Ann Arbor

Michigan Difference takes in $3.2 billion for U-M

By Newsroom

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February 11, 2009

The Michigan Difference is making quite...er... the difference for the University of Michigan. The endowment fund has so far raised a little more than $3.2 billion. That's more than the university has ever raised before, far surpassing its original goal of $2.5 billion. It's also believed to be most money ever raised by a public university. That puts it on par with Ivy League endowments, which are worth several billion each.U-M started the campaign in 2004 and closed it at the end of last year. About 365,000 people donated to the endowment. That money will go toward student financial aid, new student programs, hire and retain faculty, research and constructing new buildings.The endowment is putting $545 million toward student financial aid, such as 1,969 new endowed scholarships valued at $260 million. It also upped the funding of endowed professorships by 69 percent, and built 22 new structures, including the Ross School of Business, Ford School's Weill Hall and Mott Children's Hospital.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Developer plans to raze blighted Michigan Inn on Ann Arbor’s west side

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 11, 2009

A big piece of blight is about to come down on the far west of Ann Arbor, the old Michigan Inn motel.The single-story motel has sat vacant on Jackson Road near I-94 for years. The building is in visible disrepair, its landscaping is overgrown and has been the victim of fire damage in recent years.Ann Arbor-area resident Larry Hiss recently bought the 1968 structure, originally a Ramada Inn, and the four acres it sits on with plans to redevelop it. First thing is to raze the 129-room hotel and restaurant, which is set to happen in mid March or sooner. He also plans to build a yet-to-be-determined development on the acreage in the foreseeable future."We have some different idea from different people," says Larry Hiss, the owner of the Michigan Inn. "We could make it commercial or make part of it residential. There are a lot of ideas right now."The Michigan Economic Growth Authority recently approved $526,000 in tax incentives to redevelop the property. The catch is it has to be a multi-use facility. The new development is also expected to be worth about $28 million.Source: Larry Hiss, owner of the old Michigan InnWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Kadushin Architects designs urban housing

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 11, 2009

Abraham Kadushin got his start as his own boss when his boss moved on up the ladder.The Ann Arbor resident was working for a non-profit architectural and planning firm in 1975 when his boss was tapped to be the city planner for the city of Detroit. Kadushin took the reigns of the company and created Kadushin Associates Architects Planners.The Ann Arbor-based firm now employs six people, a handful of independent contractors and the occasional intern. It also has an office in Florida.Kadushin specializes in urban developments and affordable housing. It has done lots of projects in Ann Arbor, Florida and Detroit, among other places. Its most recent accomplishments are the highly successful Woodbridge Estates in Detroit and the recently launched Gardenview Estates in Northwest Detroit.The firm plans to take on more sustainable projects, especially with regard to the readaptive use of old buildings, such as old factories turned lofts. "We hope to work with a major landowner (in Detroit) to do sustainable plans for readapting old industrial buildings," Kadushin says.Source: Abraham Kadushin, principal of Kadushin Associates Architects PlannersWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor DDA to present underground garage plans to City Council

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 11, 2009

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is going for City Council approval on Tuesday for its plans to build a 785-space underground parking garage next to the District Library’s downtown branch on Fifth Avenue."We're hoping for the approval so we can get to work improving the water mains and sewers this summer and the parking deck by this fall," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityThe parking structure is planned to go under a large surface parking lot. The underground deck will be four stories deep, running beneath Fifth Avenue, connecting it to the old YMCA site. Other options for the parking garage that are under consideration include: preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles and incorporating both energy efficient LED lights and natural lighting.City officials are still debating what to put above the underground structure. There have been reports of plans for a small convention center, but nothing has been decided yet. Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

Start-up iConnect adds to staff as it grows in Ann Arbor

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Economic Development

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February 11, 2009

One thing has been consistent for iConnect – growth.Against current trends, the Ann Arbor-based start-up keeps growing and adding people. It has brought a couple of people onto its payroll recently, reaching a total of 13 employees and a couple of independent contractors. It hopes to keep hiring with continued growth."Every quarter has been better than the previous quarter for us," says Kishor Sapre, president and CEO of iConnect. "We even grew in the fourth quarter of last year."The company started in 2000 when a couple of IT guys working the cubicles of another firm figured out they could do the same jobs only better. iConnect now helps small-to-medium-sized companies manage their electronic communications.It does this primarily for automotive-based firms that are really good at their specialty but don't have the reach to cover electronic communication. Sapre hopes to diversify iConnect's client base in the near future.Source: Kishor Sapre, president and CEO of iConnectWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

By Newsroom

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Development News

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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

Ann Arbor hosts seminar to “Help Employers Thrive”

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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February 11, 2009

It's a tough economy. There's no way around the fact. But businesses don't have to face the challenge alone. A number of Ann Arbor-area organizations are teaming up to lend a hand.Thus the "Help Employers Thrive" seminar on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College's Morris Lawrence Building."Employers both big and small are dealing with issues that they have never before faced," says Jesse Bernstein, president of the Ann Arbor Chamber. "This event will connect employers to a wide variety of vital and affordable information and services available right here in our community."The group coming together to lend a hand includes prominent organizations, such as Michigan Economic Development Corp, Ann Arbor SPARK and Washtenaw County ETCS, among others. They will have information on programs that can assist businesses develop, diversify, find efficiencies, locate financing, attract talent and pursue tax incentives."We know the single most important thing we can do to help the community is to help employers not only survive but thrive during these challenging times," says Trenda Rusher, executive director of Washtenaw County ETCS.There is a nominal registration fee of $25 per person. For information, click here.Source: Washtenaw County ETCSWriter: Jon Zemke

Michigan biotech firms turn to services; funding obstacle hurting discovery firms

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 11, 2009

The down economy appears to be providing opportunity for Ann Arbor's biotech firms.Excerpt:Pressure on the world's major pharmaceutical companies to develop new sources of revenue to replace expiring drug patents promises to be a boon to Michigan's drug discovery sector. Yet at the same time, the global financial crisis and a shortage of funding for local biotech firms is pushing Michigan's life sciences industry further into the services sector, several industry observers said. Pfizer's proposed $68 billion acquisition of Wyeth may trigger a series of mergers and acquisitions in the biotech industry as the industry's major players seek to freshen their drug pipelines with new drugs.Read the rest of the story here.

Ann Arbor’s Cielo MedSolutions hits triple-digit growth in 2008

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 11, 2009

Cielo MedSolutions growth is starting to break a few barriers, posting triple digit gains in 2008, bad economy or no.The Ann Arbor-based company's revenues grew 300 percent while its base of clinician users jumped 400 percent. The number of clinical sites using the firm's software also increased 220 percent. That's a lot of percents!The University of Michigan spin-off develops new software for the healthcare industry. That technology helps make sure doctors connect with their patients when its time for a checkup, test or treatment they might otherwise forget. It claims that the software, if used properly, can help cut down on unnecessary procedures and provide doctors with up to a 200 percent return on their investment.The company employs about a dozen people today, but expects to multiply that number a couple of times over the next few years to keep up with its growth.Source: Cielo MedSolutionsWriter: Jon Zemke

If Only Every Town had a Zingerman’s…

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Community Development

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February 11, 2009

Zingerman's, the business every city wishes it had. Now, if only they'd move their business here. Anyone want to throw in a few sandwiches to sweeten the deal?Excerpt:If only every town had a Zingerman's …what a wonderful world it would be! We had the great fortune to spend a couple days in Ann Arbor last week with the team from Zingerman's, exploring ways we might be able to work together and learning more about the great business model they have developed.Read the rest of the story here.