Wednesday, January 8, 2014

It's a mystery to the owners of Aunt Agatha's Mystery Book Store how they won the 2014 Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

Excerpt:

"Word arrived a few days ago that Aunt Agatha’s had claimed the honor, given each year for accomplishments not related to writing.

Chances are it was for nurturing authors like Steve Hamilton, the University of Michigan grad whose bleak and brilliant Michigan-based novels are the store’s top sellers."

Read the rest here.

Economic Development

Traverwood Apartments to bring 216 new residential units to A2's northside

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Mike Martin, First Martin

Local commercial real estate firm First Martin has long believed their 19.82 acre property on Traverwood Dr. near Plymouth Rd. and Huron Pkwy. would make a great place for Ann Arbor residents to live, and now, the firm's plans to build 216 apartment units there is moving forward.

"This project has been in the back our minds for a long time," says First Martin Vice President Mike Martin. "We've had a sign on the property for close to two decades, but various other opportunities took our attention."

Martin says the Plymouth Rd. area has proven to be a popular place for Ann Arbor residents in general, and anticipates a strong market exists for the forthcoming apartments. The development will have a slight emphasis on one-bedroom units, which will average around 850 square feet each, and will also include two-bedroom apartments. Approximately two-thirds of the units will include attached garages.

"We feel confident we'll get the typical demographic for the Ann Arbor rental market," says Martin. "With the location being adjacent to the city golf course and near the library, there is a lot of public and private infrastructure that will be very attractive the the residents who will live there."

Martin expects construction to begin on the Traverwood Apartments in late spring or early summer of 2014 and continue for 18 to 24 months. Once completed, he anticipates about six jobs will be created to maintain the complex.

Source: Mike Martin, First Martin Writer: Natalie Burg

Arts and Culture

Old Carolina Barbecue to open first Michigan location in Ann Arbor

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Nick Ferris, Old Carolina Barbecue

When people think about barbecue, they often think about slow cooking from the South. A new restaurant coming to Cranbrook Village Shopping Center confounds both ideas. Though Old Carolina Barbecue offers southern-inspired cuisine, the growing franchise began in Ohio and offers it up fast-casual style. With plans to open in mid- to late February, the Old Carolina Barbecue will be the chain's first in another state.

"Expanding into neighboring state is a logical move for Old Carolina, wherein we are able to use much of the existing supply chain," says local franchisee Nick Ferris. "The fact that I was a resident in the local market, familiar with the business community, coupled with Ann Arbor being the premier and preferred market location for most restaurateurs and retailers entering the Michigan market, made sense to focus our efforts here."

The 3,315-square foot restaurant will will share a building with Potbelly and Tony Sacco's Coal Oven Pizza on Eisenhower Pkway. Ferris says the location was ideal because it is in the Briarwood economic trade area with a number of complementary co-tenants nearby in the Cranbrook Village Shopping Center. He believes the tastes of local diners will be a great fit for the menu.

"The local consumer has a discerning…appetite," Ferris says. "While there are some places for barbecue in the local market, there is no fast casual environment. We believe the concept, and the exceptional food will be well received in this underserved category."

Ferris expects to employ 30 to 35 workers when the Old Carolina Barbecue opens early this year. He anticipates the restaurant becoming an active supporter of the Ann Arbor community. Source: Nick Ferris, Old Carolina Barbecue Writer: Natalie Burg

Economic Development

Local CPA firm celebrates 66th year with new location and an eye on growth

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Steven Schneider, Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham CPAs, P.C.

Local firm Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham CPAs, P.C. are starting the new year in a new, larger location in Scio Township. The business expanded from its former, 6,000 square foot home of 25 years into a 9,000 square foot space on Little Lake Dr.

"We just had an opportunity to buy a larger and nicer building instead of renting," says Steven Schneider, managing principal for Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham CPAs, P.C. "We decided to make the move, and it worked out well for us."

