Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo’s name is so distinctive strangers around the world have been known to break into song at hearing the name. With such a recognizable moniker you’d think Kalamazoo wouldn’t need nicknames, but through the years changing names have reflected the city’s refusal to stand still. The Zoo, Celery City and the Mall City are a few. The innovative thinking that brought downtown K’zoo the nation’s first pedestrian mall in 1959 continues to work today. Innovators have developed thriving life sciences, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. They build on the expertise of Kalamazoo’s universities. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Davenport College all are centers of research, development and technology. They surround a downtown vibrating with condos, apartments and homegrown, top-notch restaurants. The universities are woven into the city’s social fabric and contribute to a cultural scene that Kalamazooans love to boast about. The Kalamazoo Symphony, Kalamazoo Institute of Art and a vibrant local theater community are a few of the offerings. Locals also love their festivals that fill the air with music and the scents of ethnic foods wafting over the Arcadia Festival grounds and the Kalamazoo River. Outdoor activities from biking on the Kal-Haven trail to disc golf and standard golf on a nationally-acclaimed course in Milham Park are the start of the city’s leisure side. Sports fans have competitive college teams, minor league baseball and hockey to follow. And it all comes with a Promise. All high school graduates who live in Kalamazoo qualify for a scholarship that pays 100 percent of their tuition at any public university or community college.

Top entrepreneur recognition goes to Kalexsyn founders

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 17, 2010

Kalexsyn Inc.'s leadership has been recognized for promoting excellence in technology. David Zimmermann, CEO, and Robert Gadwood, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer, of the company have been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs Of The Year. The Kalamazoo-based company that focuses on providing medicinal chemistry services to the pharmaceutical industry and has averaged 30 percent growth each year since its founding. The award, in its 24th year, is given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Kalexsyn competed for the award with companies in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. "These entrepreneur of the year award winners are best in class, and we are proud to honor their outstanding success," says Frank Maselli, Ernst & Young L.L.P. Zimmermann and Gadwood founded Kalexsyn, a contract research organization, in 2003 with assistance from Southwest Michigan First, Western Michigan University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. "This award recognizes the quality and value Kalexsyn brings to each of our clients," Zimmermann says. "Contract research organizations like ours thrive on the skills and qualities found in our exceptional staff and scientific team." Kalexsyn is a world-class medicinal chemistry contract research organization (CRO). Our scientists average 15 years of experience in hit validation, lead optimization and solving tough synthetic problems. We offer clients an outstanding CRO experience, including tailored short- and long-term FTE arrangements. Kalexsyn is privately owned and located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Writer: Kathy Jennings Source: David Zimmermann, Kalexsyn Inc.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation celebrates 85th birthday with Match Day

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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June 17, 2010

If you've ever wanted to help out a local nonprofit with a financial gift, but never quite got around to it, the right time to give is at hand. All it takes is a walk through the park and a willingness to donate. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation hosts Match Day June 23. On that day, donors will be able to contribute to the endowment funds of the nonprofits of their choice. And the Foundation will match 50 cents for every dollar given.The Foundation will donate as much as $85,000 to local nonprofits. PNC Bank and an anonymous donor who has a donor advised fund with the Foundation also will contribute $85,000.Representatives from 56 nonprofit organizations will be at tables set along the paths in Bronson Park. From there they will describe to would-be donors the services they offer. Organizations have sent out reminders of the Match Day event to friends and contributors in hopes for a good turn out. In order for a donation to be matched, it must be made to the endowment fund of a participating organization, and must be made in person on June 23.Donor Relations Officer for the Kalamazoo Community Foundation Coby Chalmers says, "Donors will celebrate the past by giving at an event that marks Kalamazoo Community Foundation's 85th birthday with gift in the present. By helping organizations build their endowments so they will have greater support available to them in the future."Founded in 1925, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation works to address existing and emerging community issues in the areas of individuals and families, youth development, early childhood learning and school readiness, and economic and community development. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Coby Chalmers, Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Dog park open for games of fetch

