Development News

Marketing firms can be an expensive proposition for a company to use, especially small businesses. But when John Richter and Kessler Valentin, who both attended Central Michigan University, wanted to change that, BrainBerry Marketing was born.

"It's like having all of the perks of having a publicly-traded company's marketing department, at an affordable monthly subscription fee," says Richter. "It is designed to level the playing field for small businesses by offering everything from graphic design and copy editing, to web design and webmaster services."

The company offers a basic package for companies looking to start their marketing off with social media management. The three-person staff at BrainBerry will then take care of all the information, posts, likes and analytics so the client can focus on the other aspects of the business. That package is a reasonable $89.95 a month, which includes daily services that have been proven to convert into business for BrainBerry's clients.

"During our first meeting, we wrote the words of what we want to be on the whiteboard--'funky contemporary' is what we came up with," says Richter. "(That) translates to 'eye catching and entertaining, while keeping everything sleek and clean.'

"Kessler is a prodigy as a graphic designer, and everything he produces is world class. I am very excited to see what we can do for the great businesses of central Michigan."

The company, based out of Mount Pleasant, opened on Feb. 1 and is open to new clients. Richter says the people who can benefit most from their marketing are owners of smaller businesses. The subscription model they developed doesn't fluctuate, either.

"You get the services you pay for--the price will not change," says Richter. "In an industry (marketing) that is marked as manipulative and sneaky, we aim to create a culture of inspiration and transparency."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: John Richter, BrainBerry Marketing

Dow AgroSciences is making a new weed control system, and they plan to invest at its Midland facility to scale the new product up to production levels.

The agricultural division of Dow Chemical has a line of herbicide products made in Midland called 2, 4-D that are used in the new system, but some retrofitting, new instrumentation, equipment, and two new jobs are all part of the investment, which Dow says is going to be more than $132 million.

Work on the refitting and new manufacturing systems was expected to begin this month and be finished by the end of 2014. In all, the company says the investment will help retain 26 current jobs in Midland and add two new jobs.

Dow also will be investing in other locations as it prepares to produce the full weed control system, which is still in the process of getting regulatory approvals, but Midland was the first announced location for production.

"Dow AgroSciences' strategic investment in United States locations reinforces our leadership in superior weed management technologies as we provide for global demand with a reliable supply of superior quality products expected by our customers," says Antonio Galindez, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences. "Innovation like the Enlist system is driving our growth strategy, and we are moving full speed ahead to invest for the future."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Antonio Galindez, Dow AgroSciences

Hauman Accounting has moved to a new location in Freeland as of January, and got plenty of new space during the move, too.

Now located in the Freeland Village Plaza on South Main Street, the accounting service upgraded from a 300-square-foot space to just over 900 square feet -- right across the street from its old location.

Owner and CPA Stephanie Hauman held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 12, welcoming members of the Midland and Freeland chambers of commerce. Hauman is a former Midland resident and SVSU graduate, and has been in business in Freeland for about five years.

She specializes in individual and small business accounting, including tax, payroll and bookkeeping services.

"I like to offer a personalized service to my clients," says Hauman. "When my clients come in for a meeting, they are meeting with myself, the actual CPA, instead of staff. I feel like that's an important thing that a lot of my clients really seem to enjoy."

Hauman began working in the accounting industry in 2006 at another firm, earned her CPA license in 2007, and opened Hauman Accounting in 2008.

She holds a bachelor's degree in professional accountancy from Saginaw Valley State University, and is a member of the Midland and Freeland chambers of commerce, as well as of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, American Business Women's Association, Women in Leadership and National Association of Career Women.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Stephanie Hauman, Hauman Accounting

In Michigan, one of the best pieces of news is when you hear that a business is adding jobs--especially locally.

Impact Analytical recently announced that it added three new employees in Karen Griffin, Cristi Cforton and Jessica Chatterton. In addition, the company also announced the promotion of Robin Livesay.

