Fifty-four small and midsize companies from around Michigan have been selected to receive business development support through the Pure Michigan Business Connect Economic Gardening Pilot Program being offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MEDC CEO and President Michael A. Finney announced today.
“The goal of this program is to help these second-stage companies grow and in turn, generate new private investment and create new jobs for Michigan,” Finney said. “The program is part of our toolkit for economic gardening that’s built on Michigan’s broad asset base of strong corporate enterprises, innovative entrepreneurs and rich technology resources.”
The program will be administered through the Cassopolis-based Edward Lowe Foundation and will include four areas of support: strategy and management; market research/competitive intelligence; Internet and social media strategy; and geographical information systems to help identify potential customers in other states.
“Our experience shows us that second-stage companies exposed to economic gardening techniques grow at faster rates than their peers,” said Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship development at the Edward Lowe Foundation. “MEDC’s support of the pilot program is exciting news for Michigan’s second-stagers – and a clear indication of the commitment our state has made to the next generation of Michigan success stories.”
The 54 companies were selected by an independent review board from a pool of 108 nominees that were submitted by local economic development representatives from throughout Michigan. The companies were chosen based on the type and size of the markets they serve, their growth potential, and their likelihood of benefitting from the service.
Each company’s CEO will be paired with a Strategic Research Team for a total of 35 hours spread across all four members of the team. The team works with the CEO to determine the specific areas of need and then supplies the CEO with relevant and actionable information about their competitors, markets and customers. Each company engagement is expected to take a total of two to three weeks to complete.
The pilot program is the latest addition to Pure Michigan Business Connect, the $3 billion public-private initiative that provides Michigan’s businesses new ways to buy and sell, raise capital, and connect with each other through an alliance of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, state agencies and major Michigan companies and organizations. Visit here for more information on Pure Michigan Business Connect.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: MichiganAdvantage.org.
Economic Gardening Pilot Program Companies:
Andex, Escanaba – Manufacture thermoformed and printed packaging. www.andex.net
Argonics, Gwinn – Manufacture a variety of products out of polyurethane.
Creative Composites, Rapid River – Design, develop, engineer, prototype and manufacture advanced composite structures and lightweight composite armor systems. www.creativecompositsinc.com
Superior Extrusion, Gwinn – Produce custom and standard aluminum extruded shapes. Also offer a variety of secondary fabrication operations for the shapes we produce. www.superiorextrusion.com
VanAire, Inc., Gladstone – Manufacture valve automation hardware for the pulp paper, food, chemical, oil and gas industries and wastewater treatment systems for the food, oil and gas industries. www.vanaireinc.com
Classic Instruments, Boyne City – Build instruments (speedometers, tachometers, etc.) for the aftermarket auto industry.
Cygnus, Inc., Petoskey – Manufacture computer workstations for healthcare.
Frontier Computer Corporation, Traverse City – Provide global solutions and IT service.
R. M. Young Company, Traverse City – Manufacture meteorological (weather) instruments.
Springfield Commercial Roofing, Kingsley – Provide commercial roofing, building analysis and mechanical insulation systems using innovative solutions and exceptional service including online reporting for commercial buildings.
Savin Lake Service Inc., Hale – A fully integrated lakes management company that uses mechanical harvesters, herbicides, biological solutions, and dredging to manage the weeds found in Michigan’s lakes and ponds. www.lakeandpond.com
Silversmith, Inc., Gaylord – Measure gas/oil wells through a web based metering system with 9,000 installed across North America. www.silversmithinc.com
Schwartz Boiler Shop, Inc., Cheboygan – Repair gas processing plants and power houses. www.schwartzboiler.com
Atomic Object, Grand Rapids – Offer custom software development services to a wide variety of companies. www.atomicobject.com
Proos Manufacturing, Grand Rapids – Supply high quality, cost-effective, metal fabrications and value-added assemblies to a wide range of industrial customers located throughout the Midwest. www.proos.com
Air Advantage, Frankenmuth – Provide wireless internet service (WISP).
Aircraft Precision Products, Ithaca – Provide precision machining of gas turbine engine components.
Thumb MRI, Cass City – Provide state of the art diagnostic Magnetic Resonance Imaging services to local, regional, and international patients for the past 14 years.
Fullerton Tool, Saginaw – Remove material with minimal possible energy.
Savant Group, Midland – A group of four inter-related corporations that provide the lubricant industry and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with laboratory testing and research services, laboratory equipment, and database information.
corePHP, Battle Creek – Offer resources for open source extensions for Joomla! development, templates, components & plugins. www.corephp.com
Forensic Fluids Laboratories, Inc., Kalamazoo – Provide new way to drug test, using oral fluid/saliva. FFL tests oral fluid for drugs of abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring and compliance. www.forensicfluids.com
Nexthermal Corporation (Hotset Corporation), Battle Creek – Manufacture/distribute heating elements and accessories. www.hotset.com
Harvest Music and Sound (Harvest Creative Services), Lansing – Work on brand development by providing creative content that is executed through strategy, writing, video, music, design and digital. Existing client base includes marketing directors, brand managers, and advertising agencies.
