Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
American Speed Festival Roars into M1 Concourse This Weekend
The green flag drops on the second annual American Speed Festival (ASF) today at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, a rare opportunity to see some of the most iconic performance cars perform on the facility’s 1.5-mile Speed Ring.
The event begins with Drive & Dine, a tour of a Stahl’s private collection, which includes a Chrysler Turbine soon to be inducted into the National Historic Registry. That is followed by a culinary experience at M1. Tickets are limited.
The AAF runs through Sunday and features on-track activities Friday and Saturday. Friday evening is the M1 Garage Reveal where guests enjoy access to select M1 Concourse garages and unlimited food and beverages from 6-9:30 p.m.
Saturday night is the Checkered Flag Ball, a fundraiser for Checkered Flag Challenge, M1’s philanthropic arm. Sunday is the Speed & Style Expo that is a fusion of art and car shows. ASF is curated and judged, with awards to be given in each car class and an overall Best in Show honoree.
This year’s Master of Motorsports is legendary designer, author, and photojournalist Peter Brock. Brock will be at the Drive & Dine Tour tonight and appears with former driver and TV racing commentator David Hobbs in the Insiders’ Garage in the Maker’s Mark Pavilion at noon on Saturday to discuss his days working with Shelby and Cobra, and at noon on Sunday to discuss his work with Corvette and BRE. Brock receives his award at Saturday’s Checkered Flag Ball.
This year’s ASF salutes the 60th anniversary of Shelby American, the race team and high-performance vehicle shop founded by Carroll Shelby that made its mark on the racing scene with championships in international sports cars and at Le Mans. Nearly two dozen Shelby race cars will compete in the Speed Ring (Friday and Saturday) and three dozen, including those from the Cobra Experience Museum in California, will be on site for the Speed & Style Expo. Shelby Club Parade Laps will be run on Saturday from 11:55 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on track.
Other classic racers that will be at the ASF include Ferraris, vintage Indy cars, historic stock cars, and modern-day supercars.
For more information about and to purchase tickets for the second American Speed Festival, visit here. Tickets for the Drive & Dine Tour are available here. Tickets for the Garage Reveal on Friday are available here. Tickets to the Checkered Flag Ball are available here.
Jonathan Rose Cos. Acquires Lakeland and Bowin Place Apartments in Metro Detroit
Jonathan Rose Cos. of New York has acquired senior housing properties in Waterford Township and Detroit.
Lakeland Place Apartments in Waterford Township is a 200-unit senior Section 8 community that was acquired for $8.2 million in a joint venture with Community Opportunity Fund, a 501(c)(3) utilizing FHA 223(f) financing and owner equity. Bowin Place Apartments in Detroit is a 193-unit senior Section 8 community that was purchased for $8 million in a JV with Community Opportunity Fund and with Huntington National Bank as the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investor. Capital One provided the FHA 223(f) financing for both acquisitions.
Lakeland Place will undergo a $6.8 million renovation representing more than $34,000 per unit. The building will receive upgraded kitchens and bathrooms in all units, new windows and sliding doors, a new make-up air unit, new pumps, and new high efficiency boilers — all improving the property’s energy use. The project also incorporates exterior improvements including new siding and a façade restoration. The anticipated construction period is 10 months.
Bowin Place will undergo an $8.3 million renovation representing more than $43,000 per unit, including upgraded kitchens and bathrooms in all units, all new “Community of Opportunity” common spaces, including a fitness center, a combined library and computer room, and updates to the community room, management offices, and resident service coordinator’s office. The building will also receive a new roof, new windows and sliding doors, a new generator, new pumps, and new boilers, which will improve its energy efficiency and make the building more sustainable. The anticipated construction period for this property is 12 months.
“As rental prices continue to increase around the country, Jonathan Rose Cos. is committed to providing green, affordable housing for our residents,” says Brandon Kearse, managing director of acquisition-rehabilitation for Jonathan Rose. “We are bringing a range of services and amenities that will enhance our residents’ quality of life, and we are grateful to Capital One for providing the financing to make these projects possible.”
Detroit Future City Sets Agenda to Grow Detroit’s Middle Class by 2030
Detroit Future City (DFC) says it’s doubling down on growing Detroit’s middle class, centralizing its research, programs, advocacy, and engagement to help increase this population that once defined the city and is vital to its future sustainability.
DFC’s eight-year plan stems from its research citing that 90 percent of Detroit’s population are people of color, and 75 percent of the population makes less than $50,000 per year, and as such, has identified goals and benchmarks focused predominantly on the city’s African American middle class and other communities of color.
