Social media company plans West Michigan operations center

Social media company plans West Michigan operations center

San Francisco-based Topsy is a venture capital-backed social media analytics company founded in 2006. Photo via fb.com

Data-driven social media jobs are coming to West Michigan.

The state’s marketing arm, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said this week that the state’s Michigan Strategic Fund has approved a $350,000 incentive for San Francisco-based Topsy Labs.

Comstock Charter Township v. Canada

Topsy Lab, a social media analytics company, plans to invest $170,000 into developing a network operation center in Comstock Charter Township and create 35 new jobs, according to an MEDC announcement.

Comstock Charter Township also plans to offer support to the project in the form of a property tax abatement.

Michigan was chosen over competing sites in Canada.

Social analytics

Topsy allows consumers and businesses to explore any question or topic using “the world’s largest index” of real-time public social media data.

Global brands, advertising agencies, media organizations and technology companies use Topsy as their day-to-day social dashboard, MEDC said.

“It's great to be working with Comstock Township. We look forward to becoming part of a vibrant business center in this historic community,” said David Berk, Topsy VP of operations. “We also owe a big thank you to Jennifer Owens and the team from Southwest Michigan First for all their tireless support helping us make the decision to expand in Comstock Township.”

“We are grateful for the company’s decision and certain Topsy will quickly appreciate Michigan’s world class workforce,” said Michael Finney, MEDC president and CEO. “It is through the efforts of Southwest Michigan First and Comstock Charter Township that this expansion is taking place.”