Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
LIFT to Offer Fall Welding and CNC Machining Courses
LIFT, the Detroit-based Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute, is accepting registrations for its fall welding and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) courses starting Oct. 5 at the institute’s Corktown facility.
Registration for the skilled-trades labor training has been extended. Originally set to start Sept. 14, applications still are open to men and women interested in the Welding Technician Program and CNC Operation Program. Classes begin Oct. 5.
No experience is required and tuition assistance is available.
LIFT’s Welding Technician program prepares students to become entry-level welders in either gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding. Utilizing curriculum aligned to the American Welding Society SENSE Level I standards, this course covers the required knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits required to perform routine, predictable, repetitive, and procedural welding tasks. Topics include: Safety, Occupational Orientation, Gas Metal Arc Welding or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, four Thermal Cutting Processes, and Welding Inspection and Testing.
LIFT’s CNC Operations program prepares students to operate CNC mills and lathes. Utilizing curriculum aligned to NIMS machining standards, this course covers machine maintenance, safety, print reading, measurements, inspection, cutting tool assembly, geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing, and hands-on project-based learning done in the Learning Lab.
“The skills gap in advanced manufacturing has been growing for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for manufacturing talent in the United States,” says Kevin Kerrigan, vice president business development, LIFT. “Our LIFT Learning Lab is equipped to help students start their advanced manufacturing careers safely.”
For more information, visit here.
School Support for Children of Small Business Owners and Employees
The Lansing-based Small Business Association of Michigan has partnered with Sylvan Learning Centers to provide additional learning support for the children of small business owners and employees during these unprecedented times.
“Both business and school look a lot different during these unique times and that’s why we wanted to provide parents extra support options for their kids,” says Brian Calley, president of the SBAM. “We hope that the additional support and tutoring Sylvan Learning is offering to SBAM members at a discounted rate will make these challenging times a little bit easier.”
The new partnership offers SBAM members discounts on direct school support and tutoring options, which can include in-person support on virtual school days, educational coaches to keep kids on track and in-person or online tutoring for homework. Sylvan Learning is one of the nation’s leading providers of supplemental education and has more than 20 locations in Michigan, plus additional satellite locations and virtual options across the state.
“Sylvan Learning Centers is ready to work with SBAM members to provide support to employees and families during this critical time,” says Rick Rusthoven, CEO of Sylvan Learning Centers of West Michigan. “School Support at Sylvan will give parents in the workforce peace of mind that their children are receiving the quality education they deserve.”
Information on the partnership and how SBAM members can sign up is available here.
U-M Engineering Students Doing Lab Work Remotely
Students at the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor are benefitting from a $500,000 investment in remote lab activities.
Half of the $500,000 went toward designing courses with a hybrid model, enabling some students to participate in person while others work remotely. The other $250,000 went toward materials for 17 classes that are sending kits to students so that they can complete hands-on projects at home.
Those projects include building their own pulse oximeters, controlling a robotic arm, and installing a radio antenna to collect data for a NASA mission to understand the sun’s most violent space weather eruptions.
“The idea was to tell our faculty members, ‘We know fall is going to be a challenge. You know what you’re doing with your class. Here’s funding to help you take it to where it needs to be,’” says Joanna Millunchick, associate dean for undergraduate education and professor of materials science and engineering, who manages the program.
One of the home-kit courses is led by Aileen Huang-Saad, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and engineering education research. She structured this fall’s ENGIN 100 course around three specific case studies relevant to COVID-19: diagnostics, medical devices, and patient monitoring.
“Remote learning is very difficult,” she says. “If you can’t bring students into the lab you need to find creative ways to help them stay motivated. By putting it in the context of COVID, a very real biomedical challenge, we are providing real world context to encourage them to be self-motivated and engage with the material.”
JVS Human Services Offers Free Online Computer Proficiency Skills Webinars
JVS Human Services in Southfield is launching a free online training program to help job seekers to increase their computer proficiency necessary for securing employment both in the office or remotely.
Titled “Modern Toolkit,” the prerecorded classes will be uploaded every week beginning Thursday Sept. 10 on JVS Human Services’ Facebook page. The webinars are designed to help job seekers with tips, tools, and techniques to improve confidence and skills on the computer.
