Rise: Aastrom
The Ann Arbor-based biotech company ended 2009 with a new CEO, Tim Mayleben, who said his top strategies including fund-raising. That moved forward last week when the company announced a public stock offering that should generate just under $11 million. It sounds like a step forward for Aastrom’s development of personalized medicine technologies, especially in a difficult investment climate.

Rise: Ypsilanti and Lincoln schools
The school boards for both districts will meet in a joint session in February, a groundbreaking event in Washtenaw County as its public entities confront funding concerns. There’s no specific outcome predicted from this meeting, but multiple administrative areas are cited as possible areas for alliances. Consolidation is a community buzzword today - with good reason. We’re happy to see this initial step from these districts.