Ontiveros @ Textdriven

What better resource for our state is there than Michigan.org?

The website is a cornucopia of information that is relevant to anyone who lives in, or is from, Michigan. A State initiative which has had great success is the SmartZone initiative. What is a SmartZone you ask? Please take the time to read this description SmartZones from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) website.

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“Michigan SmartZones are collaborations between universities, industry, research organizations, government, and other community institutions intended to stimulate the growth of technology-based businesses and jobs by aiding in the creation of recognized clusters of new and emerging businesses, those primarily focused on commercializing ideas, patents, and other opportunities surrounding corporate, university or private research institute R&D efforts.

SmartZones provide distinct geographical locations where technology-based firms, entrepreneurs and researchers can locate in close proximity to all of the community assets that will assist in their endeavors. The locations of the Michigan SmartZones represent areas that comprise a critical mass of technology development assets …”

“The Michigan SmartZone program is indicative of the emerging technology development strengths that existing in the state. SmartZone communities are ready to challenge high-tech “hot spots” such as California’s Silicon Valley, Route 128 in Massachusetts, and the North Carolina Research Triangle.”
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What does this mean for us?

This means that the State is attempting to invest in itself for a high tech future. This initiative has actually been around for numerous years.

You’ll notice from this old document, that the State initially had plans for 10 SmartZones. You’ll also notice that Saginaw did not have a full proposal to become one of initial 10 SmartZones!
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That’s fine and dandy, but where are the smart zones?

1. Battle Creek Aviation SmartZone Western Michigan University and Kellogg Community College
2. Houghton/Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone Michigan Technological University
3. Lansing Regional SmartZone Michigan State University
4. Mount Pleasant/Center for Applied Research and Technology Central Michigan University
5. Kalamazoo SmartZone Western Michigan University
6. Grand Rapids SmartZone Grand Valley State University and Van Andel Research Institute
7. Muskegon Lakeshore SmartZone Grand Valley State University
8. Oakland County/Automation Alley SmartZone Oakland University, Lawrence Technological University, and Walsh College
9. Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University
10. Detroit/Woodward Technology Corridor SmartZone Wayne State University
11. Wayne County Pinnacle Aeropark SmartZone Detroit Metropolitan Airport
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Let’s count

As you can see there are now 11 SmartZones in existence. The program has had some success over the years, and has expanded from the original ten. Surely the aforementioned communities have benefitted. What would it take for Saginaw to become the 12th SmartZone? What do SmartZones do again?

“…SmartZones provide distinct geographical locations where technology-based firms, entrepreneurs and researchers can locate in close proximity to all of the community assets that will assist in their endeavors.”

Let’s determine what the key factors of this statement are:

1. Tech firms - that’s pretty self evident. There are plenty of research based firms in Mid-Michigan from Dow to Seafood Systems Inc. Firms in Mid-Michigan are utilizing technology to solve important business problems. Check out the Michigan Small Business & Technology Center for proof. misbtdc.org.

Then again, most of the companies on that site are “small” as opposed to “tech”. Ash Stevens, Inc. is a great tech success story for the Detroit area however. Read the Zone 9 Ash Stevens, Inc. award as a showcase of the type of good that can come from these programs.

2. Entrepreneurs - Saginaw has the entrepreneurial spirit! The Shaheen family are very well known for their many wonderful projects which have enriched all of our lives. Bill Giorgis, perhaps is slightly less well known, but no less important. He is the project developer for the Grand Alderton, a renovation project in Old Town which will bring housing, office, and retail space to Saginaw’s Old Town! Personally, I am much more interested in projects which take place in Old Town & Downtown. While real estate development is very important, Saginaw needs to attract other industries which will employ larger numbers.

3. Researchers - Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College are in very close proximity, and are both quite capable institutions of higher learning.

4. Community assets - This means YOU people! Can Saginaw really become a Smart Zone? Perhaps Saginaw has a lack of training issue as opposed to a lack of intelligence. Hey! Who you callin dumb? Maybe the State should not have used “Smart” in the names of these so-called Zones as it’s not very flattering for communities who don’t qualify or are ineligible. Perhaps the area needs to retrain itself.

Why does all of this matter?
Well according to the smarty pants at the Central Michigan SmartZone this is very important. “In the Central Michigan region, the creation of a single high-tech job typicaly results in the creation of three additional jobs”. See this link for details.

Perhaps it would behoove the city if our community, education, governmental and business leaders came together to promote such an initiative. You will notice that the SmartZone cities are communities surrounding Michigan’s public universities. Granted, things move slow in Saginaw, but that shouldn’t prevent a focus on high technology jobs. I’m not the only one who thinks so.