MICHIGAN SMART ZONES
Michigan Smart Zones are collaborations between universities, industry, research organizations, government, and other community assets that recognize clusters of new and emerging businesses that are focused on commercializing ideas, patents and other R&D opportunities. There are a number of Smart Zones in the Metro Detroit region.
Ann Arbor SPARK
Paul Krutko, President and CEO Media Contact: Jenn Queen, (734) 821-0070 • www.annarborusa.org Ann Arbor SPARK is the point organization for economic development across Washtenaw and Livingston Counties. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government and community investor partners. Its mission is to advance the economic development of innovation-based businesses in Washtenaw and Livingston Counties by offering programs, resources and proactive support to business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations looking for expansion opportunities.
Automation Alley
Macomb – OU INCubator
Julie Gustafson, Executive Director (586) 884-9320 • www.macouinc.org The Macomb-Oakland University Incubator is a partnership between Oakland University, the City of Sterling Heights and Macomb County. It supports economic development in Southeast Michigan by accelerating high-tech businesses, cultivating academic innovation and encouraging research & development. Located in Sterling Heights’ defense corridor, the Macomb-OU Incubator provides support services to entrepreneurs and targets startups in defense, homeland security, advanced manufacturing and technology.
Thomas Kelly, Executive Director (248) 457-3200 • www.automationalley.com Automation Alley is a regional technology business association that connects government, business and education. It’s membership includes businesses, educational institutions and government entities from the City of Detroit and the surrounding eight county region. Automation Alley provides opportunities for business development through entrepreneurial and exporting assistance, diversification opportunities, workforce development initiatives and technology acceleration. Automation Alley helps businesses embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to develop a software-first mindset that leverages the intersections of advance technologies, systems and people to jumpstart or accelerate the digital pathway to success.
Oakland University INCubator
Detroit Region Aerotropolis
Centrepolis Accelerator
Christopher J. Girdwood, Executive Director (734) 992-2238 • www.detroitaero.org The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is a four-community, two-county public-private economic development partnership focused on driving corporate expansion and new investments around Wayne County Airport Authority’s airports: Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport. It promotes greenfield expansion in Southeast Michigan, offering development-ready land centered in an expansive network of transportation infrastructure including two airports, three major interstates, and five Class-A rail lines.
Contact Person – Stephen Kent (248) 648-4800 • www.oakland.edu/ouinc Oakland University’s SmartZone Business Incubator (OU INC) provides entrepreneurial resources and strategic business solutions to develop intellectual property. The incubator supports existing and grows new technology-based and life science businesses with university resources, decision support technology, business counseling services and financial/capital acquisition assistance. The state of Michigan, city of Rochester Hills and Oakland University created a certified technology park (CTP) under the auspices of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) that provides tax increment financing to support OU INC.
Dan Radomski, Director (248) 204-2452 • www.centrepolisaccelarator.com A campus for innovation, knowledge and growth, and one of Michigan’s SmartZones. Our primary focus is on providing an atmosphere that helps second stage start-ups and intrapreneurs accelerate their companies to the next level. Southfield Centrepolis works collaboratively with the City of Southfield, the LTU Collaboratory and Lawrence Technological University to increase business success and employment throughout Southfield and the surrounding areas.
Tech Town
Ned Staebler, President and CEO Kimberly Palter, Director of Marketing & Communications (313) 879-5250 • www.techtowndetroit.org TechTown, the Wayne State Research & Technology Park, is focused on the economic transformation of Detroit. TechTown empowers entrepreneurs to build successful technology businesses by providing support to emerging companies through sustainable business operations, programs and services and a comprehensive infrastructure that is integrated into Detroit’s broader economic development goals.
