Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Anchor Bar in Downtown Detroit to Reopen April 5
One of downtown Detroit’s favorite downtown watering holes for sports fans and journalists, Anchor Bar, will reopen for lunch and dinner service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5. With the reopening will come a new, refreshed menu.
“The Anchor Bar has been a fixture of downtown Detroit’s dining scene for more than six decades and we look forward to reopening and welcoming our guests again,” says Stephanie Prechel, general manager for The Iconic Collection, which owns and operates Anchor Bar.
The management team, along with the executive chef, has reimagined the Anchor Bar menu to introduce several new specialty dishes that emphasize hometown favorites, including a fried chicken sandwich, golden French fries, and a baked mac and cheese.
Other offerings include Caesar and Greek salads, along with the Anchor Classic Chop, garbage can nachos, chili and Cheese Whiz Totchos, truffle fries, and chicken wings.
On April 8, Anchor Bar will host a Tigers opening day non-tailgate, tailgate party inside the bar beginning at 11 a.m. Guests are invited to hang out before or after the game, take advantage of the numerous drink specials.
For more information, visit here.
Anchor Bar Detroit is hiring and applications currently are being accepted for salary and hourly management positions, line cooks, servers, and bartenders. Interested applicants can apply online.
Brush Park Bodega in Detroit to Open April 8
Brush Park Bodega, a $1.4 million, 2,300-square-foot enterprise, will open to the public April 8.
Located at 2671 Brush St., within Bedrock’s City Modern development, the Brush Park Bodega will offer a fresh market, stocked with a variety of Michigan-made and locally sourced products.
Among the Michigan products that will be offered are Oh Mi Chocolate, Guernsey Farms, Avalon International Bakery, Germack Pistachio Co., and Dave’s Sweet Toffee.
It also will feature a rotating, onsite-prepared café menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals and a full-service bar with a curated selection of beer, wine, and liquor, both available in-store or takeout.
The bodega is an all-in-one café, market, bar, and bottle shop. As the name suggests, it is an authentic neighborhood “has-everything” convenience store.
“We’re excited to bring to Brush Park a local, convenient market with all the essentials, as well as exciting products from Detroit and Michigan vendors,” says said Marcus Perez, co-owner and founder of Brush Park Bodega. “Our goal with the concept was to make the entire shopping experience a whole lot more fun. As part of the bodega’s development team and a Detroit resident as well, this project is especially meaningful to me, one that I’m sure will be a beneficial addition to the area.”
The store puts modern spin on traditional convenience. It will offer delivery and pickup options, e-enabled purchasing, quick-delivery, and in-store drinking and dining.
The design and offerings are meant to reflect the residents of the Brush Park neighborhood, Perez says, expect to be able to stop in to hear the music of local Detroit artists, grab a Blake’s hard cider, purchase produce and meat sourced from Eastern Market and much more from Detroit brands.
The market says it is interested in hearing from other Michigan-made purveyors. For more information about how to get product on store shelves, contact Robert Harriman at robert@bodegamkt.com.
Lansing Housing Commission Uses Tax Credits for $60M in Residential Improvements
More than 560 renovated apartments welcome those seeking affordable housing in mid-Michigan thanks to the Lansing Housing Commission (LHC) and its successful pursuit of federal tax credits.
LHC has announced the closing on its fourth and final Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The RAD program awards credits to public housing agencies such as LHC to access capital.
“In addition to updating 560 plus units of affordable housing, protecting, and improving the homes of our low-income citizens, LHC also has created hundreds of construction jobs and other investments in the city,” says Doug Fleming, executive director of LHC. “This is the single largest affordable housing investment in the city in over 30 years.”
The financial closing for the LaRoy Froh properties follows previous closings at Waverly Place Apartments, Capitol City Apartments, and Hildebrandt Park Apartments. Working with the MSHDA tax credit program, each property also is undergoing substantial physical renovations.
The renovations include new roofs, siding, resurfacing of the parking lots, and new landscaping on the outside of the buildings. Inside the buildings, units are getting new appliances and flooring, updated safety systems and central air conditioning.
The total investment to the affordable housing units in the city of Lansing total more than $60 million. The conversion started in December 2020, and the final construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
Bank of America Awards $1M Grant to Detroit Employment Solutions Corp.
Bank of America has awarded a $1 million three-year grant to Detroit Employment Solutions Corp. (DESC) for its Detroit at Work employment initiative, The People Plan.
The People Plan is a focused strategy to ensure all Detroiters — especially Black and brown residents — have a clear pathway to economic sustainability and employers have access to the talent they need to grow and thrive. The goals of the People Plan are to increase residential employment, reduce poverty and improve economic mobility.
