New Business Expansions, Community Revitalization Projects And Brownfield Developments Gain State Approval
LANSING – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation today announced Michigan Strategic Fund approval of three brownfield work plans as well as Michigan Business Development and Community Revitalization program incentives to four companies planning expansions in the state. The projects are expected to generate up to $138.8 million in investments and add 399 new jobs in Michigan.
“Today’s wide range of projects all mean more jobs and greater economic opportunities for people across Michigan,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “These investments demonstrate a growing momentum of real opportunities here resulting from our improved and highly competitive business climate and our state’s world-class workforce capabilities.”
“From leading edge technology to the re-use of a former lumberyard, today’s wide range of projects demonstrates that Michigan can compete with any state in the country as a great place to grow a business,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “These new investments in our state will strengthen our communities and fuel new opportunities for our talented workforce.”
The Michigan Strategic Fund today approved incentives for the following projects:
A $3,000,000 Community Revitalization Program loan has been awarded to 618 South Main, LLC to redevelop a contaminated property in the City of Ann Arbor into a six- to seven-story residential building that will be targeted specifically to young professionals. The finished project will include loft-style apartments, some studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $37 million and create six full time jobs. The City of Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has offered financial support in the form of a $650,000 grant for certain infrastructure improvements.
833 Michigan and 411 Houseman Avenue Project – The City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will use MEGA school and local tax capture valued at $427,227 to redevelop two existing buildings and a former lumberyard in the Midtown section of the City of Grand Rapids. The new development will consist of a 26,000 square-foot medical office, retail space and residential apartment campus. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $5.6 million and create 10 permanent new jobs.
857 West Washington Street project – The City of Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will authorize school and local tax capture valued at $14.3 million to support infrastructure improvements, demolition, and site preparations related to the construction of four buildings for retail, office, residential, restaurant and entertainment purposes on three acres in the City of Marquette. In addition, a $1.9 million Community Revitalization Program loan participation was awarded for the first phase of the project, which includes demolition of an existing building, site preparation and construction of the first commercial building as well as a parking garage. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $31 million and create 18 permanent new jobs.
Cataphora, Inc., a data analytics software company based in Menlo Park, CA, is planning to expand its quality assurance and engineering services operations in the City of Ann Arbor. Cataphora, a company whose co-founders include two University of Michigan alumni, first established a small presence in Ann Arbor in 2011. In the next three years, the company is expected to invest approximately $200,000 in its Ann Arbor operation, including the creation of 30 new jobs. As a result, Cataphora is being awarded a $300,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant over the period of the next three years to assist its growth in the state. The City of Ann Arbor is also offering a grant of up to $25,000 for accelerator assistance.
Dart Container Corporation (Dart) is headquartered in Mason and manufactures single-use foodservice packaging products used in hospitals, schools, restaurants, businesses and homes. In May 2012, Dart acquired Illinois-based Solo Cup Company and now has approximately 15,000 employees and more than 45 production, distribution center and office locations in eight countries. Dart plans to build a new corporate headquarters building and warehouse facility as well as expand existing buildings on its Alaiedon Township campus to integrate Solo Cup corporate and administrative operations into Dart’s location in Michigan. The company plans to invest a total of $47 million and create up to 325 new jobs, resulting in a $3 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The project is being completed with support from Alaiedon Township and the City of Mason.
Harbortown Riverside Apartments Redevelopment Project – The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will use $2.9 million in MEGA school and local tax capture to construct a five-story riverfront residential apartment building within the existing Harbortown complex in the City of Detroit. The building will include approximately 135 to 145 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, all with views of the Detroit River. The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $18 million and create 10 permanent new jobs.
The MEDC markets the state with a focus on business, talent, jobs and helping to grow the economy. For more on MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.
Source: Press Release
MADD Michigan Holds Genesee County Candlelight Vigil to Remember Victims of Drunk Driving Crashes
– Annual opportunity for family and friends to honor loved ones affected by drunk driving –
| WHAT: | Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Michigan will hold its annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope in Genesee County on Saturday, December 8th. It’s a time for family and friends to remember, in a special way, their loved ones who have been killed or injured by a drunk driver. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend and support the victims’ families.
