Ann Arbor SPARK Announces 2009 Results

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Ann Arbor SPARK's economic development efforts to attract and retain businesses in the region, and support jobs creation, generated meaningful results in 2009.  More than $147 million in new investment commitments were made through Ann Arbor SPARK's work, in conjunction with state and regional partners; the creation and retention of over 3,200 jobs were committed by companies assisted by Ann Arbor SPARK.

"Despite a challenging economic climate, Ann Arbor SPARK helped companies create jobs and grow in our region," said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor SPARK's CEO.  "In 2009, the opening of SPARK East and the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center were meaningful expansions to our business and life science incubator network.  Programs like Shifting Gears filled a void in our region by helping displaced talent, ultimately retaining key knowledge workers within our community."

"The Ann Arbor region continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise dim economy," Finney added.

Throughout 2009, Ann Arbor SPARK created economic opportunities in the region through 34 projects:

• 11 MEGA state tax credits to companies, including infrared detector company Dexter Research Center, Inc., IT call and support center, Systems in Motion and hybrid battery testing developer AVL Powertrain.
• Seven companies were attracted to the Ann Arbor area, committing 1,522 jobs and over $37,500,000 in investment.
• Total of $147,338,238 in committed capital investments in the Ann Arbor region.

Ann Arbor SPARK has dedicated resources and continues to focus on job creation, retention and attraction throughout the region:

• 34 projects resulting in 2,118 new jobs committed through employers and the retention of 1,133 jobs.
• 887 jobs posted through Ann Arbor SPARK by 323 companies.
• Over 4,200 job seekers assisted with employment searches.

In 2009, Ann Arbor SPARK's business attraction, expansion and retention efforts resulted in 33 businesses choosing to locate and expand in the region:

• A&D Technology
• Arbor Photonics
• Atwell-Hicks, Inc.
• Avfuel
• AVL Powertrain
• Axiobionics
• CAS-MI Laboratories
• CEI Composite Materials, LLC
• Chelsea Milling Company
• Dexter Research Center, Inc.
• Edwards Brothers
• Essen Instruments, Inc.
• Jaytec LLC
• LaVision
• Molded Materials
• NanoMag
• Northern United Brewing Company
• NuStep
• OG Technologies
• ProQuest
• Quantum Learning Technologies
• Scherer & Trier USA, a company that Ann Arbor SPARK assisted with two separate expansion projects in 2009.
• SensiTile Systems
• SoloHill Engineering, Inc.
• SRI Technology Group
• SRT Solutions
• Systems in Motion
• Terumo Cardiovascular Systems
• Terumo Heart
• Toyota Technical Center
• Velesco Pharmaceutical Services LLC
• Xoran Technologies

Ann Arbor SPARK's Business Accelerator, which provides business acceleration funding, business and life science incubators, and entrepreneurial education and talent services, drove entrepreneurial growth and success in the region in 2009.  

• 61 companies received business acceleration services, including business planning, marketing, patent and intellectual property acquisition, business introductions and funding preparation services.
• 78 companies were assisted as incubator tenants at Ann Arbor SPARK's Central and East locations as well as the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center.
• 28 companies received funding through the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, both administered by Ann Arbor SPARK.  The combined total invested through the funds administered by Ann Arbor SPARK was $3,652,500.

Ann Arbor SPARK's 2006 – 2009 results:

• 135 project successes, generating more than $1 billion in new investment commitments.
• 9,172 new job commitments and 6,873 jobs retained.
• Assisted 216 innovation start-ups.
• 42 total investments through the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund totaling $8.93 million.
• 16 investments through the Michigan Microloan Fund Program, totaling $661,500.
• 78 tenants in three regional incubators.
• Leveraged community investments totaling $32.5 million, through foundation, Federal and State grants, and Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot donations.
• Assisted 1001 companies (794 unique) with 2,781 job postings.

ABOUT ANN ARBOR SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations.  Ann Arbor SPARK represents all communities in the Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, Michigan Works!/ETCS, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org.

SOURCE Ann Arbor SPARK