“Bank of America is committed to driving economic opportunity and upward mobility to help put individuals on a path toward success,” says Matt Elliott, president of Bank of America Michigan. “The People Plan will work to improve employer access to the talent within the City of Detroit so both business and residents can thrive.”
The Bank’s $1 million grant will support key initiatives in The People Plan, which include:
- Detroit at Work Job Training, which encompasses several evidence programs that are designed to help those with a limited work history such as residents functioning at a lower literacy level, returning citizens and individuals on public assistance and/or facing poverty.
- Learn to Earn, which includes weekly stipends to participants pursuing high school diploma or GED attainment for up to six months and provides intake and academic assessment, career exploration and coaching, essential skill building, supportive services and job placement.
- The Friends and Family Choices Program that provides high-touch employment and wrap-around support for residents directly or indirectly involved in gun violence.
“The People Plan is essential to uplifting Detroit residents who might otherwise not know how to take part in all the programs available,” says Nicole Sherard-Freeman, group executive for jobs, economy, and Detroit at Work for the city of Detroit, “When simply making it from day to day is a struggle, many people don’t have the time or resources to investigate or access the help that is available. The People Plan brings resources to the table so those most at risk get immediate access to the help they need.”
DTE Energy Foundation Grants $1M to The Nature Conservancy
The DTE Energy Foundation announced it has awarded $1 million to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to fund several environmental programs throughout Michigan that will preserve, protect, and enhance the state’s treasured natural habitats and species.
This latest grant to TNC will be used to fund the Healthy Cities program in Detroit, wetlands restoration efforts at Erie Marsh Preserve in southern Michigan, and whitefish research and restocking in west and northern Michigan.
“The DTE Foundation understands the importance of doing everything we can to protect the wonderous natural beauty in our home state through our long-standing partnership with The Nature Conservancy and its forward-thinking programs,” says Lynette Dowler, president of the DTE Foundation. “We have seen the impact of the TNC’s work firsthand over the years and are grateful for their efforts to preserve our home state’s environment, benefitting our communities for generations to come. As Michiganders, we are all fortunate to have The Nature Conservancy working on our behalf; their vision will ensure the vitality of our state’s natural heritage.”
The foundation has funded The Nature Conservancy since 2011, enabling the organization to advance its environmental programs throughout Michigan. The initiatives covered in this latest round of funding will be carried out over the next three years.
Wayne Health Adds Specialty Care Services at Detroit Mack Health Center
Wayne Health, the medical outreach of Wayne State University in Detroit, has opened a new multi-disciplinary clinic at the Detroit Mack Health Center in Midtown, giving residents easier and more convenient access to integrated primary and specialty medical care.
New specialty services at the Wayne Health Multi-Disciplinary Clinic include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology (kidney), rheumatology, pulmonary (lung) medicine, heart diagnostic testing, and specialized care for high blood pressure (hypertension).
These services will complement the primary care services already offered at the Detroit Mack Health Center, located at 400 Mack Ave., which include family medicine, general medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, and urology.
“Co-locating these specialty services in the same building as primary care will result in better integration and coordination of care for our patients,” says Dr. M. Safwan Badr, chief clinical officer at Wayne Health, and chair of the department of Internal Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. “It allows us to create a hub of primary and specialty care where patients can come to receive one-stop medical attention. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of the population that we have the honor to serve.”
Patients served at the center will include those identified and screened through the Wayne Health Mobile Units who require follow-up medical care. Wayne Health operates a fleet of seven mobile vehicles that travel to community locations across metro Detroit providing a wide variety of primary and preventive care health screenings. The new multi-disciplinary clinic will help ensure that patients diagnosed with medical conditions through the mobile health screenings have access to timely and appropriate follow-up treatment.
One of the features of the new clinic is dedicated blood pressure rooms staffed by providers specializing in hypertension care. Research has shown that Black adults have a higher incidence of high blood pressure leading to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Regular monitoring and early interventions for high blood pressure are key to preventing or lowering the risk of heart disease or stroke.
To schedule an appointment with a Wayne Health provider at the Detroit Mack Health Center or another location, call 877-929-6342. For more information, visit here.
Northwood University to Honor Business Leaders at The Henry Ford
Tickets still are available for the April 23 Outstanding Business Leaders Gala that Midland’s Northwood University is hosting at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.
