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.
Bayview Yacht Club Unveils Plans for 100th Bayview Mackinac Race
Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit has unveiled its plans for the 100th running of the Bayview Mackinac race next July and announced that registration is open for the event.
“As you can imagine with this being such a significant event, we are witnessing an extraordinary level of interest and enthusiasm for the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race,” says Charlie Trost, chair of the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race. “Sailors, both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike, are gearing up to be part of this historic occasion. The race is not only a test of skill, but also a celebration of the enduring spirit of adventure and competition.”
In conjunction with the opening of registration, National Fleet Services was announced as the presenting sponsor for the 100th running of the race, which will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. on July 20, 2024.
“We are excited to have National Fleet Services and previous Bayview Yacht Club Commodore Tim LaRiviere as our new presenting sponsor,” says Mike Helm, 2024 commodore of the Bayview Yacht Club. “A longtime sailor, Tim shares the same passion for the race as every competitor taking part in the 2024 event.
“With their sponsorship, we will be able to improve various aspects of the event, including safety measures, race logistics and participant amenities. This partnership will not only benefit the competitors, but also help make the race more appealing to sailing enthusiasts and fans.”
According to LaRiviere, founder, president, and CEO of National Fleet Services: “Our goal in becoming the presenting sponsor of the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race is to help make it a memorable experience for all involved. There is a strong bond between the sailing community and those who are passionate about its growth and success. We look forward to a bright future for the race and sailing growth in new and existing audiences.”
For the 100th race, all competitors will sail on the 1925 Original Course, used during the first race. The course covers 204 nautical miles (235 statute miles). From its traditional start in southern Lake Huron, the fleet will head north on one course along the Michigan shoreline before heading west, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, finishing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island. (The original course started three nautical miles south of the current one, off Lake Side Park, Gratiot Beach. As the race gained in participants, the starting line was moved to its current location to accommodate the required starting line length and sufficient depth over its entire length.)
The logo for the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race is shaped like the Bayview Mackinac Race plaque that originated with the inaugural race in 1925. The colors mirror those in the Bayview Yacht Club burgee, while the gold outline represents the 100 years of the race. The 100 in infinity represents that the race has been continuously run for 100 years and will continue indefinitely.
For more information, visit here.
$50M in Grants Available to Help Michigan Businesses Grow Talent
Michigan employers looking to take advantage of the Going PRO Talent Fund program will be able to apply for a share of approximately $50 million in competitive training awards over the course of two application cycles from now until Oct. 27.
These dollars help grow Michigan’s workforce and support residents’ access to good-paying, in-demand jobs.
Going PRO Talent Fund helps ensure employers have the talent they need to grow and stay competitive by providing awards to assist in training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired employees. Since the program’s launch, the Going PRO Talent Fund has provided training for approximately 175,000 Michigan workers and supported the needs of more than 6,000 businesses.
Businesses interested in learning more or applying for funding should contact their local Michigan Works! Service Center. Contact information may be found here.
Selected applicants will be announced in December 2023. The second application cycle will open spring 2024.
SBA Ranks Huntington Bank Tops #1 Nationally and in Michigan
The U.S. Small Business Administration released its annual ranking of the top banks participating in its 7(a) program and for the sixth consecutive year, Huntington topped the list, issuing more loans than any other bank in the country, helping more than 7,300 small businesses with more than $1.3 billion in lending.
“We’re proud of our national ranking, of course, but we once again ranked number one in Michigan by dollars and by number of loans issued, investing more than $201 million in more nearly 1,400 small businesses,” says a bank spokesperson. “We’ve held the top rank in Michigan for many years, and I wanted to reach out in case you’re considering covering the 2023 rankings.”
For the complete listing, visit here.
O’Keefe, Russell D. Long Named Receiver for Natrabis Cannabis Operation
Bloomfield Hills’ O’Keefe has been appointed as receiver by Judge Michael Warren of Oakland County Circuit Court over NTBS Holdings LP, NTBS Properties, NTBS Equipment, and NTBS Services (doing business as Natrabis) in Oxford.
AFC Gamma, a real estate investment trust with expertise in commercial real estate lending and cannabis, petitioned the court for O’Keefe and Russell D. Long to take control over the assets of Natrabis to aid in their preservation and sale.
