A look back on this week’s economic development headlines, announcements, and other share-worthy news from the Ann Arbor region.
COVID-19 Updates
- Business doesn’t stop for startup execs during crisis. But it sure changes
Several regional startups were profiled in Crain’s Detroit this week, including LawnGuru, Akervall, Lingco, Pocketnest, and Airspace Link. Sassa from Akervall wished the article had mentioned that they are now up to 80 people working on PPE (up from their normal of 20). More info on Akervall’s switch to PPE.
- Lake Trust has rolled out a statewide program called the Great Lakes Giveback program, which will provide $75,000 to small businesses.
- Saline’s downtown has started an effort through Patronicity to support small businesses there, which has raised over $11,000
Regional News
- Last week, the researchers at Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics (RSQE) at the University of Michigan presented the Washtenaw County economic forecast. Check out our summary.
- Ann Arbor SPARK chats with James Wickman, outgoing Hartland Township Manager and board chair of the Economic Development Council of Livingston County.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
- EMU is launching an e-sports program to highlight gaming possibilities
- Related: SPARK East hosts the local chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) meetup.
Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, June 9: A2Y Webinar | COVID-19: The Road to Recovery
- Tuesday, June 9: MEDA Webinar | Michigan’s Post-COVID Workforce
- Thursday, June 11: TechStak Webinar | Managing the Technology and Cultural Challenges of Safely Returning to Work
- Thursday, June 18: Blue Ocean Recovery: Growth in Times of Crisis with Renée Mauborgne.
Food for Thought
- 2020 Census Response Rates has Michigan ranked fourth in overall response rate (behind Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa). Check out how the data slices by state, county, city, and congressional district lines. The census is still accepting responses.
- Michigan has jumped 19 places as a top state to do business in Chief Executive magazine’s annual Best & Worst States for Business survey, coming in this year at number 13 on the list. Michigan now claims the biggest single-year move in the ranking’s history.
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