Innovation + Job News

Here's one of those cool only-in-Detroit stories: Hope Detroit Academy, thanks to a grant from Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, has 250 students participating in a science program that begins with identifying tire dumping sites -- and ends with the tires being recycled into doormats.

Teacher Tracy Durandetto says the lessons learned integrate well into science lessons. "The kids are really excited, saying 'I've never had so much fun cleaning up!'" she says. "After all, this is their neighborhood."

In grades four and five, the lessons have to do with plants and animals, while middle school students are actually learning about brownfields, recycling and environmental objectives, says Durandetto.

The program's partners include Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, which works with the students to identify the dumping sites, and Cass Community Social Services, whose staff and homeless volunteers then convert the tires to mats as part of an employment education program.

Durandetto says the students found eight dumping sites, but only two were able to be dealt with because of program limitations. She is hoping to hear back soon about continuing the program into next year.

Hope Detroit is located at 4443 N. Campbell east of Livernois in Southwest Detroit.

Source: Tracy Durandetto, Hope Detroit Academy
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

read on…

The New Economy Initiative announced plans in TechTown on Monday to help minority-owned automotive suppliers make the transition to other industries, such as aerospace, defense and alternative energy.

The New Economy Initiative is partnering with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to create the 3-year program. The New Economy Initiative is making $9.25 million in direct cash investment available while the Kauffman Foundation will provide expertise to help the transition, such as staff, materials and its FastTrac and Urban Entrepreneurship Partnership programs.

About $5 million of the $9.25 million will go toward the development of TechTown while another $3 million is designated for the Urban Entrepreneurship Partnership program. Another $1.25 million will go toward Shorebank Enterprises Detroit to establish and manage the Detroit Business Innovation Development Fund.

"This should be North America's laboratory for innovation," says David Egner, interim director for the New Economy Initiative.

FastTrac is a 15-year-old business development program that helps unemployed or underemployed people transition into entrepreneurship through an intensive 3-10 week training program. More than 300,000 people have participated in it throughout the country. The Urban Entrepreneur Partnership helps minority automotive suppliers move into fast-growing sectors, such as aerospace and alternative energy.

Some Detroit-based manufacturers have already made that transition. W-Industries produced 100 percent of its parts for the automotive industry in 2005. Today that number is down to 10 percent. The rest of its production is oriented around aerospace and defense contracts. It's also looking to expand into alternative energy later this year.

"We're looking at companies that employ thousands and thousands of people," says Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance, a Dearborn-based automotive supplier. "That's people keeping their jobs."

Source: David Egner, interim director for New Economy Initiative and Lizabeth Ardisana, CEO of ASG Renaissance
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

Detroit Edison has signed on with Heritage Sustainable Energy to buy renewable energy in what promises to be the beginning of a long line of alternative energy deals.

The Traverse City-based firm will provide 15 megawatts of renewable energy. It’s building up to eight wind turbines in Cadillac to provide this energy. They should be up and running by the end of this year.

The 20-year agreement will help Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy, meet Michigan’s new renewable portfolio standard of providing 10 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2015.

DTE Energy plans to generate half of that energy from its own resources, such as the 60,000 acre wind farm it's preparing to build in Huron County in Michigan’s Thumb. It will buy the other half from other companies, such as Heritage Sustainable Energy.

Source: John Austerberry, spokesman for DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke
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Wayne State University's MovingMedia Student Film Festival is becoming a little more inclusive this year.

Normally the film festival, set for this weekend, showcases the work of just Wayne State students. This year the festival is also allowing the work from other Metro Detroit university students to participate. Films from the University of Windsor and Madonna University students will also be shown. More schools from Metro Detroit are expected to participate next year.

"There is a strong interest in this sort of collaborative student film festival," says Kelly Gottesman, spokesperson for the festival.

MovingMedia will feature films in five categories, including documentary, narrative, animation, music and experimental. Experts from both the academic and professional worlds will judge the entries. Jeffrey D. Spilman will deliver the keynote address. Spillman is managing partner of Ferndale-based S3 Entertainment Group and major player in helping bring Hollywood to Michigan.

Another new aspect to this year's festival is the 48-Hour Shoot-N-Show Challenge. That allows teams of students to create a short film within 48 hours.

The film festival is set to take place between Friday and Sunday. For information, contact Gottesman at (313) 577-2897 or movingmedia@wayne.edu.

Source: Kelly Gottesman, spokesman for the MovingMedia Student Film Festival
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

The Wayne State University Law School is expanding into sustainability by creating an Environmental Law Clinic.

The new clinic will open this fall. The idea is to provide Wayne State law school students with the tools to help shape environmental law at the state and federal levels.

Students will help prepare policy papers and formal legislative testimony while working with the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center from its TechTown office.

"Ours is going to be the first clinic in Michigan dedicated to representing community groups and local citizens dealing with environmental problems," says Noah Hall, director of the Wayne State Environmental Law Clinic.