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 16, 2010

Not every Kalamazoo County Park specifically prohibits digging. But that's rule No. 7 for dogs whose owners take them to the Kalamazoo area's latest dog park. Prairie View County Park now has six acres of Kalamazoo County park land devoted to dogs and their owners open to the public and their pooches.Volunteers who helped make the park a reality are expected to bring their dogs to the ribbon cutting and related festivities on opening day, June 17.Demand for the park emerged in two different planning processes: one during the overall master plan for Kalamazoo County Parks; and the second a plan for Prairie View, says David Rachowicz, director of parks and recreation. Since June 17 is a free day at all county parks, including Prairie View, Rachowicz may be too busy to bring Rory, his Brittany, to check out the park. The dog will have to wait to sniff out a five-foot fence surrounding the property. It encompasses three acres that are wooded with trails and three acres of open fields. Amenities include drinking water, dog waste bags, shady areas and benches. Dogs can run without leashes in the park, though they must be leashed from the car to the park entrance and as they are exiting the park.Dogs must be accompanied by an adult age 16 or older and parents should note children younger than age 8 will not be permitted in the fenced-in area as a safety precaution.The park is open year-around from 7 a.m. to sunset.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: David Rachowicz, Kalamazoo County Parks

Growing jobs is economic development, too

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 10, 2010

It's time to pay as much attention to helping local businesses grow as is spent seeking out new businesses, business leaders told columnist Rick Hagland.Business experts say economic gardening could provide a richer, more stable source of jobs for the state.Excerpt: Michigan shouldn't abandon efforts to bring new companies to Michigan, said Rob Fowler, president of the Small Business Association of Michigan."We don't think it should be either/or," he said. "But 60 to 80 percent of the state's economic development efforts should be put into economic gardening."Figures compiled by the Cassopolis-based Edward Lowe Foundation, which develops educational programs for entrepreneurs, show that small, "second-stage" companies produced more jobs in the 15-year period between 1993 and 2007 than any other business segment in the state.Second-stage companies are those that employ between 10 and 100 workers, have annual sales of at least $1 million and want to grow, according to the Lowe Foundation's definition.These businesses created 137,249 jobs in Michigan between 1993 and 2007, while companies employing 500 or more workers shed 257,585 jobs in the same time period.For more on growing businesses, read the rest of the story.Source: Rick Haglund for Mlive

Borgess doctor prescribes reasons to love Kalamazoo

By Kathy Jennings

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General

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June 10, 2010

If you could live anywhere in the world would you choose Kalamazoo? Dr. Firas Al-Ali has. Second Wave editor Kathy Jennings talks to the neurointerventionalist about why he really likes it here.

Biosciences pick up momentum in Michigan

By Newsroom

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Technology & Innovation

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June 10, 2010

From 2006 to 2008 Michigan's bioscience industry added 3,300 jobs, faster than the national average, reports Business Review West Michigan.National trade group BIO in its biannual report said the industry directly employed 37,180 people as of two years ago, growing nearly 10 percent from 2006 in jobs.The industry pays an average annual wage of $76,394.The BIO report ranked Michigan 10th nationally in bioscience research and development in 2008, 13th in clinical trials initiated in 2009, and 18th in venture capital investments and 17th in related patents from 2004 to 2009. Excerpt: Across Michigan, research, testing and medical labs remained the largest and fastest-growing industry subsector from 2006 to 2008, growing by 18.5 percent, or nearly 2,500 jobs, and adding 85 new companies. MichBio, the industry's trade association in Michigan, attributed the growth in research, testing and medical labs to start-up companies formed out of corporate downsizings at pharmaceutical and device companies, coupled with a growing need for diagnostic and medical testing for health care providers. The medical device and equipment subsector added more than 1,300 jobs from 2006 to 2008, an 11.9 percent increase. For more study results, see the entire story. Source: Business Review West Michigan

Community garden takes root at Kalamazoo College

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 10, 2010

IIn the backyard of a Kalamazoo College-owned house on Academy Street a community garden is growing.It represents the coming together of three campus events.Kenneth Mulder, a K-College alumnus, came to campus to speak about social justice and community gardens. He is Farm Manager and Adjunct Assistant Professor for Environmental Studies at Green Mountain College in Vermont.Shea Howell, professor of communications at Wayne State University, visited to talk about social justice.Jeanne Hess, professor of physical education, had put together a class: "Gardening for Fitness." It filled immediately.Energized by the speakers and discussions fostered by outreach and debate on the new Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership on campus, staff members with interests in gardening, food, and justice started meeting together and momentum for the project took them from winter planning stages into spring planting.The college garden has been dug and planted by students in Jeanne Hess' physical education class, and those who simply want to be involved. Staff and alumni also were involved. Hess, professor of physical education, applied for and received a small grant from ACSJL, so the project is now equipped. In the fall, another physical class may harvest the vegetables and ready the garden ready for the following spring.Now, the harvest will go to students, through Sodexo, the college food service, and members of the greater Kalamazoo community, through distribution by a local food bank.The backyard where the garden grown is fairly small, lacks visibility, and may prove too shady. It is anticipated it could be moved in the future if a better, permanent home is found. School gardeners see a time when community gardening could grow to include science, art, business, philosophy, sociology, psychology, education and environmental sciences. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Jane Hoinville, Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo Promise is more than a scholarship program

