Saline

Saline couple leap into entrepreneurship with Two Ten

By Newsroom

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September 9, 2009

Two Ten's name isn’t based on what the new start-up does but where it's at. Two Ten (210) is the address of Steven and Deborah C. Elmore's house in downtown Saline.The couple has spent decades working for two of Michigan’s biggest institutions - General Motors and the University of Michigan. Steven recently retired from GM and Deborah left U-M on a road that led to the couple going into business together."We're fledgling entrepreneurs and looking for alternative options other than depending on someone else for employment," says Deborah. "We want to be independent."Two Ten has a dual focus reflecting the interests of its two founders. Steve is focusing on pursuing a patent that would greatly improve barcode reading technology. Deborah is capitalizing on her U-M experience in corporate event planning. She is working to incorporate new event technology, such as social media. Some of this technology will help verify attendance and to see how long people stayed.Source: Steven and Deborah C. Elmore, co-founders of Two TenWriter: Jon Zemke

Washtenaw County moves toward establishing land bank

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

The Washtenaw County Land Bank is about to become a reality within the next few weeks. The county treasurer, Catherine McClary, is pushing the paperwork forward to make it official by September. Properties could be put back on tax rolls as early as October.Land banks are becoming the governmental tool du jour to handle blighted and abandoned buildings remaining from the foreclosure crisis. Genesee County has turned its land bank into a nationally recognized tool to right-size the shrinking metropolitan Flint area. It is advising Washtenaw County on setting up its own land bank.The new land bank will host two public meetings in September on what type of policies it will employ and how it will be incorporated. It will carry a seven-member board that will create the bylaws, articles of incorporation and policies in September.The board will include the Washtenaw County Treasurer and Sheriff, a representative from the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, the mayors of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the supervisor of Ypsilanti Township, and the supervisor of one of the county's western townships.Source: Catherine McClary, Washtenaw County TreasurerWriter: Jon Zemke

Molded Materials consolidates operations in Saline

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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July 22, 2009

Molded Materials is casting a new die in Saline. The advanced materials technology company is consolidating its operations in the city southwest of Ann Arbor thanks largely to a tax break approved by the state."It keeps us in Michgan, basically," says Tom Elkington, chief operating officer of Molded Materials. "It was the tipping point for keeping us in Michigan."The state tax credit totals $420,388 over seven years and will result in hiring 29 people within the next five years, on top of its current staff of 45. Those jobs will come mainly from Molded Materials merging two of three plants in Saline, investing $2.9 million. It's Plymouth operation will also remain, but Saline will be the center of growth for Molded Materials."This community is very open and willing to work with companies to help them grow," Elkington says.Molded Materials designs, engineers and manufactures advanced composite components for a wide variety of industries.Source: Tom Elkington, chief operating officer of Molded MaterialsWriter: Jon Zemke

Work restarts on Saline’s Henne Field

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 27, 2009

Shovels are sprouting up in Saline’s Henne Field this spring as construction workers once again begin to revamp the 8-acre park near downtown. "We plan to have our construction for this year done by June," says David Rhoads, treasurer of the Friends of Henne Field.Work to turn the park into Salin's version of a town square began last fall, but ended prematurely because the weather didn’t cooperate. The Friends of Henne Field hope to finish off the first phase for this year for about $600,000. The group then plans to raise the same amount of money over the rest of the year so it can finish the $1.3 million project next summer.Plans for this summer call for paving the parking lot, building new baseball fields, adding fencing and benches next to the new pathways and sidewalks. The Friends of Henne Field is quarterbacking the effort to redesign and revitalize the park. The project will create two little league baseball parks, a performance pavilion, walking trails, work-out stations, benches, historic-looking streetlights and a small sledding hill. The idea is to create a community gathering space and help spur more development in Saline’s downtown.The 60-year-old park is 1.5 blocks from Michigan Avenue, Saline's main drag. It's bordered by Bennett, McKay, North Ann Arbor and Harris. Those streets have traditionally encompassed three baseball fields, some grass and trees.The field was given to the Saline Area Schools in 1948. It's named after Edward Henne, the son-in-law of the man who established the first telephone system in Saline.Source: David Rhoads, treasurer of the Friends of Henne FieldWriter: Jon Zemke

Bike to Work Week starts Monday

By Newsroom

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Environment & Sustainability

