Ann Arbor SPARK is a local economic development agency. Paul Krutko is CEO, replacing Michael Finney who joined the Rick Snyder administration in 2011.
Funding for SPARK comes in part from taxes captured by the LDFA.
SPARK is a not-for-profit, and is not subject to FOIA requests. Its audited financial statements for 2006 through 2012 were made available in 2013 through a FOIA request to the State of Michigan, as the affiliated SPARK Foundation has to file these reports with the Charitable Trust division with the State of Michigan Attorney General.
The agency also operates SPARK East, a downtown Ypsilanti operation that provides business incubator and meeting space.
SPARK was founded in 2005, replacing the Washtenaw Development Council. It later merged with the IT Zone.
More info
a2docs.org: 2012 audited finanical statements; 2006-2011 audited financial statements.
Twitter: @AnnArborSPARK
In the news
Ann Arbor SPARK Celebrates 10 Years, Business Success Stories at Annual Meeting – PRNewswire, May 11, 2015
Ann Arbor Spark honors Seelio Inc. as entrepreneurial company of the year – Crain's Detroit Business, May 11, 2015
Creators and leaders of Ann Arbor SPARK reflect on 10 years of development – MLive, May 10, 2015
Ann Arbor SPARK CEO critical of city councilmember's proposal to cut $75k allocation – MLive, May 20, 2014
Ann Arbor SPARK stories in the Ann Arbor Chronicle
Non-Profit Venture Capital Firm Refuses To Release Audited Financial Statements. Before Governor Snyder's NERD Fund, There Was SPARK. Kai Petainen in Forbes, November 2013
Optimistic Leaders Launch SPARK – Ann Arbor News, May 27, 2005
'SPARK' aims to ignite local tech economy – Ann Arbor News, May 25, 2005
