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.
Bedrock, Design Core, Detroit Artists Partner for Detroit Football Giveaway
Bedrock and Design Core have commissioned five Detroit artists to hand paint 20 Shinola leather footballs to be given away to commemorate the NFL Draft in Detroit.
Throughout April, all are invited to enter for a chance to win one of the one-of-a-kind pigskins. Each football will be featured in one of 20 select downtown locations with a corresponding QR code. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway — just your phone. Scan the QR code next to each football on display for a chance to win.
Footballs and QR codes may be found at Bonobos, Born In Detroit, Busted Bra Shop, City Slicker Shoes, De Laura’s Hallmark, Dez Delmar, Former Vintage, Hot Sam’s Detroit, Greyson Clothiers, Girl Boss Fashions, Gucci, H&M, Lululemon, Plugged In Collection, Rebel Nell, Shinola Retail, Survived Streetwear, The Lip Bar, Threads & Legs, and Throwbacks Home.
Winners will be randomly selected and contacted the first week of May. For more information and contest rules, visit here.
Construction Begins on The Claire Affordable Housing Project in North End Neighborhood
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, and Detroit developer David Alade of Century Partners were on hand for the start of the rehabilitation of a new multi-family affordable housing development in Detroit.
The Claire, as it will be known, is a $9.17 million project that will bring another 42 units of new affordable housing to Detroit.
Vacant for almost 25 years, The Claire is a 1920s vintage apartment building formerly called The Clairwood and will be extensively rehabilitated to offer 42 like-new studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units.
The renovations will result in a National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Silver certification, with on-site parking including six EV charging stations. Design elements include a modern aesthetic with granite countertops, a fitness center, and art preservation in the lobby featuring works from local Detroit artists Matt Corbin and Yvette Cole.
“The Claire is another great project made possible by the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund, which we created specifically for the purpose of creating and preserving affordable housing, and one of several recent projects here in the Piety Hill neighborhood.” says Duggan. “Thanks to LISC and our other funding partners, this building, which had sat vacant for years, will be brought back to life and provide quality affordable housing for 42 families, just steps from Woodward Avenue. This is the kind of city we are building, where people of all income levels are able to live in any neighborhood.”
Elephant & Co. Expands Pizza and Beer Delivery to Royal Oak and Beyond
Elephant & Co., Eastern Market Brewing Co.’s latest venture, is expanding its one-of-a-kind pizza and beer delivery service to Royal Oak, Oak Park, Madison Heights, Ferndale, Berkley, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, and Pleasant Ridge, as well as Detroit.
In January, Eastern Market Brewing Co. rebranded its production facility in Royal Oak as Elephant & Co. and launched home delivery of pizza and beer throughout Detroit, and its the only Michigan company delivering beer to customer’s homes.
March brought Detroit-style pizza dine-in and pick-up to their self-service taproom at 330 E. Lincoln Ave. in Royal Oak. Now, pizza is available for delivery within a 3.5-mile radius of that address, and plans are to expand the delivery radius further in the coming months.
“2024 has lined up nicely for Elephant & Co.,” says Dayne Bartscht, founder of Eastern Market Brewing Co. “We’ve taken an agile approach to our ultimate goal of opening our flagship Elephant & Co. location at 456 Charlotte in Detroit, and each step has validated our vision for it.”
The former Detroit location of Founders Brewing Co. at 456 Charlotte St., reportedly is making progress toward an opening in late spring. As part of its ties to the community, Elephant & Co. is teaming up with local nonprofits throughout April and May to host “patio parties.” All beer proceeds from these events are donated to the non-profit partner, demonstrating Elephant & Co.’s commitment to being a community pillar and their local causes.
The first nonprofit event takes place until 7 p.m. today for Detroit Tigers Opening Day. The 456 Charlotte location also will be from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on April 6. Dooped Donuts will be on hand and in the location when it fully opens. Proceeds from beer sales at the events will be donated to the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan, which promotes organ, tissue, and eye donation to Michigan residents.
For more information and to order pizza and beer for delivery, visit here.
Plante Moran Named to Fortune List of 100 Best Companies to Work For
Plante Moran in Southfield has achieved a 26-year streak on Fortune magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. The firm ranked No. 12 on the list for 2024.
As one of the nation’s largest audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firms, Plante Moran is known for its We Care culture, which puts people first and is centered around high-touch relationships, transparency, and trust.
“I’m often asked by other leaders how we created this award-winning culture,” says Jim Proppe, managing partner at Plante Moran. “My response is, it’s just who we are. Our founders, Elorion Plante and Frank Moran, built this firm from the ground up with a commitment to our staff, clients, and communities. Being recognized by Fortune year after year proves the legacy that they created has remained strong since we opened our doors 100 years ago.”
ORT America’s ORT and the City Fundraiser Finds New Home in Ferndale
ORT America’s spring fundraiser, ORT and the City, is taking place at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at The Breezeway (660 E. 10 Mile Road) in Ferndale
Started in 2015, ORT and the City has regularly attracted more than 400 art enthusiasts each year from all over metro Detroit. The event is a celebration of art, culture, and community while promoting ORT’s mission of educating for life.
The evening consists of dinner served via a variety of specialty food trucks, cocktails, whiskey tasting, and an art auction featuring original works created by Detroit and Detroit-connected artists, individually selected and sponsored by local art collectors.