Griffin, Crofton and Chatterton were hired into the company as analytical technologists. Griffin graduated from Oakland University and formally worked for Dow Chemical while Crofton graduated from Saginaw Valley State University and previously worked for ABC Laboratories. Chatterton is a graduate from Delta College and is continuing her education while working with Impact.

Livesay, who has been working with Impact since 2010 as an information technology contractor, has been promoted to information technology leader. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and previously worked at Electronic Data Systems.

Impact Analytical, a testing laboratory, is a part of the Michigan Molecular Institute in Midland. The company works with more than 300 companies around the world providing analytical service.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Impact Analytical

One of the biggest hurdles for any business has been cleared by the new Panera Bread that will be coming to Mount Pleasant.

The city's planning commission last week approved the building permit that was filed by Fancher Development Services, Inc. The approval clears the way for the company, which is hoping to open its doors by the beginning of summer.

"The landlords have already started demolition," says Nina Raey, vice president of Fancher Development Services.

The new Panera Bread will be corporate owned and is expected to feature the full menu line-up for customers to enjoy, including sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods. The location will include an outdoor patio as well.

The location of the new Panera Bread is the former Fazoli's restaurant. Previously, the closest Panera location was Grand Blanc, with others in Fenton, Okemos and Lansing.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Nina Raey, Fancher Development Services

Customers of Isabella Bank who hail from Freemont won't have to travel so far to take care of their financial business in the near future. The bank, says president and CEO Rick Barz, recently purchased property in Freeland with plans to begin construction on a new office this spring. The bank will be located at 399 South Main Street and is expected to open its door by September.

"We look forward to serving the needs of the Freeland community and welcoming new customers to Isabella Bank," says Barz. "Our dedication to understanding the unique needs of each of the communities we serve and our commitment to delivering exceptional customer service are the foundations upon which our community bank traditions began over 100 years ago. We offer our customers a full range of banking services to help them reach their financial goals including checking accounts, personal and home loans, business and agricultural loans, investment and trust services, and electronic banking conveniences."

Currently, Isabella Bank has 25 locations throughout Mid Michigan, including those in Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Montcalm, Midland and Saginaw counties.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Rick Barz, Isabella Bank

Saginaw County is going to see two new nonmotorized path improvements in 2012, thanks to a combination of local efforts, federal and state funding.

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced a list of seven counties that will be receiving federal Transportation Enhancement grants this year, and Saginaw is the only one with two projects.

The first one takes place in Thomas Township, where MDOT will build a 2.2-mile nonmotorized trail that connects the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail to Shields Drive. It will directly connect township residents to the trail network, and trail users to schools, libraries and shopping centers. It also provides a crossing at M-46. The total cost is $854,060, with $170,812 each coming from MDOT and the township, and the rest from federal funding.

The second project takes place in Saginaw and Kochville townships, and will mean the construction of a 2.5-mile nonmotorized path connecting Elmer Lange park to an existing trail at McCarty Road. It will follow parts of a Consumers Energy right-of-way. The cost is $802,099, with $162,703 coming from Saginaw Township, $117,960 from Kochville Township, and the rest from federal funding.

"These projects improve quality of life and have positive, long-term effects on a community," says State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle. "MDOT is pleased to partner on transportation enhancement projects that will help Michigan communities attract residents and businesses."

The other projects are in Allegan, Clinton, Kent, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. All together, the grants will fund eight miles of bicycle path and paved shoulders for bicyclists and pedestrians, and make improvements to four downtown areas, focusing on safety, walkability and economic development.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation

There's a new option for those who need to stay overnight in the Midland area.

A new Residence Inn, of the Marriott International chain, recently opened its doors at 850 Joe Mann in Midland.

The new hotel is just five miles from downtown and sits about 17 miles from the MBS International Airport and has easy access to the Dow Diamond--home to the Great Lakes Loons--as well as the Midland Center for the Arts and Dow Gardens. There is also the Eastman Road shopping district located nearby.