KI Technologies, East Lansing – Provide IT services for small businesses in mid-Michigan. Typical clients have 10 – 100 employees and do not have their own IT staff. Function as their IT department, helping them implement appropriate technologies to run their businesses.
LorAnn Oils, Inc., Lansing – Manufacture and distribute essential oils and flavorings for a wide variety of industries. Sell to both manufacturers and retailers. www.lorannoils.com
Niowave, Inc., Lansing – Produce superconducting particle accelerators for research laboratories and industrial uses for customers across the world. www.niowaveinc.com
Clark Engineering, Owosso – Manufacture custom formed metal rod, wire, and tube products. www.clarkengineering.net
Grid Logic, Lapeer – Develop and manufacture power distribution, generation and storage solutions for electric utility and military applications.
Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience (IINN), Flint – House the neurosurgery practice of Dr. Jawad Shah, along with ancillary practices in pain medicine, imaging, physical therapy, chiropractic and massage; associated with many physicians in the community. www.iinn.com
Space Inc, Flint – Provide interior design for workspaces and sell office furniture Specialize in providing workspaces that work. www.spaceinc.net
DNA Software, Ann Arbor – Provide software tools to biotech, pharma and regulatory agencies to more effectively build diagnostics. www.dna-software.com
OG Technologies, Ann Arbor – Sell inspection systems to the steel industry worldwide. The inspection systems are based on patented, proprietary image based technology.
Pixel Velocity or Epsilon Imaging, Ann Arbor – Develop and market advanced, system-level video surveillance and threat detection solutions to the homeland security market.
Sun Engineering, Saline – Provide engineering services and manufactured product for missile handling equipment, ground-based radar systems, tactical trucks and specialized trailers for customers, primarily in the defense industry.
Avalon Breads International Food Manufacturing, Detroit – Offer artisan baked goods with sales to both retail and wholesale customers. www.avalonbreads.net
Achatz Pie Company, Chesterfield – Manufacture and distribute fruit pies, cream pies and savory pies.
Coliant Corporation (Powerlet), Warren – Manufacture product that makes it convenient to install a power outlet and to connect and mount electrical devices.
DAGER System, Chesterfield – Manufacture automotive customer secondary/assembly equipment. www.dagersystems.com
Elite Mold & Engineering, Shelby Township – Provide engineering, research, development, prototyping and low production for plastic injection molded products.
Ideal Technology Corporation, Shelby Township – Specialize in custom CNC cutting services, rapid prototype tooling, check fixtures and small assembly equipment. In addition, has a background in plastic welding equipment and tooling.
Sharp Model, Romeo – Design and build checking fixtures, tooling and models for the world’s premier aerospace and automotive manufacturers.
Continuity Programs, Inc., Walled Lake – Provide customer retention, loyalty, and lead generating programs. About 80 percent of business is post-transaction client follow up and personalized relationship marketing campaigns. Remainder is neighbor prospecting mailing campaigns.
Real Times Media, Detroit – Publish traditional/ethnic oriented newspapers and directories.
Ventower, Monroe – Fabricate and supply utility-scale, wind turbine towers. www.ventower.com
Alfie, Traverse City – Work with companies to build brand awareness and incentive programs through embroidery, screen printing and promotional products. www.goalfie.com
Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA), Kalamazoo – Provide construction services across the U.S primarily in two categories: Environmental clean-up for non-government managed sites; and maintenance for the petroleum pipeline and chemical industries. www.CRAworld.com
ONLINE TECH (Yan Ness, CEO), Ann Arbor – House and manage clients IT servers in our data centers. www.onlinetech.com
Newco (Nex Solutions), Litchfield – Leading provider of custom steel fabrication and powder coating services – specializing in large components and assemblies that require a high degree of structural integrity.
Ingenuity IEQ, Midland – Make buildings more energy efficient, healthier, cleaner and greener by applying indoor environmental quality solutions and technology in the areas of air flow, air quality, energy control, antimicrobial surface treatments and IAQ measurement.
KTM Industries, Inc., Lansing – Manufacture starch-based foam material for the packaging and toy markets.
Alliant Enterprises LLC, Richland – A service-disable veteran owned small business established in 2002, to provide quality, cost-effective medical device products and services.
Island Airways, Beaver Island – Provide transportation and warehousing.
Dynamic Computer Corporation, Farmington Hills – Provide information technology and RFID solutions.