Design Core Detroit to Host 14th Annual Detroit Month of Design in September
Design Core Detroit will host the 14th annual Detroit Month of Design, Sept. 1–30, 2024, featuring more than 100 events in spaces all over the city, including immersive design experiences, exhibitions, installations, studio visits, product launches, artist talks, tours, workshops, and parties.
The 2024 Month of Design theme, “Creative Currents,” pays tribute to Detroit’s legacy of artistry and innovation, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking to design a better future. As the only UNESCO City of Design in the United States, Detroit is a global hub of culture and creativity.
Emerging practices such as the adaptive reuse of existing structures, which today comprise more than half of local architectural projects, help exemplify how the city is leading the world in sustainable innovation. By centering local voices and remaining attentive to new developments with-in the city’s design community, Design Core’s programming aims to develop open-access environments where information, opportunities, and creative solutions flow freely and equally. In addition to a celebration of history and culture, the Detroit Month of Design serves as a platform for creating such spaces.
For more details, visit detroitmonthofdesign.org.
Roncelli Inc. Founder Gary Roncelli Passes Away
The founder of Roncelli Inc. in Sterling Heights, Gary Roncelli, passed away July 31 at the age of 72.
Roncelli’s leadership and dedication were instrumental in transforming a small trenching company into a commercial building brand operating in two countries and six states.
“We mourn the loss of a great man, a man who was both strong and kind, whose larger-than-life legacy will be part of Roncelli’s story forever,” says Gino Roncelli, CEO of Roncelli. “Despite his loss, I want to assure our clients, partners, and stakeholders that our construction company is more able than it’s even been. We have an exceptionally talented leadership team that Gary trained and mentored, and our commitment to excellence and innovation remains unwavering.”
Anyone wishing to honor Gary Roncelli’s memory, the family asks for a donation to the Roncelli Family Foundation here.
Marcus Elliot, Detroit Parks Coalition Are Recipients of 2024 Joyce Awards
Marcus Elliot and the Detroit Parks Coalition were announced as recipients of the Joyce Foundation’s 2024 Joyce Awards, receiving a landmark grant of $100,000 to support a new commission, including $30,000 allocated for an artist stipend.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation’s signature annual grantmaking program that has supported artists of color in the creation of new, community-centered works with organizational partners across the Great Lakes region.
Supported by the $100,000 grant, Detroit-based saxophonist, composer, improviser, and educator Elliot will create Sounds from the Park, a suite of site-specific works composed to illuminate the diverse stories, multifaceted histories, and varied cultures of Detroit’s parks and their surrounding neighborhoods.
Commissioned by the Detroit Parks Coalition and developed through a series of co-creation workshops, interviews, and park visits with the residents and communities that surround and use each park, Elliot will transform his community interactions into improvisation-rich compositions rooted in Detroit’s parks and their neighborhoods.
The commission will culminate in performances of the works in each park for the people that inspired them, and a recording that captures the live music against the backdrop of the city soundscape. The project will illuminate the histories and relationships of Detroit’s public green spaces and the communities they serve while fostering a shared sense of belonging and place.
To learn more about the 20th anniversary of the Joyce Awards and the 2024 awardees, visit here.
Ford BlueCruise Now Available to Use in 17 Countries
Ford BlueCruise hands-free highway driving technology now can be used and enjoyed in a total of 15 European countries, following approval by the European Commission.
In Europe, this unlocks access to more than 82,744 miles of designated highways across Europe, called Blue Zones, allowing customers to take a road trip across multiple countries. Imagine the possibilities for a customer who could use BlueCruise across six countries – from Sweden down south to Italy – almost 1,864 miles and more than 25 hours spent driving hands-free.
With this approval, BlueCruise now is available to Ford customers to use across 17 countries globally. This includes the U.S. and Canada, as well as Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
For more information about BlueCruise, visit ford.com/bluecruise.
