Ann Arbor

U-M Credit Union merges with EMU Credit Union

By Newsroom

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March 12, 2014

The credit unions at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University are now one institution after consummating a merger earlier this year. Eastern Michigan University Credit Union officially became a part of University of Michigan Credit Union in January. EMU’s Credit Union will now be known as Eastern Michigan University Financial. U-M Credit Union will keep its branding. Members of both will now have full access to all of the newly combined credit union's branches in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Dearborn. "It's not a growth strategy," says Jeff Schillag, vice president of marketing at University of Michigan Credit Union. "It's truly a collaboration." The newly merged credit union will have $545 million in assets and 59,342 members. All of those members will have equal access to affordable financial services, mobile banking, and instant issue debit and credit cards. Eastern Michigan University Financial will maintain its branch at 761 Jenness St. in Ypsilanti with its current staff. It will continue to employ its namesake university's brand in its name as a point of pride for the EMU community. "We intend to keep the branding there to better serve that community," Schillag says. Source: Jeff Schillag, vice president of marketing at University of Michigan Credit Union Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Carcode SMS helps create conversation at car dealerships

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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March 12, 2014

A new tech startup is helping automotive dealerships spark more conversations with potential customers. Carcode SMS has come up with a website plugin that allows consumers to text automotive dealership staff and inquire about a specific car. The software assigns local cell phone numbers to dealerships so mobile shoppers can text them and provides the dealership with an app that allows staff to respond and manage conversations in a compliant environment. "We can keep track of all of the text conversations with that app," says Steve Schwartz, co-founder of Carcode SMS. Carcode SMS also has a feature enabling the consumer to end the conversation whenever he or she wants to and not have to worry about follow-ups from salesmen. The Ann Arbor-based startup that calls Tech Brewery home recently won the 2014 Edmund Hackomotive contest last month. The three-person Carcode SMS team has completed the initial development of the software and is testing it out at an automotive dealership. "We are currently talking to other dealerships," Schwartz says. Source: Steve Schwartz, co-founder of Carcode SMS Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

New 12,000 sq ft Blake Transit Center kicks off opening on March 17

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 12, 2014

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, or TheRide, will open its new, 12,019-square-foot, LEED Gold-certified Blake Transit Center to the public on Monday. After breaking ground in late 2012, TheRide says the completed building will offer a larger customer service lobby, improved restrooms and digital signage featuring real-time route information. "Staff, including myself, who have toured the new building are impressed with the new space, and believe it will be a welcoming, comfortable, convenient, and safe place for riders," says Don Kline, integrated marketing coordinator for TheRide. "Early reactions from the public we’ve spoken to have been very positive." Monday will be a soft launch for the Blake Transit Center, as the lane buses will eventually use adjacent to the center won't be finished until the ground completely thaws. A grand opening event will be scheduled at that time. Next week, light refreshments and customer service staff will be available to the public to kick off the opening. Kline says the long term goal of the new Blake Transit Center will be to accommodate TheRide's growing ridership, which has increased by more than 80 percent since the former transit center was built in the 1980s. "We are continuing to focus on improving connectivity in our urban core communities that in turn improves our economy, environment, and quality of life," he says. Next up for the ever-evolving organization will be a May 6 vote on TheRide's Five-Year Transit Improvement Plan, "TheRide Your Way." In 2013, the city of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township were officially added to the TheRide organization. Source: Don Kline, TheRide Writer: Natalie Burg

Orange Egg Advertising works on PBS series, adds 4 new jobs

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 12, 2014

Orange Egg Advertising has been adding more clients and members to its team over the last year. The Ann Arbor-based firm and its sister company, Hadrout in Ferndale, has grown by 25% and added four new positions, expanding its staff to half a dozen people. "We keep adding interesting projects," says Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising. Among those projects is the PBS station's series, Start Up. Orange Egg Advertising helped produce the first season that profiled entrepreneurs. It is now working on the second season for the show. "There are some cool things coming out of southeast Michigan," Grambeau says. Grambeau expects Orange Egg Advertising to expand in a similar fashion in 2014, powered by word-of-mouth referrals. "We just keep doing a good job for our clients," Grambeau says. "We keep on the cutting edge of technology for our clients." Source: Amy Grambeau, director of Orange Egg Advertising Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Carrabba’s, Five Guys and more coming to Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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March 12, 2014

