DBusiness Daily Update: Beaumont Hospital in Troy Opens $8M Neonatal ICU, and More

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.
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Beaumont Hospital, Troy’s new $8 million neonatal ICU has triple the space of the previous unit and provides patients and families with greater privacy, comfort, and the latest medical innovations. // Courtesy of Beaumont
Beaumont Hospital, Troy’s new $8 million neonatal ICU has triple the space of the previous unit and provides patients and families with greater privacy, comfort, and the latest medical innovations. // Courtesy of Beaumont

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.

Beaumont Hospital in Troy Opens New Neonatal ICU

On June 7, the first baby transferred to Beaumont Hospital, Troy’s new, 15,000-square-foot Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

With triple the space of the previous NICU, the $8 million facility provides patients and families with greater privacy, comfort, and the latest medical innovations.

Now, parents are able to remain at their infant’s bedside 24/7. Each baby room includes a window for natural lighting and optimal healing. A transitional/training room gives parents the space and opportunity to learn how to care for their NICU baby — many of whom need extra support when they go home – under the guidance of Troy’s expert, pediatric nursing team.

Additional features include:

  • 25 private and semiprivate rooms with windows, refrigerators, and warmers.
  • Latest monitoring technology, which sends significant patient updates directly to patient’s nurse.
  • Added security measures including secure elevators and later this summer, GPS/wristband tracking for patients.
  • Milk prep room in which staff can prepare/stock 24 hours’ worth of infant feedings.
  • Stocked pantry featuring beverages, light snacks, and a station where parents can pick up meal trays from the dining room.
  • Conveniently located parent and staff lounges to keep everybody close and comfortable.
  • Observation room for newborns who might benefit from a shorter-term stay.
  • Training and overnight stay rooms.
  • Exam/procedure room.

The Beaumont Hospital, Troy NICU was made possible with a gift from Anthony and Marcia Battaglia. Anthony Battaglia is the owner and developer of Palazzo di Bocce, a sports entertainment venue in Lake Orion. Marcia Battaglia is a retired teacher and children’s causes are one of her passions.

“Children have always had a soft spot in our hearts,” Anthony Battaglia says. “Whether they are our own children, grands, or complete strangers. We have always felt the need to help them be the best they can be. And what better place to start than right at the beginning.”

Centroid Systems in Troy Completes Acquisition of Florida Database Security Firm

Centroid Systems in Troy has completed the acquisition of Guardian Eagle, a consulting provider of data security headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2003, Guardian Eagle specializes in securing customers’ data from the inside out, database security, business continuity, replication, and performance tuning.

This acquisition is part of Centroid’s strategic priority and mission to advance the growth of the business with more powerful cloud technologies. It further complements Centroid’s existing portfolio offerings and capabilities — strengthening Centroid’s market leader standing for end-to-end cloud transformation, consulting, and managed services to drive secure, data-driven innovation and advance key business initiatives for its clients.

Acquiring the Guardian Eagle business will also enable Centroid to serve a broader portfolio of clients across different industries within the database security businesses that require new and unconventional solutions to protect their mission-critical systems, according to the company.

“The Guardian Eagle group is an excellent addition to the Centroid team and will help expand our capacity and presence in the Southeast,” says Scott Morrell, CEO and Managing Partner of Centroid.

123NET Surpasses 3,000 Lit Buildings in Michigan

123NET in Southfield, a fiber internet, colocation, and voice services provider, announced today that it has completed the installation of high-speed fiber connections into 3,000 commercial buildings throughout the state of Michigan.

The 3,000th installation was in Ann Arbor at the Domino’s Farms building. The milestone was achieved just six months after the company announced its 2,500th building installation.

123NET operates Michigan’s largest fiber network with more than 4,500 route miles crisscrossing the state and encircling major cities. The company recently announced a new 128-mile fiber construction project that will better connect metro Detroit to Grand Blanc, Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, and other communities along the I-75 corridor.

“We’re honored that Michigan businesses continue to trust 123NET for their connectivity needs,” says Chuck Irvin, vice president of 123NET. “We appreciate the opportunity to expand network into our local communities and together we’ll continue to make Michigan the best-connected state.”

$8.2M East Warren Streetscape Construction Begins

Construction has begun on the East Warren streetscape overhaul in the east side of Detroit.

The $8.2 million East Warren makeover is expected to help to further position the stretch between Cadieux and Three Mile as the next destination corridor for new businesses and restaurants. The project is expected to be completed in early May of next year. The Strategic Neighborhood Fund plan, which was unveiled in March 2021, also includes new housing, businesses, parks and more.

Streetscape overhauls are a central piece of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund’s plan to improve 10 neighborhoods across the city and in every council district. The purpose of the streetscape program is to create resident-focused streets that better serve and attract businesses and families and spark community development, helping to get vacant storefronts occupied and the commercial corridor bustling again. The new streetscape will feature all new sidewalks and road pavement, crosswalks, bike lanes, pedestrian islands, on-street parking, enhanced transit stops and more.

As part of the work, a $1.5 million Courville Parking Plaza will be created on Courville Street. When completed later this year, the plaza will bring a new amenity to East Warren. The plaza will not only help activate the new streetscape, but serve as a valuable asset to the corridor’s rebounding retail and commercial spaces. The plaza will provide enough parking to support these businesses without overwhelming the corridor with parking lots, and will double as a venue for public events that will help draw the community together.

Comcast Awards Three Detroit Organizations $225K in Grants for Digital Equity

Comcast today announced it has awarded grants totaling $225,000 to three Detroit community-based organizations — Detroit Housing Commission, Human-I-T, and St. Patrick Senior Center — as part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive, $1 billion initiative to advance digital equity.

