" Ann Arbor, long past feeling sorry for itself "

 Ann Arbor's positive attitude will prevail in Ann Arbor, since Prizer's decision to close in 2007. This is a brief excerpt from the Daily Review.

 State commits $1 million to aid Pfizer workers
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation today committed $1 million to
assist workers displaced by Pfizer Inc.'s decision to leave Ann Arbor.
More than 100 community leaders and officials met this morning in a "summit"
to discuss the impact of Pfizer's departure from the Ann Arbor community and
what can be done moving forward.
The group formed seven committees that will begin meeting Wednesday.
"We see this as a big opportunity," Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje said.
"We're long past feeling sorry for ourselves."
Pfizer revealed last week that it plans to abandon its 2-million-square-foot
research-and-development facility on Plymouth Road, cutting more than 2,100
jobs in Ann Arbor.
The seven teams formed to address various aspects of Pfizer's exit are being
called "Pfizer Strategic Working Action Teams" (SWAT). They are:

·Talent team, chaired by Ken Nisbet, executive director of the University of

Michigan tech transfer office, and Trenda Rusher of Michigan Works! and
ETCS.

·Community team (municipal impact focus), chaired by Ann Arbor City Council

member Joan Lowenstein

·Community team (quality of life focus), chaired by University of Michigan

director of community relations Jim Kosteva.

·Business attraction team, chaired by Eastern Michigan University business

school dean David Mielke.

·Business development team, chaired by University of Michigan Vice President

for Research Steve Forrest and Menlo Innovations President Rich Sheridan.

·Policy and funding team, chaired by Ardesta CEO Rick Snyder and former

newspaper publisher Phil Power.

·Site team, chaired by Ann Arbor city administrator Roger Fraser.

By Nathan Bomey, nbomey@mbizreview.com