"We are pleased to introduce Residence Inn hotels to the Midland area," says Brian King, Marriott vice president. "This new hotel was designed to be a home away from home and provides a residential atmosphere and spacious accommodations for guest comfort."

All of the rooms in the Residence Inn--the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom--are designed as suites. Ideally, the rooms are built for long-term stays of five nights or more and each has a coffee maker, microwave oven, appliances, wireless access and a fully-equipped kitchen.

Other typical services, such as daily housekeeping and hot breakfast, are offered, as are extensive services such as grocery shopping services and same-day dry cleaning.

There is also an indoor swimming pool and a whirlpool spa as well as a fitness center and a business center.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Brian King, Marriott International

The Midland Area Chamber of Commerce has made it easier for people looking to visit the city to find exactly what it is they need.

The Chamber announced recently that it has launched a new mobile application for smart phones. The app will allow users to easily find Chamber members in its included directory, as well as search and register for events and stay current with community news. In addition, the application will allow users to view and redeem special discounts.

"In today's tech-focused world, we realized a mobile app is a great way for us to connect with the community using technology," says Sid Allen, president and CEO of the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce.

The app is free to anyone and is available for the iPhone, the iPad, the Android and the Blackberry operating systems. Simply visit the Chamber's website with your smart phone to download the app.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Sid Allen, Midland Chamber of Commerce

A major building at Mount Pleasant's Central Michigan University will be undergoing some major renovations over the next two years.

Anspach Hall first opened its doors 44 years ago, and these are the first major renovations the building has seen. It's heavily used as an academic building, so the upgrades will happen over the next two summers to minimize classroom disruptions. All in all, CMU is putting $14 million into the building, approved recently by the college's board of trustees.

The upgrades aim to improve the teaching and learning environment in the building, with the addition of air conditioning, heating system improvements, classroom modernizations and other significant upgrades.

The $14 million for the project is funded by university capital reserves, deferred maintenance, and funds from the budget of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. It's part of the school's ongoing master plan, says CMU President George Ross.

"In addition to the strategic planning process, we're proceeding with updating our facilities master plan that will focus on campus renovations and upgrades to some of our older buildings and provide a road map for the future development of our campus," says Ross. "I want to emphasize that student learning is greatly enhanced when we provide the appropriate learning, teaching and living environment. To that end, the master plan will inform us and help us focus on campus facilities, whether they are new facilities or renovations of existing facilities."

Along with the announcement of the Anspach Hall renovations, the board of trustees also approved new construction, on a data center to replace the current data and IT services center in Foust Hall. The new IT center will cost $5.4 million and be funded through university reserves, and will be located near the Engineering and Technology building and the Combined Services building.

Ross says there are plans for more additions to the campus in the near future, as well.

"We recently submitted a capital outlay request to the state of Michigan to help fund a biosciences facility on our campus," he reports.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: George Ross, Central Michigan University

Ever see a bouquet and think to yourself that it almost looked good enough to eat?  

Well, thanks to a new store at 1842 N. Saginaw Road in Midland, you might just be able to sink your teeth into the next one you receive.

Edible Arrangements, which sells artistically-designed fresh-fruit arrangements, has a ribbon cutting Nov. 3. The company specializes in creating bouquets filled with fresh, hand-sculpted fruit, including strawberries, pineapple, grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, cantaloupe and honeydew. And if that weren't sweet enough, the arrangements can also have pineapple daisies and a slew of other fruits hand dipped in gourmet chocolate.

"We are really excited to share our delicious and beautiful fruit arrangements with the community," says Leigh Ochoa, owner of the Edible Arrangements location. "For example, our Delicious Fruit Design arrangement is the perfect seasonal treat, brimming with fresh cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple daisies, strawberries and grapes."

Ochoa is no stranger to creating tasty arrangements. She and her husband, Lou, also own the Edible Arrangements store on Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw and hope to open more locations in the future.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Leigh Ochoa, Edible Arrangements

Case Systems of Midland is expanding, with the purchase of Ontario company CIF Lab Solutions. CIF makes wood casework for university, research, government, healthcare and K-12 environments, which complements Case's offerings of plastic laminate casework and steel adjustable workstations.