The larger location will allow Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham to grow, though, after adding two new staff members over the last year, Schneider says he expects the 15-employee firm's growth to be slow and steady. He projects the firm will eventually grow to a staff of no more than 25.

"We'd like to be still be a small, local firm," says Schneider. "There are clients that can be well served by firms of our size. It's what our clients like, that contact with the principal."

After 66 years in business - and serving some of the same clients they began with - giving the same personal service to their clients has served Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham well thus far. The firm made the move on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 and are now open for business in their new location. Source: Steven Schneider, Weidmayer, Schneider, & Raham CPAs, P.C. Writer: Natalie Burg

Economic Development

Growing Ypsilanti Food Co-op plans to expand bakery

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Corinne Sikorski, Ypsilanti Food Co-op

At some point in the future, Ypsilanti Food Co-op shoppers will be able to get closer to their baked goods as they're being prepared. Growth and change have been underway at the co-op for some time now, and as the community grocer adjusts to recent renovations including a new checkout counter and point of sale technology, the business is looking toward a future with an expanded bakery area including customer seating.

"Wanting to expand our bakery came from the idea that customers love the food that's being produced here," says Corinne Sikorski, general manager for the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. "We have our wood-fired oven that is pretty to look at, and fun to watch. That was kind of the push to open the bakery up so customers can see the bread baking."

The Ypsilanti Food Co-op currently operates in two-thirds of the first floors in a three-building group. The proposed expansion, which is still in early planning stages, would make use of the final third, bringing another 1,600 square feet of space into active use.

In addition to increasing access to the bakery, Sikorski says the seating area will help the Food Co-op more fully meet its goal of being a true community hub.

"We have a great selection of grab-and-go food, so expanding our area for them to sit down and eat is part of the intention," she says. "One of the draws of the Co-op is that it's more than just a grocery store. It's a community space. It's a place where people talk to their neighbors."

With visioning and planning still underway, Sikorski says no timeline is yet in place for the project, but she hopes to see the expansion move forward this year. She attributes the Co-op's growth and ability to keep growing, on the community's continued support of the member-owned business.

Source: Corinne Sikorski, Ypsilanti Food Co-op Writer: Natalie Burg

Technology and Innovation

Rubicon Genomics grows to 25 staff, plans to hire 9 more

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

When James Kozairz joined Rubicon Genomics as its president & CEO in 2008 it was a fledgling life sciences startup with a small staff of four people in need of some veteran leadership. Today, the Ann Arbor-based company is watching its sales spike and its staff has grown to 25 employees. It is currently looking for interns and more employees. "Our 2014 plan calls for us to add nine more employees," Koziarz says. Rubicon Genomics got its start when a pair of University of Michigan professors began working to find a way to bring human genetics laboratory knowledge to everyday medical applications. It's making that happen by developing and selling sample-specific nucleic acid library preparation products used in research and clinical testing. These molecular biology tools help facilitate gene-based research, drug development and diagnostics. Sales of Rubicon Genomics' nucleic acid library preparation products, ThruPLEX®-FD Prep Kits and PicoPLEX™ WGA Kits, spiked 85 percent in 2013. Part of the credit goes toward the startup’s innovative new technologies and another part go toward the healthcare industry's shift to using more genetic testing. "It's kind of being in the right place at the right time with the right technology," Koziarz says. He adds that Rubicon Genomics has signed a lease to move to a bigger facility on the south side of Ann Arbor later this year. The new space will help accommodate the company's growth by providing more room for new employees, research and development space, and an area to manufacture its kits. Source: James Koziarz, president & CEO of Rubicon Genomics Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Ann Arbor State Bank adds positions as it increases lending

