Ann Arbor fosters entrepreneurial ties with Silicon Valley

Lots of people want southeast Michigan, and the Ann Arbor area in particular, to do everything it can to become a rival to Silicon Valley. Local leaders are now going the extra mile to form relationships with business leaders in what is arguably the world’s most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.Excerpt:Ann Arbor is getting cozy with Silicon Valley – and local economic development officials hope the budding relationship leads to more jobs for this area.Local companies, investors and economic development leaders are seeking to leverage Ann Arbor’s connections with businesses based in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco region. In Silicon Valley, life sciences, information technology, research services and environmentally friendly products account for 33.6 percent of total employment, according to the Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance.Cultivating relationships with West Coast business leaders is a central goal of several California trips organized by Ann Arbor leaders in recent months. Read the rest of the story here.