Ara Topouzian is the Economic Development Manager
for the City of Novi. He is responsible for the
coordination of the City’s economic development efforts
for larger firms, corporations, and area employers.
Over 2,000 business call Novi their home. In an
economy which has been struggling for some time, there are
many good and positive stories about local businesses.
This new column will highlight new and existing businesses
in Novi that have been recently personally visited by Ara
Topouzian.
|
|
May/June 2008
Art Institute of Michigan
 The
Art Institute of Michigan opened its doors in October, 2007. Over
30,000 square foot of office and classroom space will allow for an
abundant amount of students. The institute celebrated its new
location with a lavish grand opening this past March.
The Novi school, the only one in Oakland County, is one of 35
other locations across North America, providing strong educational
programs in media arts, culinary arts, fashion, and fine arts
professionals to the marketplace. The only other educational
institution focusing on the arts is located in Wayne County.
The Art Institute of Michigan offers bachelor’s degree programs
in Advertising, Culinary Management, Fashion Marketing & Management,
Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, and Visual
Communications; associate’s degree programs in Culinary Arts,
Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, and Fashion
Merchandising; and a certificate program in Professional Baking &
Pastry.
The Institute has provided career-oriented education programs in
design, media arts, fashion and culinary for over 35 years, and has
more than 125,000 alumni.
For more information, visit:
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/detroit.
Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA)
 The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA)
located in Novi was founded in 1916 when a group of dairy farmers
gathered at what was then the Michigan Agricultural College in East
Lansing. They all agreed that a stable price for milk needed to be
established and they wanted an organization which would be the voice
of the dairy farmer. Thus, MMPA was formed.
With the amount of milk produced by dairy farmers, a single day
without a place to sell their milk could be costly. MMPA guarantees
a place for members' milk every day of the year through its
manufacturing plants, as long as the milk meets established
standards for health and sanitation.
Further, MMPA is able to guarantee that their members will always
be paid for the milk they provide, especially given the fact that
the price of milk fluctuates just like other commodities. Also, any
profits gained through the marketing of the milk are returned to the
entire membership.
MMPA’s members include companies such as Kroger, Eddy’s Ice Cream
and Dean’s Foods. They currently have 2,500 members and are located
off Meadowbrook Road. They have called Novi home for more than 20
years.
For more information, visit: http://www.mimilk.com.
|
