February 21, 2012 | 1:03 PM | By Dustin Dwyer
Built In Chicago
The non-profit group Built In Chicago analyzed data from 2011 and found that it was a big, big year for web-based startups in the city.
128 new companies launched last year, and the total amount of new capital raised by web-based companies in Chicago was up 431 percent. A hefty chunk of that increase came from Groupon. But even excluding the coupon giant, funding of Chicago’s web startups was up 75.8 percent.
UPDATE: Maria Katris, Executive Director of Built In Chicago, estimates in an email to us that the the 128 businesses launched last year created 700-1,000 jobs. And the digital sector as a whole is responsible for 25,000 – 30,000+ jobs for the Chicago area. Built In Chicago also looks at the top 50 digital companies in the Windy City and finds that they’ve created more than 11,500 jobs.
And there are signs that Chicagoans are preparing for some long-term growth in this area. We told you last month about 1871, a new 50,000 square foot startup tech center in Chicago. And companies from other parts of the country are starting to take notice of Chicago’s tech talent, particularly in the sales and marketing world.
Katris says she expects further growth in the coming years. She tells us:
In 2011, a new startup launched every third day. We predict you will see a new startup launching every other day in 2012, and every day in 2013.
Venture Capitalist, entrepreneur and blogger Brad Feld highlighted Chicago’s startup activity in a blog post yesterday.
Feld said what’s happening in Chicago “is a great example of what happens when entrepreneurs take a long term view to building their startup community.”
On Monday, there will be word on the new members of a growing collection across the Midwest: vacant churches. The Archdiocese of Detroit is expected to officially announce which parishes will close or be combined with others across a six-county region, and the Detroit News says that could result in 39 fewer churches.
Hobbs & Black Architects are in this Ann Arbor, Mich. church
Vacant churches dot our cities — not just Detroit, in but Cleveland and Chicago, as well. But, like other empty places that we’ve reported on in the Midwest, some are being put to new uses.
One longstanding example is in Ann Arbor, where Hobbs & Black Architects have their offices in the former First Unitarian Church. The imposing stone building at 100 N. State Street was built in 1885, and was used as a church until 1975. Hobbs & Black bought it in 1985, and gave it a painstaking restoration, including a soaring Tiffany glass window.
We’d like to know about other churches in our region that are being put to new use. Please let us know about the ones in your city. And if there are churches sitting vacant, we’d like to hear about those, too.
Tell us how church buildings are coming back to life.
February 16, 2012 | 10:16 AM | By Dustin Dwyer
That’s a lot of clams GM made $7.6 billion last year. It was a record profit.
Mixed foreclosure news New foreclosure data is in. The numbers are down in Ohio and Michigan. But they’re up in Illinois.
Research and Decline R&D jobs dropped 43% in Chicago between 2000 and 2010, according to a new study. Crain’s Chicago Business has the write-up.
Collegial process The Columbus Dispatch reports Ohio’s 37 colleges and universities have agreed on a construction wish list for this year’s state budget. Governor John Kasich called the unified process “unprecedented.”
Small power plants, big effect? The closure of four small, little-used power plants is stoking speculation that energy prices in Ohio could rise. The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the common sense analysis would say that the change should have little effect on prices. But, the new world of online auctions for power prices “don’t necessarily make common sense.”
Bus cuts Detroit will cancel early-morning bus service in an effort to save cash.
Mining bill advances A special committee has been disbanded, and a controversial piece of mining legislation has been put on the fast track in the Wisconsin Senate, proving once again that nothing is simple in Wisconsin politics these days. The bill would loosen regulations to help open an iron mine in northern Wisconsin.
February 15, 2012 | 9:44 AM | By Dustin Dwyer
On the hook The State of Michigan paid $420,000 to the bondholders of a Pontiac movie studio, according to The Detroit News. The studio couldn’t make the payment on its own, and, under an agreement with Governor Jennifer Granholm, the bonds are guaranteed by the state. But with the cutback in state incentives for filmmaking, no projects have filmed at the studio since December.
Santorum’s surge Rick Santorum is not only leading Mitt Romney in Romney’s home state, a new poll shows Santorum is ahead in Ohio as well.
The Fracking Factor A plan to use coal to make natural gas in Indiana may be a bust, according to the Indianapolis Star. A utility executive in Indiana says the boom in shale-gas production, or “fracking” has brought down the cost of natural gas, and the coal-to-gas plan no longer makes sense. Governor Mitch Daniels had touted the coal-to-gas plant as a way to help consumers and boost the economy in Southern Indiana.
Boeing’s big order Chicago-based Boeing has finalized the details of the largest order in its history.
Kohl’s says no to downtown The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that retailer Kohl’s has decided against building a new company headquarters in downtown Milwaukee.
Cincinnati jobs Ohio Governor John Kasich announced yesterday that two new companies are moving to the Cincinnati area.
We’re shocked – shocked! A former city alderman, turned political science professor says he’s done the calculations and Chicago is, in fact, the most corrupt city in the country.
February 15, 2012 | 9:21 AM | By Sarah Alvarez
Changing Gears just wrapped up our Midwest Migration series. The project documented the stories of people who left the Midwest in search of economic opportunity.
Now, we’re exploring stories of people who came into the region from other places. We’re looking for stories of how these traditions change and shape the identity of families, communities and cities. You can send in your recipes, traditions, family trees, usic and stories and become a part of the project.
