High-tech city parking system moving here

By Ron Fonger | The Flint Journal
January 17, 2007

FLINT - A California company offering a first-of-its-kind system to help big-city drivers find open parking spaces will locate its national customer service center in Flint, creating at least 90 new jobs.

Rick Warner, chief executive officer of ParkingCarma Inc., said Tuesday that the computerized parking service likely will be located in the Great Lakes Technology Centre, and could eventually become the nerve center for managing parking in cities such as Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Detroit.

"I think this is a fantastic opportunity. I am a huge fan of the Midwest work ethic and customer service," said Warner, a Michigan State University graduate. "I think we can build a core for our business (and) perhaps bring a little bit of what's going on the West Coast here."

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, in announcing the ParkingCarma move Tuesday, said it means a $4.6-million investment.

The Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce also confirmed the plans and said in a news release that some of the new jobs are expected to pay $17 to $20 per hour.

Tim Herman, chief executive officer of the Genesee Regional Chamber, said the ParkingCarma deal is significant because it represents the beginning of this area's transformation into a high-tech business center.

"This is the first step in the long road ahead of us to bring high- tech jobs to Genesee County," Herman said. "ParkingCarma really represents the economic diversity we have to achieve. ... This is how we're going to get economic diversity in this community - by creating 100 jobs at a time."
Warner said ParkingCarma expects to make its first hire within two to three weeks, and suggested those interested in working for the company visit its Web site (www.parkingcarma.com) and click on the site's "opportunities" section.

Warner said employees could expect a Google-like work atmosphere, in which they own part of the company they work for.

"We're going to be looking for people who are creative, (and) everybody in the company will have equity in the business," he said.

The work in Flint will include talking to customers and locating parking for them in some of the country's most congested cities.

Computer sensors located in participating parking areas identify available spots.

Drivers will be able to find parking spaces by using cellphones, the Internet or onboard navigation systems, said Warner, whose company developed the ParkingCarma system with partners Microsoft, AT&T, Intel, Navteq and Sensys systems.

Emeryville, Calif.-based Acme Innovation Inc. developed ParkingCarma and will become part of the new company with its 11 employees, Warner said.

General managers will be hired for each metropolitan area as ParkingCarma grows from its expected launch in San Diego later this year, Warner said. As many as 60 markets nationwide could support the company's service, he said.

ParkingCarma already has tested successfully in the San Francisco area.
Herman and Warner said it's not yet certain how much space ParkingCarma might use in the Great Lakes Technology Centre.

The 500,000-square-foot portion of the center that is owned by the county is 88 percent vacant. It houses eight tenants, including Hurley Health and Fitness Center, which take up about 60,000 square feet.

State officials said there could be an additional spinoff benefit from the move.

An economic analysis by the state Economic Development Corp.
estimated the new ParkingCarma operation will generate an additional
45 indirect jobs. The project is expected to generate more than $37 million in personal income for workers during the life of a seven- year tax credit.
The chamber noted in its statement that as many as 150 workers eventually might be hired.

Warner said incentives from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and others helped cement the decision to come to Flint rather than elsewhere in Michigan.

He said good relations with the chamber also helped in making the decision.

Granholm's announcement said Michigan won the business from competing sites in California and North Carolina.

Journal staff writer Marjory Raymer contributed to this report.

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