Ann Arbor

Removal of Argo Dam in Ann Arbor could mean dramatic change for Huron River

By Newsroom

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January 14, 2009

Should Argo Dam stay or go? This question is becoming a hot topic in Ann Arbor.Excerpt:Ann Arbor officials are expected to make a major decision about the Huron River by June that could result in a dramatic change to the waterway.A key factor in the river management plan under development - which citizens can learn about and have input on later this month - is whether to remove an aging city-owned dam that generates little revenue. The issue is likely to have both vocal opposition and support within the local boating community. Kayakers are interested in a whitewater course in the area, while rowers want to save Argo Pond, where many individuals and teams practice the sport. Read the rest of the story here.

Perich Advertising grows to 25 people in Ann Arbor, hopes to hire more

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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January 14, 2009

When it comes to helping bridge the gap between Ann Arbor and Detroit, Tree Town-based Perich Advertising & Design is one of the businesses that make it happen.The marketing firm just took on the Downtown Detroit Partnership (Roger Penske's baby) as a client. It joins the likes of General Motors and the Detroit Institute of Arts, which already utilize the services of the 21-year-old firm. Perich Advertising & Design will help to get the word out about downtown Detroit's assets in southeast Michigan.Craig Dunaway, vice president and director of client services for Perich describes his company as an advertising agency with a strong design capability. It specializes in advertising for TV, radio and the Internet. It also does website design.Ernie and Shirley Perich started the firm when they were at a crossroads. The veterans of advertising faced a choice of going to bigger agencies on the coasts or starting their own shop here. Twenty one years after choosing the latter, Perich Advertising and Design employs 25 people in its downtown Ann Arbor offices."We hope to hire a few more in the near future," Dunaway says. Source: Craig Dunaway, vice president and director of client services for Perich Advertising & DesignWriter: Jon Zemke

Video Inspiration. Locomotion.

By Keith Jefferies

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Transportation

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January 14, 2009

Pardon me boy, is that the ArtTrain? For 38 years Ann Arbor's museum on rails has brought fine art to communities across the nation. Actually, 845 of 'em (that's 3.2 million people). And now they're branching out. ArtTruck anyone?

As U-M taketh away, Ann Arbor struggles to keepeth taxes

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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January 14, 2009

A debate over taxes in Ann Arbor is underway now that the University of Michigan is taking the former Pfizer property off the rolls. That means up to $3 million less for the city's coffers. Some leaders are considering a local income tax so that people who live in the townships but work in A2 pay their fare share. In-towners would see a corresponding drop in property tax.Excerpt:When it comes to expanding its campus, the University of Michigan usually pursues a strategy that flies under the radar: Every year, it buys one or two small properties, often rental homes near campus that have seen better days.That strategy got overrun in mid-December when the university announced the most dramatic expansion of its campus in 50 years - its pending purchase of the 177-acre Pfizer Inc. property in northeast Ann Arbor.With that purchase, the long-running town-gown debate on whether the tax-exempt university contributes enough to the city's bottom line is being re-energized.The university will face greater pressures to contribute more to defray the city's costs of providing services.And at least one city council member has wasted no time in bringing up an old idea twice rejected by voters over the years - an income tax for everyone who works in the city.Read the rest of the story here.

St. Joe’s Mercy Hospital partners with Karmanos on stem cell bank

By Newsroom

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Health

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January 14, 2009

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is playing its part in pushing stem cell research forward now that it is supplying umbilical cord blood to Karmanos Cancer Institute’s J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bank.Umbilical cords from newborn infants are rich in blood-forming stem cells, not the controversial stem cells from embryos. These umbilical cord stem cells help people suffering from fatal diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell.St. Joseph Mercy Hospital has been collecting the blood from the umbilical cord of newborns since June. About 100 mothers have made donations. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital began collecting cord blood in June 2008 and approximately 100 mothers have donated their child’s cord blood. Only healthy mothers with no history of infectious disease who are giving birth to a single child (not twins or triplets) can donate.The J.P McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bank is located in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. The non-profit is one of only 21 internationally recognized cord stem cell banks affiliated with the National Marrow Donor Program. It houses more than 1,200 umbilical cord blood unitsSource: Lauren Stokes, spokeswoman for St. Joseph Mercy HospitalWriter: Jon Zemke

Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship to mix it up in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Education

