FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 22 2010
RE: ANNA EDC MILESTONE
WORDS: 408
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Philip Sanders, City Manager
City of Anna, Texas
Phone: 972.924.3325
Fax: 972.924.2620
Email: psanders@annatexas.gov
CITY OF ANNA MILESTONE
IMAGE VISION LABS Secures City’s First Economic Development Incentive Grant
City of Anna, Texas – July 22, 2010 – Today, the City of Anna is proud to announce its newest business—IMAGE VISION LABS (IVL). IVL is a software engineering company whose software technology identifies inappropriate content in images, video, and text. This cutting-edge technology is sought after by enterprise and internet-based businesses wanting to identify and block objectionable content from being distributed and viewed across their networks.
IVL plans to open in Anna by August 1st with plans to hire 10 high-tech employees in the next 24 months. The City is excited to be the home to this high-tech business requiring a highly specialized staff. “Most of the city’s residents have to leave Anna for employment. There is much value in adding IVL to our community, not only to increase jobs, but the potential to attract other high-tech business,” said Philip Sanders, Anna City Manager.
IVL chose to open in Anna after hearing about Anna’s pro-business attitude at Funding 2010, a one-day conference for small businesses and entrepreneurs hosted by the Collin SBDC. At the conference, IVL learned of grant and loan opportunities available through the Anna Economic Development Corporation and Community Development Corporation. After preliminary discussions with the Anna EDC and CDC representatives, IVL determined that Anna is a community in alignment with the company’s future plans of growth and expansion.
IVL landed Anna EDC’s first Economic Development Incentive Grant. The grant is to assist the business with operating expenses associated with opening the business in Anna. These types of incentive agreements are regulated by state statute and the agreement requires the company meet a list of performance criteria, one of which is to create jobs in Anna. “The incentive is to help businesses come to Anna that otherwise wouldn’t or couldn’t”, said EDC Chief Administrative Officer, Jessica Perkins. “IVL is well-deserving of the grant and the EDC board is confident that Anna will gain recognition through IVL’s business activity,” continued Perkins.
IVL and the City agree that this is a win+win relationship for which the City and IVL will mutually benefit from the growth and success of IVL. “IMAGE VISION LABS is both honored and excited to become a part of the City of Anna business community,” noted IMAGE VISION LABS President and CEO Steven W. White. “We look forward to being a part of Anna’s future as IVL expands its staff to meet the growing needs of our clientele.”
The EDC and CDC invite its citizens to welcome IMAGE VISION LABS to Anna.
IMAGE VISION LABS (IVL) is a software solutions company pioneering machine vision, advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, and visual object recognition techniques for use as an automated real-time audio and visual media recognition and moderation platform focused on the detection and filtering of user-generated and copyrighted content within application and service providers’ networks.
Currently, IVL visual recognition capabilities and detection techniques include image and video pornography detection, digital image fingerprinting, copyright blacklist protection, facial recognition and human motion recognition.
For more information, visit www.ImageVisionLabs.com.
Media Contacts:
Philip Sanders and Jessica Perkins, City of Anna, Texas
+1 972 924 3325/jperkins@annatexas.gov
Mitch Butler, IMAGE VISION LABS, INC
+1 469 361 6585 / mitch.butler@ImageVisionLabs.com