A slew of national chains including Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Subway, Sport Clips and others will soon be part of Pittsfield Place, a 12-business restaurant and retail development that is scheduled to break ground later this month. According to Landmark Commercial Real Estate's Michael Lippitt, who is marketing the spaces, the Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. location is ideal for the project. "Pittsfield Place is strategically located in front of a very long-established and high-volume Meijer," says Lippett. "The surrounding retailers are some of the highest-volume stores in all of Southeast Michigan. And the market, if you compare it to the rest of Southeast Michigan, is underserved." The project, which is being developed by Versa in Southfield, is divided into two phases. The first, which will include eight restaurant and retail spaces, is set to break ground this month with businesses, including Carrabba's, opening by the end of the year. About 6,500 square feet of commercial space is still available in Phase I. All properties in Phase II have been spoken for, and construction is scheduled for completion in 2015. "The economy is very good and leasing is very strong," Lippitt says. "Support from the township was very strong, and Meijer was very interested. All of the moon and stars aligned at the right time." The 6.4 acres of land on which Pittsfield Place will be developed was purchased from Meijer. The development will sit between Lohr Rd. and Oak Valley Drive on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. with parking in the rear. Source: Michael Lippitt, Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services Writer: Natalie Burg

CareEvolution aims to hire 40 on strength of healthcare software sales

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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March 12, 2014

Change is the one consistent thing in healthcare today, and it's a trend that is playing into CareEvolution's favor. The downtown Ann Arbor-based company has hired about 20 people over the last year to keep up with the demand for its software platform. Most of those new hires were software developers and clinical analysts. The firm currently employs 60 people. It plans to add three interns this summer, along with a consistent stream of hires along the way. "This year we intend to add 40 people," says Vik Kheterpal, principal of CareEvolution. "We're looking at 10 people per quarter." He adds that the company currently has 35 open positions, primarily for software developers, that it would fill right now if it could find the right candidates. CareEvolution's software specializes in breaking down information silos in healthcare systems primarily by sharing of electronic medical records and information. The idea is to streamline patient care. As the healthcare industry has transitioned to put a bigger focus on efficiency, technology like CareEvolution’s software climbs. "As that need is growing the demand for our product is growing," Kheterpal says. "We can't keep up." CareEvolution's growth has been organic. It is projecting 80-percent revenue growth in 2014 based just on the business it has today. Kheterpal expects that number to climb as the year goes on. "We have very robust growth," Kheterpal says. "We will be almost double our growth this year." Source: Vik Kheterpal, principal of CareEvolution Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The customer is king at new Syrian restaurant, Damas

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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March 12, 2014

Syria native Jawad Seif may be the owner of the new Damas Restaurant in Woodland Plaza on S. Main St., but he leaves no room for doubt who his boss is. "The customer is the king," says Seif. "Any customer only has to pay if he likes the food. I'm looking to have a customer that trusts me, and I trust them every time." After moving to Ann Arbor from Syria just a year and a half ago, Seif opened Damas Restaurant on Feb. 17. His Mediterranean style includes the hummus, chicken shawarma and falafel diners expect, as well as specialty items, such as stuffed zucchini and okra with rice. All of his foods, Sief says, will have freshness in common. "The rule here is that everything must be fresh. Every morning we have new ingredients," Seif says. "I'm happy because most of the customers say it's the best Mediterranean food in Ann Arbor." For Seif, Ann Arbor was the perfect place to open his restaurant, as he says the community loves Mediterranean food and has made his family feel welcome from the first day they arrived. The 1,800-square-foot restaurant seats 40 and employs a staff of six. Seif decorated Damas himself with decor reminiscent of Syria. Source: Jawad Seif, Damas Restaurant Writer: Natalie Burg