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January 14, 2009

The call is going out for all new economy entrepreneurs in the Great Lakes to come to the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship in Ann Arbor on Jan. 22. The event will serve as a forum and mixer for entrepreneurs and innovators from more than just the Mitten State but also all the states that border the Great Lakes. "We're trying to build education and we're trying to build growth," says Gerry Rosten, planning chairman for the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship. He also runs his own consulting company for start-ups call Pair of Docs. This is not something new. The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship has been at this for nine years, and has watched a number of successful start-ups participate over that time. They include ElectroJet, which has been sealing deal after deal in Asia, and Hybra-Drive Systems, a big winner of 21st Century Jobs Fund money."The companies we have been putting up for presentations and into the pitch competition have become very successful," Rosten says.This year's showcase presenter is Roger Newton, CEO of Esperion Therapeutics. There will also be an elevator pitch competition and an interactive workshop.The event will be held between 4-9 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence Building in Washtenaw Community College. Pre-registration costs $9 or $20 at the door. Source: Gerry Rosten, planning chairman for the Annual Collaboration for EntrepreneurshipWriter: Jon Zemke

GM taps U-M for battery research, to open $5 million research lab

By Newsroom

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Education

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January 14, 2009

In the race to develop batteries for tomorrow's electric-based cars, the University of Michigan is leading the pack.General Motors is partnering with U-M to develop the advanced batteries for its next generation of electricity-based automobiles, like the Chevrolet Volt. That means GM is giving the university $5 million to establish the Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains Labratory, which will call Ann Arbor home. Ann Marie Sastry, a prominent engineering professor at U-M, will lead the lab. Satsry is a big player in advanced battery research and pushing forward the further electrification of the automobile. She is the director of the Energy Systems Engineering Program at U-M (where GM sends its engineers to learn about electric cars) and is the CEO of Satki3, an Ann Arbor-based start-up that focuses on developing high-powered automotive batteries.The lab will accelerate the design and testing of advanced batteries for electric vehicles. GM has been betting big on the success of that technology, pinning its future hopes of profitability to the likes of the Volt and recently announced Cadillac Converj.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Menlo Innovations opens Chicago office, plans to hire

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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January 14, 2009

Menlo Innovations isn't just an Ann Arbor firm anymore. It's an Ann Arbor and a Chicago business, now that the software design firm has opened a Windy City sales office - with a staff of one. For now. "I would almost call it a sales outpost at the moment," says Rick Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations.That's on top of the staff of 60, six interns and a gaggle of independent contractors who work for Menlo Innovations' downtown Ann Arbor headquarters today. That number is up from about 40 people just a year ago. The company also hopes to add another 15 people in 2009.Menlo Innovations has been able to achieve this growth thanks to a strong financial performance in 2008. Revenues are up 40 percent last year and are expected to grow at the same rate this year.The Chicago office is expected to help boost Menlo Innovations' client list (and thus revenues) this year. Lauren Taylor Sheridan, a graduate of Indiana University, is helping launch the Chicago office.Source: Menlo Innovations Writer: Jon Zemke

Advanced Photonix aims for 30 percent growth, signs new contracts

By Newsroom

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Education

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January 14, 2009

It's been a fast ride to growth for Advanced Photonix and its Picometrix subsidiary (a University of Michigan spin-off). The Ann Arbor-based business employed about 30 people in 2005. It has a staff of more than 160 employees and the occasional summer intern today. AP even has a couple of positions open right now, looking for people who specialize in optical engineering. "We've grown tremendously in the last four years," says Richard Kurtz, CEO of Advanced Photonix.The technology firm keeps aiming high, reaching for 30 percent revenue growth each year for the foreseeable future.Advanced Photonix specializes in making optimum electronic semiconductor sensors. These sensors are used by a wide variety of fields, ranging from homeland security's search for WMDs to eye scanners for the healthcare industry. Meanwhile, Picometrix focuses on making sensors for the telecommunications industry, one of the firm's most promising new sectors.Picometrix has also done work with NASA, which is also reupping with the company's technology this year.Source: Richard Kurtz, CEO of Advanced PhotonixWriter: Jon Zemke

A2 Hosting takes off in Ann Arbor, hopes to hire 5 this year

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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January 7, 2009

Five years ago Bryan Muthig and a business partner started A2 Hosting with the idea that website hosting was a good idea. It turned out to be a darned good decision. The firm, based out of Ann Arbor's southeast side, now employs 17 people. Some of them telecommute but they're all located in southeast Michigan. "Most of our growth has come in the last 2-3 years," says Muthig, the president and CEO of A2 Hosting. "We were at four people three years ago."The firm hopes to hire five people this year after enjoying 40 percent revenue growth. That's because it hosts the likes of Ubuntugeek.com, 43folders.com and the blog for a famous U.S. politician.Muthig expects to continue that growth and take on more sites as time passes. He is even looking into getting into design and applications development."Assuming the world doesn't fall into chaos," Muthig says.Source: Bryan Muthig, president and CEO of A2 HostingWriter: Jon Zemke