Automation Alley, Ann Arbor SPARK, GRCC investments continue to pay off,

                             add Michigan jobs



    TROY, Mich., July 24 /EMWNews/ -- The West Coast's Interstate 5 and

the East Coast's Interstate 95, two of the nation's busiest interstates,

will receive more than $5 million each in federal support for innovative

strategies to reduce the frustration of truckers looking for parking on

congested routes. ParkingCarma, a Flint-based company, developed the Smart

Parking system that will be implemented on California's congested

Interstate 5, which connects the country's second largest border crossing

to the bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. ParkingCarma's information

network makes driving safer, improves fuel efficiency and air quality by

identifying and reserving nearby available truck parking.



    I-5 is one of two interstates selected under the Corridors of the

Future Program, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's national

congestion initiative. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

was awarded the I-5 contract for its innovative uses of intelligent

transportation systems (ITS) technology to provide truckers with real-time

information on available parking. As part of the program, Caltrans, in

partnership with ParkingCarma, NAVTEQ, and University of California,

Berkeley/TSRC, will monitor parking availability and transmit the updates

to truckers. As a result of the contract, ParkingCarma plans to add

Michigan employees to support the three-year California contract.



    "We are excited to use our unique parking information network to be

part of this public-private partnership designed to improve road safety and

goods movement efficiency, while reducing emissions of Class 8 trucks,"

said Rick Warner, CEO, ParkingCarma. "Through our Smart Parking information

network, truckers will be able to access data about available parking

spaces - via cell phone, the Internet, or an onboard computer."



    Together with NAVTEQ's customized truck parking mapping and routing

services, ParkingCarma can identify the nearest available truck parking

spot and allow reservation, improve driving time, and alleviate illegal

parking and sleep-deprived driving.



    The I-5 carries between 15,000 and 40,000 trucks a day, and has grown

nearly 17 percent over the last ten years. According to research, 153

million pounds of CO2 emissions per city could be eliminated per year if

just 2 percent of city drivers used ParkingCarma's information network to

find a parking spot. "We are looking to show that there will be similar

energy efficiency gains for truckers," said Warner.



    ParkingCarma received $250,000 in seed funding from both Automation

Alley and Ann Arbor SPARK, who have supported ParkingCarma's transition to

Michigan and its continued growth. Additionally, ParkingCarma received a

tax credit from the State of Michigan worth nearly $1 million over seven

years and $500,000 in seed funding from the Genesee Regional Chamber of

Commerce using funds from the Mott Foundation.



    "The reputation of Southeast Michigan as a technology leader was

certainly an important factor when we made the decision to house our

national service center in Flint," Warner stated. "Automation Alley and

SPARK have both been invaluable resources as we've grown, and with their

continued support we look forward to serving the nation and world from our

headquarters in Michigan."

    About Ann Arbor SPARK



    Representing all communities in Washtenaw County, Michigan, Ann Arbor

SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the

Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and

location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage,

from startups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with

business, academic, government, and community investor partners including

the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and

Grace Dow Foundation, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Michigan

Economic Development Corporation and the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone

LDFA. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit

http://www.AnnArborUSA.org.



    About Automation Alley



    Automation Alley is a Michigan's technology business association that

drives the growth and image of Southeast Michigan's economy through a

collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development

initiatives. Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to

include more than 900 businesses, educational institutions and government

entities, covering an eight county area and the City of Detroit. Automation

Alley promotes regional prosperity through business attraction services,

exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.



    About ParkingCarma



    ParkingCarma(TM) Smart Parking is a hi-tech solution for parking in the

nation's most crowded cities that brings together consumers looking for

parking spots with parking structure owners and managers who have available

parking spaces. Rather than circling blocks looking for an open spot, it

provides information and access to consumers about available parking spaces

via cell phones, the Internet, and onboard automotive computers. Not only

does ParkingCarma increase parking convenience and availability, it helps

communities and the environment by reducing traffic congestion, emissions,

and the need to build new parking structures. ParkingCarma's philosophy is

sustainable growth through friendly technology. Visit at

http://www.parkingcarma.com.