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor State Bank is growing both in the money its lending and the staff its employing. The 5-year-old bank, located n downtown Ann Arbor, has added employees in the last year, including positions in commercial lending and mortgage underwriting and operations, among others. The bank currently has a staff of 37 employees and the occasional intern. "We had a pretty good growth year staff-wise," says Peter Schork, president & CEO of Ann Arbor State Bank. Ann Arbor State Bank now has $174 million in deposits, which is up from $153 million last year. It's grown its revenues by 25 percent in 2013 and increased its profitability by 15 percent. Driving that growth is Ann Arbor State Bank's loan portfolio. The bank has watched its loans jump from $98 million last year to $116 million to kick off 2014. Part of that is the bank’s hire of a mortgage originator in 2012 that has aggressively grown the bank’s portfolio. "We're doing a lot of (mortgages for) existing houses," Schork says. "Last year we did $7 million in construction loans. That’s equal to the total we had in our first three years." Schork expects that trend to continue as the economy improves and Ann Arbor State Bank adds more employees to facilitate more revenue growth. Source: Peter Schork, president & CEO of Ann Arbor State Bank Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Betty Brigade hires 5, preps to expand across state

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Sharon McRill's path to entrepreneurship was fairly typical. She got laid off from her project management job at Borders in 2004 and then started her own company, Betty Brigade, to pay her bills. Before she knew it, Betty Brigade grew into her full-time job. "I took the project management skill set and applied it to residential," McRill says. "We started managing people's lives. I created a company I would have liked to use when I was in the corporate life." The Ann Arbor-based business is a concierge service that now employs 15 people after hiring five in the last year. It specializes in everything from help smooth corporate relocation of top talent into the region to managing Michigan’s growing fleets of Zipcars. The company has grown its revenues 28 percent over the last year and has averaged 25 percent revenue growth over the last five years. One of the primary drivers of that growth over the last year was helping local corporate human resources directors recruit and relocate talent from outside of Michigan by making them feel comfortable in the Great Lakes State. "It's about their spouse," McRill says. "It's about the schools. It's about the environment they will be living in." Betty Brigade has enjoyed such a steady growth in recent years that McRill is looking into franchising the business across Michigan. In the meantime, she is refining her business model so its a simpler, turn-key operation. "We're looking to perfect the system in 2014," McRill says. Source: Sharon McRill, president of Betty Brigade Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Sustainability

Another Rinse turns old golf clubs into new tools

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

One day, Michael Sydlowski was walking through Ann Arbor with his wife and wandered into a boutique store. The couple happened upon an old wooden golf club that had been fashioned into a bottle opener. "We looked at it and said this is perfect," Sydlowski says. "Then we looked at the price and said it’s not so perfect." That inspired the sales and marketing professional to start his own business, Another Rinse, four months ago. The Ann Arbor-based company specializes in taking old things and giving them new life as a refashioned product. In this case, it is turning old wooden golf clubs into bottle openers. "Sadly, wooden golf clubs have been pushed to the corner of the garage or the resale shops or even the trash because technology has made them obsolete," Sydlowski says. Now they are starting to collect in Sydlowski's basement where turns them into bottle openers and coat hooks. He is also working some of the same magic by turning old wooden tennis rackets and baseball bats into bottle openers and old golf balls into corkscrews. All of which are available on Another Rinse's website. "This is increasingly fun to do," Sydlowski says. Sales for Another Rinse's products have steadily increased since its launch. Sydlowski is currently working to get licensed to make his products with logos from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He hopes to get Another Rinse on more store shelves in 2014 and move the business out of his basement into its own space later this year. Source: Michael Sydlowski, president of Another Rinse Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