Brigitte Kirchgatterer from Forest View, Illinois shared some of her traditions, and the photo at left. Her mother immigrated from Fulda, Germany and her Father from Volklamarkt, Austria. They met in Chicago. Kirchgatterer says that one of her favorite traditions is celebrating with Krampus around Christmastime. But, she says the tradition hasn’t always translated to America.
“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to explain to a non-Austrian in my entire life.” said Kichgatterer. “In fact, my kindergarten teacher in 1981 was so concerned about the “tall tales” I was telling after Christmas break she called my Mom about it saying,’Your daughter said the Devil comes to your house for Christmas?’ Only to learn it was all true!”
This afternoon, our partner station WBEZ in Chicago kicks off Afternoon Shift with Steve Edwards, a daily two-hour live talk show featuring a good friend of Changing Gears.
Steve Edwards, WBEZ
You’ve heard Steve as a co-host of Changing Gears’ specials and call-in shows. Most recently, he co-hosted our Changing Gears/WBEZ special, “Getting By.”
For Steve, a well-known voice in Chicago, it’s a homecoming to the airwaves. He served as host of Eight-Forty-Eight, the morning news program, from 1999 to 2007. His weekly feature, “The Best Game in Town” was a must listen during last year’s Chicago mayoral campaign.
Tune in weekdays from 2-4 pm CT (3-5 pm ET) for a lively mix of local and national topics, including news, politics and business stories. (Anyone with a background in manufacturing will get the meaning of the show’s name.)
Meanwhile, check out some of Steve’s best interviews.
February 9, 2012 | 9:47 AM | By Dustin Dwyer
An expensive building The Wall Street Journal reports that the historic Chicago Board of Trade building has found a buyer. The price tag? Between $150 and $180 million, according to the paper (subscription required).
Growing pains for Groupon Chicago-based Groupon reported quarterly earnings for the first time since becoming a public company, and Wall Street was not impressed.
The price of news Crain’s Chicago says the Chicago Tribune is considering a “creative way” to charge for its content online.
A Fund without its founder The Cleveland International Fund has helped get a number of revitalization projects done in the city in recent years. Now, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the group is trying to carry on despite the indictment of its founder and leader.
Taking a bite out of crime Michigan governor Rick Snyder unveils his budget proposals today. Partner station Michigan Radio has a look at what’s expected to be in the budget, including an extra $45 million to fight crime. The Wall Street Journal says the new spending is meant to take on the state’s “deadly cities.”
Struggling schools A new report says Michigan schools face “alarming and persistent” problems, and it’s falling behind other states in education, according to MLive.
A dining destination reborn The Detroit Free Press has a great writeup of the history and rebirth of the city’s London Chop House, which was once considered among the top restaurants in the country.
Say it ain’t so Organizers have canceled a sled dog race in northern Michigan because of a lack of snow.
Everyone who wanders through Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood sees the empty Esquire Theater and asks, “why don’t they do something with it?” Now, the 1938 movie palace is about to be reinvented — as a steakhouse.
Chicago's Esquire Theater
DelFrisco’s Restaurant Group plans to open a DelFrisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in the theater at 58 East Oak Street, a stone’s throw from North Michigan Avenue.
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the steakhouse will have an entry on the first floor, and seating on the second and third floors, for a total of 23,000 square feet.
DelFrisco’s, based in Dallas, specializes in these monster steakhouses, with outlets in New York, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Continue reading →
February 7, 2012 | 9:13 AM | By Dustin Dwyer
The State of Steubenville Ohio governor John Kasich delivers his State of the State address tonight. But instead of giving the speech at the state capitol, he’ll be at a public school in Steubenville. Partner station WCPN Ideastream explains why.
Tech jobs Chicago is landing more tech jobs, mostly in the digital advertising sector, reports Crain’s Chicago.
Detroit panel to meet in public A judge says there will be no more secret meetings to determine the fate of Detroit. A state-appointed panel is looking into the city’s finances to determine whether the city should be put under the control of an emergency manager. Now, partner station Michigan Radio reports the panel’s meetings must be held in public.
A pickle of a plant A plant in Detroit that once made auto parts is about to start making pickles.
Here’s hoping you never have to use it A couple of Clevelanders are launching a new startup company: eFunerals.com.
February 6, 2012 | 9:45 AM | By Dustin Dwyer
The day after The Super Bowl is over, and now the cleanup process begins for Indianapolis.
Opportunity knocked Reuters looks into what happened to all those clients of MF Global, after the firm collapsed. Turns out two Chicago firms were the biggest winners, bringing in $1.2 billion in new funds.
More ‘Free’ beds The Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich. is planning a $48 million expansion. The expansion will double the hospital’s size.
Gasification fight Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson wants to turn the city’s trash into energy. But environmentalists have raised concerns about emissions from the “gasification” process. And the city council is not sold on the idea.
Going once, going twice, oh never mind … Detroit residents who had their homes taken away because of a failure to pay taxes are getting an opportunity to buy those homes back. The Detroit News reports that thousands of city-owned properties failed to sell at auction. So officials now say they’ll offer to sell the property back to the original owner, or whoever is squatting in the home, for as little as $500.
Not really ‘Made In Detroit’ Last week, we put together a list of all the companies making t-shirts to show your local pride in the Midwest. Today, Susan Tompor looks at one of those companies and asks “Where are those ‘Made In Detroit’ shirts actually made?”