"Case Systems has a strong established position in the K-12 market segment -- by purchasing the assets of CIF, we can offer additional value to our customers with a more robust portfolio through the combination of premium plastic laminate casework from Case Systems and premium wood casework from CIF Lab Solutions," says Richard Vander Weele, president and CEO of Case Systems.

The purchase is being made as a joint venture between Case and Northeast Interior Systems, Inc., which distributes Case products and deals with architects, contractors and other building professionals to complement their project deliveries. The two companies also have added other manufacturing companies like BOSTONtec and Artisan Millwork LLC to their stable in recent years.

While Case products are made in Midland, the CIF products will continue to be made in Vaughan, Ontario.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Richard Vander Weele, Case Systems, Inc.

The City of Saginaw's public works building is taking a step forward into the next phase of alternative energy. It's going to be participating in the next phase of Consumers Energy's Experimental Advanced Renewable Program, along with projects in Kent and Jackson counties.

The program allows customers of the electric utility who own solar energy systems to purchase renewable energy long-term. All three projects are non-residential and were chosen from qualified applicants.

"This initiative supports Consumers Energy's goal of providing a balanced energy resource for our customers," says David Ronk, Consumers Energy's director of transactions and resource planning.

The City of Saginaw's 24-kilowatt solar system will be constructed on the Department of Public Works Building.

In the City of Jackson, a 150-kilowatt system will be built at the city's wastewater treatment plant, and in Grand Rapids, a 10-kilowatt system is at the Blue Water Grill.

Earlier phases of the program produced a total of two megawatts of solar energy coming from solar panel installations at 102 locations in Michigan. This second phase of the program comes after the production of another three megawatts was approved.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: David Ronk, Consumers Energy

Two nonprofits in the region that have dedicated themselves to preventing child abuse and neglect have made the decision to join forces.

CAN Council Saginaw County announced recently that it is merging with Bay County's Nathan Weidner Children's Advocacy Center to create the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region. The new entity will strengthen programs and services that help prevent child abuse in the region, says Suzanne Greenberg, the president and CEO of the new non-profit.

"This is a major step to reach more children and families in our communities," she says. "Our organizations have had their own respective programs, but coming together under one organization will increase our ability to provide top-notch prevention, intervention and advocacy for children in our communities."

According to the two nonprofits, CAN Council Saginaw County and the NWCAC provided services to 4,050 children, families and professionals in Saginaw and Bay counties in 2010. Services included, but were not limited to: forensic interviewing, medical examinations, court advocacy, personal safety education, infant safety education and professional development.

"Those services were tailored to each community’s needs, and that will not change," Greenberg says. "We are looking forward to enhancing and expanding theses crucial programs and services that support our mission of building communities where children are free from abuse and neglect."

The merger is expected to streamline administration while keeping critical services operational in each county. A new board of directors has been created for CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region

The construction of the new 1st State Plaza, formerly known as Plaza North at 4800 Fashion Square Boulevard, is scheduled to get underway today at 2 p.m. and be completed by summer 2012.

The location is being revitalized into a Class A office space and will feature the corporate headquarters for 1st State Bank, which will own and occupy the first floor of the five-story structure.

The current structure was built in the 1970s and is in need of major revitalization. Upgrades are planned to the parking, landscape, the building's exterior as well as the mechanical and electrical systems within the building. In addition, the interior decoration will be completely revamped.

For the first-floor bank location, a drive-up banking feature is also being constructed.

The building itself is a distinctive landmark in Saginaw Township, having the honor of being the first building constructed over three stories.

The updated version will also be distinctive, offering luxurious options to the office space market. A condominium association is being established for the site as well and will offer suites for lease or purchase in the renovated building.

The developer of the project, PN Investment Group, LLC, is comprised of several area businessmen, all of whom are members of the 1st State Bank board of directors.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: PN Investment Group, LLC