“This is the first time this ceremony will be held in Michigan, and we couldn’t be more thankful to have the iconic Henry Ford Museum as the setting of our gala,” says Kent MacDonald, president of Northwood University. “We couldn’t imagine a more fitting atmosphere than that at the Henry Ford Museum, which — like Northwood University — celebrates America’s culture, inventions, people, and can-do spirit.”
The 2022 class of honorees includes:
- Jim Fitterling, chairman and CEO, Dow
- Michael LaFontaine Sr., president, LaFontaine Automotive Group
- Bill Long, president and CEO, Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA)
- Ben Manthei, founder and board member, Redi-Rock International
- Lisa McClain, Michigan’s 10th Congressional District
- Andra Rush, CEO, Dakkota Systems
- Angela Steele, Publicis Groupe
In addition, Manik Thapar, owner of Eco Wise Waste Management in Uttar Pradesh, India, will be honored with the Richard M. DeVos Young Entrepreneur Award.
For more information, visit here.
200+ Industry Experts Ramp Up Education at RAPID + TCT 2022
The education lineup at RAPID + TCT, North America’s largest and most additive manufacturing (AM) or 3-D printing event at Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) May 17-19, will feature more than 200 of the industry’s leading voices peppered throughout three keynotes addresses, three thought-leadership panels, and more than 20 technical panels.
“RAPID + TCT is the event for AM leaders to collaborate, network and stay in tune with the latest industry innovations, but no other element of RAPID + TCT is more paramount than our educational and speaker series,” says Robert Willig, executive director and CEO of SME. “We are laser focused on curating the leading voices within the AM space to provide attendees with an immersive, informative and often enlightening experience. Our mission is to ensure every RAPID + TCT attendee leaves Detroit with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to take back to his or her respective organization.”
Each day of RAPID + TCT 2022 kicks off with a keynote presentation from the industry leaders highlighting real-world examples of the applications of AM. This year’s speakers include:
- Barbara Humpton, president & CEO of Siemens USA, providing insight on how industrial digitalization and industry’s response to COVID-19 are accelerating “glocalization.”
- Brian Baughman, chief engineer with Honeywell Aerospace, shedding light on evolution and change within aerospace manufacturing through the industrialization of metal AM.
- Caralynn Nowinski Collens, CEO of Dimension Inx, exploring whether the reality is catching up to the promise in AM in the medical field.
RAPID + TCT 2022 attendees will have opportunities to experience the next level of additive manufacturing firsthand. Over the course of three days, led by presence from the global leaders, more than 400 participating companies will showcase virtually every aspect of AM, providing opportunities to learn about the latest technology breakthroughs, offering interactive moments, showcasing real-world solutions from industry experts, and demonstrating knowledge that will favorably impact the bottom line.
For more information, visit here.
Lawrence Tech’s Physician Assistant Program Earns Provisional Accreditation
The new Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield has received provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Inc. (ARC-PA).
Provisional accreditation confirms that the commission found the plans and resources of the program demonstrate LTU’s ability to meet ARC-PA Standards.
The designation means that the LTU PA program can begin admitting its first cohort of students in August. The two-year master’s degree program is open to students with a wide variety of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees and is being offered in partnership with the nonprofit health care network Ascension Michigan.
“Congratulations to Professor Aimee Lamb, director of the program, and the physician assistant program faculty and staff within the Department of natural Sciences, on this achievement,” says Tarek Sobh, president of LTU.
For more information on LTU’s physician assistant program, visit here.
Metro Detroit Nonprofit Launches Dedicated Portal to Support Ukraine
SHARE Detroit has launched SHARE Ukraine, a one-stop-shop where those who wishes to support Ukrainian citizens can find trusted ways to help.
SHARE Detroit and SHARE Ukraine co-founder Sam Rozenberg was born in Ukraine and says he is passionate about doing good in his home country, especially in its most urgent time of need. The new digital portal can be found at ShareUkraine.org.
“As I quell my emotions, I become increasingly committed to doing everything in my power to make a difference and be on the right side of history,” Rozenberg says. “This site is a call to action. One hundred percent of all contributions go to an organization that directs your money to help Ukraine bring light out of the darkness. All recipient organizations are nominated and vetted by people on the front lines in Ukraine, like my former classmate, Tolik Lobanov, a retired general in the Ukrainian Army, now a volunteer in territorial defense force.”
The site hosts a direct connection to the Ukrainian American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan, where individuals and groups can donate supplies and volunteer to join the committee’s efforts. Donations will go directly to Ukrainians whose lives have been flipped upside down during the Russian invasion. The committee also is looking for people with varied skill sets, from legal knowledge to communications to health care to fundraising.
