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Grand Circus Joins Google Tech Hub Network

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Grand Circus, the new technology training company, has been added to the new Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network.

The network is comprised of seven tech hubs around North America. It supports entrepreneurs in Detroit and the other locations with access to Google experts and products.

In addition, entrepreneurs in the area will be invited to participate in a number of specialized Google events each year. And Grand Circus will partner and exchange best practices with the other hubs in the network.

Grand Circus is located at 1570 Woodard Ave. It's financed by Detroit Venture Partners.

Bedrock Real Estate Services, the real estate arm of Rock Ventures, is now referring to the area around Grand Circus Park downtown -- bordered by Woodward Ave. on the west, Broadway on the east, Witherell on the north and John R. on the south -- as M@dison Block.

The block is anchored by the M@dison Theatre Building, home to Detroit Venture Partners and 24 tech start-up businesses. The M@dison Block also includes four other tech-centric buildings on Woodward Avenue. Bizdom, Rock Ventures' entrepreneurship training center, and DVP portfolio company Stik.com are at 1528 Woodward Ave. Sachse, builder of the tech office space in the area, is at 1528 Woodward. Detroit Labs is at 1520 Woodward. And Avalon Films, Hudson Editorial and Neumann/Smith design are at 1500 Woodward.

"Google heard consistently from tech hubs that they wanted to be part of a larger network, to learn from each other and collaborate on ideas. We are happy to facilitate that," said John Lyman, head of partnerships for Google for Entrepreneurs. "Our team has been incredibly impressed with the great work these hubs have done in their cities, and are excited to partner with them to do even more."

Grand Circus, DVP and Bizdom are helping start-ups capitalize on this development by providing tools, mentorship and capital for entrepreneurs and educational opportunities for developers.

The M@dison Block, Detroit's newest entrepreneurial corridor, will be unveiled at a media event on Monday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at Grand Circus' office located on the 4th floor in the Broderick Tower.

The other six hubs in the Google network include CoCo in Minneapolis; 1871 in Chicago; Communitech in Waterloo, Ontario; Nashville Entrepreneur Center in Nashville, Tenn.; American Underground in Durham, N.C.; and Galvanize in Denver.

More about Grand Circus at www.grandcircus.co. More about DVP at www.detroitventurepartners.com. More about Bizdom www.Bizdom.com. And more about Bedrock Real Estate Services at www.BedrockMgt.com.

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