More good news for Ann Arbor! There is a lot of talk these days about jobs and Ann Arbor Michigan has made the list compiled by BusinessWeek as the place to start your new business.
If an entrepreneur is going to start a company in Michigan, Ann Arbor is the place to do it, says a BusinessWeek list that ranked cities in each state.
The best small- to mid-sized city in each state to locate high-growth startup companies was chosen based on factors such as education level, availability of venture capital, number of patents and other demographic and statistical data.
The ranking was based on research conducted by San Francisco-based GIS Planning, which collects geographic data for its online ZoomProspector tool. It was compiled for a BusinessWeek article about the benefits of building startups in small cities rather than much larger cities.
• Find out more about the list.
Excerpt from Ann Arbor News, March 30
Sincerely,
Jennifer Fry
The Charles Reinhart Company, Realtors
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com
Two pieces of good news for green car fans in Ann Arbor. First, Mercedes-Benz says it is looking to hire 223 workers at a new research and development center for hybrid technologies there. These jobs will be phased in over 10 years. Ann Arbor is slowly getting a green car reputation and the new hybrid center is just the latest addition to the alternative propulsion puzzle. The state, through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will likely approve tax credits for Mercedes and its 65,000 square foot center. The official name will be The Mercedes-Benz Engineering Center for Powertrains USA.
The other bit of green car news is that Zipcar, which has been operating in Ann Arbor since 2006, is expanding from the U of M campus to downtown. Now, any local resident can rent one of four Toyota Matrix or two Scion xD vehicles by the hour or daily. The Zipcars will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be located at the Fourth and Catherine parking lot, near the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market, and at the parking lot at Main and William, next to Palio Restaurant. This will bring a total of 17 Zipcars to the Ann Arbor community (with 13 already located on the University of Michigan campus). All local residents 21+ can join the service, with gas, maintenance, insurance and reserved parking included in low hourly and daily rates. All University of Michigan students 18+, faculty and staff will also be able to use the four vehicles located off campus.
Those interested in learning more about Zipcar in Ann Arbor may visit www.zipcar.com/annarbor, and click on City Partners, for more information about membership and hourly rates.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Fry
The Charles Reinhart Company, Realtors
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com
Community Housing Alternatives (CHA) has been awarded funds by The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to assist first time buyers seeking homes in the Sugarbrook neighborhood. The buyer must meet MSHDA income levels and family size, write a purchase agreement, CHA will then send in a team of inspectors to determine the extent of the work to be done, buyer and seller prepare to close, at the closing buyer signs a contract for the rehab assistance and work begins after the buyer assumes ownership.
This program works because the seller does not have to do any repairs themselves and the program also builds in down payment assistance for the buyer.
To find out more, contact Barbara Zinser (734) 330-7398
Times may be tough, but Saline is always thinking of creative ways to put their families first and is offering a Saline Prescription Card to all city residents!
The City of Saline and the National League of Cities have a new program to help you save money on prescription medicines not covered by insurance.
The City of Saline Prescription Discount Card is available to all city residents free of charge and can help you save an average of 20% off the price of commonly prescribed medications at participating pharmacies across the country, including many in the City of Saline.
You and your family may use your discount card anytime your prescription is not covered by insurance. There are no restrictions and no limits on how many times you may use your card.
- Average savings of 20%
- Savings of up to 50% on prescriptions through mail service
- FREE enrollment
- Coverage for ALL family members
- No limit on how many times they use the card
- No age requirements
- No income requirements
- Easy access, nine out of 10 pharmacies nationwide participate in the program
To learn more about where you can pick-up the card and what pharmacies participate in the network, call toll free 1-888-620-1749, or visit www.caremark.com/nlc.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Fry
jfry@reinhartrealtors.com
Ann Arbor Lifestyle is a live radio broadcast which airs each Saturday on AM1290 WLBY from 10-11 a.m. Lifestyle is hosted on a rotating basis between Jackie Wright, Shelia Shulman, and I. Our goal is to keep listeners informed about what’s happening in and around Ann Arbor. Tune in…
My Upcoming Guests on Ann Arbor Lifestyle for March.
