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The future of vehicles is electric, but one roadblock to the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles is battery cost. An expensive battery drives up the cost of the vehicle, making it unaffordable for the average consumer, and as much as 50% of electric vehicle cost is due to the battery. But one innovative Southfield startup is looking to change all that.

At Intecells, Inc., CEO and cofounder Xiaohong Gayden and her team are working to reduce the cost of batteries through advanced manufacturing techniques and cold plasma technology to make a more energy-dense, safer and more adaptable battery product for vehicles and other large-format applications.

“We are developing a new way of making lithium-ion batteries,” says Gayden, who has more than 20 years of industry leadership and battery manufacturing research experience. “We don’t make batteries, but we provide the manufacturing technology, the equipment, and the process know-how to companies that make batteries.”

Gayden founded and registered Intecells as an LLC in August 2017. Although she had extensive corporate experience in China working for General Motors and in the UK working for BP, she was unsure about the most effective and efficient ways to build a startup. In September 2018, Gayden attended a battery industry conference in Novi, where she met Shelly Freeman, business and economic development director for the City of Southfield. That one connection linked Gayden with the Centrepolis Accelerator and opened a network of support.

“Shelly introduced me to Ross Sanders, [manager of corporate partnerships] at Lawrence Tech, and Ross led me to [Centrepolis Accelerator leadership] Dan [Radomski] and Mark [Brucki], and it just started snowballing after that,” Gayden says. At the time a single entity with no venture capital backing, Gayden consulted with Centrepolis Accelerator expert-in-residence Lee Gorman, to benefit from her decades of automotive industry experience.

This vital connection to the Centrepolis Accelerator helped Intecells capture a grant from the Small Business Administration’s Business Accelerator Fund. “This helps pay for design resources and our website through third-party providers,” says Gayden. “It pays for the work we must do as a company.”

During this time, Dan Radomski and his team were working to open the Centrepolis Accelerator’s physical location on campus at LTU, and celebrated its grand opening in October 2019. To take advantage of the facility’s coworking spaces, conference rooms and on-site networking, Intecells moved in. “This gave us a physical presence, an office to work in,” Gayden says.

For a permanent home, Intecells has specific facility requirements, including necessary space for a testing lab as well as 480-volt three-phase electric power. Following an exhaustive search of several communities in southeast Michigan, including Novi, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Canton and Plymouth, Gayden identified an ideal location for Intecells right in Southfield, at Melrose and Lahser between 8 Mile Road and 9 Mile Road. Intecells plans to move in later this year.

One of the best parts about the new location is its proximity to LTU, says Gayden. “Because of our deep connection and partnership with LTU, we wanted to stay close to the campus,” she says. “I can see next summer having LTU students as summer interns working on-site. I think LTU is doing a fantastic job in terms of creating graduates and the faculty experiences are more applied and more relevant to the industry, versus the theoretical side. The culture of LTU is what I really like.”

As a company at the intersection of research, technology and manufacturing, Intecells is a strong addition to the Southfield business community, says Freeman. “We welcome Dr. Gayden and her team and are thrilled she has such a strong working relationship with the Centrepolis Accelerator and with LTU faculty. Intecells is just the right type of business to contribute to Southfield’s growing base of technology industries at the very top of forward-thinking Michigan businesses,” Freeman says.

Right now, Gayden is working hard to spread the word about Intecells and develop strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations. She says the future of transportation relies on batteries, and Michigan is the right place for this technology to grow and develop. “The more quickly the industry can find the expertise and the resources, the faster we can get to that future. We want people to know we are here and want to work with them. Startups and mature companies — wherever there is mutual interest — we can grow together as part of the manufacturing base,” she says.

From a partnership perspective, Gayden says the Centrepolis Accelerator has been instrumental in making meaningful connections to help establish Intecells here in Michigan.

“The Centrepolis Accelerator has introduced me to so many people,” says Gaden. “Some turn out to be great business partners, help to get funding, or just spread the word about our business.

Entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes are encouraged to learn more about the Centrepolis Accelerator. Visit www.centrepolisaccelerator.com or call 248-204-2452.