Natrabis’ companies is an inter-related organization of cannabis companies owned and divided into highly regulated, plant and non-plant touching companies.
The Avery Cos. to Offer Financing and Letters of Credit to Rural Broadband Providers
The Avery Cos., a privately held investment holding company in Birmingham, has announced a new initiative aimed at supporting broadband providers that operate in rural and underserved areas.
Recognizing the importance of equal access to digital services and high-speed internet, The Avery Cos. says it’s committed to empowering providers with the necessary financial resources to expand and enhance broadband services in these regions.
“We believe that access to reliable, high-speed internet is a fundamental right,” says Benjamin A. Friedman, managing partner of The Avery Cos. “Through this initiative, we aim to bridge the digital divide by supporting broadband providers in reaching more remote and underserved communities.”
The Avery Cos. will provide tailored financing solutions and letters of credit designed to meet the unique needs and challenges faced by rural broadband providers that receive federal or state subsidies. These services aim to facilitate infrastructure development, improve service quality, and accelerate the expansion of broadband access to remote areas, fostering social inclusion and economic development.
Broadband providers operating in rural areas are encouraged to apply. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable services to rural communities. Detailed information on eligibility criteria, application processes, and program benefits can be accessed upon request.
Northwestern Mutual’s Black Founder Accelerator Program Marks Third Year
Furthering its commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, Northwestern Mutual, in partnership with gener8tor, a nationally ranked startup accelerator, announced this year’s fall cohort of five Black-owned tech startups to its Black Founder Accelerator program, which includes a company in Detroit.
Research shows that Black founders receive less than 2 percent of venture capital. To combat this substantial funding disparity for Black entrepreneurs, each startup is eligible for a $100,000 investment and inclusion in a 12-week intensive program with access to individualized coaching and mentorship from industry-leading professionals.
This is one of many core components to the company’s Sustained Action for Racial Equity (SARE) initiative, which was created to advance bold, sustainable change that accelerates Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to fight racism, prejudice, and social injustice, with a focus on the Black and African American community.
Ashton Keys, founder and CEO of athlytic.io, is the company in Detroit among this year’s cohort.
Athlytic bridges the gap between brands and student-athletes by providing a “seamless connection for name, image, and likeness campaigns through use of data-driven insights and expert recommendations” to pair brands with the perfect athletes for ROI-driven endorsement campaigns.
In addition to the Black Founder Accelerator program, Northwestern Mutual also committed to a $100-million impact investing fund to deliver on the company’s commitment to addressing inequality and the racial wealth gap in the U.S. The fund focuses on three key areas: physical and social infrastructure, access to capital for individuals and businesses, and healthy sustainable neighborhoods and communities.
Precision Metalforming Association to Host West Michigan Supplier Event
The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) West Michigan District in Grand Rapids will host its seventh annual supplier event on Nov. 2, at The Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, just west of Grand Rapids.
Top metalforming industry suppliers will showcase their capabilities and latest technologies to local manufacturers at the Suppliers EXPO.
Previously called Suppliers Night and recently rebranded as the West Michigan Suppliers EXPO, the event will feature new show hours, from 11-4 p.m.
More than 200 suppliers and manufacturers are expected to attend. Participants will be offered a lunch buffet, beverages, and raffle prize giveaways while making connections, networking, and finding resources within the west Michigan manufacturing community.
Lawrence Tech Preparing for 2024 Robofest
With the future of mobility leaning toward autonomous vehicles, Robofest 2024 at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield will focus on vehicle autonomy.
This year’s game is called “Autonomous Taxi,” during which a robot “taxi” will pick up “passengers” (golf balls) at one end of a table and take them to destinations, boxes placed around the table, maneuvering around “pedestrians,” D-size batteries. One of the passengers must be placed on the “second floor” of a destination box. Simple bar codes will be used to identify the destinations.
Now in its 25th season, Robofest is a festival of competitions with autonomous robots offering students the opportunity to master the principles of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) and have fun. More than 34,600 students from 34 countries and 18 U.S. states have participated since 1999.
Robofest robots must be completely autonomous, controlled only by software. The registration fee is $75 and any small robot platform and programming language are allowed. (Robot kits for Robofest, from LEGO and other manufacturers, start at about $400.) Teams compete in Junior (grades 5-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) divisions.
