Weekly Rewind: Friday, September 27

A look back on this week’s economic development headlines, announcements, and other share-worthy news from the Ann Arbor region.

Michigan’s Startup Scene Recognition

• Michigan makes strides in keeping entrepreneurs on the ‘Third Coast’ “… [Michigan’s] ecosystem is improving. The number of role models for entrepreneurship in southeast Michigan has never been greater since the early days of the auto industry. Each link in the network makes it that much more compelling.”

• Metro Detroit first in the U.S. for largest growth in women-owned businesses. Related: Ann Arbor top city for female founders to raise venture capital.

Upcoming Events

• Join business, government, and community leaders from across the region for an evening of networking, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails to celebrate the successes of Livingston businesses. Join Ann Arbor SPARK at the 2019 Livingston Annual Meeting is coming up on November 6. Register here and invite your friends.

• Michigan Angel Community Hosts Annual Summit on November 12 to Bring Current and Potential Investors Together with Experts.
  Click here to register.

SPARK News and Updates

• As part of the State Street reinvention initiative, “Cameron McCausland and Joe Vig have formed a new real estate development company planning a 230,000-square-foot speculative project in Ann Arbor costing $60 million to $70 million.” SPARK is supporting this effort through a grant from the MEDC to assist with demolition and are pursuing a Brownfield incentive process as well.

• Did you know 46% of SPARK’s web traffic goes to our job portal? That’s more than 140,000-page views, up 27% since last year!

• Youth summer employment program completes fourth season with record participation. “We were also able to work with a lot of startups that collaborate with Ann Arbor SPARK. That was great for our young people, because it allowed them to get in on the ground floor of all aspects of business management.”

• The Novi AV testing symposium announces more showcases and demos at the American Center for Mobility. Quasi-related: Path to self-driving vehicles could be bumpier than a Michigan road.

• The International Association of Science Parks (IASP) held its annual meeting in Nantes this week. Paul kicked it off as chair of IASP this year, and Komal and Alex presented papers as well.

Other News to Know

• The State of Michigan launches an Opportunity Zone website. Reminder, our post on Opportunity Zones, including potential real estate deals, is here.

• From Jan Garfinkle at Arboretum: When did venture capitalists become the bad guys?

• Michigan receives international attention from China. Spotlight: Michigan leads way in next revolution of transportation in U.S.

• ABC 12 looks at Pop Daddy’s growth in Livingston.

• U-M provost announces XR initiative to spur faculty, student and industry collaboration, innovation.

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