2010 – Page 58 of 78

Terumo finishes Ann Arbor HQ expansion, new plant

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March 24, 2010

Two of Terumo's subsidiaries are opening the doors to their new expanded facilities in Ann Arbor, capitalizing on tax breaks recently awarded by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.Terumo Cardiovascular Systems and Terumo Heart have opened a new production plans and expanded office space on Jackson Road just west of the city. The XXX-based firm's subsidiaries have consolidated their research, development and manufacturing facilities in Ann Arbor.The MEDC awarded Terumo a $1 million tax credit in 2008. The deal was the company would invest $3.5 million to move its operations from California to Michigan and create 65 jobs over the next five years. "We're at 63 people," says Barbara Schmid, director of corporate communications for Terumo Cardiovascular Systems. "We hit our target in a year and a half."The cardiovascular-medical device firm has roots in southeast Michigan that date back to the 1960s. Now it has a newly constructed chemistry lab, remodeled the existing buildings for future growth and expanded office building. It adds up to a new world-class medical device manufacturing facility in Ann Arbor.Schmid expects Terumo to capitalize on these new facilities with continued growth in Ann Arbor for the foreseeable future.Source: Barbara Schmid, director of corporate communications for Terumo Cardiovascular SystemsWriter: Jon Zemke

Regency at Bluffs Parks project moves forward in Ann Arbor

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Community Development

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March 24, 2010

The Riverview of Ann Arbor expansion project is now called the Regency at Bluffs Parks as it starts to make its way through the city's planning process.The $3.5 million project (designed by Farmington-based NSA Architects & Engineers) will build a 60,000-square-foot addition to the existing 5-story building on 1200 Earhart Dr. The developer is also sending another 1.1 acres to Ann Arbor's park systems, specifically the Bluffs Nature Area. It's part of the development agreement of the nursing home."I think we're all set with that," says Wendy Rampson, planning director for the city of Ann Arbor. "The title is transferred or is in the process of being transferred."The city recently acquired the land, which is located on a glacially formed ridge over North Main Street. Informal trails wind throughout the park and are accessible from North Main just across from Lakeshore Street. Besides the trails, Bluffs is considered an undeveloped park.It has a variety of natural features, including an oak-hickory forest, wooded ravines and an open field with remnant prairie species. The area has long been a favorite place for mountain bikers and hikers.Source: Wendy Rampson, planning director for the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor continues ecological burns in parks

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Community Development

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March 24, 2010

The ecological burns in Ann Arbor parks this spring are'’t just about getting rid of dry, dead vegetation or keeping overgrowth in check. It's also about fighting off invasive species."Most of the areas we're doing it is to keep the invasive species at bay," says Jason Frenzel, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Ann Arbor's Natural Areas Preservation Program. "It helps return the environment to a balance."The burns are targeting invasive species like honeysuckle, buckthorn and privet – all plants brought to North America by European settlers to create hedge rows. These invasive plans often bloom first and bigger than native species, crowding them out. However, the native species are adept to ecological burns and recover much quicker than the invasive species."The controlled fire is a tool," Frenzel says. "It's something the Native Americans used. We're just refining it."Wildfires have been part of the Midwest ecological system for centuries. First it was a product of natural events, such as lighting strikes. It was later used in controlled burns by indigenous peoples. The practice largely ended after Europeans arrived, but now some city officials see it as a way to let vegetation and wildlife flourish. The city has been using ecological burns since 1995."It's our most economic and historically accurate tool," Frenzel says.Source: Jason Frenzel, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Ann Arbor's Natural Areas Preservation ProgramWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M Biz School rallies corporate leaders to fight climate change

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Community Development

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March 17, 2010

he University of Michigan's Ross School of Business is trying to make an impact on climate change, offering a new pilot program that will recruit and teach corporate leaders on what they can do help head off Global Warming."There are people in the business community that are interested in climate change as a strategic issue," says Andy Hoffman, a business professor at U-M and one of the organizers behind "Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy?"The new program is partnering with the Association of Climate Change Officers to bring industry experts focused on climate change into the university's executive education programs. The idea is to better educate corporate leaders on climate change will lead to better results when it comes to containing it.The new program's first two-day conference will focus on creating a greater understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with climate change. It will also help business leaders create a forward-looking strategy for their organizations when it comes to adopting a sustainability ethos.The conference will touch on everything from the scientific basis for climate change, understanding the policies like cap-and-trade program, market implications of climate change, systemic risks and opportunities associated with climate change and how to gain a seat at the table when it comes to developing climate change policies.For information on the conference, contact Daniel Kreeger at dkreeger@ACCOonline.org or call (202) 496-7390.Source: Andy Hoffman, a business professor at the University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Masco Cabinetry creates Ann Arbor HQ, 250 jobs