Overview:

With the generous support of MEDC, NEI, Michigan-based foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and in collaboration with the SBA, the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund has secured funds to provide recovery grants and loans to diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses from underrepresented groups in Michigan. This fund is intended to assist geographically and demographically disadvantaged individuals.

The Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund will provide two primary avenues of funding:

• Grants: $1,000 – $5,000 grants to assist with reopening or pivoting your business.
• Microloans: $5,000 – $10,000 loans with a 1-3 year repayment period. Loans are fixed rate (8%), fully amortizing, term loans.

Eligibility Requirements to apply for a Resilience Grant:

• Your business is ready to pivot, reopen and/or accommodate this new business environment.
• You have generated business revenue for at least 12 months with a maximum of $500K in annual revenue and you have fewer than 50 employees.
• You can demonstrate a negative impact on your business operations due to COVID-19.
• You are able to submit a Cash Flow Forecast and Recovery Plan. A template will be provided by Michigan Women Forward within the application.
• Michigan-registered and in good standing (provide Certificate of Goods Standing) with priority given to:
  • Businesses located in disadvantaged area within a U.S. Small Business Administration designated HubZone or
  • Opportunity Zone. Check the following maps: HubZones and Opportunity Zones.
• (Recommended, Not Required) You are able to provide historical financial statements for your business (i.e. P&L statement).
• You are a low-to-moderate income business owner.

Read the full article on the MWF Website

A virtual workshop will be held to focus on the FY 2021 Consultation Education and Training Grant cycle.

MIOSHA awards CET grants on an annual basis for the development and implementation of safety and health training and services to supplement CET division activities.

How To Apply

To apply, complete the MIWISH application at https://michigan.gov/mioshagrants

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the MIWISH grant or application, please contact us at:
Telephone: (517) 284-7811
Email: BirsenS@michigan.gov

Grant Proposal Workshop

If you are interested in applying for a MIOSHA CET grant, this workshop will focus on the FY 2021 CET Grant cycle and will include such topics as grant eligibility, funded activities, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and submission requirements.  Attendance at this workshop is strongly encouraged.

Thursday, April 30, 2020, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Due to COVID-19 the FY 2021 workshop will be held via Microsoft Teams. Invitations will be emailed, please contact Birsens@michigan.gov if you wish to be included.

If you have any questions, please call (517) 284-7811.

To care for his own mental health during the coronavirus pandemic and Michigan stay-at-home order, Dennis Paryaski enjoys taking a walk near his home in the Southfield City Centre. He appreciates the wide shared-use pathways and the roundabouts on Evergreen Road, and he’s even grateful that traffic has become calmer during this time.

“I like to imagine that the whole City Centre complex exists just for me,” he says.

As a clinical therapist with Oakland Hills Counseling, Paryaski recognizes the value of caring for his mental health during a time of unparalleled uncertainty. Paryaski draws upon his 24-year career as a retired Southfield Police officer and detective, which he says provided a strong foundation for the work he does today as a psychologist.

Here, Paryaski shares some helpful tips for coping with the isolation, uncertainty and fear of living through the coronavirus pandemic.

You are a human being. Can you be a “human doing?”
Isolation and loneliness can lead to depression, says Paryaski. To combat this, he recommends getting up and doing something. “Every day is an opportunity, and there are opportunities within every day to be productive, so approach it with that mindset. Don’t be passive,” he says. Walk a dog, ride a bike, or do something that makes you feel productive, even if it is just sweeping your floor, vacuuming your carpet or organizing your kitchen cabinets.

Reach out to others.
“Social distancing limits this, but you can always make phone calls,” Paryaski says. “If you have elderly relatives, call them. This is the time to have frequent conversations. Drive by their house and talk to them from their porch or balcony.”

Get moving.
“Everyone identifies exercise as a holistic enterprise that oxygenates your blood and releases endorphins in your brain to enhance your mood,” says Paryaski. “Weather permitting and provided you can do it in a safe way, get some exercise. You can do this just by taking a walk on the sidewalk.”