Zingerman’s Announces Sunday Picnics at Cornman Farms Aug. 11, 18, 25
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms in Dexter announces its annual Picnic Pop-Ups, Aug. 11, 18, or 25, from noon-6 p.m., one of many special events happening at Cornman Farms this year as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Inspired by British chef and co-managing partner Kieron Hales’ homeland, Cornman Farms is offering elevated picnic box meals with a different menu each week, including a vegetarian option. Picnic boxes include main dishes like chicken (or chickpea) coronation salad, roast beef (or grilled vegetable) sandwiches, and pesto pasta salad (with or without grilled chicken). Multiple side dishes will also be served in each box, with different selections each time, like sweet and spicy cucumbers, confit fennel salad, Granny Smith coleslaw, and more.
All picnic boxes include dessert, too, in the form of madeleines — depending on the week, either citrus, herb, or lavender-lemon.
They’re a favorite of Hales’, as he explains, “When made fresh and served straight to you, they are magic,” Hales says, adding that he loves being able to use ingredients right from the property’s own garden, like basil for the madeleines and house-made pesto.
Pre-ordered picnic boxes can be picked up at the farmhouse. Guests can then either take them to go or dine in on Cornman Farms’ picturesque estate. Guests opting to enjoy the grounds are welcome to bring their own picnic blankets and chairs. A cash bar will be available in the Red Barn, along with additional seating.
Pre-orders are required and can be placed here.
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms is located at 8540 Island Lake Road in Dexter.
Missouri Central Credit Union Selects Bankjoy’s Digital Banking Platform
Missouri Central Credit Union has selected Detroit-based Bankjoy’s digital banking platform as well as the company’s Online Account Opening solution to acquire and onboard new members.
Missouri Central Credit Union is based in Lee’s Summit, Mo. and founded in 1931.
Following a vetting process of several vendors, which was supported by its strategic partner, Cornerstone Advisors, Missouri Central Credit Union chose to use Bankjoy’s suite of digital banking products to elevate its member experience and offer the same caliber of digital tools as some of the largest institutions in the nation.
Through the partnership, Missouri Central Credit Union members will have access to Bankjoy’s end-to-end digital platform, which includes online and mobile banking, e-statements, along with other advanced functionalities, such as integrated online loan applications and more. For new members, the credit union now supports a smooth and seamless onboarding experience thanks to Bankjoy’s Online Account Opening solution.
Detroit’s Giffels Webster Earns Award from The American Society of Civil Engineers
Giffels Webster, a Detroit-based civil engineering firm, received the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Lansing-Jackson branch of the Michigan Chapter’s Quality of Life Award for the company’s work on the Brighton Streetscape project.
The project began in 2018 when Giffels Webster assisted the city of Brighton with developing a comprehensive new streetscape plan that focused on thinking of the city in a more holistic way. In 2023, this transformative initiative, spanning half a mile along Main Street and Grand River Avenue, was brought to life with a refreshed streetscape. The project showcased Giffels Webster’s commitment to enhancing urban and suburban environments through comprehensive city planning and innovative design.
The Brighton Streetscape project includes significant infrastructure upgrades, such as a new water main, concrete sidewalks, improved road pavement surfaces, and modern electrical systems. The design enhancements to downtown Brighton also feature decorative street lighting, thoughtfully designed street furnishings, and lush landscaping that adds to the area’s charm. The project further extends to the adjacent park near the mill pond, offering public seating, a fire pit, and other amenities that foster community engagement and enhance the overall quality of life for Brighton residents, business owners and visitors.
The project helped improve Brighton business owners’ and residents’ quality of life by increasing accessibility by widening public sidewalks and expanding seating areas for special events to bring more residents and visitors downtown.
The completed project brought the city of Brighton to life with a refreshed streetscape and improved infrastructure in the form of reliable water supply and electrical systems. The updated aesthetic of downtown Brighton focused on functionality and quality to bring lasting benefits to the businesses, city residents, and the more vibrant downtown.
Study: Michigan Personal Auto Insurance Affordability Improved After No-fault Reforms
Michigan personal auto insurance affordability has improved markedly since the state enacted significant auto insurance reform in 2019, according to a new report titled Personal Auto Insurance Affordability in Michigan, by the Insurance Research Council (IRC).
In 2022 (the latest year for which expenditure data is available), personal auto insurance expenditures accounted for 1.9 percent of the median household income in Michigan, a decline of 0.5 percentage points from the pre-reform peak. Michigan’s expenditure share, however, remains higher than the percentage in the overall U.S. and 44 other states, due largely to its unique no-fault system and generous medical benefits.
