White Pine Software Technologies was recently awarded a $10,000 Innovate Ypsi grant to add information technology infrastructure and fiber internet access to its new office space in downtown Ypsilanti. The company recently relocated to the space from Ann Arbor SPARK’s East business incubator, where it had been located since it was founded in 2014.
White Pine Software Technology offers data management and analysis expertise to the science, engineering, and computer science industries.
“Our business has very demanding internet requirements to support the movement of large volumes of files and data between engineering facilities all over the world, to provide remote support of our systems in customer data centers, to engage in complex deployment activities, and to conduct robust global video conferencing with our European business partners,” said Robert Smith, White Pine Software Technology’s president. “The Innovate Ypsi award we received enabled us to upgrade an historic downtown Ypsilanti building into a beautiful, high-tech facility and keep this young company in Ypsilanti. For the team, we have Riverside Park, places to eat, microbreweries, and even decent fly fishing all within a few minutes walk of our work location. This is a win for all of us.”
Smith discusses the business and its growth, and the Innovate Ypsi program on a CEO Podcast with Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO Paul Krutko: http://annarborusa.org/succeed-here/ceo-podcasts/bob-smith
The Innovate Ypsi incentive program is designed to provide grants, loans, and other economic assistance to businesses that create jobs and investment in Ypsilanti. The performance-based grants are available to qualified businesses that create qualified jobs and make new investment in Eastern Washtenaw County.
“Innovate Ypsi grants are an important tool for Ann Arbor SPARK’s business development team,” said Krutko. “The funding provides an attractive incentive to young companies considering growing in Ypsilanti. White Pine tapped in to the resources available at SPARK East to fuel its growth and made a decision to stay and expand in the region. Ongoing support from the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners for the Innovate Ypsi is leading to companies making investment decisions in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township.”
Innovate Ypsi grants can be used for a variety of expenses, including marketing and business development, product development, and talent relocation and recruitment. For more information on Innovate Ypsi, visit http://www.annarborusa.org/ypsi_incentives.
