Maybe you haven't noticed but more and more businesses have been moving into Ypsilanti, fueling a drive to revive the downtown as a vibrant commercial destination. So, how do things look at street level? To answer that question we've invited local business owners to talk about how they're doing and where things are going. Sign up now for this May 2 event!
A new, $4 million plan in the works for the Thompson Block property in Ypsilanti includes 16 luxury lofts, 14,000 square feet of commercial space and 30 onsite parking spaces. "The building is one of the most historic buildings in the entire state of Michigan," says developer Stewart Beal of Beal Properties, who has been working to redevelop the property for several years. "The project is extremely important to me." Beal presented his new plan to the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority last week, including the news of new investors who have helped raise $300,000 toward the project goal of $1,740,000. Beal calls the new investors critical to the success of the development. The presentation also requested support from the DDA in the form of grants from the organization's Façade Improvement and Building Rehabilitation programs, consideration of future DDA liquor license requests and a letter of support to the Michigan Economic Growth Corporation to help secure financial support. Beal hopes to begin work on the revised Thompson Block plan after a 6-month period of raising new equity, obtaining local and state approvals and signing leases for the spaces. He anticipates construction to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and complete work by late 2014 or early 2015. Source: Stewart Beal, Beal Properties Writer: Natalie Burg
With the middle class finding itself increasingly priced out of college for the kids, EMU is one of a few in the country that have clamped down on tuition costs. Excerpt: "In 2010, Eastern Michigan University led the way as one of the nation's most cost conscious colleges when it froze tuition, room and board and fees with its 0%, 0%, 0% campaign... This tuition restraint and other factors have recently earned Eastern a ranking of 54th out of 350 colleges for its affordability among the larger public colleges by AffordableCollegesOnline.org. There were 15 metrics used in the ranking, including tuition, admission rates, enrollment total, average grant dollars per student and average scholarship per student." More here.
After traveling the world for more than a decade as a flight attendant, Janette Rook knew just what kind of gifts she wanted to feature in her new Depot Town shop, The Eyrie, set to open April 25. "You don't see the regional differences or the unique local items like I remember more from when I was a kid, and from other countries," says Rook, who also worked as a union activist before deciding to open her own business. "I'd like to recreate that more vibrant experience as much as I can in our little corner of Michigan." Rook decided the beautiful historic storefront in Ypsilanti's Depot Town was the perfect place to showcase a variety of goods from Michigan artisans including art, accessories, home décor items and potted plants. "I'd love for this place to be one more reason folks come to Ypsilanti and see what I see," says Rook, "not only in Depot Town, but in downtown Ypsilanti. There is a feeling of new beginnings here that is interesting, exciting and hopeful." Even the renovations put into the 750 square-foot shop were Michigan-made, as Rook painted, stained and fixed up the place herself. Rook will be staffing The Eyrie herself initially, but plans to add up to two new positions at the shop in the upcoming months. Source: Janette Rook, The Eyrie Writer: Natalie Burg
VC Web Design has grown to the point it's having a hard time finding space for its new hires, leading the downtown Ypsilanti-based business to start looking for a bigger home. "We can't fit any more people in here," says Vince Chmielewski, president of VC Web Design. "We would like to stay in downtown if possible." The 3-year-old business was the first to spin out of Ann Arbor SPARK's downtown Ypsilanti incubator. It specializes in website construction and video work. Its revenue has doubled in the last year, allowing it to hire three people. Those new hires include a videographer and website developer. The company now has a team of seven employees and is planning to add more interns this summer. That staff has been doing work with the Barwis Methods and Ann Arbor SPARK. Chmielewski expects the current rate of growth to continue for the rest of this year. "So far we're on track to double again," Chmielewski says. "It's why we might not be able to be where we are for much longer." Also helping accelerate VC Web Design is its recent switch to agile software development methodology. This new system emphasizes website developers showing updated versions of sites in the progress of development so changes can be made quickly and efficiently. "You can change direction very easily without waiting until the end," Chmielewski says. "It changes our output because we have to do less rework." Source: Vince Chmielewski, president of VC Web Design Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
Tree Fort Bikes is in an interesting position, where even though its sales volume hasn't spiked, it has found a way to improve its profit margins, allowing the company to hire more staff. Over the last year, the Ypsilanti-based retailer has turned to doing more high-end bicycle business. That change means a lower volume of bikes sold, which allows the firm to focus more on customer service. That has led to better profit margins and a happier customer base. "We're always focused on customer service but now we have the extra time to take of each customer," says Scott Mulder, president of Tree Fort Bikes. It has also allowed Tree Fort Bikes to hire five people over the last year, expanding its staff to 15 people. Among those hires are sales and customer service professionals and a videographer. The videographer has let the company expand its YouTube channel with videos, such as instructional videos on maintaining a bike or overviews of certain brands. That sort of extra is part of the customer-service-oriented plan to broaden the company's bottom line. "We're growing but at the same time we're not Wal-Marting out our service," Mulder says. Source: Scott Mulder, president of Tree Fort Bikes Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
After makeovers from Depot Town to Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti is rebuilding and renovating its core. And the march continues. Ypsilanti DDA director Tim Colbeck discusses what else he'd like to see in terms of a more perfect downtown.
