Harbor Shores
Jeff Noel, President, Harbor Shores
Energized by a $2.1 million infrastructure improvement grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund and a $900,000 Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant, The Harbor Village at Harbor Shores project is moving forward. The plans to redevelop a vacant industrial site along the shores of Lake Michigan into a 92-room waterfront inn and spa also create more than 70 full-time jobs.
Henry Ford Innovation Institute
Nancy Schlichting, CEO, Henry Ford Health System
Bringing together innovators, clinicians and corporate partners from around the world to foster cutting edge solutions at the intersection of healthcare and information technology. That’s the mission of the William Davidson Center for Entrepreneurs in Digital Health, housed in the Henry Ford Innovation Institute and supported by a $3 million, three-year grant from the William Davidson Foundation.
Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch
A third and fourth generation family business, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch provides premium eggs for local, regional and national customers. The company’s roots go back to the 1920s. Thanks to a focus on the highest possible standards and a commitment to excellence, Herbruck’s has grown from 3,000 laying hens in the 1950s to six million today. The Ranch is currently embarking on a $17 million expansion that will add numerous jobs over the next three years.
Heritage Sustainable Energy
Formed in 2004 to pursue the development of renewable energy facilities, primarily wind energy, Heritage Sustainable Energy, LLC has successfully developed a series of wind farm projects in Michigan and continues to develop Michigan-based projects based on that success. The company has developed a strong reputation with landowners, utility companies, contractors, local community residents and all branches of government. Heritage is widely viewed as the best choice of Michigan’s utilities to maximize their investment in wind energy generation, not only to meet Michigan’s renewable energy mandates, but to achieve the most cost-effective renewable energy generation for their customers.
InfoReady
Bhushan Kulkarni, Co-Founder, President and CEO
InfoReady is an IT company that creates apps to help other companies manage their data more efficiently using their Knowspace platform. The company is led by veteran technology entrepreneurs Bhushan Kulkarni and Jim Diggs. Kulkarni has won a host of awards, including “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young, and a Crain’s Detroit Business “40 Under 40” award. Diggs was an original executive team member of the successful start-up, BlueGill Technologies. InfoReady is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan and its resources are used by more than 35 universities, economic development organizations and local governments.
Jiffy
Howdy Holmes, President and CEO
Introduced as the first ever commercially prepared baking mix product in April, 1930, by the Chelsea Milling Company, Jiffy is the market leader in the retail prepared muffin mix category, serving customers in the retail, Institutional and Foodservice markets. “Our milling operation really benefits from Michigan’s strong agriculture industry and is one of our many reasons to operate in this state,” says Howard S. Holmes, company President and CEO.
Kremin, Inc.
Mike Grossi, President and Owner, Kremin, Inc.
Recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine, Kremin offers precision machining, production manufacturing, prototyping and design support in the defense, aerospace, medical device, energy, transportation, dimensional stone and industrial markets. Spurred by a state transportation economic development grant and local funding, Kremin invested $2 million to build a 19,000-square-foot facility, purchase new machinery and add about 25 full-time employees.
Lansing Capital Region International Airport
Bob Selig, Executive Director
Capital Region International Airport is a public airport three miles northwest of Lansing, Michigan. The airport serves a population of over 6 million people and is an important asset that generates $1 billion every year to the area’s regional economy. Hundreds of thousands of travelers use the airport each year to connect to the world through major airlines. Recently, the airport was awarded a federal grant for infrastructure improvements. The grant will fund the airport’s repaving some runways, upgrading the runway lighting system and removing trees. Additionally, the airport has been designated as an International Port of Entry into the United States, with a Federal Inspection Station and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on duty to process international passengers and cargo.
M-22
Keegan Myers & Matt Myers, Co-Founders
Kiteboarding icons Matt and Keegan Myers, also known as “The Broneah Brothers,” fell in love with M-22, a highway in Northern Michigan associated with bays, beaches, bonfires, dunes, vineyards, cottages, and friends and family. In 2003, the brothers produced T-shirts and stickers with the M-22 road sign. The brand sparked a passion and sales blossomed. The product line has continued to expand with new apparel and accessories. M22.com and an M-22 company store opened in downtown Traverse City and the distribution of the growing M-22 product line has taken off.
Mahindra GenZe
Vish Palekar, President and CEO, Director at Mahindra GenZe
When it came to choosing a North American location, Mahindra GenZe, India’s premier utility vehicle and farm equipment company, decided on the most important resource of all. The people of Michigan. With arguably the best engineering talent, not only in the U.S., but in the world, the choice was clear as to where their North American Technical Center and new manufacturing facility would be.