Each artist was asked to create a piece reflecting this year’s theme “Let YourLight Shine.” The art will be on display at the event, however, the auction will take place online, and bidders need not be present to win.
For more information, to purchase raffle tickets, and to access the auction, visit here or contact the ORT office at 248-723-8860.
Detroit Historical Museum to Host Black Heroes of Detroit’s Eastside Panel Sunday
The Detroit Historical Museum is hosting a panel discussion and workshop discussing the “Black Heroes of Detroit’s Eastside, 1900-1990: Where they lived, worked, played, and prayed” from 1:30-4 p.m. on Sunday. The event is free with museum admission.
The program will explore efforts since 1971 to identify the eastside people and places associated with Black civil rights and the struggle for equality.
Recently identified and endangered homes such as those of Gladys Mitchell Sweet, Robert X, Sarah E. Ray, and J Dilla will be highlighted as researchers seek the community’s help in identifying additional places, priorities, and resources to honor the legacy of these and other heroes as an inspiration to future generations.
Participants will include:
- Dan Bonenberger, Eastern Michigan University Preservation Studies Program
- Rebecca Binno Savage, Historic Designation Advisory Board
- Katie Kolokithas, Michigan Historic Presentation Office
- Howard Lindsey, Black Historic Sites Committee
- Ruth Mills, Quinn Evans Architects
- Andrew Oswald, Michigan History Center
- Sharon Sexton, Black Historic Sites Committee
- EMU student researchers
To register, visit here.
Building Healthy Communities Program Opens Applications for the 2024-2025 School Year
Michigan K-12 schools are invited to apply for Building Healthy Communities, a comprehensive school health program focused on facilitating critical changes to the school environment to support physical and mental health of students and staff.
Nearly 150 schools are participating in the program this current academic year, impacting the lives of more than 62,000 students in Michigan.
The program aims to create healthier school environments and, in turn, reduce childhood obesity, prevent chronic disease, improve academic achievement, and address mental health and well-being.
New resources are available through the program this year, which include:
Physical Activity Breaks — InPACT (Interrupting Prolonged sitting with ACTivity) is a classroom-based physical activity program designed to incorporate 4-minute exercise snacks into daily routines. The resource provides teachers with the necessary tools and instruction to lead their classes in short activity breaks throughout the school day to help prime the brain for learning and regulate student emotions. Classroom activity breaks also energize and motivate students to be physically active.
Better With Breakfast — Research shows breakfast is crucial for students’ learning and overall well-being. The simple act of eating school breakfast can transform a child’s life, leading to higher test scores, calmer classrooms, fewer trips to the nurse’s office, and higher attendance and graduation rates. Building Healthy Communities offers resources to help schools provide breakfast in varied ways – outside the cafeteria, in hallways or classrooms, or between periods – to help boost student participation. Schools have unique needs, so the program encourages schools to explore different breakfast service models to identify what works best for students and staff.
All public, charter, and private nonprofit schools in the state are encouraged to review the full program descriptions and eligibility information here.
Applications for all programs are due on June 30.
Community College Month in Michigan Celebrates Innovation in Education
The Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) announced that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed April as Community College Month in Michigan, recognizing the value community colleges play in offering valuable, experiential and flexible educational opportunities and closing the skills gap across the state.
“Community colleges make learning affordable and accessible for everyone,” says Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association. “Whether it’s the university student who takes summer classes to save on tuition, or the single parent who works while earning a nursing degree, the flexibility and adaptability offered at a community college is unmatched.”
Michigan is home to 31 community and tribal colleges across the state. The educational resources at these colleges provide practical job training as well as affordable tuition to ensure the prosperity of Michigan’s workforce for years to come.
By the numbers:
- 280,000 Michiganders are enrolled at the state’s community colleges.
- 19,900 degrees and 7,000 certificates are granted each year.
- 52 percent of students who earn bachelor’s degrees have completed courses at a community college.
- 7 percent – growth in community college enrollment last year.
- Top Ten status – Michigan is a top 10 state for transfer rates.
Macomb Community College’s College for Kids Provides Summer Learning Adventures
Registration is now open for Macomb Community College’s College 4 Kids (C4K), which is offering more than 40 fun learning adventures from June through August for kids ages 4 to 17.
The sessions encompass science, technology, engineering, art, and math, with areas of focus including archeology, computer programming, digital music, space, and virtual reality.
Taught by the college’s faculty, most sessions run Monday through Friday and are conducted on Macomb’s South and Center campuses, with the exception of sessions at the LegaSea Aquarium and Reptarium. The first courses begin June 17.
Some highlights of this summer’s C4K program include:
- Beats and Jams: Digital Music Creators (Ages 8 – 11
- Diggin’ Dino Camp (ages 4 – 10
- LegaSea Aquarium and Reptarium Themed Animal Day (ages 5 – 17)
- NASA Academy of Future Space Explorers (ages 5 – 12)
- Python Programmers (ages 11 – 14)
- Virtual Reality! The Future is Now (ages 8 – 14)
Partial scholarship opportunities for C4K may be available. Email C4K@macomb.edu for more information and to receive a scholarship application.
For information on the full range of C4K courses being offered this summer and to sign up, go to wce.macomb.edu then, under Personal Enrichment, choose Youth Programs and then College for Kids.