The grants will support the launch and scale of Digital Navigator programs to assist individuals and families with accessing the Internet and digital skills programs.

The announcement follows the launch of a nationwide study by the Boston Consulting Group, which found that Digital Navigators are critical to closing the digital divide and reducing socioeconomic inequalities by helping more people get online. Digital Navigators are individuals affiliated with trusted community organizations who are trained to help people access the Internet, use devices, and build digital skills.

The study surveyed 1,500 individuals across the country who received support from a Digital Navigator. With the support of these digital case workers:

  • More than 65 percent of survey respondents said they obtained Internet access or a computer or tablet at home; among Hispanic and Black Americans, this increased to 72 percent.
  • More than 85 percent of all respondents said they used the Internet more frequently.
  • Almost half surveyed obtained better healthcare, and 40 percent received support with basic needs like food, rent, and housing.
  • 1 in 3 found a new job or earned a higher income.

“Community organizations are the backbone of every city, and by empowering them with the resources they need to broaden their scope of work in digital equity, the possibilities are unlimited,” says Broderick Johnson, executive vice president for public policy and digital equity, at Comcast. “For over a decade, Comcast has invested in communities to bridge the digital divide, and we are excited for this new chapter of impact with Digital Navigators in Detroit. With both their expertise and local ties, they hold the key to making real transformative change happen for families across the city.”

Grand Valley State Earns Federal Grant to Establish TRIO Program in Detroit

Grand Valley State University in Allendale, near Grand Rapids, received a five-year, $1.4 million federal grant to establish a TRIO program in Detroit designed to create a successful college-going culture for high school students who would be the first in their families to attend college.

The Detroit TRIO Upward Bound program will serve 60 students in ninth-12th grades from three schools in Detroit: University Preparatory Academy, University Prep Science and Math, and University Prep Art and Design. All three schools are among the charter schools authorized by GVSU.

TRIO Upward Bound programs serve high school students from low-income families and those who would be first-generation college students. Program staff work in partner high schools four days a week, providing workshops and tutoring services to students. Upward Bound participants attend college tours, cultural field trips and a five-week summer residential program.

President Philomena V. Mantella noted this is Grand Valley’s ninth TRIO program, aligning with the university’s strategic goals to open access to higher education while meeting the needs of state residents.

“We want to help students reach their full potential by removing any barriers so they can enroll in college and be successful,” Mantella says. “Establishing a TRIO Upward Bound office in Detroit continues our important work of advancing educational equity and empowering student voice.”

Northwood University Esports Team Earns Another National Championship

The Esports team at Northwood University in Midland brought home another national championship over the weekend, this time for Call of Duty in Columbus, Ohio.

“This title is something that the players should be extremely proud of; they put in the work leading up to the event and continued the same winning mentality while at the event,” says Cody Elsen, Esports coach at Northwood. “I could not be more proud.”

The Timberwolves finished the regular season with a record of 19-1 and had the No. 2 national ranking heading into the Call of Duty national championship.

Northwood defeated No. 11 Southern Illinois University 3-0; No. 9 Westcliff University 3-0; No. 3 Ottawa University 3-0; eventually, that led to defeating No. 1 Bay State College 3-2 in the grand finals.

For more information, visit here.

FAN Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run/Walk Slated for Saturday

Families Against Narcotics (FAN), a nonprofit based in Clinton Township, will host its 14th annual Run Drugs Out of Town 5K Run/Walk fundraiser at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Fraser High School.

This event is expected to draw close to 2,000 people to help increase awareness of addiction and raise money to fund the many compassionate programs FAN provides to individuals and families who have been affected by the disease.

“Run Drugs Out of Town is our favorite FAN event of the year,” says Linda Davis, executive director of FAN. “To see so many people come out to support a common cause is breathtaking. And the run means so much to so many people. It’s a very emotional and uplifting day for everyone involved.”

To register for Run Drugs Out of Town, visit here or call 586-438-8500. There also will be on-site registration at the Fraser High School field on Friday, June 17, from 5-8:00 p.m., and on the morning of the event, beginning at 8 a.m.

Labcorp Collaborates with Blessings in a Backpack for Children’s Summer Feeding Program

Labcorp in Novi is collaborating with Blessings in a Backpack ­– a national nonprofit that feeds food-insecure kids on the weekends – for a summer feeding program that will benefit more than 500 kids nationally.

The program is providing bags of nutritional food and fun summer activities for kids across the states that are served by Labcorp Diagnostic’s North Central Division (Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia). Labcorp, is a global life sciences company that has several thousand employees that live and work in communities across that region.

As part of this partnership, nine Labcorp locations recently hosted packing events where employees filled weekend bags with nutritional food and more than 6,000 fun summer items, including sidewalk chalk and jump ropes, for the kids attending summer camp at local schools and community centers.

The packing events from this partnership will provide nearly 5,000 hunger-free weekends throughout nine communities for this year’s eight-week summer break. Labcorp’s Charleston, West Virginia packing event provided 1,200 bags of food, and each of the following packing events provided 500 bags: Itasca, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; South Bend, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Novi, Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Dublin, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The partnership also created more than 450 employee engagement service hours for the Labcorp Central North Division team.

“Labcorp is an active participant in the health and well-being of members of the community, and our support of Blessings in a Backpack for this summer feeding program is an excellent example of our important collaborations with local and national service organizations,” says Amy Rhine-Pallas, senior vice president Labcorp’s North Central Division. “It’s truly been an emotional experience for our team members to pack the bags of food and activities for these students and know they are impacting so many children’s lives. We look forward to seeing how this initiative will benefit these students this summer.”