Milan

Now, Then & Again brings cards, classes, antiques to Milan

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November 19, 2014

A longtime knitter and card maker, Cindy Day has wanted to open a shop that included both for some time. Combined with her mother's experience as the former owner of Victorian Garden in Blissfield, the concept for Now, Then & Again in Milan finally came together: an antiques, thrift and vintage shop that includes her handmade cards and knitted goods. "It's been going really wonderfully," says Day's mother Sandra Suchy. "Milan has been very responsive. I've from Milan and all our children were raised here, so it's like coming back home." Now, Then & Again opened about three months ago and celebrated their grand opening earlier this month. Many of the antiques came straight from from Suchy's own collection of displays from her former shop, as well as garage sale and auction finds she's collected along the way. In the future, Day, who is a nurse in Adrian by day, would like to add knitting and card making classes to the shop's offerings. For now, the store will focus on a wide variety of new, used and antique items. "We have unique treasures and price ranges for everyone," Suchy says "from 50 cents to hundreds of dollars. We have a lot of beautiful antiques, good quality used furniture and brand new items." Now, Then & Again is located between Roy's BBQ & Burgers and Chase Bank in Milan. Day manages the store herself with the help of Suchy. Source: Sandra Suchy, Now, Then & Again Writer: Natalie Burg

New Milan pharmacy extends a more personal touch

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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October 29, 2014

After opening the Saline Pharmacy three years ago, Ziad Ghamraoui started hearing that his brand of customer-focused pharmacy services were in demand elsewhere as well. "A lot of doctors and patients were very happy with us, and a lot of Milan residents told us if we moved closer to Milan they'd give us more business," Ghamraoui says, "because we help bridge the gap in healthcare." Ghamraoui met that demand, opening Little Pharmacy in Milan about two weeks ago. Like the Saline Pharmacy, he plans to serve customers in a variety of ways, including carrying over-the-counter medications as cheaply as possible, helping those who struggle to meet their copays, allowing people to pay with store accounts when their cash flow is short and more. "Brand names can be expensive," Ghamraoui he says. "We get them coupons so we can save them on their copays. We want to make sure people get their prescriptions and make sure they're on the road to health with no restrictions whatsoever." Little Pharmacy currently occupies about 1,600 square feet of a 2,500 square foot space on Dexter Rd. in Milan. Ghamraoui has hired two employees to manage the new business. Source: Ziad Ghamraoui, Little Pharmacy Writer: Natalie Burg

OpEd: Why mediation is a model for problem solving

By Belinda Dulin

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Community Development

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July 30, 2014

Unresolved disputes can hurt economies or degrade the quality of life in a community. Belinda Dulin, executive director of The Dispute Resolution Center, explains why mediation is a viable alternative to costly and time-consuming court cases.

Former Milan bank building to house new American 1 Credit Union branch

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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April 16, 2014

Jackson-based American 1 Credit Union will soon be opening its thirteenth location in on W. Main St. in Milan. The credit union purchased a former bank building and is now renovating the facility to make way for an April 21 opening. "Milan is an amazing community," says Vice President, Marketing and Communications for American 1 Credit Union Kristi Edgar. "American 1 is excited to become a part of it and help to enhance the already strong community bond." The new bank branch will celebrate its opening with a Free Community Shred Day on May 3. Anyone with sensitive documents they wish to shred is welcome to join American 1 in the Milan City Hall parking lot. With existing locations in Brooklyn, Grass Lake and Chelsea, Milan fits right in to the American 1 Credit Union family. "American 1 is a community-focused financial institution and we value our small-town communities in Michigan," Edgar says. American 1 Credit Union promotes its extended hours for customer convenience. The new Milan branch will be open until 6 pm Monday through Friday and until 3 pm on Saturdays. The branch will be staffed by five employees. Source: Kristi Edgar, American 1 Credit Union Writer: Natalie Burg

Ann Arbor area among happiest metros in the US

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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March 26, 2014

Though you might not know it reading the comment section of the local paper, Ann Arbor is a happy happy place. Excerpt: "Some metro areas scored higher than others for the different factors used to determine well-being. Ann Arbor, Mich., scored highest in life evaluation. Meanwhile, Honolulu, Hawaii, scored highest for emotional health and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles in California scored highest for work environment. Holland-Grand Haven in Michigan scored highest for physical heath and access to basic necessities, and Salinas, Calif., scored highest for healthy behaviors." Read the rest here.

Municipal Millennials

By Patrick Dunn

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General

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March 19, 2014

Of the 11 people on Ann Arbor's city council, only one is under 40. Which is one more than Ypsilanti's city council. So, how do our communities prepare for the next generation's needs without their participation? Concentrate chats with a trio of millennials who have decided to get involved with charting their city's future by becoming civic leaders.