The University of Michigan and University of Detroit Mercy also have environmental law clinics, however, those work with the National Wildlife Federation and U.S. Attorney's Office, respectively. Wayne State's clinic will take on local grass root's causes, such as advocating for the prevention of new coal-burning power plants in Michigan.

"We're trying to move the city toward clean and renewable energy," Hall says.

Hall is an assistant law professor at Wayne State and a well-known expert on the environmental policies.

Wayne State also offers other law clinics. Those specialize in disability law, small business, non-profits, child advocacy and free legal aid.

Source: Noah Hall, director of the Wayne State University Environmental Law Clinic
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

A call center and 1,000 jobs appear to be on their way to downtown Detroit.

Excerpt:

Downtown Detroit may be in line to get a big new tenant for its beleaguered office market.

General Warranty Services, a Salem, N.H., firm that sells extended car repair warranties, is close to announcing that it will open a call center in Detroit's central business district.

A person familiar with talks between the company and city and state officials said the call center could employ 1,000 workers within a year and more later. The person asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the planning.

Read the rest of the Detroit Free Press story here.read on…

Compuware continues to make money in downtown Detroit.

Excerpt:

Detroit-based Compuware Corp. (Nasdaq: CPWR) reported after the close of markets Thursday that it had an increase in net income despite a decline in revenue for the fiscal year that ended March 31, and says it is on track for improved performance in fiscal 2010.

Read the rest of the Crain’s Detroit Business story here.read on…

Look at some of the prominent developments in downtown Detroit and there is a good chance Mark Mardirosian’s fingerprints are on them. Lofts of Merchant’s Row, Hilton Garden Inn and even the pending Broderick Tower are all the work of Mardirosian’s Kraemer Design Group.

Mardirosian, who has a masters in architecture from the University of Michigan, is principal of the downtown-based architecture firm, which employs 13 people.

Describe your business in two sentences or less?
Kraemer Design Group is a full service architectural firm. Services KDG provides include architectural design, interior design, historic preservation analysis, packaging and graphic design and general architectural consulting services.

Why did you decide to set up shop in Detroit?
Our clients primarily are either based in Detroit or desire to do development in Detroit. Our proximity to our job sites makes of services and response that more valuable. We are familiar with the governmental entities as well as contractors and vendors.

What are some of the advantages to doing business here?
Infrastructure is in place.

What do you see in Detroit that other people who live outside the city don't?
There are countless hidden gems that are overlooked. Many grassroot initiatives are in place started by very sincere and dedicated people. There are many good stories out there that don't get the headlines.

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about opening a business in the Motor City?
Know your market and your potential clients. Detroit isn't ready for everything that's thrown at it.

If you could change one thing about Detroit, what would it be?
People living within and using its resources. Without a base of population business can not survive.

Source: Mark Mardirosian, principal of Kraemer Design Group
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

When politicians talk about moving Detroit's manufacturing base from solely automotive oriented to a combination of auto, alternative energy, aerospace and defense, they probably have W Industries in mind.

The Detroit-based manufacturer depended on the automotive sector for about 100 percent of its work in 2005. Today automotive only accounts for 10 percent. The rest is in aerospace and defense, and W industries is planning to grow into the alternative energy manufacturing sector. It's all part of an aggressive manufacturing growth plan.

"We're very optimistic about future and hopeful other businesses in the city can do the same," says Edward Walker, president and CEO of W industries.

W Industries employs 360 people at its three campuses. Two of those are in Detroit on Hoover just south of 8 Mile and Helen and McNichols. Its third campus is in Romulus. The firm recently added 40-50 jobs in the last few months and expects to hire another 100 more by the end of the year.

Much of this growth is based on growth in aerospace, homeland security and defense manufacturing. W Industries makes about 100 components for the Stryker (a military armored personnel carrier used in Iraq and Afghanistan). It also is looking to expand into the alternative energy sector, making parts for wind turbines. Those would include the carbon fiber molds for the blades and machining the hub for the turbines.

"Alternative energy has boundless opportunities," Walker says.

Source: Edward Walker, president and CEO of W industries
Writer: Jon Zemke
read on…

The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. has happily wrapped its arms around a $825,000 federal earmark.

The money, secured by Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick, will be used to fund the operations for DEGC, the city's primary economic development organization. It focuses on everything from helping grow local businesses like W Industries to negotiating the Cobo Center expansion to heading up the rehabilitation efforts for the Book Cadillac Hotel.

"We still feel that most jobs will come from companies that are already here," says George Jackson, CEO of DEGC.

The DEGC and Cheeks-Kilpatrick announced the earmark on the factory floor of W Industries. The Detroit-based firm has made an impressive migration from automotive-centric manufacturing in 2005 to a combination of automotive, defense and aerospace manufacturing today. It's also looking at alternative energy as a way to help it continue to fuel its growth.