Key findings of the study:
- Before the reforms, Michigan drivers were required to purchase unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) coverage; in comparison, the second highest mandated amount of PIP coverage was $50,000 in New York. The unlimited medical benefits and other features, such as attendant care benefits and no medical fee schedule, led to Michigan’s extremely high average auto injury claim severity, which has been the primary cost driver in the state.
- In 2022, the most recent year for which information is currently available, Michigan households spent $1,319 to insure each vehicle, nearly 20 percent above the national average. In the years since reform, however, expenditures have fallen in Michigan while increasing in almost every other state. From 2019 to 2022, the average expenditure for auto insurance in Michigan fell 12 percent compared with an increase of 5 percent in the U.S. overall.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists are both a symptom and cause of affordability issues. In 2019, Michigan had the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country, with more than one in four motorists lacking the required liability coverage. The uninsured motorist rate in Michigan dropped five percentage points between 2020 and 2022.
MEDC Sets Record with Nearly 600 College Students Participating in Summer Internships
The Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s (MEDC) decision to rebrand earlier this year its celebrated STEM Forward program to “STEAM Ahead” — streamlining the employer-reimbursement structure, increasing its financial incentives and incorporating new internship roles that live at the intersection of arts and science, technology, engineering and math careers such as front-end web developers and industrial designers — is achieving record-setting results.
The MEDC’s new STEAM Ahead program has successfully funded more than 570 summer internships during the first half of 2024. Since launching in 2021, the program has averaged 275 interns during a calendar year. STEAM Ahead surpassed that mark in just one semester this year, more than doubling the program’s previous best semester of 272 interns funded in summer 2022.
The program’s evolution to STEAM Ahead reflects the MEDC’s effort to be more inclusive of careers such as geographic information systems, architectural engineering, CAD design, and sound engineering as well as elevate the role these careers can play in Michigan’s priority talent industries, with an emphasis on electric vehicles (EV), semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
Students from 38 Michigan colleges and universities are participating in internships through STEAM Ahead this summer. Higher education partners include the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, Calvin University, Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan Technological University, and Delta College.
To make STEAM Ahead more attractive, the MEDC increased the intern wage match amounts to help spur more Michigan businesses of all sizes to hire interns, expand work experience opportunities for college students and potentially find long-term, highly skilled hires.
MEDC now matches employer contributions toward internship wages up to $4,000 for a full-time position or up to $2,000 for part-time positions. Companies of all sizes must be Michigan -based or have a strong presence in Michigan. Internship positions must have a strong STEAM focus and pay a minimum of $15 per hour.
More information is available at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/steam-ahead/.
Lawrence Tech, Partners Launch Healthcare Violence Reduction Center
Lawrence Technological University in Southfield and health care partners have created the LTU Healthcare Violence Reduction Center with the mission is to empower health care providers with innovative, research-based solutions that effectively reduce workplace violence, ensuring the safety and well-being of both staff and patients.
The center will be housed within LTU’s College of Health Sciences but will be interdisciplinary in nature.
Workplace violence in the health care industry has been on the rise for more than a decade. According to studies, more than 50 nurses a day are attacked in the United States, 40 percent of health care workers say they have experienced workplace violence in the past two years, and 85 percent of emergency room physicians say that workplace violence has increased over the last five years.
“A comprehensive approach to health care education includes not just teaching, but research and scholarship that creates new knowledge — in this case, knowledge that will improve the safety of patients and providers,” says Mary Schutten, dean of the College of Health Sciences at LTU. “We look forward to conducting this research with our healthcare partners.”
The center’s membership will propose research topics to be conducted by LTU faculty, who are experts in modeling, simulation, health education, biotechnology, health care management, robotics, cybersecurity, and cognitive psychology — all topics related to making workplaces safer.
Funding for the new center comes in part from the MHA Keystone Center. The center also has received a $70,000, two-year grant from the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan.
Leading the center will be Stacey Frankovich, a veteran nonprofit and economic development executive. Frankovich was most recently director of the MedHealth life sciences initiative of TechTown, Wayne State University’s technology-focused business accelerator.
For further information on the center and its research, and more information on membership and research participation, contact Frankovich at sfrankovi@ltu.edu.
