SAULT STE. MARIE – The new Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone business accelerator building provides start up space to help entrepreneurs learn about and select manufacturing and business methods appropriate for their ventures, and to build initial production runs before moving into a facility such as the EDC’s Industrial Incubator, which houses new businesses as they get a foothold in the community.

A ribbon cutting ceremony with Lake Superior State University President Tony McLain, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, and Sault Mayor Tony Bosbous was held Aug. 16.

SmartZones are technology centers designated to promote resource collaborations between universities, industry, research organizations, government and other community institutions, establishing technology-based business and jobs.

U.S. Senator Carl Levin met a patient mannequin during his tour of Sault Ste. Marie’s newly-opened SmartZone technology accelerator building on Aug. 23. Jodi Orm, a nursing professor at Lake Superior State University, demonstrated the mannequin’s features that help LSSU nursing students master fundamental skills.

LSSU and War Memorial Hospital will use these and other high-fidelity simulators in a joint new Sim Center that is currently under construction. This area of the technology accelerator building will eventually be used as a clean area for light manufacturing.

Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone President Eric Becks also showed off a rapid prototyping machine to Levin during his tour.

Established in fall 2008, the Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone is one of only two in the U.P.

By John Shibley, LSSU