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.
Community Foundation Announces $23M+ in Grants
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan approved more than $23 million of grants in support of nonprofit organizations working to make a positive, permanent impact throughout the region during its recent annual Board of Trustees meeting at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.
“We’re proud to build on our shared history, with an eye toward creating a brighter future for southeast Michigan,” says Ric DeVore, president of the Community Foundation. “Our community partners are doing the work today to ensure that the next generation will live in a vibrant, thriving region that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”
During the annual meeting, the foundation board approved $23,059,234 in grants for the second quarter of 2022. The funds will support organizations primarily in southeast Michigan working on issues including animal welfare, arts and culture, civil rights, community development, education, and the environment. Grant highlights include the following:
- Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit – $57,560 (over 18 months).
- Michigan Humane Society – $75,000.
- Communities First, Inc. – $35,000.
- CultureSource – $75,000.
- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra – $150,000.
- InsideOut Literary Arts Project – $60,000 (over 2 years).
- Neighborhood Defender Service – $75,000.
- Community Development Advocates of Detroit – $50,000.
- Regents of the University of Michigan – $40,000.
- Wayne State University – $96,500 (over 3 years).
- Green Living Science – $25,000.
- National Wildlife Federation – Great Lakes – $100,000 (over 2 years).
KellyOCG Partners with Globality to Transform its Services Procurement Solution
KellyOCG, the outsourcing and consulting group of Troy-based Kelly, and California’s Globality, the world’s first AI-powered digital solution for sourcing services, today announced a partnership to transform KellyOCG’s Services Procurement solution so organizations can optimize their services spend and find the right suppliers with increased speed and efficiency.
The new alliance means KellyOCG clients can use Globality’s intuitive, user-friendly digital platform and marketplace to automate and simplify the sourcing process, allowing businesses to source their service needs quickly and easily for faster results and cost savings of up to 20 percent per engagement.
By integrating Globality into its process and technology stack, KellyOCG will be better able to support clients’ sourcing needs at scale providing increased value by expanding its competitive spend management activities as well as enhancing the user experience.
Partnering with Globality is the latest step in the KellyOCG strategic roadmap to develop alliances with cutting-edge digital solution providers, complementing the investment in its own tech stack — Kelly Helix — and contributing to its leader position in the 2021 Everest Group Services Procurement PEAK Matrix.
“Our partnership with Globality reinforces our strategy to integrate leading technology into our solutions to provide greater value for our clients,” says Tammy Browning, president of KellyOCG. “Companies today need to operate with speed and agility when sourcing services that support productivity and innovation while also keeping an eye on the bottom line. The Globality Platform will allow our clients to focus on remaining competitive by connecting them faster to the right suppliers reducing time and costs.”
Ann Arbor and Troy Ranked Among 100 Best Places to Live in U.S.
Ann Arbor and Troy have been placed among the Top 100 Best Place to Live in America by Livability.com, outpacing more than 2,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 500,000 in this data-driven ranking.
In the new rankings, sponsored by eXp Realty, Ann Arbor ranks No.2 and Troy placed 34th.
The list reflects the culmination of months of research into relocation trends, economic variables, and factors that influence the quality of life. Thirty-six states are represented from coast to coast.
According to Livability, the 2022 Top 100 Best Places to Live list reflects the findings that affordability and local amenities are top priorities for people looking to relocate.
“As remote work trends continue and affordability becomes more elusive amidst high inflation, people are thinking about where their money goes the farthest,” says Amanda Ellis, editor-in-chief at Livability.com. “Our Top 100 Best Places to Live list celebrates the amazing small and mid-sized communities across the U.S. — the ones who really shine when it comes to offering affordability alongside amenities and opportunity.”
This year’s top 10 cities are:
- Madison, Wisc.
- Ann Arbor
- Rochester, Minn.
- Naperville, Ill.
- Overland Park, Kan.
- Minneapolis, Minn.
- Fishers, Ind.
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Carmel, Ind.
To view the complete list, visit here.
Funding Partners Award Grants to Five Organizations
Five organizations are receiving $200,000 in grant funding to expand their programming in support of Michigan health-disparate populations affected by homelessness, substance use disorder (SUD), and/or former incarceration.
The funding partners — comprised of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, and The Children’s Foundation — placed an emphasis on addressing community health issues with this grantmaking. Grants were awarded to three community-based organizations, one Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and one recovery housing organization, each addressing unique needs and health issues of Michigan residents.
The Building Health Care Bridges to Stable Health grant programs will directly address the social determinants of health tied to a higher prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases, and mental illness in at-risk individuals.