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Community Development

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March 17, 2010

Masco is combining its Builder and Retail cabinetry groups to create Masco Cabinetry, which will move its headquarters to Ann Arbor, relocating a total of 350 workers and creating nearly 100 new jobs.The Michigan Economic Development Corp has negotiated a deal with the Michigan-based company, which will includes a $204,588 tax abatement over six years to leverage a $20.6 million investment. That deal will move 206 employees from the Adrian headquarters of Masco Corp (the parent company) to Ann Arbor and create another 250 jobs over ten years.Masco Cabinetry will manufacture and distribute kitchen and bath cabinetry through big box retailers. The two old subsidiaries that did this were based out of Adrian and Ohio. The Buckeye state had made a similar tax incentive offer to land the new cabinetry firm, specifically in the Toledo area. Masco Cabinetry's new headquarters will be located off Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor Township. It will serve as the base for an expected payroll of 890 full-time people.Source: Michigan Economic Development CorpWriter: Jon Zemke

Gaming firm inDepthLearning expands to 7 in Ann Arbor

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Economic Development

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March 17, 2010

The evolution of in Depth Learning has been a bit of an, um... well, learning curve.The Ann Arbor-based firm got its start in 2001 as an Internet-based learning firm, creating programs and applications that let students access and absorb more information online. Today its has moved to video games, putting a new game on the market and developing another."We realized we could do a lot more with gaming," says Res Midgley, president of in Depth Learning.The switch in emphasis has let the company that started with two people, grow to seven including an independent contractor. It recently hired two people and has plans to continue to hire to keep up with its growth. The company has doubled in size in the last 18 months and has high hopes for 2010-11."We have great expectations for the next year and half," Midgley says.It's latest game is called "Drug Scene Investigators," a video game for kids in grades 7-10. The game works to incorporate reading, library search, and decision-making by combining interest in science, heath and mysteries. Users need to figure out which illegal drugs were consumed by game characters, students search the library, take notes, link discovered information with facts, and reason from the evidence to form conclusions.Source: Res Midgley, president of in Depth LearningWriter: Jon Zemke

Ethics of entrepreneurship, Q&A with Chris Hall

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Innovation News

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March 17, 2010

Business and job growth are seen as paramount when it comes to the local economy, but where does developing a local set of business ethics for all of this new commercial activity fit in? Chris Hall has an idea or two about that and plans to make them public at Eastern Michigan University's Ethos Week today.The president of RepairClinic.com, online appliance parts retailer, will speak about "Ethics and Entrepreneurship" at 5:30 p.m. in Room 114 at the EMU's College of Business. The former appliance repairman will elaborate on the ethical challenges facing today's entrepreneurs as they navigate a tough economy, while sharing his own experience as an entrepreneur for the last decade. Hall recently answered some ethics questions for Concentrate via email. Think of it as a taste test of what you can expect to hear from him this evening.The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area has a developing entrepreneurial ecosystem that is seen as crucial to the development of Michigan's new economy. What ethical issues will or should this ecosystem confront as it develops?As we move further from our manufacturing roots in Michigan, and more into a service economy, I believe we need to relearn what it means to serve others - whether customers or employees. We, as a nation, have become too self-absorbed. Too often we put business interests ahead of the people those businesses are supposed to serve.The line between university research and spinning off that technology for commercial purposes is not always clear. What ethical pitfalls should the local academia and entrepreneurial communities be in the new economy wary of while developing this relationship?Michigan has a rare and unique opportunity. We have a strong manufacturing and technology base in our universities and businesses. And, we know that auto manufacturing isn't going to support Michigan single-handedly in the future. I believe we can become the leader in green technology. To do that, universities and businesses are going to have to share more of their research with each other. As a nation, we're leaning more toward protectionism. As a state, I believe we need to do the opposite. There are many entrepreneurs that would be able to move some of the green technology forward if they were given the chance.When it comes to ethics and entrepreneurs, where should Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti look for guidance?In our own backyard there are two large companies that I believe have been exceptional models of ethical leadership - Ford and Whirlpool. While they haven't been perfect, overall they have set a good example of how to do the right thing by their customers and their employees. On a smaller scale, Zingerman's in Ann Arbor sets a great example of how to do the right thing.Name one thing would you change about the local business area when it comes to business ethics?I would love to see the local communities get together and develop a code of ethics. Then, have local businesses opt in to be randomly audited for compliance to that code of ethics. Finally, build a website where local residents could check out the rankings of a business, and submit complaints for resolution. Kind of like the BBB but with a better resolution process and more transparency in the rankings.Source: Chris Hall, president of RepairClinic.comWriter: Jon Zemke

