New Format For Fast Track Awards

Ann Arbor SPARK Announces New Format for 2007 Fast Track Awards
April 2, 2007

The 2007 Fast Track Awards ceremony will be featured within Ann Arbor Business Review’s annual Deals of the Year Gala, on November 9, 2007. Applications for the awards will be available on Ann Arbor SPARK’s Web site (www.AnnArborSPARK.org) starting May 1st.

The Fast Track Awards are presented annually to fast-growth companies that are headquartered in Washtenaw County, have revenue exceeding $100,000 per year and achieve average growth of 20 percent for the past three years. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fast Track Awards, previously administered by the Washtenaw Development Council.

“By combining the Fast Track Award and Deals of the Year celebrations, a bright spotlight will shine on all of the successful, growing companies in the Ann Arbor region,” said Michael A. Finney, CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK.

Also announced this year, SPARK is joined by the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce as sponsors of the Fast Track Awards. “We’re excited to partner with SPARK in recognizing these exciting, growing companies in our region,” said Jesse Bernstein, president, Ann Arbor Chamber. “The Deals of the Year Gala is an outstanding venue for acknowledging the contributions that businesses of all sizes make in our area.”

2006 Fast Track winners were Adaptive Materials, Akasha Crystals, Atwell Hicks, Martopia, Online Technologies, Shepherd Advisors, HealthMedia, Menlo Innovations, Richner & Richner, Universal Parametrics and Assay Designs.

About Ann Arbor SPARK
Representing all communities in Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation, Pfizer, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the LDFA. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborSPARK.org.