This year, for the first time, Robofest teams are eligible for Michigan Department of Education robotics competition grants of up to $1,200 per team. A Robofest sponsor, the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, also offer grants of $750 for all-girl teams.
All Robofest competitors automatically qualify for a $3,000-a-year Lawrence Tech scholarship. Winning teams are eligible for a $17,000-a-year LTU scholarship.
Registration is now open for Robofest teams. International competitions begin in November, with U.S. competitions starting in February and concluding in April. Teams that place high in regional competitions qualify for the Robofest World Championships, to be conducted on the LTU campus in Southfield May 9-11.
There also will be workshops for coaches and competitors over the winter. And Robofest is always looking for local volunteer host sites for its regional qualifying competitions.
For more information, visit robofest.net.
MEDF Celebrates 30 Years of Philanthropy
The Minerva Education and Development Foundation (MEDF) in Detroit is staging a 30th-anniversary celebration titled “Thirty and Thriving Together: A Celebration of MEDF’s Legacy in Philanthropy,” from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Roostertail in Detroit.
The event will honor three decades of dedication to the betterment of Detroit residents, students, and nonprofit organizations.
MEDF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships and grants to college and high school students and nonprofit organizations supporting Detroit residents, students, and families.
Over the past 30 years, MEDF has significantly impacted the Detroit community by granting over $700,000 in scholarships and grants. Funds raised at “Thirty and Thriving Together” will continue to empower MEDF in its mission to provide opportunities and support for Detroit’s future leaders.
“Thirty and Thriving Together” will feature comedian Mike Bonner as the master of ceremonies and a musical performance by Musique Noire – a group of Black women stringed and percussive musicians.
Tickets for this extraordinary event can be purchased here.
Detroit Mercy Theatre Co. Presents ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’
The beloved characters of Arnold Lobel’s classic children’s book series come to life in “A Year with Frog and Toad,” presented by the Detroit Mercy Theatre Co. (DMTC) Oct. 27-Nov 5, at the Marlene Boll Theatre inside Detroit’s Boll Family YMCA.
The musical follows the duo of Frog and Toad as they navigate the highs and lows of friendship throughout the seasons of a year. From sledding on snowy hills to swimming in the summer sun, from raking autumn leaves to baking Christmas cookies, their year is filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of life lessons along the way.
“’A Year with Frog and Toad embodies a heartwarming tribute to the boundless wonders of friendship and the exquisite tapestry of nature’s charm,” says Sarah Hawkins Rusk, director of the production. “This theatrical experience stands as an ideal family escapade, drawing from the treasured literary legacy of Arnold Lobel’s iconic characters.”
Purchase tickets online at DetroitMercyArts.com or by calling the ticket office at 313-993-3270.
John Dempsey Exhibit Opening at The Flint Institute of Arts Oct. 14
The Flint Institute of Arts is presenting “Fabrication in Transit,” a new exhibition opening Oct. 14 and on view through Jan. 7 in the FIA Graphics Gallery. This collection features works on paper by Michigan-native John Dempsey that celebrate and chronicle our shared industrial environments.
The exhibition consists of work in a variety of media, from a series of ink drawings dating from the early 1980s, to an extended series of more recent watercolors, as well as mixed-media work fabricated in Mott Community College’s FabLab.
“The artworks in this exhibition are landscapes of Michigan’s industrial past and present,” says Rachael Holstege, associate curator at the FIA. “They exemplify the industry that built this state and the presence it still has in our daily lives. The FIA is excited to have artworks on view that so many people within our community will be able to connect to.”
The FIA will welcome Dempsey in person for an Artist Talk Q&A at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 in the FIA Theater. Here the artist will discuss the works in his exhibition, followed by a Q&A with the audience. This event is free and open to the public. Guests may email rholstege@flintarts.org to submit questions for the Q&A.
On Nov. 10, Dempsey invites community members to share short personal accounts and memories about their experience working in the ‘shop’ at Buick City or AC/Delco in Flint. This Let’s Talk Shop event will take place during Art Walk at Factory Two (129 N Grand Traverse St.), Flint’s Makers Space and former factory of the Dort Motor Car Co. This event is free and open to the public.
