Community Leaders Convene to Form S.W.A.T.

Ann Arbor leaders create Pfizer action teams, receive first $1 million
January 29, 2007

Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Ann Arbor area leaders announced Monday the formation of the Pfizer Strategic Working Action Teams (SWAT) to aid displaced workers from Pfizer Inc.’s Ann Arbor campus.

The new group announced Monday a $1 million commitment from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth to assist dislocated workers.

Pfizer, the world’s largest drug maker, last week announced it would be cutting more than 2,100 jobs and closing its 177 acre Ann Arbor research and development facility by late 2008 as part of a company-wide plan to cut 10,000 jobs.

The governor, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Michael Finney and community partners Monday brought together more than 100 economic development, business, educational, non-profit and government experts to plan for a post Pfizer future.

Within the first 168 hours after the Pfizer announcement, the action teams had achieved several key objectives to provide job opportunities and other career services that match the experience and expertise of displaced Pfizer colleagues. Among the actions taken so far:

An open letter was issued to Pfizer colleagues and the community, signed by Granholm, Coleman, Hieftje and Finney.
Business formation and acceleration resources were set up through Ann Arbor SPARK. SPARK is an economic development and marketing organization for the greater Ann Arbor region.
A toll-free hotline, Web blog, http://news.annarborspark.org/ has been established along with a Web section for updated Pfizer news and employment, and business start-up opportunities at http://www.annarborspark.org/
An enhanced regional talent portal is in fast-track development.
Career counseling through Michigan Works!/ETCS and SPARK-partnered Career Change Boot Camps have been developed and announced.
Coleman announced U-M is working with its University Research Corridor partners, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, calling the Pfizer challenge the “first major test’’ of the alliance to strengthen and diversify Michigan’s economy.

Ann Arbor SPARK and its community partners are also working to provide entrepreneurial boot camps, funding for start-up businesses through the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund and equipment through the Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot. The action teams and their partners are working with regional universities and Pfizer to identify business and entrepreneurial opportunities.

As part of a comprehensive community response, the group will identify and implement talent, community, business development, policy, funding, communications and site strategies in five main areas:

Talent: Identify and implement programs to keep talent in Michigan.
Community: Identify and address possible disruptions to community agencies and organizations.
Business development: Develop a business attraction plan, identify uses for excess equipment, support start-up companies and support business accelerator services.
Policy, funding and communications: Solicit lead opportunities from community leaders, create legislative support for companies and research that can be supported by research experts, and establish a network for sharing information throughout the community, employers, employees and entrepreneurs.
Site: Make immediate and efficient use of Pfizer’s vacated offices, laboratories, production capabilities and auxiliary facilities.

The Pfizer Strategic Working Action Teams are comprised of business, academic and community leaders. Organizations in the partnership include the Michigan Economic Development Corp., U-M, Michigan Works!/ETCS, Michigan Venture Capital Association, MichBio, and local, county and state units of government, chambers of commerce and convention and visitors bureaus.

More information on all of the resources available to Pfizer colleagues is available at www.AnnArborSPARK.org, or by calling (734) 615-5555 or (888) SPARK01 (888-772-7501).

For more on the University Research Corridor, visit: www.urcmich.org.

Contact:
Joe Serwach, (734) 647-1844 or jserwach@umich.edu
Elizabeth Parkinson, (734) 821-0070 or Elizabeth@annarborspark.org
Jenn Cornell, Eiler Public Relations, (734) 671-3399 or Jenn@eilerpr.com