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.
Detroit Opera to Present ‘Europeras 3 & 4’ at the Gem Theatre March 8-10
Detroit Opera’s site-specific operatic experience this season will be John Cage’s “Europeras 3 & 4” at Detroit’s historic Gem Theatre March 8-10.
Detroit Opera’s Artistic Director Yuval Sharon will direct three performances of Cage’s work, which challenges European opera tradition by transforming it into a collage. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and bass-baritone Davóne Tines, will headline a cast featuring sopranos Jennifer Cresswell, Kisma Jordan, and Melanie Spector; tenor River Guard; baritones Rolfe Dauz and Robert Wesley Mason; pianists John Etsell and Marina Stojanovska; and actors Biba Bell, Celia Benvenutti, and Christopher Woolfolk.
The presentation will feature pre-recorded music, live singers, pianists, actors, and stage actions determined through chance operations, and a digital Europeraclock taking the place of conductor.
“Cage created ‘Europeras 3 & 4’ entirely of recycled materials — arias that everyone is familiar with, classics from European repertoire,” says Sharon. “The only catch is that they’re all performed at the same time. Through chance operations, singers will perform arias that they select, while pianists play transcriptions of different operas, and phonographs are playing different recordings. The result is something new and original: an exhilarating, bewildering, wonderful work.”
For more information and tickets, visit detroitopera.org.
Colliers Detroit Announces Sale of 79.24 Acres in Auburn Hills
Colliers Detroit announced the successful sale of 79.24 acres at 4250 Interpark Drive in Auburn Hills. Paul Gyarmati, vice president, and Chris Pochas, associate, represented both seller and buyer in this transaction.
In the early 1960s, the site bordering the city was developed as the Silver Bell Ski Lodge, using fill material with potential contaminants. Environmental controls were minimal due to its remote location. The original developers went bankrupt in the late 1960s, and a new company took over. For about a decade, the new company operated a substandard landfill on the site, lacking modern standards, proper liners, and systems for leachate and methane gas treatment. Operations ceased in 1979, leaving an environmental mess.
The buyer, Crown Enterprises in Warren, is a family-owned commercial real estate firm that specializes in building and leasing turnkey properties for large companies and Fortune 500s.
Farbman Group Sells Sportmen’s Den in Riverview to Local Restaurateur
Farbman Group in Southfield has facilitated the sale of 15001 Sibley Road, formerly the Sportsmen’s Den in Riverview, to local restaurateur Jeremy Syrocki for an undisclosed price.
Syrocki owns numerous Downriver restaurants, including Truago, the newly opened Mamacitas, Rocky’s Roadhouse in Trenton, Major Biddle’s in Wyandotte, and Lloyds on Grosse Ile.
“The Den had a rich history rooted in Michigan sports, from serving the Michigan Wolverines college football program to catering regularly for the Detroit Tigers,” says Nanci Tarpley, the Farbman sales and leasing associate who brokered the deal. “It was a pleasure to steward this storied space’s next chapter under new ownership to a new local restaurateur who is sure to bring joy to returning and new customers alike in the years ahead.”
The Sportsmen’s Den, a 24,250-square-foot property that includes a banquet hall, had been operated by Joe Orlando and his family for more than four decades.
The location’s sports history includes hosting and catering for the Detroit Tigers from 1982-2009, and regular visits from Lloyd Carr, former University of Michigan head football coach and Riverview native. The restaurant offered food services to Carr’s local youth football camps, in addition to hosting annual coaches’ meetings.
Community Financial Credit Union in Plymouth Township Enhances Digital Experience
Community Financial Credit Union, a nonprofit financial institution headquartered in Plymouth Township, has launched a multi-year partnership with Lumin Digital in California, delivering an integrated online banking experience to its more than 80,000 members.
With the launch of Community Financial, Lumin Digital now supports more than 50 live financial institutions across the United States and more than 4 million users under contract on Lumin’s cloud-native digital banking platform.
Lumin will provide the credit union with many member-requested features like business banking and heightened safety and security protocols, alongside a seamless digital integration of their existing third-party services and partners. Additionally, with the launch of Lumin’s cloud-native online and mobile banking platform, it has augmented its suite of services, including tailored spending analyses, financial guidance, savings objectives, and fraud notifications. Using Lumin’s technology, Community Financial will provide its members with instantaneous updates and streamlined features, simplifying day-to-day banking activities.
“We’re committed to making an impact in our members’ lives by offering services that make their banking experience easier and more personal,” says Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of Community Financial Credit Union. “We’re thrilled to have a partner in Lumin that’s going to help us do that.
“We’ve seen a rising number of members expressing interest in a digital-first banking experience, and with everything we’re able to offer them through Lumin, our hope is that they know they are being heard.”
Survey: Black Small Business Owners Less Likely to Secure Loans
To highlight the contributions of and the challenges faced by Black small business owners during Black History Month, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices released new survey data showing Black small business owners face inordinate barriers to accessing capital, are less likely to secure loans, and often face predatory payment terms at higher rates.
Despite this, Black small business owners report increased optimism and higher profit expectations for the year ahead.
“Black small business owners continue to disproportionately face challenges accessing affordable capital with fair terms, and on top of that, we’re often the target of predatory loans,” says Markevis Gideon, founder of NERDiT NOW in Wilmington, Del. “Closing these gaps and holding bad actors accountable must be a priority for lawmakers and regulators. Despite these unique challenges, Black small business owners continue to demonstrate incredible resilience and a sense of optimism about the future for our small businesses and our communities.”
