Ann Arbor

Google wants well-rounded staff for Ann Arbor office

By Newsroom

●

October 22, 2008

It might not seem like anyone is doing well in this economy, but Google is still hiring for its AdWords headquarters in Ann Arbor. Excerpt: It's no surprise that employees at the Internet search giant Google -- whose wacky cubicles are known for their Mr. Potato Head, superhero and Elmo doll adornments -- was ranked as southeast Michigan's top workplace in the medium-sized company category (151-500 workers). "Our culture is something that we take a lot of pride in," said Jake Parrillo, spokesman for Google, which has offices in Ann Arbor and Birmingham. "Everything that we do, we do to make a better work environment for employees." Employees enjoy a vast menu of in-house perks that include massages, free gourmet lunches and gyms. Dogs can come in for visits. The Ann Arbor facility is the headquarters for Google's AdWords operations. Read the rest of the story here and an Ann Arbor Business Review story about keeping young talent local here.

Smaller 601 Forest gets big approval in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 22, 2008

It is over yet? Has the Ann Arbor City Council finally passed judgment on 601 Forest yet? Yes? Finally… The City Council approved the smaller version of the 601 Forest high-rise on development. Call it a downsized victory for the proponents of vertical, urban growth in Ann Arbor. The 'adjusted' version of 601 Forest is 14 stories tall. The developers, Hughes Properties and Omena Real Estate Investments, originally planned for of 26. They also wanted to build 1,100 beds in 342 units. The new plan calls for 150-175 rooms with 570-610 beds. All of those beds will be marketed toward students at the nearby University of Michigan. Each unit will come furnished with amenities like flat screen TVs and floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the surrounding campus area. There will also be a café, fitness facility, business center and a landscaped roof garden. The building will incorporate environmentally friendly construction techniques, materials and systems, such as passive solar technologies, advanced water recapture systems and a green roof. The developers are going for at least silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Village Corner party store and a nearby apartment building at the corner of South University and Forest streets will be leveled to make way for 601 Forest. The adjacent Mud Bowl will be left alone. Source: City of Ann Arbor Writer: Jon Zemke

University of Michigan student leader promotes energy conservation

By Newsroom

●

Education

●

October 22, 2008

Ann Arbor's townies aren’t the only ones trying to save the planet. The city's students are also making some big headway in that effort. Excerpt: Leaning forward at a table in a coffee shop near the University of Michigan Central Campus, Leslie Zaikis gazed at the screen of her laptop. Zaikis sat among a throng of other young people, some of whom seemed so engrossed in what they were doing they appeared oblivious to the sunshine outdoors, too busy in their work to notice. Zaikis admits she often feels as if she is always using her computer. She uses it a lot as president of the U-M College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Among her duties, she helps coordinate some of the college's projects, including collaboration with the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. To connect with students and university administration as well as promote energy awareness, the LSA student government helped plan the current energy-themed semester at the college. Read the rest of the story here.

Workers to restore historic St. Andrew’s Church in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 22, 2008

An old beauty of a church near downtown Ann Arbor is getting a facelift and a little interior work done. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is investing $2.8 million in a new roof, windows and a refurbished hall, among other fixes to the 141-year-old stone structure. Most of the heavy work is expected to wrap up by the holiday season, but some smaller improvements will carry on into next year. "It's going to be quite stunning when it's done," says Mary Bishop, finance administrator with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. The fixes include replacing the slate roof and refurbishing the church's windows. It's also renovating and modernizing Page Hall, along with improving it main entrance to make it safer with things like more walkable steps. St. Andrew's dates to 1827, making it Michigan's second oldest Episcopal church. It cost $30,000 to build the original church in the late 1860s. It was designed by Gordon Lloyd and is modeled after the country churches of England in the Gothic Revival style. The tower was built in 1903 and a bell was added in 1927. More information on the church's history can be found here. Source: Mary Bishop, finance administrator with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor start-up Boomdash expands its reach

By Newsroom

●

Entrepreneurship

●

October 22, 2008

The Detroit Free Press' chronicling of Ann Arbor start-up Boomdash continues. Excerpt: When Cesar Nerys launched his Ann Arbor start-up company Boomdash LLC this spring, he didn't factor hurricanes into the list of potential pitfalls. But last month, the veteran entrepreneur remained glued to the TV screen as first Hurricane Gustav and later Ike churned toward the gulf coast. The first market for the search engine marketing firm just happens to be New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La. Gustav and an outer band of storms caused by Ike wound up delaying by almost four weeks a Boomdash sales training course for 15 employees at Sunshine Pages, a telephone directory publisher that's selling Boomdash's product. Read the rest of the story here.

