Central Michigan University co-working incubator expands to Midland

Central Michigan University (CMU) has set its sights on Midland as a new strategic venue for the latest expansion of its entrepreneurial coworking space and incubator.

In collaboration with investment group Gene-5, the Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC) will be expanding early next year with the opening of a new Midland coworking office location. 

According to the Midland Daily News, the new office is tentatively slated to open in March 2020 at 801 Joe Mann Blvd. It will add to three other existing locations in Mount Pleasant, Saginaw and Bay City. 

CMURC provides entrepreneurs and start-ups with coworking space, acceleration programmes and consultation services to get their business on the right track. 

It’s also listed as one of 21 “SmartZone” locations, a collaborative avenue that brings together higher education experts and local businesses to encourage community and economic growth. 

“As one of Michigan’s SmartZones, we’re here to promote collaboration between the universities, industries, governments and communities to grow high-tech jobs,” said CMURC CEO, Erin Strang in the same report. 

The inception of the new Midland location was recommended by Gene-5 co-founder David Dittenber who recently graduated from the CMURC’s accelerator programme.

By sharing the new co-working space with Gene-5, there will be more opportunities to expand collaboration activities between the industry partners. 

“Our region is vibrant and full of potential. We have worked with CMURC in the past and believe that this partnership is essential to accelerate business and community growth,” said Dittenber in a statement to M Live.

“We want to be the catalyst and lead the way to a healthier and more prosperous future one innovation at a time.”

“By being in the same building, we are going to be able to offer all of our clients the co-working space opportunity,” Strang said.

CMURC has three different accelerator programmes that cater to the specific needs of up and coming start-ups. These are The Passport Programme, The Exchange and Right Choice Programme.

Each programme is supported by the corporation’s network of professionals consisting of industry experts and CMU’s academic faculty. 

The Right Choice is a three-phased, milestone-oriented accelerator programme that empowers entrepreneurs towards reaching their business goals by equipping them with the right resources and tools. 

In the past six years, the programme has resulted in the creation of 39 commercialised products with 187 entrepreneurs entering the first phase, 91 progressing to the second phase and 45 advancing to the third and final phase. 

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs with more specific needs can contact the CMURC for their business consulting or market research services. The CMURC will also connect aspiring entrepreneurs with their vast network of experts to spark new business ideas and growth opportunities.

CMURC draws upon extensive and strategic resources of CMU, the Mount Pleasant SmartZone and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund. 

“CMURC brings a wealth of knowledge and resources to Midland and will add valuable tools for entrepreneurship and innovation in our community,” Midland Business Alliance CEO Tony Stamas told M Live.