Seed round enables Protean Payment to hire more staff

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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March 5, 2014

Protean Payment is starting to make a little noise in Ann Arbor's entrepreneurial ecosystem, attracting some venture capital investment and hiring several people. The tech-payment startup has grown its staff to 10 employees. It has hired seven of those people over the last year. It is also looking to hire another five people and bring on some summer interns. "We have been ramping up our engineering team," says Nick Bognar, communications manager for Protean Payment. "We have also brought on some operations personnel and a human resources person." Protean Payment is developing a skeleton key for the wallet. The technology, which it has named "Echo," combines all of the user's credit, debit, loyalty and ID cards into the Echo card. Echo comes equipped with a tiny computer that syncs with the user's mobile phone. The accompanying mobile app allows the user to convert Echo into the card of his or her choice, allowing them to swipe it as they would their normal credit card. The 2-year-old startup, which calls Kerrytown home, hopes to launch the technology in 2014. "They will see some stuff come out later this year," Bognar says. "I can't say exactly when that will be." Bognar also confirms that Protean Payment has landed some seed capital that is paying for the build out of the startup. He declines to say how much has been raised. Ann Arbor-based Resonant Venture Partners and Chicago-based Hyde Park Venture Partners both claim Protean Payment as a portfolio company. Source: Nick Bognar, communications manager for Protean Payment Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

$12M Kingsley Lane Condos could add up to 21 units to downtown

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 5, 2014

The demand to live near downtown Ann Arbor could be fed a bit more with the proposed Kingsley Lane Condos. The long-delayed project has been been submitted to the Ann Arbor Design Review Board. Currently, the development plans include 21 units, but that could change based on the demands of prospective tenants. "We started out with an average unit size of 1,000 to 1,100 square feet, but we've already started talking to people about combining units," says Tom Fitzsimmons of Huron Contracting, who is working with developers Peter Allen, Mark Berg. "We've been contacted by about ten people so far. People are interested in larger units." Regardless of how many units it will ultimately contain, the approximately $12 million project will be about 40,000 square feet and include two new buildings and an existing structure on Kingsley Lane. The goal of the project, says Fitzsimmons, is to build the kind of space people are looking for. "We're trying to make nice spaces people are comfortable in, so that includes large decks, balconies, lots of indoor and outdoor space and nice master suites," he says. If the plan moves forward as planned, Fitzsimmons hopes the Ann Arbor City Council will approve that project in August, and construction would begin immediately. He expects the Kingsley Lane Condo project would then be completed by late 2015. Source: Tom Fitzsimmons, Huron Contracting Writer: Natalie Burg

SportsFactory centralizes athletic tweets for non-Twitter users

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 5, 2014

Nic Stelter loves keeping with his favorite athletes and sports teams through Twitter, but he is not the biggest fan of the social media site. That prompted him to launch SportsFactory in Ann Arbor. The startup creates a web app that aggregates tweets from the users favorites athletes and teams. So if you are a diehard University of Michigan fan, you can use SportsFactory to collect the tweets about the university’s athletic department, athletes and recruiting efforts instead of sorting it all out on your own Twitter handle. The web app makes the tweets look like they do on Twitter so the user gets an authentic experience. (Check out a video, created by Ann Arbor-based Media Academica, describing the service here.) "I wanted to make something non-Twitter users can use to read tweets," Stelter says. He adds, "we have tried to make the experience as much like Twitter as possible." Stelter leveraged the services of Tech Brewery-based Alpha Jango to build the web app. He plans to release a mobile app for Apple and Android products later this year. "It's going to be a slow climb but people really like it so far," Stetler says. Source: Nic Stelter, founder of SportsFactory Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.