Macomb Oakland University Incubator celebrates grand opening
Sterling Heights, Mich. – Business and community leaders marked the launch of the Macomb-Oakland University INCubator, a new driver of business innovation and job growth for Michigan. Located in the heart of Macomb County’s defense corridor and the Technology Advancement SmartZoneSM of Sterling Heights, Macomb-OU INC is a business support program that accelerates the successful development of start-up companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted business resources and services. It is a joint venture between the City of Sterling Heights, Macomb County and Oakland University. The INCubator will concentrate on nurturing companies focused on: • Defense and homeland security • Advanced manufacturing • Alternative energy The Macomb-OU INCubator will provide business support service, shared resources, capital acquisition assistance and flexible leases to entrepreneurs. New companies will be able to minimize start up costs, helping to preserve working capital that can be better used to grow a business and create new jobs. “The Macomb-Oakland University INCubator greatly expands the resources of our local economic development efforts for business retention, attraction, diversification and entrepreneurial development,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Richard J. Notte. It is estimated that by 2010, the Macomb-OU INCubator could create up to 12 new companies and 130 new jobs and, by 2015, 55 new companies and nearly 600 new jobs. “It is a fundamental role of any university to engage with the community and to assist in finding solutions to current challenges,” said Oakland University President Gary D. Russi. “This incubator will help entrepreneurs and other forward-thinkers to transform ideas into new business ventures, develop patents and see their original ideas make their way into commercial markets, thus creating jobs.” “The INCubator combines the collective experience of a top university and our county business development experts and unites them behind the goal of supporting entrepreneurs and new businesses into successful ventures,” said Paul Gieleghem, Chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. “It is an effective tool in the fight for jobs, competitiveness and economic growth.” The INCubator will also afford established companies the opportunity to be on the ground floor of new innovations. Longtime defense contractor, Rave Computer, will be an Anchor Tenant at the INCubator, providing industry specific knowledge and guidance to client companies. “Our partnership with the Macomb-OU INCubator will allow Rave to work alongside local government, with organizations, and technology businesses. This relationship offers Rave the ability to offer technological solutions that will support their business development and gives Rave access to new ideas and solutions that we can leverage to our mutual advantages,” said Rave Computer President Rick Darter. The Macomb-Oakland University INCubator is located at 7205 Sterling Ponds Court in Sterling Heights Michigan, the only SmartZoneSM within Macomb County. SmartZoneSM designations are awarded through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. For more information about this topic, please call Angie Schuster at 248-648-4800 or by e- mail at schuster@oakland.edu.