Initial topics include:
SharePoint vs OneDrive Fundamentals: Understand these file management platforms with similarities and differences in file saving and storage to help boost business efficiencies (Sept. 10).
LinkedIn Basics: Learn to create a LinkedIn profile with your professional brand (Sept. 17).
Electronic File Organization: File management tips to keep your electronic files organized on your computer (Sept. 24).
LinkedIn Advance for Job Seekers: Learn how to make valuable connections, increase knowledge and visibility in a field and open new career opportunities with LinkedIn tools (Oct. 1).
Intro to Google Apps: The basics of working with web-based Google Apps such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms (Oct. 8).
Ribbon Essentials and Beyond in MS Word: Learn about the components of the Ribbon and how to easily navigate for quick access and increased productivity (Oct. 15).
“Life-long learning for job seekers is essential to overcoming age barriers and to continue to be marketable,” says Lisa Bahm, supervisor of the David B. Hermelin ORT Resource Center, a training division of JVS Human Services. “With our new Modern Toolkit web series, we are offering the chance to learn some additional technical skills to help ensure that job seekers are not afraid of new technology, which is critical, especially right now.”
Access to Modern Toolkit is free and the Facebook page will be monitored by instructors who will be available to respond to questions.
More detailed computer instruction also is available for a fee here.
Association Presents Female-focuses Conference on Subscription Businesses
Innovation, trends, and consumer engagement will be the focus at Women in Subscription, a free virtual conference on Sept. 24, from noon to 4 p.m., presented by SUBTA, the trade association serving the subscription commerce industry.
Highlights of Women in Subscription include a virtual expo hall featuring services and companies serving subscription businesses, a networking lounge to connect with attendees in addition to live talks and Q&A sessions by industry leaders.
“Consumer habits are changing rapidly, and the demand for subscriptions continues to increase,” says Paul Chambers, co-founder of SUBTA. “This industry is filled with women doing amazing work, and we’re excited to celebrate their stories. The Women in Subscription event will tap into the expertise of successful subscription innovators, provide a platform to inspire, build relationships, and create opportunities by and for women.”
For a list of speakers and information on how to register, visit here.
Partnership to Deliver Food and PPE to 300 Senior Citizens in Troy
ACC, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, and Area Agency 1-B on Aging will be delivering food boxes and PPE to 300 senior citizens residing at Bethany Villa in Troy.
Each resident will receive a box filled with items such as vegetables, fruit, and canned goods. In addition, each care package will include face masks and hand sanitizer. For the health and safety of Bethany Villa residents, ACC will bring the care packages to the facility where property service coordinators will deliver the food and PPE directly to the residents.
“We are so thankful for the support from the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the Area Agency on Aging 1-B enabling us to help our local senior citizens,” says Haifa Fakhouri, president and CEO of ACC. “Through this collaborative partnership, we are providing food and essential PPE to our neighbors so they can stay nourished and safe.”
U.S. Army Awards $79M Contract for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Components
The Defense Logistics Agency Land based in Warren has awarded a $79 million contract to Elbit Systems of America in Texas to supply the U.S. Army with gunner hand stations, commander hand stations and circuit cards for the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The contract will be performed over a five-year period. An initial purchase order of $26 million under the contract, followed by a second purchase order of $12 million, have been issued to be executed over a three-year period.
The gunner hand stations allow soldiers to target and fire accurately and work in collaboration with the commander hand stations, which are used to drive the vehicle’s turret and initiate control signals to the turret fire control systems. The circuit cards provide processing and power supply to the hand station units, which will replace damaged equipment from active units.
Downtown’s Newest Digital Scavenger Hunt
The public is invited to take part in Bedrock’s Sights & Delights Downtown Digital Scavenger Hunt now through Oct. 4.
The scavenger hunt runs exclusively through the free Plain Sight app. Once downloaded, the app will walk users through a weekly series of downtown retail and restaurant sights to see and delights to redeem along the way. Every series completed will earn participants a $25 Detroit Card.
A new weekly challenge kicks off every Monday at 1 p.m.
How to begin:
- Download the Plain Sight app on your phone.
- Create an account.
- In your profile under “Interests” type “Sights & Delights” to receive updates.
- Make your way downtown and start in Parker’s Alley to find the check-in sign.
- Scan the QR code for the first clue.