Bring order to chaos.
Disrupted routines can feel chaotic. “This is not calm or peaceful,” says Paryaski. The need for order is one reason people are drawn to jigsaw puzzles right now. “What is a puzzle? It’s a box filled with the chaos of unconnected pieces. By connecting the pieces, we bring order to the chaos, which can be a very therapeutic enterprise,” he says. Other ways to create order include building with Legos, writing poems, playing music on a guitar or other instrument, and painting.

Create something to look forward to.
Paryaski remembers going for a drive with his parents when he was young. “There was no destination. Oftentimes, it was just about getting out of the house,” he says. Having something to look forward to can help when we are feeling angsty or shut in. Any activity that you can plan will help you recognize that you are controlling your own choices. Paryaski suggests trying a simple activity like flying a kite. “Find an open field, get some branches from your yard and put a garbage bag over the sticks. Maybe establish an online kite challenge and see how many will participate. Post videos or photos,” he suggests.

Find ways to celebrate accomplishments.
Loved ones may be experiencing a new type of grief that comes from the sudden end to all organized activities, says Paryaski. “I think about student-athletes in their senior year. Whether they play softball or baseball, participate in track or other NCAA sports or even high school basketball championships, these were their dreams and they were looking forward to this with anticipation or excitement, and all of it was pulled out from under them. This is a significant loss,” he says. The sudden end to these activities is a form of death or a “death of a dream,” Paryaski says, and can invoke feelings of grief that can go unacknowledged. “Who wouldn’t feel sad about not being able to do this significant event?”

While we can’t control these cancellations, we can recreate celebrations in our own way. “Look for opportunities to celebrate in any way you can. It might be multiple times in multiple ways, but celebrate now. Just because the school won’t conduct a graduation ceremony, still do what you can do to celebrate,” he says.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. 
Anxiety and depression tend to cause an inward spiral and downward focus. “You orbit yourself, and that can be unhealthy,” says Paryaski, adding that one hallmark is continued extreme negative self-appraisal. “The hope is at some point you realize you are becoming inward and downward so you can look up and out. That’s where getting help steps in.”

Connect with a mental health provider to build a relationship to help process your thoughts and feelings, Paryaski suggests. Or, find a trusted friend who can serve as a sounding board. “When individuals talk about an issue, they come to a different place by virtue of the fact that they have someone to help facilitate,” he says. Sometimes just airing your feelings brings resolution.

Practice gratitude.
“This virus brings our sense of mortality to the forefront and makes us aware of our vulnerabilities, so it’s a good time to take inventory of what we are grateful for,” he says. “In a way, the virus has turned off some chaos [of everyday life]. It has quieted us and stilled us in such a way as we can take inventory and express gratitude. My hope is that people can have a phoenix-type experience through this, on both an individual basis and a community basis.”

On March 9, 2020, a virtual ceremonial groundbreaking for the LTU shared-use pathway expansion marked the beginning of construction work on 0.6 linear miles. Through a plan nearly two years in the making, the Southfield City Centre Trail will be expanded in two phases this spring and summer.

The first is a more than half mile shared-use path construction along southbound Northwestern Highway between Civic Center Drive and W. 10 Mile Road, adjacent to the campus of Lawrence Technological University. The new path will connect the Southfield City Centre and LTU with a 10-foot wide shared-use path built to standards set forth by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. Portions of the trail will include a 14-foot pathway with decorative fence adjacent to the Evans Drain.

The path will connect LTU to the existing Southfield City Centre Trail to provide safe non-motorized access for students, faculty and staff to the many amenities in the City Centre, including shops, restaurants and year-round events.

“We are delighted that this new pathway will enhance access between Lawrence Technological University and the many offices, restaurants, recreational and municipal facilities, and other amenities in the Southfield City Centre,” said Virinder K. Moudgil, Ph.D., president and CEO of

Lawrence Technological University. “The easier it is for all portions of our community to interact with each other, the more that all of our constituencies benefit. Creating that sense of place and interaction is a positive step for all concerned.”

The new path is being funded in part through a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant, allocated by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). The balance of funding will be shared between the Southfield City Centre and LTU. The City of Southfield received notification of the TAP award on June 14, 2018. The estimated construction cost of the project is $847,687, to which the TAP grant will contribute up to $455,378. Additional costs for engineering, design, contract inspection, management and administration fees will be paid by LTU.