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 10, 2010

Education and economic development go hand-in-hand. Kalamazoo-area economic development leader Ron Kitchens explained the concept to representatives from the national news corp, including NBC and FOX news, in town June 7 for President Barack Obama's address to the 2010 graduating class from Kalamazoo Central High School.He talked to reporters all day. His message: the area's focus on education as a sound growth strategy.Excerpt:Of The Kalamazoo Promise, the free college tuition program for Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates, he said, "'They asked, 'Isn't it just a scholarship program?''""People don't understand education as a strategy of economic development," said Kitchens, who is president and chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, the area's lead economic development organization. "It really is about putting our financial resources into our natural resources."For more on Kitchens' message read the entire story.Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Kalamazoo revels in commencement visit from President Obama

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 10, 2010

Members of the Kalamazoo Central 2010 graduating class accepted their diplomas, marched across the stage and shook hands with the President of the United States. Every graduate got to shake his hand. Many shared a hug with him and in return heard a word of advice. President Barack Obama had just delivered the commencement address, a reward for the high school that bested 1,000 others to win the White House's Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. The president said the win showed the nation what has been accomplished at Kalamazoo Central. His address concluded a day that included a surprise visit with seniors before the ceremony and a visit with Democratic Party donors. Kalamazoo residents gathered in a number of locations across town to see the ceremony on the big screen. The day's events were heavily reported by the national press corp. Some of the coverage: Boston Herald, Detroit Free Press, Christian Science Monitor, CNN, FOX, New York Times, MTV, MSNBC, USA Today, Time.com, MSNBC and Washington Post. The capacity crowd of more than 5,000 gathered in Read Fieldhouse on Western Mchigan University's Campus. The president offered advice, telling grads their success depends on "how hard you try; how far you push yourself; how high you're willing to reach. Because true excellence comes only through perseverance." And he suggested that the anonymous donors who created the Kalamazoo Promise -- a program that pays tuition for state college education for all graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools -- did it because they believed in the potential young people in the community. "And because of their faith that you would use this gift not just to enrich your own lives, but the lives of others -- and the life of our nation." Obama asked the 2010 class "to pay them back by seeking to have the same kind of impact with your own lives; by pursuing excellence in everything you do; and by serving this country that we all love. "I know you can do it. After all, you are the Giants -- and with the education you've gotten here, and the chance you have now to continue it, there is nothing that you can't accomplish."Writer: Kathy Jennings

Improved math, reading will better chances of employment

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 10, 2010

Sometimes getting a job requires training in the basics.The Workforce Development Center, a new project offered at the Northside Association for Community Development in cooperation with Kalamazoo Valley Community College, will offer such training.Mattie Jordan-Woods, the NACD's executive director, says she knows skilled technicians in automotive mechanics and other trades who lack the basic math and reading skills to gain certification in those professions. In the one-year pilot program, participants will learn about a variety of jobs and what it requires to apply for them. They will determine their existing skills and what skills they need to better qualify for employment. They also will be able to create a customized learning program for each student.Participants will be able to learn at their own pace and one-on-one tutoring will be available. "It will get people on the path to a job," Jordan-Woods says. "For people to work themselves out of a low-income or poverty situation, they need to have solid math, writing and reading skills."William Willging from the M-TEC of KVCC will oversee the project.Two tutors will be based at the NACD, located at 612 N. Park St., to provide one-on-one, computer-based instructions that will raise the basic mathematics and reading skills of neighborhood residents.The training is free to all participants. It is funded by a $7,000 grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. KVCC President Marilyn Schlack says she sees the Workforce Development Center as a stepping stone to what is being envisioned in the evolving Arcadia Commons West concept for the redevelopment of downtown Kalamazoo, and a positive influence on adjacent Kalamazoo-core neighborhoods.Among the missions of the NACD are job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and financial independence for residents. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Tom Thinnes, Kalamazoo Valley Community College