“While Detroit has been experiencing a revitalization, critical challenges still exist with systemic racial barriers, and inequities that are preventing Detroiters from achieving prosperity,” says Anika Goss, president and CEO of DFC. “While DFC is focused on improving quality of life in all neighborhoods, Detroit’s ecosystem needed an organization with the expertise and determination to help rebuild the city’s middle class. We’ve been building towards this vision and now we are positioning ourselves specifically to fill that role. We aim to not only attract middle class households, but also ensure we retain those Detroit households whose incomes rise.”
In addition to ensuring quality of life in Detroit neighborhoods, DFC also recognizes that a strong middle class is important to the financial well-being of the city as it provides the basis for a stable tax base for city government.
DFC will officially introduce the 2030 plan at its third annual “Equity Forum” taking place virtually today at 3 p.m. The Equity Forum will feature a dynamic panel moderated by BridgeDetroit’s Orlando Bailey with Julian Agyeman, professor of urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University, and Nathaniel Smith, founder and chief equity officer of Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE). The panel will explore the ideas of reparative policy and planning, a revolution of values, and strategies to advance economic equity.
To learn more about DFC’s strategic plan and to register for the Equity form, visit detroitfuturecity.com.
Priority Health Partners with pulseData for Improved Kidney Disease Management
Priority Health in Grand Rapids has partnered with pulseData, a medical technology company that uses patented artificial intelligence to better diagnose and predict adverse events for members with chronic disease.
Priority Health will use analytics from pulseData to identify, notify, and engage members with care management options related to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The goal for this partnership is to use the machine learning provided by pulseData to identify members who have CKD in a timely manner. Priority Health’s team of care managers can then reach out and provide the most appropriate care intervention options at the right time, such as obtaining proper tests, medication reminders, healthy food options, and more. The data provided by pulseData is highly detailed with health indicators.
If the member decides to proceed with the care options presented, evidence-based CKD interventions will populate in the care plan that the care manager will review and individualize based on the member’s needs.
“At Priority Health, we want to make it easier for our members to take action toward their personal health journeys by providing the necessary tools and resources,” says Dr. James Forshee, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Priority Health. “Our partnership with pulseData allows us to continue meeting the needs of our members through innovative data and evidence-based care solutions that will help drive better individual health outcomes.”
Wayne State to Host Detroit’s Digital Inclusion Week Oct. 3-7
Wayne State University is hosting Detroit’s Digital Inclusion Week Oct. 3-7 when experts will talk about various topics from leadership and policy to small business, connected communities, and research, all designed to help bridge Detroit’s digital divide.
The following is a breakdown of dates, topics, and locations:
Oct. 3 – Leadership and Policy — WSU Student Center at 5221 Gullen Mall
11:30 a.m. – Fireside chat with Eric Frederick, Michigan’s new chief connectivity officer, and Joshua Edmonds, Detroit’s director of digital inclusion.
12:15 p.m. – The business case for digital inclusion with the CEO of Action Racial Equity group.
2:30 p.m. – Digital equity and inclusion for all with Dan Lemont, executive director, Ally Financial.
3:20 p.m. – Conversation with Detroit’s broadband advocates from state agencies and local NGOs.
4:15 p.m. – Human-I-T panel discussion on retail’s role in digital inclusion.
Oct. 4 – Detroit Digital Inclusion Research Symposium — WSU McGregor Conference Center, 495 Gilmour Mall
9:15 a.m. – Keynote by Francella Ochillo, Next Century Cities.
10:15 a.m. – Concurrent sessions, speakers from MSU, U-M, WSU, Merit Network.
2:15 p.m. – Concurrent sessions, speakers from Boston College, MSU, Detroit Community Technology Project, U-M.
5-7 p.m. — Awards ceremony.
Oct. 5 – Focus on Small Business — Ford Resource & Engagement Center, 15491 Maddelein in Detroit
10:30 a.m. – Small business DIY resource guide.
12:45 p.m. – Getting on Google.
2 p.m. – Small business sustainability.
2:30 p.m. – Digital financial tools.
Oct. 6 – Connected Communities — Ford Resource & Engagement Center, 15491 Maddelein in Detroit
10:15 a.m. – Digital navigators as a digital equity tool.
11 a.m. – Community based cybersecurity.
12:15 p.m. – Non-traditional paths to IT careers.
1:30 p.m. – Social-media as a career (workshop with social media influencer).
Walker Publicity Unveils Cannabis Counterpart 420 Publicity
Troy-based Walker Publicity has formed 420 Publicity, a cannabis-specific public relations, social media, and branding boutique shop to help meet the needs of this growing market.