HealPay partners with Commercial Legal Software

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

HealPay, a software startup focused on improving debt collections, has brokered a partnership with one of the leading software firm’s in its industry, Commercial Legal Software. The downtown Ann Arbor-based startup and its team of five people hope to tap into Commercial Legal Software’s vast customer base to expand its own business in 2014. "Our goal is to double our business this year in terms of revenue," says Erick Bzovi, co-founder & CEO of HealPay. The 3-year-old startup got its start creating its Settlement App, which helps people collect what is owed them. Last year HealPay, debuted its Rent Roll App, which helps landlords collect monthly rent checks. HealPay is paid per transaction. Its Settlement App still brings in the lion’s share of revenue. "It has been growing nicely," Bzovi says. "The Rent Roll App is something we have used to diversify." HealPay plans to market Rent Roll App more aggressively in 2014 while it works to bring more customers online with its Settlement App. Source: Erick Bzovi, co-founder & CEO of HealPay Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Foreign sales spur growth at kSpace Associates

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Sales at kSpace Associates were nothing to write home about in 2013. But the Dexter-based tech firm is already off to a fast start this year with new sales and job openings. "Our sales backlog for the first quarter of 2014 looks like it's going to be a great year," says Darryl Barlett, CEO of kSpace Associates. "2014 looks like it’s going to be a great year." The 22-year-old firm develops and manufacturers diagnostic tools for the semi-conductor industry. Its sales last year were flat but they have spiked so far this year, with rising orders from solar projects and Chinese firms. The foreign sales are largely centered around kSpace Associates' Ultrascan System, which measures the curvature and bow of semi-conductor wafer. "We have a large amount of sales going to China," Barlett says. "Larger than we typically see." That has spurred kSpace Associates to create a couple of job openings. The firm is looking to hire an engineer and a sales associates. The company currently has a staff of 24 employees and the occasional summer intern. Barlett expects those staffing numbers to continue to grow as his company keeps on its current growth streak. "It looks like it’s going to be a good year," Barlett says. "It looks like foreign sales are going to be a big part of that." Source: Darryl Barlett, CEO of kSpace Associates Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Feature Story

Economic Development

Lighting Up Latin America

Patrick DunnWednesday, December 18, 2013

Architect John Barrie went from a "relatively few well-off clients" to "a whole lot of very poor clients" and couldn't be happier. After seeing how villagers struggled without electricity in Latin America, Barrie decided that he could make a difference - by launching Appropriate Technology Collaborative, a non-profit that develops low cost solar energy technology for communities in need.

Partner Content

Community Development

50 years, 50 stories: The Sarns Family FundAnn Arbor Area Community Foundation

Ann Arbor Area Community FoundationWednesday, December 18, 2013

In 1991 the Sarns Family transferred their family foundation’s assets to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation to establish AAACF’s first donor-advised fund. Over the years, the Sarns Family Fund at AAACF has generously supported a number of local organizations, giving the Sarns the ability to continue to direct their philanthropy in ways that have made a meaningful difference for our local community.

Feature Story

Matt and Rene Greff at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti

Arts and Culture

Exporting Ann Arbor Beer (and Business Culture) to India

Jon ZemkeWednesday, December 18, 2013

Craft brews are all the rage - here and abroad. So the decision to bring Ann Arbor Brewing Company's brewpub concept to India seemed like an easy, sure-fire hit of a business plan, right? Not quite. Matt and Rene Greff share their experiences opening ABC in Bangalore, a city with very different rules, customs and expectations.

Feature Story

Happy Holidays!

Concentrate StaffWednesday, December 18, 2013

Tis the season to spend time with our families and friends. The folks at Concentrate will be enjoying two weeks of rest, relaxation, snowy roads, bad sweaters, and good cheer. Some travel and sleeping in may also be on the docket. We'll see you on January 8th!

Sustainability

How to engineer a safer street

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Source: The Atlantic Cities

With all the recent rancor and politics surrounding pedestrian safety ordinances, here's an interesting break down of what makes a street safer for everyone involved.

Excerpt:

"In the past decade or so, New York has seen a considerable decline in traffic fatalities (30 percent since 2001) and an even more dramatic decrease in the risk of serious injury among cyclists (72 percent since 2000). At the heart of these public safety achievements is better street design. City streets are far from perfect, but as officials have reduced space for cars, they've improved mobility for everyone."