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May 13, 2009

Just in time for the warm weather, a reminder that you should be nicer to both your body and the planet. Cut down green house gasses and brun calories in one fell swoop.Excerpt:Before work every day at City Hall, Assistant City Engineer Jeff Fordice fits in a full workout. The beauty is that he doesn't need to carve out extra time from his morning schedule or even go to the gym. For nearly a year, Fordice has been riding his bike to work, about 1.5 miles each way. He splits his route between sidewalks and roads and has found motorists to be fairly cooperative in sharing the roadways, though he does take extra care at intersections."People still aren't used to watching for bikes during their commute," he said.The mayor, City Council and a few groups around town are hoping to change that.By mayoral proclamation, next week in Saline is Bike to Work Week and May 15 is Bike to Work Day. Saline is joining communities throughout the country recognizing May as National Bike Month while two groups, Pick up the Pace Saline and an organization called Program to Educate All Cyclists, are planning a ride through the city at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The two-mile ride through town will depart from City Hall and PEAC will bring a trailer of bikes for people who would like to borrow one. Call 1-734-255-5930 to reserve a bike that will fit. Read the rest of the story here and Ypsilanti's Ride of Silence here.

Saline may offer housing community for disabled adults

By Newsroom

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General

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April 15, 2009

A movement is afoot in Saline to offer housing options for developmentally disabled adults.Excerpt:Linda Klenczar and her 23-year-old daughter, Sarah, both of Saline, were apartment hunting in Ann Arbor last summer. It wasn't long before Sarah made it clear to her mother that they weren't going to have any luck. Ann Arbor may only be a couple miles from Saline, but, to Sarah, it's just not home."My daughter said, 'But I don't want to live in Arbor. I grew up in Saline. I work in Saline. I want to live in Saline,'" Linda said. "I looked at her and said, 'Well, of course you want to live in Saline.' "Read the rest of the story here.

Saline’s DesignHub wins two awards, adds 1 new employee

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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March 4, 2009

DesignHub isn't trying to set the world on fire with rocketing growth. In fact the Saline-based firm is happy staying at about the same size it is today."We've always planned to stay relatively small," says Chris Kochmanski, a partner with DesignHub. "The three partners are between 45-55 years old so we're not trying to conquer the world or anything."That doesn't mean the creative service and marketing firm isn't growing. It added another employee last year, so its head count hits five employees and one independent contractor. It might add another person in the near future, but Kochmanski sees the company barely breaking into the double-digit employee ranks, despite its growing track record.DesignHub is celebrating its 10th year. The firm gets most of its work through website development, the rest comes from things like creating brochures. Source: Chris Kochmanski, partner with DesignHubWriter: Jon Zemke

Saline mayor says arts, culture crucial

By Newsroom

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General

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February 18, 2009

The arts are even more critical in these difficult times, and the Mayor of Saline is willing to go to bat for them.Excerpt:Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell has studied what makes her city tick for more than a decade.She has attended seminars and workshops on how to keep a city like Saline healthy, vigorous and growing.One of the few ingredients she found Saline was missing was a vehicle to help drive the arts and culture in the community.On Monday, Driskell asked City Council to fuel this passion by establishing the new Saline Culture and Arts Committee. Council members voted to support the launch and volunteers are being sought to fill the new mayor-appointed positions."I have talked about the importance of this type of organization, recognizing its contribution to the overall economic development of Saline," she said.Read the rest of the story here.

Washtenaw Walking & Biking Coalition takes on new goals for 2009

By Newsroom

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Development News

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January 21, 2009

Getting around Washtenaw County will be much easier for everyone not in an automobile if the Washtenaw Walking & Biking Coalition has anything to say about it.The local advocate for non-motorized transportation has set some ambitious-yet-realistic goals for 2009. The coalition wants to help fill in the gaps of the Border to Border Trail across the county and make a trail or bike lane connection to Saline. It also wants to find a way for people without cars to get across I-94 near Brairwood Mall."That area in particular is very difficult for pedestrian and cyclists to travel across," says Pete Hines, chair of the Washtenaw Walking & Biking Coalition.It is also working the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County and Huron Clinton Parks to help Ann Arbor score a large federal grant. That money, which could be available in the coming months, would help create miles of bike lanes, trails and sidewalks in the city.The association is also planning to turn itself in to a non-profit. It's a move that will help it raise money and apply for grants.Source: Pete Hines, chair of the Washtenaw Walking & Biking CoalitionWriter: Jon Zemke

Saint Joseph Mercy moves forward with Saline Hospital expansion

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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January 14, 2009

Stalled until recently, work is restarting on the expansion of the St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital Community Health Pavilion.Parent company Trinity Health put the project on hold in October while corporate officials reviewed non-emergency capital spending projects. At the time, a pause was ordered on all construction. Trinity Health is spending $7.8 million to add 13,000 square feet to the hospital. The new space will house a clinical laboratory, imaging center and a large community room for educational forums and events. It will also improve access for emergency, surgery and inpatient services.Work is expected to wrap up this fall.Source: Lauren Stokes, spokeswoman for St. Joseph Mercy HospitalWriter: Jon Zemke