Source: George Jackson, CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

The archeological dig at the Corktown Worker's Row House and the Book Cadillac Hotel rehabilitation have won the 2009 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation.

We all know the story about the rebirth of the Book Cadillac, but the Corktown Worker's Row House Archaeological Project has flown a little bit more under the radar. Wayne State University Department of Anthropology and the Greater Corktown Development Corp teamed up to document what was left behind in the backyard of the 160-year-old building.

The row house served as a worker tenement for most of the time that Detroit grew into what it is today. It served as the home to a number of families partaking in the Motor City's industrialization and rapid immigration of the 19th and 20th centuries. Wayne State students and faculty have been continuously working to see how they lived their lives since 2006.

"There's a lot of variety of people who have lived in Corktown," says Tom Killion, professor of anthropology at Wayne State University who also runs the archeological dig. "We want to get at that and find out who lived there. It's quite unique."

The Greater Corktown Development Corp plans to turn the 2-story wood structure (one of the oldest in the city) into a museum and interpretive center. Artifacts found from the archeological dig will be used as exhibits in the museum. For the time being those items will be displayed at the Museum of Anthropology in Old Main on Wayne State's campus on Oct. 9.

The historic preservation awards were established in 2003 to recognize outstanding historic preservation achievements that exhibit the state’s unique character. These types of projects have also served as an economic engine, pumping $390 million in investment into Michigan, creating 4,500 jobs. Previous winners of the award include the former Detroit home of Motown founder Barry Gordy, Jr. in Boston Edison.

Source: Tom Killion, professor of anthropology at Wayne State University
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

The Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has given a $100,000 grant to the Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Cancer Genetic Counseling Service to establish the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation Genetic Testing Assistance Fund.

The grant, set to last three years, will help provide genetic testing for people at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. These types of cancers are prevalent in the Ashkenazi Jewish population but people of all ethnicities will be eligible for testing.

This isn’t the first time the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has made a contribution to Karmanos or helped fund the fight against cancer. It has given generously to support prostate cancer treatment and care at Karmanos' Lawrence and Idell Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center.

"We have given over a million dollars to Karmanos over the years," says David Blatt, executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation.

The Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation has used sports as a vehicle for raising money for 25 years. It has attracted the likes of Hank Greenberg to help its causes.

Source: David Blatt, executive director of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

It's not often a small business owner will own both a restaurant and a public relations firm. Arthur "Bud" Liebler does both. The former Chrysler PR executive recently bought The Whitney and moved his PR and marketing firm, Liebler Group, there.

Liebler is a journalism graduate from Marquette University. He has decades of experience in public relations at Chrysler, Ford and a few other firms. He now oversees a staff of three employees, one intern and an independent contractor at the Liebler Group. He also employs another 40 some people at The Whitney.

Describe your business in two sentences or less?
Public relations and strategic communications counseling -- we specialize in media relations, internal communications, investor relations and networking. I also own The Whitney and the Ghost Bar.
 
Why did you decide to set up shop in Detroit?
I've always wanted to work in Detroit and by purchasing The Whitney I'm saving (or trying to save) an icon at the same time. I believe the city has a huge heart and enormous untapped potential. We just have to get out of our own way and quit being so down on ourselves. Detroit can rock if we all get behind it!
 
What are some of the advantages to doing business here?
Very few financially but very many psychically and emotionally. I think the financial advantages will eventually come.

What do you see in Detroit that other people who live outside the city don't?
Heart. Excitement. Enthusiasm. Opportunity. People who care.

What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about opening a business in the Motor City?
Look past the blemishes, find the positives, and do it. Be patient and careful, but do it. Be prepared for some hassles and frustrations but hang in and make it work. Then partner with the people already here and work to bring others in.

If you could change one thing about Detroit, what would it be?
Its huge inferiority complex ... and the City Council.  

Source: Bud Liebler, owner of the Liebler Group and The Whitney
Writer: Jon Zemkeread on…

Table games are starting to look much more different in Detroit's casinos these days.

Excerpt:

Detroit -- Can't deal with the dealer?

MotorCity Casino will let you deal with a computer instead.

The city's second-largest casino, by revenue, is ratcheting up its electronic table game offerings, which bring together old-school table games with a healthy dose of slick technology. Late last year, the casino brought an electronic roulette wheel to the floor, to much success.

Read the rest of The Detroit News story here.read on…

TechTown is filling up quickly these days.

Excerpt:

Detroit --In a city where roughly one-quarter of available office space is empty, TechTown stands out as an economic anomaly.

The business incubator, launched by Wayne State University in 2004, can't set up space quickly enough to satiate the demands of dozens of small startup businesses vying for room in a building once used to design Chevrolets.

"We've got quite the waiting list," said Randall Charlton, TechTown's executive director. "The need for what TechTown has to offer has never been greater."

Read the rest of The Detroit News story here.read on…