A new report by Environment Michigan's Research and Policy Center suggests Ypsilanti leaders set a new goal of 1,000 roofs by 2020 and outlines steps the city can take to make that happen. "For such a small city, Ypsilanti ranks third for concentration of solar projects," says Virginia Shannon of Environment Michigan. "It's already leading the way. It's a really exciting goal. It's also definitely reachable and realistic." The report was presented during an event at the Ypsilanti Food Co-op on Monday with representatives from Environment Michigan, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and SolarYpsi, among others. The study recommends the goal of 1,000 solar roofs in Ypsilanti can be reached with the following four steps: leading by example by employing solar roofs on city and historic buildings; promoting and streamlining information for the public on financing options for solar roofs; partnering with non-profits, business and Eastern Michigan University to build awareness an educate the public; and supporting policies at all levels of government that promote solar energy. "The report highlights the ability of solar to become a point of pride and identity for the community," says Shannon. "The mayor and others are always talking about how to make it a destination college town and a sustainable community. Solar helps in both ways." According to Shannon, reaching this bold goal of covering 1,000 of Ypsilanti's 5,000 homes with solar roofs is key to creating that identity. With 13 major solar projects already in place in Ypsilanti and classes in solar technology offered at EMU, this distinction is intended to further the community's identity as a place to both learn about and become involved in solar energy. Source: Virginia Shannon, Environment Michigan Writer: Natalie Burg
With the promise of investment and new jobs, locally owned International Turbine Industries (ITI) will soon bring back to life 23,000 square feet of a 300-acre Willow Run property. RACER Trust, the organization tasked with remediating and positioning for redevelopment former GM locations, announced the agreement with ITI to purchase the former General Motors Willow Run Company Vehicle Operations facility in early April. "I applaud Mark and Rhonda Andrews for their commitment to Michigan," says RACER Trust Redevelopment Manager Bruce Rasher of the ITI owners. "They had opportunities elsewhere but wanted to stay and grow at Willow Run. I'm very pleased that we were able to play a role in that decision." ITI is expected to invest $50,000 into the facility and add 25 new jobs to their current staff of 10. The company specializes in engine repair, overhaul and inspection of jet engines. Andrews has worked at or near Willow Run Airport since 1988. RACER says the decision to grow his company in Michigan was based on giving his employees the chance to stay in the area. More than 300 acres and a 5-million-square-foot facility remain for sale at the site. RACER will continue to market the property. "Our goal is to do what the community has asked us to do," says Rasher, "attract new jobs and economic activity to the site as soon as possible. We have had, and continue to have, discussions with several interested parties from a variety of sectors." Rasher says he's been impressed with the level of engagement and partnership of local elected officials and economic development organizations during the marketing of the Willow Run properties. "They've been great to work with," he says. "They very clearly see the potential of Willow Run and are just as active and energized as we are about the future of that site." Source: Bruce Rasher, RACER Trust Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor
Keeping an airport in good condition is of no small importance, particularly one that is as integrally linked to an area's economic development as Willow Run Airport is to Washtenaw County. "It's a chicken-and-egg thing," says Scott Wintner, public affairs manager for the Wayne County Airport Authority, which operates Willow Run Airport. "We're counting on the efforts of our economic development partners to prove there is demand for a strong airport, and we also know that that Willow Run needs to be developed to continue those economic development efforts." To keep that reciprocal relationship moving forward, Willow Run will embark on an approximately $20 million reconstruction of the northern half of its longest runway this year. Though the project will only involve the removal and rebuilding of half the 7,525-foot runway, Wintner explains that the process is far from simple. "A runway is a lot more complicated than your typical driveway," says Wintner. "If you look at the architectural plans, you'd think you were looking at a mansion. It's a lot more intricate than you'd imagine." About $18 million of the project will come from a federal government grant, with the remaining ten percent evenly divided between state funding and Willow Run. The southern half of the runway is ready for reconstruction as soon as funding for the $23 million project can be secured. The runway reconstruction is part of a 10-year, $182 million capital improvement plan that has been in place at Willow Run for some time. Wintner says much of these plans involve improving aging infrastructure, some of which has been in place since the 1940s. Source: Scott Wintner, Willow Run Airport Writer: Natalie Burg
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