Ann Arbor.com Business Review

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Latest Ann Arbor.com Business Review Interview:

 

 

 

 

 

June 22, 2012:  Lizzy Alfs, Business Reporter, AnnArbor.com – Connecticut Real Estate Firm Buys Downtown Property: After more than 80 years in the hands of the same Ann Arbor family, a prime piece of Ann Arbor real estate has been sold to an outstate firm.
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 Previous Interviews:

June 13, 2012:  Home Improvement Chain May Get Approval to Build in Scio Township : Lizzy Alfs, Business Reporter, AnnArbor.com - Menard’s hopes to locate on property once owned by the old Farmer Grant’s operation in Scio Township. The Board of Trustees will vote on the proposal at its meeting later this month. Menard’s had previously tried to locate in Pittsfield Township but was denied a rezoning request for the property there.
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May 25, 2012:  Retail Vitality in Ann Arbor: Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com – Paula is spotting positive signs for Ann Arbor’s retail stores. Also, she tells us what’s next for the downtown Borders’ location, which AnnArbor.com reports is about to undergo redevelopment.
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March 14, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Michigan Broadband:  It’s still the wild west out there when it comes to wiring remote areas for broadband.   Thanks to Ann Arbor’s Merit Network, more outlying areas in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and beyond will be better connected now that this not-for-profit organization has received permission to utilize the Mackinac Bridge cables for its broadband internet project.  Also:  More Ann Arbor area book stores are closing, this time with a direct impact on the college market.
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March 6, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Border’s Flagship Store:  A complicated deal involving the owners of the property that once housed Border’s flagship store on Liberty near the UM campus has been resolved.  It’s now in the hands of a family trust following much legal wrangling.  Nathan takes us inside the dispute and what it could mean for the future of that building.
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February 16, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – What Bankruptcy Does to a Municipality:  The fight over failing cities to keep control of their finances and not turn it over to a state appointed financial manager has been a contentious debate in Michigan.  Nathan Bomey reports that many experts say bankruptcy is messy and the control is ultimately the  judge’s call.
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February 16, 2012:  Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com – Ann Arbor Apartment Complex Sold for $7M:  Signs are pointing to a stronger multi-family housing market in Washtenaw County.  Paula Gardner examines the indicators following the sale of Ridgewood Apartments in Pittsfield Township, where competitive bidding resulted in a higher than list price sale.
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February 13, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Borders Lives On:  With $4 million in the bank, the former Borders Group Foundation is continuing its mission to help employees in need, despite the fact that Borders has gone out of business.  Nathan tells us how the foundation has now changed its name to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation and is focusing on improving the lives of book industry employees throughout the country.
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February 8, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – MAVDevelopment Buys Former Proquest HQ in Scio Township- The land at I-94 & Zeeb Road was once being eyed by Costco, but zoning problems forced the mega store to build in Pittsfield Township. Now an Ann Arbor company has purchased the property. Nathan updates us on this AnnArbor.com report by Lizzy Alfs.
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February 7, 2012: Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Two Ann Arbor Printing Companies Merge – Collectively, Edwards Brothers and Malloy, Inc. have a combined 170 years of operation. Now the Ann Arbor printers have forged a deal to merge. Nathan tells us what’s behind the move and what it could mean for the local economy. Click & Listen:

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February 2, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director,  AnnArbor.com – Emerging Opportunities to Accelerate Michigan’s Economic Recovery:   Food safety and protection, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, mobile software development, and solid-state lighting are all areas cited as strong growth potential markets, according to experts attending the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE) in Ann Arbor this week.  Nathan was there and reports on why these markets may be the next big thing in Michigan.
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January 28, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – President Barack Obama is calling for an overhaul of the higher education financial aid system, warning that colleges and universities that fail to control spiraling tuition costs could lose federal funds.
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Archive of Ann Arbor.com Business Review Interviews:

January 23, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Pfizer, Five Years Later:  Thousands of jobs were lost when pharmaceutical company Pfizer pulled out of Ann Arbor in 2007.  Nathan assesses where we are today following that fateful day.  Click the link above to read Nathan’s report.
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January 18, 2012: Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com - Two Ann Arbor Apartment Complexes Sold in Record Deal:  Habitat Co. LLC is the new owner of Windemere Apartments and Lake Village of Ann Arbor.  Paula Gardner gives us an analysis of what this means for the Ann Arbor market.
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January 16, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says 2012 Can Beat Economic Forecasts:  Nathan Bomey’s Q&A with Governor Snyder previews the Governor’s State of the State coming up this week.  Bomey says it’s expected to be one big progress report.   Read his report here and listen to our interview below.
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January 12, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com: Business Expansion in Downtown Ann Arbor - The vacant Leopold Brothers’ building on Main Street near Madison  will soon have a new occupant.  Nathan Bomey reports that a New York-based tech company has signed a deal to lease the property.  Read his report here, and listen to our conversation below.
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January 10, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Analysis of this year’s North American International Auto Show and a hint of an expansion of an automotive operation in Washtenaw County.  (Read more about that here in Nathan’s story that went online after our conversation.)
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January 4, 2012:  Nathan Bomey, Ann Arbor.com – UM’s Ora Pescovitz Calls On Medical Community to Change Health Care System - As the U.S. government grapples with what to do about the looming health care initiative, a high-ranking UM medical official says it’s time her industry takes the lead.  Read Nathan’s story here and listen to our conversation below.
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Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com - Ann Arbor SPARK:  Ann Arbor SPARK is getting a half a million dollars from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  SPARK’s Ypsilanti incubator, SPARK East, is expected to benefit from the funding.  Nathan explains how important this deal is to future job growth in our region.  Read his report here.
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Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com - Michigan’s Emergency Management Law:  Efforts to allow voters the opportunity to repeal Michigan’s emergency manager law are being lead by a 2005 graduate of Eastern Michigan University.  Nathan Bomey takes a look at who Brandon Jessup is and why he is against the Governor’s management assistance for struggling cities, like Detroit, Benton Harbor, and Flint.
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December 12, 2011:  Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com – The Tale of a Neighborhood Eyesore:  For three long years neighbors and passersby had wondered why a burned out home sat neglected on a southeast Ann Arbor streetside.  The place was boarded up and animals moved in causing great concern for the neighborhood.  Paula unravels the mystery which shows the owner wasn’t necessarily to blame.
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December 9, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com:  VA Hospital Moving Research Division – The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System is searching for space to transition its 150-person research division out of its current facility.  Nathan explains what’s behind the move, and how it presents a great opportunity for local property owners and  brokers.
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December 2, 2011:  Nathan Bomey & Lizzy Alfs, AnnArbor.com Business Review – The Week’s Top Business Stories:  Also, watch for new construction projects in downtown Ann Arbor, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder unveils new programs to connect job seekers with employers.
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November 30, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Growth of Menlo Innovations:  Ann Arbor software company Menlo Innovations, owned by Rich Sheridan, is increasing its office space to nearly 17,000 square feet with a move to the old Tally Hall, now called The Offices at Liberty Square.  Nathan reports that Sheridan hopes to double the size of his team within a year.
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November 28, 2011:  Angie Smith, Freelance Journalist, AnnArbor.com:  New Pub Opening on Ann Arbor’s Southeast Side - Ann Arbor’s southeast side could soon have Knight’s burgers with a beer or cocktail, as the Village Pub is set to open across from Arborland Mall.
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November 25, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com’s Business Review:  Black Friday Turnout – The line snaking around Best Buy was estimated to be up to a thousand people waiting for the doors to open at midnight, and AnnArbor.com reports that many Black Friday shoppers throughout area stores were younger than have been seen in the past.  An up-all-night Nathan Bomey reports in on the scene before hitting the sack.
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November 22, 2011:  November 22, 2011:  Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com – Ann Arbor City Council Approves Washtenaw Acenue Shopping Center Project - A long vacant piece of real estate on Ann Arbor’s southeast side is preparing to come to life with the construction of the Arbor Hills Crossing Shopping Center.  Paula tells us what to expect and how the center will impact Ann Arbor.  Read AnnArbor.com reporter Ryan Stanton’s article here, and listen to our conversation with Paula below.
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November 16, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Chicago Bank Moves Mortgage Banking Headquarters to Ann Arbor:  Cole Taylor Bank is leasing nearly 30,000 square feet of office space in the Northeast Corporate Center on Green Road.  Nathan Bomey reports that it is one of the largest commercial real estate deals in Washtenaw County over the last few years, and one of the largest single incidents of job creation in the private sector.  Read his report here.
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November 8, 2011:  Paula Gardner, News Director, AnnArbor.com - Update on Alleged Elderly Drug Courier; Flim Flam Restaurant Closes - When an 87 year-old man was stopped on an Ann Arbor area expressway carting a truckload of cocaine he claimed he was forced to transport the drugs, but could it have been all about money all along?  Read the AnnArbor.com post here.  Also, Paula reports that a longtime northside Ann Arbor restaurant has closed.  Read more, including numerous reader comments, here.  Listen to our conversation with Paula below.
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November 7, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com:  Deals of the Year Winners – Ann Arbor’s premier business event celebrated the 2011 business deals and successes at a black tie affair this past weekend.
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October 20, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com:  Ann Arbor Lowe’s Stores Escape Closings - Nathan reports that Lowe’s is slowing down its operations and closing some stores, but not the two in Ann Arbor. Read more here.  He also reveals that  Dick’s Sporting Goods finally opened its doors today.  Read that story here.
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October 18, 2011:   Nathan Bomey, AnnArbor.com Business News Director:  Bill Ford, Jr.’s Speech to the Washtenaw Economic Club - The head of Ford Motor Company is calling for the elimination of Michigan’s personal property tax.  Nathan Bomey reports on the talk Ford gave this week to the Washtenaw Economic Club.
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September 21, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – Ann Arbor Business Expansion:  Online Technologies is opening a 20,000 square-foot data center in Pittsfield Township.  Nathan Bomey reports that CEO Yan Ness is “bullish on Michigan.”  Also, information technology security firm Arbor Networks is investing in our region as well.
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August 31, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com – A bill that would give drivers the option of giving up unlimited lifetime medical coverage as part of their auto insurance is making its way through the Michigan Legislature.  Nathan Bomey write about here, and he discusses the options with us.  In addition, Nathan tells us about an upcoming Cyber Security Conference in Ypsilanti that could draw several prominent national figures.
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Nathan Bomey, Business News Director, AnnArbor.com:  Costco Construction Ousts Several Businesses - Eight businesses south of Briarwood are being forced to move elsewhere to accomodate the new Costco going up at Ellsworth & State.  Nathan talks about the impact on those businesses and what Costco brings to the Ann Arbor area.
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August 10, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, AnnArbor.com Business News Director – University of Michigan Credit Rating:  With Standard & Poor’s downgrading the U.S. credit rating, it’s interesting to note that the University of Michigan now has a higher credit rating than the U.S.  We talk with Nathan about what’s behind the UM’s success.  Read his AnnArbor.com story here and listen to our conversation below.  
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August 3, 2011:  Nathan Bomey, AnnArbor.com Business News Director – Ford Has Tentative Deal to Sell Saline ACH Plant – Changes are coming for Washtenaw County’s largest for-profit employer, but what does the deal to sell Saline’s ACH Plant mean for the community?
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