Grant recipients include:
- Authority Health – Popoff Clinic (Wayne County) — $40,000.
- Hope Network (West Michigan and Upper Peninsula) — $40,000.
- A.D.E. Institute (mid-Michigan) — $40,000.
- Youth Justice Fund (southeast Michigan) — $40,000.
- Superior Housing Solutions (Upper Peninsula) — $40,000.
Michigan Science Center Returns to the ‘80s with Family Late Night July 30
On Friday, July 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Michigan Science Center (MiSci) will travel back to the 1980s for a “gnarly night of fun, science, nostalgia, music and more.”
The event is all-ages with reduced ticket prices of $10 for members and $15 for non-members and kicks off a series of late-night events that will continue in the fall for families and adults alike.
“These days, everyone wants a more flexible schedule,” says Christian Greer, president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center. “So, we decided to give busy families that opportunity at MiSci. Our new Late-Nite events offer evenings of fun and engagement for families and adults alike.”
Guests will have access to all MiSci’s museum galleries, and the Toyota 4-D Engineering Theater will be transformed into an NES gaming space, where patrons can compete against one another on the biggest screen in town.
Additionally, there will be a food truck for refreshments and an ‘80s-themed music laser show in the newly reopened IMAX Theatre (purchased as separate admission), not to mention an opportunity to see a DeLorean in MiSci’s POPnology exhibit.
Among the evening’s planned activities:
Ghostbusters Slime – A hands-on experiment plus take-home activity – Try your hand at making one of three types of slime inspired by the Ghostbusters franchise. Will you take home a vat of Sewer Ooze, a chunk of Stay Puft or some free-floating Ectoplasm?
Holodeck Holograms – A hands-on experiment plus take-home activity – Hop aboard the USS Enterprise to assist Scientist Kirk in rebuilding the Holodeck. Harness the power of two-dimensional images and refraction to create your very own hologram projector.
The Science of Lightsabers – Stage Demos at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… a chemist invented glowsticks. Watch and learn as a MiSci Scientist uses chemical reactions to create a glow stick as large as a life-size Lightsaber.
Mini Lightsabers – a hands-on plus take-home activity, Lightsabers demo immediately following – You’ll feel like Baby Yoda after creating your own mini reusable Lightsaber glowstick! One secret ingredient (and an ultraviolet light) is all it takes to feel like you’re harnessing the power of The Force right at the Michigan Science Center.
Reimagined AutoGlow Returns to Ford Field to Benefit The Children’s Center
Tickets are now on sale for AutoGlow 2022 presented by Ford Motor Co. The gala event Sept. 16 at Ford Field in Detroit benefits the vulnerable children and families served by The Children’s Center.
AutoGlow 2022 has been reimagined and infused with high energy to mark the return of Charity Preview, the night the community supports its children and celebrates the industry that drives Detroit. This year’s event entitled “Imagine with Me” features a new small plates menu, music from DJ Prevu, dancing, and an opportunity to create an original piece of artwork alongside Detroit artist Trae Isaac.
Hosted by Lisa and Bill Ford along with Lia and Jim Farley, AutoGlow has long been considered the premier party of the evening. Sponsored by Ford Motor Co., it has raised nearly $6 million net for The Children’s Center.
AutoGlow guests will enjoy new farm-to-table small plates designed by Ford Field’s Levy Restaurants. In addition to the pre-event reception’s cocktail and hors d’ouevres and main celebration’s strolling dinner service, there are desserts and full bar service.
AutoGlow runs from 4:30 p.m. to midnight with the reception from 4:30-7 p.m. and main celebration 8:30-midnight. Included with every ticket is access to the pre-event reception, the main celebration, complimentary valet parking, and private transportation service between AutoGlow at Ford Field and NAIAS Charity Preview at Huntington Place. Charity Preview tickets are sold separately. Dress code is Black Tie.
AutoGlow tickets are priced at $275 until Aug. 31. After that date they are $325. Sponsorships are available at several levels as well. Both are detailed online as well as the Honorary Committee here.
Tickets On Sale Now for the Fall Motor City Comic Con Oct. 14-16
Tickets are now on sale for Motor City Comic Con, Oct. 14-16 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Laurie Holden, best known for her roles as Andrea in the AMC drama series “The Walking Dead” and as Crimson Countess in season three of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys,” is the first guest scheduled to appear at the October event. She will be appearing Oct. 15-16.
For ticket prices and updated celebrity appearance information, visit here.
