenna is three years old and has received a variety of seed capital infusions to develop the prototypes of its technology, including one from Automation Alley. The company is in the process of hiring a CEO and expects to commercialize its technology by next summer. Its current prototype is being installed on sensors that monitor wear and tear on a bridge on I-94.In the mean time, Monarch Antenna's team of five people is gearing up for the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, where it is a semifinalist. Its founders like their odds of scoring the $500,000 top prize, considering the wide reach of their technology."We have a good chance," says Tayfun Ozdemir, CTO for Monarch Antenna. "It's a unique product that cuts across many industries. As far as market potential is concerned, it's big. That prize money would allow us to penetrate those markets."Source: Tayfun Ozdemir, CTO for Monarch AntennaWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.