New Economy Initiative Gives $3M To Incubator Group

The New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan Monday annuonced a three-yaer, $3 million grant to support the new Business Accelerator Network of Southeast Michigan, a region-wide collaborative effort to attract and retain business in southeast Michigan.

Comprised of the region's four key business accelerators -- Ann Arbor Spark, Automation Alley, the Macomb-OU Incubator, and TechTown -- the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan will work collaboratively to share best practices, host events focused on addressing issues and goals that impact southeast Michigan, support business plan development, and leverage funding to grow business in the region.

Collectively, these four business accelerators have assisted in the creation of 339 start-up companies, invested more than $18 million, created more than 1,000 jobs and secured more than $101.2 million in additional capital for the companies.

"This award supports NEI's focus on building strong networks that support the development of a more diverse, knowledge driven economy," said David Egner, executive director of the New Economy Initiative. "An intensified level of collaboration among these outstanding business organizations will create a multiplier effect, reenergizing their existing initiatives and bringing about new and unparalleled cooperative ventures. It sends a powerful message to business leaders across the nation that southeast Michigan is working in a smart, integrated fashion to grow its business community."

The Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan will support business development in the region through a variety of innovative projects and programs, which will be announced over the coming months. They will also be identifying opportunities to attract new dollars to support important regional efforts.

"Ann Arbor Spark actively and successfully practices 'Open Source Economic Development' throughout the state," said Mike Finney, executive director of Ann Arbor SPARK. "This exciting funding collaboration between Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan partners is an excellent example of regionalism and will enable us to assist additional start-up companies during the critical commercial acceleration phase of their business growth."

Added Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley: "Creating the Business Accelerator Network for Southeast Michigan allows for the expansion of current interactions among the partners, while opening the door for new business opportunities that will continue to brand Southeast Michigan as a center for technology excellence."

And David Spencer, executive director of the Macomb-OU Incubator, said: "Through this cohesive effort, we hope to significantly improve new business innovation and job growth for the entire southeast Michigan region."

Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown, noted that "the 10 foundations of the New Economy Initiative are living up to their collective name and showing extraordinary initiative in using its resources to encourage region-wide collaboration. Each business accelerator has developed particular strengths, and by sharing them we will all be stronger. Among the areas where we can help each other is in helping small- to medium-sized companies drive their export business. At the same time, we will work collaboratively to attract mature businesses from overseas that will bring jobs to the region. At TechTown, we are developing close collaboration with our NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, and we also have developing business relations with Israel and other countries in the Middle East and Europe. It's important to share these relationships for the benefit of the entire region."