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.
Cranbrook Art Museum to Open Artist-designed Miniature Golf Course
Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills will launch Cranbrook on the Green, an artist-designed outdoor miniature golf course on the grounds outside of the museum on May 25.
The course will be open from 11 a.m. to sunset, Wednesday through Sunday of each week, from May 25 through Sept. 25. A special Cranbrook Art members preview weekend will take place May 21–22.
Each of the nine holes of the course are inspired by a different element of Cranbrook’s historic campus and history, from the campus gardens to unique landmarks and famous art and furniture designs of Academy of Art alumni. A special bonus 10th hole kicks off the course.
“With Cranbrook on the Green, we are inviting audiences to play as they learn and explore our incredible grounds during the summer months,” says Lyla Catellier, curator of public programs at Cranbrook Art Museum. “We hope new visitors will get to know Cranbrook’s National Historic Landmark campus through this unique experience, and that longtime enthusiasts of Cranbrook will be surprised and delighted at each hole.”
Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance via Cranbrook Art Museum’s website, which will be sold by time slot. Each ticket also includes free admission to the galleries to explore other exhibitions also on view at Cranbrook Art Museum. Tickets already are available to Art Members and will open to the general public on May 14, National Miniature Golf Day.
Galco Industrial Electronics Opens New Distribution Center in Madison Heights
Galco Industrial Electronics, a global distributor of industrial electronic components, has opened a new distribution center in Madison Heights.
“Madison Heights has been Galco’s home for more than 40 years and we’re proud to continue that tradition with our new warehouse,” says Allison Sabia, president and CEO of Galco. “We look forward to contributing to the community by providing more job opportunities and bringing growth and innovation to the area.”
Located just steps away from Galco’s global headquarters, the facility will accommodate Galco’s growing inventory, which includes more than 350 authorized product lines from more than 670 brands. The new facility will allow Galco to ship more than 1,000 orders each day.
Double the size of Galco’s previous facility, the new product distribution center should offer shorter lead times, more workflow efficiency, a media area to share more details about each product, and additional storage space for large drives and motors.
MRLA to Host Hospitality Industry Educational Event in Troy May 9
The Lansing-based Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) will host an Industry Insights “Forward Momentum” educational event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 9 at the Detroit Marriot Troy located at 200 W. Big Beaver Road.
The event, which is open to all hospitality industry owners and operators, features educational sessions that will provide participants with the information and resources to help them continue the forward momentum of the hospitality industry.
“As the Hospitality Industry has been in overdrive dealing with instability, a deflated workforce and a limitless list of challenges, this event provides an opportunity to come together in-person with others to obtain the information needed to create forward momentum within the future of the industry,” says Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the MRLA. “We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back to connect in-person for an opportunity to walk away with valuable information to help propel things forward in the industry.”
The educational sessions will include local panelists who will discuss:
Two Years Out: Things to Talk to a Lawyer About – An expert team of attorneys discusses critical industry legal pivot points in transitioning from pandemic survival mode to some semblance of normalcy.
Inventory Your Knowledge on Tip Pools, Tip Credits and Other Wage Issues – Employment law expert Helen Lizzie Mills reviews what to know and how to rethink your wage and hour practices, especially those involving tips.
What the Commodity Market is Telling Us – Chuck Baldwin, vice president of merchandising for Sysco, provides insight on how to navigate changes within a supply chain and commodity market that has been all over the board.
Workforce Solutions: Building Talent One Person at a Time – Today’s industry climate requires a recognition that the hospitality industry is one of continuous career growth with pathways upwards and not just a first-time gig. MRLA Executive Vice President Amanda Smith will walk operators through innovative customizable workforce development solutions that allow each member of your team to maximize potential for long-term success.
Navigating the Always-changing MLCC Practices – Through the last two years, the MRLA has successfully delivered new opportunities for operators to sell alcohol through cocktails-to-go, social zones, and expanded outdoor seating. As these options are here to stay, join liquor license specialist attorney Kelly Allen to hear directly about best practices for navigating compliance within Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission.
Attendees also will enjoy access to exclusive specials on products and services from several exhibitors, as well as to offer networking opportunities, lunch, and meeting with industry suppliers.
The MRLA is currently offering a 50 percent discount on registration for both members and non-members. Attendee tickets must be purchased by May 4. For more information about the MRLA or to purchase tickets, visit here.
Korotkin Insurance Group Adds Vault Insurance Co. to Portfolio of Carrier Partners
Korotkin Insurance Group Inc. (KIG) in Southfield has added Florida’s Vault Insurance Co. to its portfolio of insurance carrier partners.
KIG has been providing insurance solutions to Michigan residents for more than 100 years. With the addition of Vault, KIG customers will benefit from additional specialized forms of personal lines insurance that will cater to their individualized needs.
The Vault partnership with KIG allows both entities to work directly with each client in their established communities, and to make sure the client’s needs are met with “personalized attention, exceptional service, and promptness” no matter the type of insurance they are requesting.
For more information, visit here.
Tickets Still Available for 7th Annual M&A All Star Awards
The Association for Corporate Growth says there are tickets still available for its Seventh Annual M&A All Star Awards dinner from 6-8 p.m. May 3 at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.
Participants will enjoy a short awards ceremony, an open bar, food, and networking.
Tickets, $125 for ACG members and $175 for non-members, are available here.
Activate Detroit Empowers Black-owned Businesses
Credit scores don’t tell the whole story of small business entrepreneurs. Activate Detroit, a new loan product meant to empower Black entrepreneurs, is changing the way their story is told.
Offered by CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners, Activate Detroit provides access to affordable financing through character-based lending practices.
Activate Detroit’s approach includes:
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Fee-free lending.
- A simplified application process built to help borrowers move from idea to financing as quickly as possible.
- Complimentary pre- and post-loan technical assistance for all borrowers, such as developing business projections, etc.
- A grant tied to a percentage of the loan amount that can be used to pay down balance in times of distress or financial hardship.
“Black entrepreneurs have been excluded for generations from traditional financial institutions, which has kept them from being able to launch and grow their businesses,” says Ellis Carr, president and CEO of CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners. “We recognized that credit scores only tell part of a story, and we wanted to create a product that is anti-status quo — a product that focuses on character, trust, commitment, and community. Activate Detroit is a solution that we hope will be more equitable and inclusive and will help break a cycle of distrust and disenfranchisement.”
For more information about Activate Detroit, visit here.
Tuition to Remain Frozen for Fifth Straight Year for WCC In-district Students
Tuition for in-district students at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor will remain frozen for the fifth consecutive year, the college announced following Board of Trustees approval Tuesday.
“Washtenaw Community College is the community’s college, and we are committed to offering an exceptional education at an affordable tuition for all students,” says Rose B. Bellanca, president of WCC. “As the economic impacts of the pandemic linger, it is important to support students and help them fulfill their dreams and goals. Our continuing low tuition rates, coupled with the ease of credit transfer, make WCC a smart choice for families.”
Tuition per credit hour will remain at $95 for on-campus in-district students and $108 for distance learning in-district students. In-district students live, work or own property in Washtenaw County. This rate has been in place since Fall 2017.
The complete chart of 2022-2023 tuition rates can be seen here.
