AUTOMATION ALLEY

'Automation Alley' is a technology business association driving the growth and image of Southeast Michigan’s economy through a collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development initiatives. Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to throughout an eight county area to include business, educational institutions and government entities. Oakland County's ''"Automation Alley"'' has over 1,800 of world's advanced technology companies.Why MITA will be a success.''Michigan International Trade Association''. Retrieved on September 3, 2007. "Detroit is the most active commerical port of entry in the USA." "Greater Detroit is the number one exporting region among 310 defined metropolitan areas (CMSA) in the U.S." Automation Alley promotes regional prosperity through business attraction services, exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.
The genesis of Automation Alley can be traced back to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s 1997 State of the County address. At the address, Patterson unveiled his vision for leveraging the combined strength of Oakland County's high-tech companies into a national marketing strategy that could be used as a tool to attract skilled talent and cutting-edge businesses.
Shortly after this new initiative was announced, the first phase of development began with a member roster of 44 organizations. It was in this phase that the basic structure of the organization was formed. Marketing materials were created, a Web site was launched, and an event schedule was developed.
The beginning of the second phase turned Automation Alley into a working organization and dramatically increased membership. Four member-driven committees were established and member benefits, including seminars, networking events and a quarterly newsletter were created. In the second phase, a national marketing campaign was also launched to attract high-tech talent to the area.
In 2001, a trade mission program was established with the assistance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The initial funding enabled Automation Alley to create a program to aid small businesses in boosting their sales through the use of exports.
Automation Alley has conducted trade missions to Mexico, China, Germany, and Central and Eastern Europe, and has also hosted a reverse trade mission of Chinese delegates to Southeast Michigan.
The Automation Alley Export Center was created in 2002 as the sustaining piece to Automation Alley’s trade mission program. The Export Center assisted small and medium-sized companies become export ready and grow in their understanding of how to succeed in international business through networking and support.
In March of 2005, Automation Alley “retired” the Export Center name and folded its exporting activities under the umbrella of the Automation Alley International Business Center (IBC).
Today, the IBC conducts international business attraction activities in addition to the exporting activities that have garnered international awareness and respect for the Alley.
In October of 2001, Automation Alley affiliated with the Great Lakes Interactive Marketing Association (GLIMA) to form GLIMA, Automation Alley's association for technology professionals.
The affiliation between the two organizations was seen as a natural marriage between the high-tech business community and the technical labor force. The act of joining companies and individuals together created a powerful communication network that had never before existed in the state of Michigan.
In order to expand its network, GLIMA began to license its name to new, geographically defined chapters throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Chapters satisfy the needs and priorities of local technology professionals while the network provides life-long learning opportunities and supports the state's technology economy. Today, the GLIMA Network has eight chapters located throughout Michigan.
In the summer of 2003, Automation Alley embarked upon a new phase of development with the creation of the Technology Center. The Technology Center brings together businesses, educators and government to help entrepreneurs accelerate the commercialization of new technologies and services. With the Technology Center's support and resources, ideas are turned into usable, marketable technology solutions.
The Technology Center's assistance includes limited pre-seed and commercialization funding, business plan and strategy development support as well as a powerful network of experts and mentors.
In April of 2004, Automation Alley broke ground on its new Headquarters in Troy, which house the Technology Center, the International Business Center, and the GLIMA Network.
Automation Alley Headquarters opened in the fall of 2004 and is located in the designated Automation Alley Technology Park-Troy, south of Big Beaver between John R and Rochester Roads.
In addition to centralizing the Alley’s numerous services, the Headquarters provides an opportunity for members to increase the global visibility of Automation Alley as Southeast Michigan’s premier technology cluster by offering a forum to showcase and discuss emerging technology. A variety of events take place in support of this, including technology shows, demonstrations, exhibitions and networking mixers.
This future-focused organization unites exceptional thinkers from diverse realms of technology, academia, manufacturing, engineering, production, and R&D. The Alley is the place where established CEOs from the world’s leading corporations can join forces with young entrepreneurs launching exciting start-up ventures. Together, the Alley and its partners infuse the region with exceptional business opportunities and unrivaled job opportunities.
For more information, visit Automation Alley Official Site

Contents

Notes

External link

Notes

External link

★ Automation Alley Official Site