Michigan’s High-Tech Hope: Ann Arbor’s Economy Shines

Ruben Moreno never expected to live in Michigan.

The California native and his fiancée, Janet Renteria, moved from Culver City to Ann Arbor a year ago for a promotion with Xoran Technologies Inc.

After a year of testing a new city and their first winter, Moreno and Renteria say they’re here to stay.

"It reminds us of home, but it’s not the big city. Everything is more peaceful here," said Moreno, 31.

…

"You really have to be aggressive in selling the assets of your region," said Michael Finney, chief executive of Ann Arbor SPARK, which was launched by university, business and civic leaders to attract so-called knowledge-based sectors, such as alternative energy and biotechnology.

"We have to think regionally," Coleman said. "For us, the key came when we started thinking not just the University of Michigan and not just Ann Arbor. … Now we need to be making those links all over southeastern Michigan.

BY JEWEL GOPWANI

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

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