Love of history leads to new Milan antiques and restoration shop

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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December 11, 2013

A love of history has been a part of Cassandra Smith's family for generations. Her great-grandmother was a historical scrapbooker, and her grandfather was also a history buff. True to her family heritage, Smith became a social studies teacher with a history minor, and learned to restore historic furniture from her mother about 20 years ago. Now, all of that family knowledge and years of practice are available to everyone through her new shop, C.K. Antiques and Restoration in downtown Milan. "We've always done restoration for family and friends," Smith says. "Over the last ten years I've been considering opening my own store, so I rented a booth out at the Livingston Antiques Mall, and the bug hit me. So here I am." C.K. Antiques and Restoration opened just in time for the holiday shopping season on Nov. 29. The 2,400 square foot unit gives her room for a 1,000 square foot showroom, as well as space to restore her pieces. Smith both accepts furniture from customers to be restored, as well as finds her own pieces to restore and resell. An Ypsilanti resident, Smith says Milan was the perfect location to open her shop, with a quaint downtown and a community in need of an antiques store. "The town has been so welcoming and encouraging," Smith says. "A lot of them are excited that we're here. The response has been really positive." Smith describes her taste as broad and eclectic, offering shoppers a wide variety of antique items from various time periods. Though she is particularly fond of 19th century furniture, she say customers will find any thing old and unusual that catches her eye in the store. Source: Cassandra Smith, C.K. Antiques and Restoration Writer: Natalie Burg

Ann Arbor area has new technology job mojo

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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November 13, 2013

Washtenaw County secures further evidence that we are a destination for technological innovation... at least when it comes to private-sector jobs that are in related to technology and information. Considering the cities on the Progressive Policy Institute's list, being ranked 18th in the nation is pretty darn good. Excerpt: "On average, the top 25 counties, as measured by the Index, showed an average private sector job gain of 2.4% between 2007 and 2012. That doesn’t seem like much, but the remaining counties had a decline of 3.5%. In other words, a vibrant tech/info sector tended to make the difference between a local economy that had recovered by 2012, and one that was still in decline. The implication is that policies to encourage tech/info growth are more likely to boost the overall economy. Innovation creates well-paying jobs. What’s more, the diversity of places on our list suggests a high-growth economy is not just for traditional tech powerhouses such as Silicon Valley, but has broader applicability." See the rankings here.

Ann Arbor SPARK lands $1M to expand reach regionally

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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January 30, 2013

Ann Arbor SPARK has landed $1 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund that will help the economic accelerator expand its reach across Washtenaw County. "This broadens the geography and the number of companies that we can serve," says Paul Krutko, president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. The money will go toward creating the Washtenaw County Incubator Collaborative, which will help bring Ann Arbor SPARK's business incubator activities across the county. The idea is to help further the growth of tech-based start-ups and jobs across the county. Ann Arbor SPARK will partner with the MC3 Business Accelerator and the Michigan Research Institute to leverage the $1 million in state funding (and $722,500 in matching funds from the participating agencies) to create the the Washtenaw County Incubator Collaborative. The new partnership will focus on the medical device and defense industries as well as other high-growth industries in Washtenaw County. "We need to deal with regional solutions," Krutko says. Source: Paul Krutko, president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Michigan Saves offers incentives to businesses making energy-efficient upgrades

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 12, 2012

In time for the winter indoor-project season, a new statewide low-interest rate program for businesses making energy-efficient upgrades to their properties has come into effect. Under the Michigan Saves Business Energy Financing Program, businesses can obtain 2-5 year loans ranging from $2,000-150,000, at rates starting at 5.9%. The financing is provided through Ervin Leasing for businesses using program-authorized contractors, according to Julie Bennett, executive director of Michigan Saves. A special incentive in the form of a 3.99% rate and a $2,000 rebate from Michigan Saves is available to food industry companies cutting energy use by 20%. That includes grocers, convenience stores, food wholesalers, and restaurants. "We're really targeting that industry because they use a lot of energy, but they typically don't have the time and resources to make the improvements," Bennett says. The incentive program is grant-funded and short-term, so Bennett encourages food industry business owners to apply as soon as possible. The loan program, however, has about $50 million in committed funds and is intended to be perpetual, according to Bennett. "There's a recycling that happens with this money as loans are paid down, so we're hoping that we'll never have to stop this program. But at this time we can do 1,000 businesses...if we had a rush to the door, we could do 1,000." Qualifying projects include energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling, insulation, refrigeration, and motor, door, or window replacement. The program is targeting business enrollment, and employment as well. "We're always looking for more contractors to enroll in the program," Bennett adds. "It's a kind of job creation angle - that we're really trying to get contractors enrolled." Source: Julie Bennett, executive director of Michigan Saves Writer: Tanya Muzumdar