U-M students turn Green Silane into award-winning start-up

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Entrepreneurship

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March 17, 2010

The student entrepreneurs aren't building an empire with Green Silane. They're building an acquisition.It's an idea that is commonly used in the advanced entrepreneurial ecosystems on the coasts, where entrepreneurs build their start-ups with the idea of hitting a big payday not from customers so much as competitors."In 5-6 years we would like to see the potential opportunity of acquisition by one of our competitors," says Matt Schaar, vice president of product development at Green Silane.Schaar, an MBA student at the University of Michigan, and two other university students started Green Silane in September. Since then they have taken the Erb Award for Sustainability at U-M's Ross School of Business' Michigan Business Competition and third place at the Clean Energy Prize, which is sponsored by U-M and DTE Energy. It has led to the acquisition of more than $10,000, which serves as both prize and seed money.Green Silane produces silane gas for customers on-site in a manner that is flexible, low-cost, and environmentally benign. "It compartmentalizes this so it only requires silicone and and hydrogen," Schaar says.Source: Matt Schaar, vice president of product development at Green SalineWriter: Jon Zemke

Adaptive Materials’ military contracts lead to Ann Arbor job creation

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Community Development

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March 17, 2010

Military contracts are proving profitable for growing Adaptive Materials, allowing the Ann Arbor-based start-up to expand its capacity and staff.The innovative fuel cell firm just signed a $4.7 million contract with the U.S. Army to supply its signature fuel cells. That contract could grow to be worth $5.6 million and another significant multi-million dollar military contract is expected to be announced this spring. So far the company has scored $44 million worth of defense contracts. That will equal about 70 percent of its business in the first and second quarters of this year."Military has always been a key piece of our business plan," says Michelle Crumm, chief business officer for Adaptive Materials. "That will continue for us. It's a key piece of the puzzle."It's also what's driving the Adaptive Materials' growth. It's staff has hit 57 people and an intern. The company has nine job openings and another two internship opportunities. After those are filled, the company hopes to add another 5-10 people later this year.The 10-year-old company creates a fuel cell that turns fuels like propane into electricity instead of heat. That means its technology can convert a small propane tank used for camping into a generator that can keep a fridge going during a blackout. Think an emergency generator strong enough to power appliances but small enough to carry in your pocket.The firm, the brain child of University of Michigan alum Aaron Crumm, plans to put its products in every RV, boat, ambulance and, well, any place that can use a highly efficient fuel cell.Source: Michelle Crumm, chief business officer for Adaptive MaterialsWriter: Jon Zemke

EMU prof helps preserve Michigan’s only rock paintings

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Economic Development

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March 17, 2010

Eastern Michigan University is taking historic preservation to a whole new level by trying to figure out a way to save Michigan's only early man rock paintings.Excerpt:YPSILANTI - Eastern Michigan University Chemistry Professor Ruth Ann Armitage recently traded in her Nicaraguan spelunking helmet for a trash bag with arm holes in it.The 55-gallon trash bag was a good way to keep dry while hiking a rocky beach in cold, rainy weather on the shoreline of Big Bay de Noc on Lake Michigan in northern Michigan.“The rock paintings there are the only ones in the state of Michigan. They’re thought to be connected to the Ojibwe,” said Armitage, who took a student and went in search of the paintings.Read the rest of the story here.