“I’m excited to announce the launch of 420 Publicity at a time when the cannabis industry is growing and learning how become sustainable here in Michigan,” says Andrea Walker-Leidy, founder and owner of both agencies. “There are so many amazing stories to tell and multiple ways to tell them, and I’m proud to be one of the pioneers of this fast-moving field.”
Walker-Leidy has been involved in publicity, PR, and social media for the cannabis industry in Michigan since 2020 when metro Detroit began to see an insurgence of cannabis brands entering the community.
420 Publicity says it can help cannabis brands launch, pivot, and sustain growth.
“As this industry evolves, the cannabis companies who are on the forefront of telling their unique stories will be the ones that survive,” Walker-Leidy says. “As with any emerging industry, cannabis will need to be proactive in sharing their message with the world and 420 Publicity is uniquely able to do that.”
Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend a virtual event from 12:30-1:20 p.m. on Oct. 27 by registering here. For more information about 420 Publicity, visit here.
‘Gogh’ to the Detroit Institute of Arts on the QLine
The Detroit Institute of Arts’ (DIA) has partnered with Detroit’s M-1 RAIL to wrap all six QLine streetcars with works of art by Vincent Van Gogh ahead of the opening of Van Gogh in America at the museum.
The streetcars will be wrapped for the length of the exhibition and visitors are encouraged to “Gogh to the DIA” to get to the museum. The QLINE is currently free to all riders.
“The DIA was the first museum in the country to purchase a Van Gogh and this exhibition tells a uniquely Detroit story,” says Salvador Salort-Pons, director of the DIA. “We are excited to be able to partner with the M-1 RAIL, a uniquely Detroit transportation system, to highlight this exhibition and bring visitors to the museum for this once-in-a-generation exhibition.”
Van Gogh in America, which opens on October 2, celebrates the DIA’s status as the first public museum in the United States to purchase a painting by Vincent van Gogh, his Self-Portrait (1887). On the 100th anniversary of its acquisition, visitors will experience 74 authentic Van Gogh works from around the world and discover the fascinating story of America’s introduction to this iconic artist, in an exhibition only at the DIA.
The QLine streetcars features Portrait of Postman Roulin and Bank of the Oise at Auvers, two works from the DIA’s permanent collection.
Ticket prices range from $ 7-$29. Admission to the exhibition is at a discounted for adult residents of Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties.
New STEAM Lab Opens at Mark Twain School for Scholars in Detroit
Mark Twain School for Scholars in Detroit has a brand-new lab focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), designed by the school’s science teachers with student input, that features new lab tables, a smartboard, a 3-D printer, and an adaptable floor plan.
STEAM lab curriculum is an extension to the existing science/math curricula, mixing in direct student involvement that emphasizes the application of real-life scientific concepts. The lab allows students a safe, flexible space to expand their learning experience and spark imaginations.
It is sponsored by a grant from the Marathon Petroleum Corp., which served as a consultant in the design process and will provide volunteers on an ongoing basis to assist students.
The lab also represents an opportunity for Mark Twain students to not only take a more active role in the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (DPSCD) programs and events, like the FIRST Robotics program, but to partner with local organizations like the Detroit School of Arts and the Y Arts program at the Boll Family YMCA Detroit on programs that focus on digital arts, content creation and media studies.
“Providing learning spaces where students feel loved, challenged, and prepared is directly connected to outstanding achievement,” says Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of DPSCD. “A new space and state-of-the-art equipment are great additions at Mark Twain and this community. This school partnership with Marathon is another example of a successful identification of addressing a need with a student-first focus.”
Dementia-friendly Jewish High Holiday Service Back In-person After Two Years
After two years of virtual programming due to the pandemic, the Dementia-Friendly Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur service organized by the The Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program, will now be offered in a hybrid format on the Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The program is open to the community. On Oct 2. at 11 a.m., participants will either be able to attend an in-person service led by Cantor Pamela Schiffer in the tent outside Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (27375 Bell Road in Southfield) or they can participate in the service online over Zoom.
The program is now in its sixth year and offers those living with dementia and their loved ones and care partners an opportunity to enjoy a service filled with familiar liturgy and melodies. The service is kept purposefully brief, at 45 minutes, to ensure that participants are not overwhelmed. The Brown Program is a joint initiative between Gesher Human Services and Jewish Senior Life.
In-person attendees will receive a complimentary gift bag with the Brown program’s prayer book, plus an apple, honey, and challah. To register for the service, necessary for both in-person attendance and to obtain a Zoom link for virtual, visit here.