Read the rest here.

Economic Development

The case for a tangle-less earbuds

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Source: Crain's Detroit Business

Path to human happiness: (1) Feed the world's hungry. (2) Heal the world's sick. (3) Invent iPhone earbuds that don't tangle.

Apparently an Ann Arbor-based firm is on its way to solving one-third of the planet's woes.

Excerpt:

"Ann Arbor-based TurtleCell LLC didn't win the grand prize of $500,000 at last month's Accelerate Michigan Innovation competition at Orchestra Hall, but it won the popular vote of those in attendance as having the best pitch, winning the People's Choice Award of $10,000.

What was the attraction? The company's product solves a problem everyone in the audience could immediately identify with: Getting rid of those darned tangled cords you wrestle with every time you pull your iPhone earbuds out of your pocket."

Read the rest here.

Community Development

Krazy Jim's Blimpyburger hits the crowdfunding circuit

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Source: Crowdfund Insider

You'd have thought it was Ann Arbor's Pearl Harbor the way local media and greasy burger fans wailed and moaned and gnashed teeth over the closing of Blimpyburger (I mean, just how many articles did AnnArbor.com devote to ikts closing?). Well, here's a chance for all those cry-babies to put their money where their mouth is. Krazy Jim and company have set up a Indiegogo campaign to find a new home.

Excerpt:

"I’ve had the pleasure of dining at this proud hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It’s a very unique experience that requires some knowledge of how to order your food. If you don’t do it right you’re liable to get chastised, but it’s all part of the fun. Regardless, the burgers are amazing. It’s fast food heaven.

So, you could imagine the heartbreak caused when the restaurant was forced to close its doors in July of this year. The University bought the property for a new construction project, and unfortunately Blimpyburger didn’t own the land. They were displaced tenants."

Read the rest here.

Economic Development

Why some cities are better for entrepreneurship than others

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Source: The Atlantic Cities

How does social trust or capital foster entrepeneurship? This article makes a compelling argument for how the strength of local social networks and trust can help create an environment where business innovation and creation can grow,

Excerpt:

"This makes intuitive sense. Venturing out on your own is a risky proposition, and one that takes a huge amount of effort and ingenuity to build a business — even if it’s just you — from the bottom up. That’s why certain personalities are thought of as more “entrepreneurial” than others. But, as the authors note, there’s a snowballing effect as well, as more diverse and widespread social networks bring everyone, regardless of their own connectivity, into contact with far more people. These effects can spread beyond the very local level, and metros with more engaged citizens provide the right context for self-employed workers to make it.

Community is clearly key to creating an atmosphere where risk-taking is, in essence, less risky. But a couple of caveats, which the authors note themselves, should give us at least slight pause."

Read the rest here.

Community Development

An Ann Arbor writer sings the praises of the USPS

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Source: Time Magazine

Though Congress seems to love to malign the U.S. Postal Service, polls show that Americans are actually pretty with this public service. And we at Concentrate absolutely love getting mail. Real mail. From actual people. How quaint, huh?

Excerpt:

"A couple weeks ago, many otherwise level-headed people got excited about Amazon’s absurd plan to deliver packages by drone. Once the hype subsided, though, the publicity stunt had the unusual effect of reminding people why the human postal carrier is so effective, trustworthy and safe. “Can you imagine how expensive delivery would be that way?” laughed Lucy, the counter attendant at my post office in Ann Arbor. “I’d like to see them try that. Some guy will build a huge net and steal all that stuff out of the sky. Then just watch how fast people come back to us.”

Read the rest here.

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Hasini and Harshini Anand are members of Corner Health Center's Youth Leadership Council and mental health advocates.

Voices of Youth

Concentrate's Voices of Youth series features content created by Washtenaw County youth in partnership with Concentrate mentors, as well as feature stories by adult writers that examine issues of importance to local youth. Click here for a full list of the latest content from this series.