This first stage of the project will bring the Southfield City Centre trail closer to the 7.75-mile fully connected pathway system that will provide access to heart-healthy activity and social connection within the City Centre. Planned wayfinding signage, tree installation and other pedestrian enhancements will be added when the construction is complete, and LTU has committed to routine yearly maintenance of the pathway, boardwalk and bridge for the design life of the project.

“As a city that was principally developed in the mid-20th century, Southfield was designed around the automobile. Today, we are working to soften the impact of the automobile in numerous ways with zoning changes, reduction in parking lot requirements, placemaking and walkability,” said Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver. “We have made great strides in making Southfield a more pedestrian-friendly community. The new pathway is the latest addition to miles and miles of new and wider sidewalks that have been installed in recent years in Southfield.”

The project is scheduled to be completed by early May 2020, and an additional phase that will construct a pathway from Evergreen Road south to 9 Mile Road will be completed during the summer.

The consulting engineer on the project is OHM Advisors. DiPonio Contracting is the prime contractor and Al’s Asphalt is the subcontractor.

For further information, contact Terry Croad, Director of Planning, at 248-796-4150

Early in the morning on Saturday, Dec. 7, 120 students at Lawrence Technological University lined up to complete one final assignment of their college career: graduation. They dressed up, donned their gowns and mortarboards, and walked across the stage at the Don Ridler Field House on campus in the Southfield City Centre.

In 2019, for the first time ever, LTU held a winter commencement to honor the 250 students who graduated mid-academic year.

“We always wanted to have a winter commencement and give graduating students that sense of accomplishment,” says Lisa Kujawa, associate provost for enrollment and outreach at Lawrence Technological University.

Earlier in the year, LTU held its first on-campus graduation ceremony, awarding degrees and certificates to more than 600 students during three separate commencement events on May 11, 2019. Previous graduation ceremonies were held at facilities around metro Detroit, but the university brought commencement back to the Southfield City Centre camps as part of an overall vision to connect students to their alma mater.

Kujawa credits LTU President Virinder Moudgil for his approach to creating traditions that students will remember fondly long after leaving LTU.

“Dr. Moudgil is one of the best presidents we have had because he understands the importance of creating traditions that the students will remember,” she says. On-campus graduation with Blue Devil blue robes with the LTU logo on both sides helps students show and share their pride of being an LTU graduate, she says.

Students Join the Workforce Promptly

By adding a winter commencement ceremony, the university is able to better manage the numbers of students who graduate at different times of the academic year. It also allows graduating students the opportunity to celebrate, then proceed directly into the workforce.

“Of 250 [winter] graduates, 120 walked, and maybe the remainder will walk in May,” says Kujawa. “That shows that many of them don’t want to wait; they want to pursue their careers now.”

The number of LTU grads who have jobs within three months of graduating is 92%, and recently increased from 87%, says Kujawa. “The national average is 67%,” she says. “The type of school we are, as a private STEM-focused university that prepares students for careers in the marketplace that are needed.”

Perfect Time to Show Off the Southfield City Centre Campus

No matter the time of year, the commencement ceremonies give students and graduates the opportunity to show off their campus and the vibrant business climate in the Southfield City Centre.

“They bring their parents back, especially our international students, whose parents are coming to the university for the very first time,” Kujawa says. “It creates that important connection to the campus and to the Southfield City Centre and who we are. Everywhere in Southfield there were signs that congratulated the graduates.”

Commencement exercises are such a source of pride, says Kujawa, LTU is thrilled to add a second chance for graduates to participate when most appropriate for them.

“When you are in higher education, especially in my role in enrollment and outreach, you see every class come in as young freshman, and then see them walk across the stage and recognize they are men and women ready to pursue a career,” says Kujawa. “They are one of you, part of your family, an LTU graduate.”

Lawrence Tech is excited to share graduation season, winter or spring, with the wider area, and Kujawa says the “gowns and towns” connection between the Southfield City Center and Lawrence Tech is strong.

“It’s seamless now and we are one family, LTU and the City Centre, the businesses and residents,” she says. “This I believe is a golden gem and will always be a center of pride for all of us. It’s all about fostering relationships and being successful.”