The holiday season can be especially difficult for victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes, so MADD urges those individuals to come together and light a candle in honor of their loved one. In addition, those who want to have their loved ones name included in the program, or have a photo of their loved one included in the video shown during the vigil, can contact Travis Reece (248-528-1745 x2652 or travis.reece@madd.org) by November 30th. The vigil is made possible with the assistance of MADD’s statewide sponsor, Buckfire and Buckfire, P.C. As one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD supports drunk driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-800-323-6233. Learn more at www.madd.org/michigan. |
| WHO: | Family and friends of victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes, along with community members who want to show their support. |
| WHEN: | 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 8, 2012 |
| WHERE: | The First Baptist Church of Grand Blanc 6106 South Saginaw Road, Grand Blanc Township, MI 48439 |
| WHY: | Drunk driving is a 100 percent preventable crime, yet more than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide each year, and another 345,000 are injured. And in Michigan, 259 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2010 (the most recent year for which there is data). |
| VISUALS: | Photos of loved ones killed or injured in drunk driving crashes; candles lit in honor of those impacted by these crashes; and friends, family and community members coming together to support each other. |
| CONTACT: | Travis Reece, 248-528-1745 ext.2652 or travis.reece@madd.org |
Source: Press Release
Michigan Humanities Council Awarded Two Grants Totaling $110,000
LANSING— The Michigan Humanities Council has been awarded two grants totaling $110,000 from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA). The grant funds will be used to support two programs produced in partnership between the councils – the Arts & Humanities Touring Program and Poetry Out Loud.
“The Michigan Humanities Council and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs enjoy a unique partnership,” said Robbe DiPietro, acting executive director for the Humanities Council. “Our cooperation has enabled us to provide two powerful programs, reaching communities throughout the state and integrating arts and humanities into our culture and livelihood.
“The Humanities Council has been working diligently to increase the number of high school students participating in Poetry Out Loud and to bring more quality performing arts to schools, libraries and festivals across the state. With critical funding from MCACA and individual donors, corporations and foundations, we are ensuring that more Michigan children and adults have an opportunity to experience and benefit from humanities programs.”
The first grant, totaling $60,000, will be re-granted for the Arts & Humanities Touring Program. The program, which features a juried directory of Michigan’s top arts and humanities performers, awards grants to nonprofit organizations in order to offset the cost of bringing these performers into their communities.
The second grant, totaling $50,000, will be split between administrative and directory costs of the Touring program, and implementation of Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation competition for high school students. Each participating school hosts a competition and sends their winner to the statewide competition. The state champion receives an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the national championship in Washington, D.C., and the chance to win a $20,000 college scholarship.
This grant award by the MCACA is a portion of $6.1 million the organization will distribute in 2013 to art agencies with regional, state and local missions.
Partnership Aims to Introduce Students to Accounting
MVU-MACPA will develop innovative learning programs
Lansing – With the goal of creating new and innovative learning programs for K-12 students and teachers, Michigan Virtual University® (MVU®) today announced a joint venture with the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by MVU President & CEO Jamey Fitzpatrick and MACPA President & Chief Executive Officer Peggy Dzierzawski, CAE, establishes the general guiding principles of the collaboration. The collaboration is designed to provide an innovative pathway for middle and high school students to access quality online courses that introduce students to basic accounting principles and concepts. In addition, the exciting career opportunities in the accounting profession will be explored.
As lead partners in this strategic alliance, MVU and MACPA are committed to providing highly interactive, engaging and relevant online accounting courses for high school students.
“MACPA has an active high school student outreach and recruitment program, including its very popular High School Leaders Conferences, which attract hundreds of high school students from across Michigan,” Fitzpatrick said. “We are excited about the opportunity this relationship will bring to Michigan middle and high school students to imagine the possibilities of what an accounting career has to offer.”
“MVU offers students a rich collection of online career resources and tools that support the state’s graduation requirement,” Dzierzawski said. “Collaborating with a forward-thinking organization like MVU to develop these new online courses offers students a unique opportunity to experience accounting from a different perspective than what is taught in the traditional classroom setting.”
As a result of this industry/association/education partnership, students will learn foundations of accounting, explore accounting career pathways in businesses of all sizes and apply accounting skills in a simulated environment. The results of the partnership will expand the current Michigan Virtual School® course catalog, which includes Personal Finance, Career Planning and Business Ethics.
About MVU
MVU® is a private, nonprofit Michigan corporation established by the State of Michigan in 1998 to serve as a champion for online learning. It is the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual School®, a provider of online courses for middle and high school students, and Michigan LearnPort®, an online learning portal that delivers professional development opportunities and more to the Michigan education community. To learn more, visit http://www.mivu.org.
About Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
MACPA, with 18,000 members, is the leading statewide professional organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing the value of the CPA profession and represents Michigan CPAs working in business, education, government and public accounting. To learn more, visit MACPA’s website at www.michcpa.org.
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