Recording Date: March 28, 2009
Topic: 37th Annual Pow Wow
The Pow Wow is being held April 4 and April 5, 2009 at the Saline Middle School. The Pow Wow attracts Native American dancers, singers and drummers from throughout the country. Dancers perform wearing traditional and contemporary regalia. This is a culturally significant event and your opportunity to ask questions about it. Tune in March 28th @ 10:00 a.m
Having a problem making the mortgage payment? Don’t wait, act now! Here is some advice on what to do:
- Visit mortgage holder’s website. Most have lots of helpful information on what to do if you’re in trouble. I recommend this route. If you try to contact them by phone you may have a long wait before you are connected with a live person.
- Contact your mortgage holder via the customer service number located on your payment book. Be prepared to wait on the phone for assistance.
Monday-Thursday :8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED, Saturday: CLOSED, Sunday: CLOSED
- Contact the Washtenaw County Treasurer’s Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention website. Homeownership preservation is a top priority, and they want to assist homeowners in preventing foreclosure. Whether you are in need of assistance with loan or foreclosure counseling or help getting out of a predatory loan, make a call to 734-222-6600.
- IMPORTANT NEWS - Do you have a mortgage with CitiFinancial, CitiMortgage, CitiResidential (Ameriquest, AMC, Argent), Chase, Ocwen or SPS? There may be extra workout options available exclusively through this office. Please call and ask to speak to a Foreclosure Prevention Specialist at 734-222-6600
BEWARE: TALK TO A REPUTABLE HOUSING COUNSELOR AND NOT A CON ARTIST.
For additional information or resources contact me: (734) 669-5836.
Tom Richardson, President of Liberty Title Company of Ann Arbor, has prepared a very useful step by step guide for anyone who thinks they may have a case. We appreciate the time and effort Tom put into creating this for Reinhart’s customers and clients.
Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can contact a Reinhart agent or office.
Received this from Kim Peoples who found it on www.Daveramsey.com He seems to be a business person with a more optimistic attitude than most. It’s a good read and I couldn’t have said it better myself:
Yes, many people have lost their jobs and houses. You may be one of them. But guess what? People have lost their jobs and houses even in a bull market. About 93% of people are still employed. That is pretty good! I was alive in the 1970s when unemployment hit double digits, and we’re nowhere near that right now! I’m not making light of the fact that some people are struggling; I’m just putting the situation in the proper perspective.
Even though you may be currently unemployed, that doesn’t mean you have to participate in the recession. People like me who have chosen to not participate acknowledge the reality of a slow economy and suffering people. However, we have decided that we’re not going to form our lives around the negativity coming out of the media and government. We’re intensifying our efforts and going to have the best year of our lives in spite of things slowing down.
Some people who find themselves unemployed will go into new careers or start their own businesses where they have the best year of their lives—professionally, financially and emotionally. Their current job losses are actually blessings in disguise. They believe this and are formulating game plans based on it. I guarantee there are men in their garages right now starting their own mechanic shops. The next Mary Kay Ash is writing up a business plan for new products she’s just created. College students are developing “the next best thing” in their dorm rooms as you are reading this. This is reality!
So think about your skills and interests. How can you leverage those passions into something you enjoy doing every day while earning money for it? If you haven’t lost your job but dread going to work, maybe it’s time to fire your employer and go in a new direction. When you have a game plan for your money and career, you will have a sense of empowerment because you aren’t a slave to the lender (or employer).
When employers start hiring because they believe their businesses will grow, recessions end. Many who have stopped hiring a healthy amount have been paralyzed by fear. They’ve lost hope. People who continue going about their lives in normal ways (without being irresponsible and buying stuff they can’t afford) believe in the future. It’s called hope.
You can have fear or hope. It’s your choice.
I choose hope.
Have a great day!
Susan
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