Ann Arbor DDA works with businesses to reduce energy costs

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 15, 2008

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is offering energy audits for free or at a greatly reduced price to downtown businesses in an effort to increase the city's sustainability.The idea is to lower energy costs for downtown businesses while improving the city's image as a community dedicated to efficient and renewable energy. The DDA is also working with the city's Green Energy Challenge to make this happen.The DDA's Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program provides a free energy audit to buildings 16,667 square feet or smaller. The program will pay up to $5,000 for audits of larger buildings. So far 47 applications have been approved, including 14 buildings larger than 17,000 square feet.Energy audits work similar to financial audits. They assess how much energy a building is using and give recommendations for how to improve efficiency and best incorporate renewable energy sources. These audits often reveal door and window leaks, areas of poor insulation, and outdated lighting or heating systems and controls.The DDA is also working on a second phase to the program, which will include matching grants for building owners who decide to implement recommendations from the energy audit.Ann Arbor's DDA has been a leader in Michigan when it comes to promoting sustainable initiatives. It has sponsored programs that promote alternative transportation, such as bring in Zipcars, build bike lockers and racks, and push for commuter rail. One of its recent initiatives included the installation of solar panels at Ann Arbor's Farmer's Market. For information on the DDA's Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program, call the city of Ann Arbor’s Energy Office at (734) 996-3150. Source: Susan Pollay, executive director for the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor area businesses get a boost from filmmakers

By Newsroom

●

Arts & Culture

●

October 15, 2008

Six months into the existence of Michigan’s movie incentive package and the dollars are starting to trickle down to businesses in the Ann Arbor area. Excerpt: If Downtown Home & Garden and Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea are any indication, Michigan's generous new film incentive could mean substantial - albeit sporadic - boosts in business for some Ann Arbor area companies. While the movie "Youth in Revolt" was filming in downtown Ann Arbor last summer, the crew spent about $3,000 on French bistro-style furniture, a few dozen sun hats and other items from Downtown Home on South Ashley Street. Sweetwaters sold them rounds of coffee and tea drinks, in addition to pastries, muffins and other quick food items. In addition, more than 100 crew members were given $20 a day to spend on lunch in downtown Ann Arbor, pumping an estimated $8,000 into the cash registers of such places as Cafe Zola and the Fleetwood Diner, according to the Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Those are the direct things," Downtown Home owner Mark Hodesh said about purchases the movie crew made from his store. "There were also people standing around watching, so we had lots of new people in our parking lot. ... Everyone found time to pause in their travels and watch it, marvel at it. It was good for downtown." Read the rest of the story here and how local film students are staying and cashing in on it, too, here.

Bite-Sized Luxury

By Constance Crump

●

Entrepreneurship

●

October 15, 2008

Okay, so maybe you have to put off plans for buying a new car or upgrading your futon to a leather sofa. Luxury can still be had... in bite-sized morsels. Sweet Gem Confections is yet another example of Ann Arbor's ever-growing foodie culture, offering handmade artisan chocolates that won't stop the banks from failing but just might make the moment they do a little bit sweeter..

Video The Boardwalk Creative Center

By Keith Jefferies

●

Environment & Sustainability

●

October 15, 2008

The call for creative space in Ann Arbor has been frequent and loud -from cultural organizations feeling the absence of a community arts venue to businesses looking for neutral turf. Enter the Boardwalk Creative Center, which has become a much needed 'third place' for those seeking inspirational room to roam.

Eleven Ann Arbor companies to create 845 high-tech jobs

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

October 15, 2008

Ann Arbor is one of the main players transforming Michigan's economy from brawn-based to brain-based and it's no more evident that in last week's job creation announcement from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Ann Arbor-based companies received millions of dollars in tax incentives to invest millions more into expanding their businesses and creating local jobs. The bottom line equals 845 new high-tech jobs and more than $52 million in investments.The list of growing companies include:Accuri Cytometers – 88 new jobs, $13 million investmentSolidica – 12 new jobs, $1 million investmentNeuroNexus Technologies – 7 new jobs, $1 million investmentCompendia Bioscience – 20 new jobs, $1.25 million investmentNephrion – 200 new jobs, $2 million investmentCielo MedSolutions – 70 new jobs, $1.875 million investmentMeditrina Pharmaceuticals – 243 new jobs, $12.325 million investmentAvidimer Therapeutics – 8 new jobs, $5 million investmentArbor Photonics – 136 new jobs, $1.515 million investmentNanocerox – 25 new jobs, $1.057 million investmentPixel Velocity – 36 new jobs, $2 million investmentAll in another day of doing business in Ann Arbor.Source: Michigan Economic Development CorporationWriter: Jon Zemke