Key findings from the survey include:
Access to Capital: Black small business owners are disproportionately unable to get necessary capital for their businesses to grow. An astonishing 86 percent of Black small business owners surveyed were concerned about access to capital, higher than the overall percentage of 77 percent of small business owners.
Loan Application Disparities: Black small business owners are more likely to have applied for new loans or lines of credit compared to the national average (44 percent vs. 35 percent). They also are less likely to receive the full amount they requested, however, with only 32 percent of those same small business owners receiving the requested funds compared to 40 percent nationally.
Predatory Payment Terms: Alarmingly, 37 percent of Black small business owners who have taken loans in the last year report experiencing payment terms that felt predatory compared to 28 percent nationally.
Optimism and Profit Expectations: Despite these challenges, Black small business owners express remarkable optimism, with 81 percent expressing positivity about their business prospects, compared to 75 percent nationally. Moreover, 75 percent of Black small business owners anticipate an increase in profits in 2024, surpassing the national average of 62 percent.
For more information on the survey, visit here.
Michigan School Advisory Group Selects Approved Vendors for Program
Stride Tutoring in Reston, Va. and BookNook in Oakland, Calif. have been selected as preferred vendors by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Advisors for its 23g MI Kids Back on Track Grant Program.
Stride Tutoring offers online tutoring support to school districts and directly to consumers. Stride Tutoring connects students with experienced teachers specializing in math, science, English, and many other subjects. Stride’s personalized tutoring helps learners maintain their academic pace, catch up, or even surge ahead as tutors customize lesson plans to each student’s specific learning needs, strengths, and interests.
BookNook’s platform is distinguished by its ability to support the needs of each district, offering a blend of structured learning standards and instructional materials. Its approach is designed to complement classroom teaching, thereby reinforcing and enhancing students’ skills.
Shady Lane Cellars in Sutton’s Bay Earns Five Medals in San Francisco Wine Competition
Shady Lane Cellars in Sutton’s Bay, north of Traverse City, earned a total of five awards in the 41st annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition conducted last week at Cloverdale Citrus Fair in northern Sonoma County, Calif.
Topping the list was Shady Lane Cellars’ 2022 Pinot Gris, which earned Double Gold.
“I was so happy to see that Double Gold in such a competitive category, for such a familiar wine,” says Kasey Wierzba, executive winemaker and general manager at Shady Lane Cellars. “It’s truly an accomplishment to see our Pinot Gris shine through.”
In total, Shady Lane Cellars wines earned the following medals:
- 2022 Pinot Gris – Double Gold
- 2022 Late Harvest Riesling – Double Gold
- 2022 Gruner Veltliner – Silver
- 2022 Gewurztraminer – Silver
- 2021 Sparkling Riesling – Silver
Detroit Philanthropy Hosts Panel on Navigating Shift from Charity to Change
Detroit Philanthropy is hosting a panel discussion, “Making Your Case to Corporate Donors,” featuring prominent corporate giving experts at a sold-out event on Feb. 29 at Trion Solutions in Troy.
“Nonprofits across the country are navigating the current economic climate, and Michigan is no different,” says Rachel Decker, president of Detroit Philanthropy. “This panel is an incredible opportunity to hear from local businesses that are committed to philanthropy and learn how they make their giving decisions, and ultimately, help nonprofits better align their charitable requests.”
Moderated by Decker, the panel will delve into practical strategies for nonprofits to articulate their impact effectively and stand out in the competitive landscape of corporate giving. Attendees will gain insights into aligning their mission with corporate values, building collaborative partnerships, and creating measurable outcomes.
Featured panelists and guests will include:
- Rodney E. Cole, president of the DTE Foundation and DTE Corporate Citizenship
- Cam Barrett, corporate affairs manager for the Kroger Co. Michigan
- Jeff Caponigro, executive vice president of corporate communications and chief marketing officer at Trion Solutions
For more information, visit here.
Detroit Pistons Announce J. Dilla-inspired Retail Capsule
The Detroit Pistons on Wednesday announced a retail collaboration with Royce 5’9” celebrating the life and legacy of Detroit-born producer, songwriter, and rapper J. Dilla and his impact in music and culture. The capsule will be available for purchase on March 13 on Pistons313Shop.com.
The announcement took place on what would have been Dilla’s 50th birthday, almost 18 years after he passed away from complications from a combination of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and lupus.
“Those familiar with Dilla’s musical genius understand his impact on hip-hop but there are still so many who aren’t familiar with his legacy,” says Bilal Saeed, vice president of brand and marketing strategy for the NBA team. “The Pistons wanted to tell his story in a creative way while also continuing to shed light on the city’s impact on music around the world.”
The collection was designed in partnership with Detroit-based rapper Royce 5’9”, who served as art director on the project. Royce and Dilla worked on several records together prior to Dilla’s passing, including “Let’s Grow.” According to Royce, this project serves to carry on Dilla’s legacy and complete their “unfinished business.”
Each piece in the capsule will pay homage to J. Dilla, his work, and his non-traditional style.
MCC’s Lorenzo Cultural Center Presents ‘Freedom Confirmed’ Feb. 12-April 27
The Lorenzo Cultural Center, located on Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, presents “Freedom Confirmed,” a program series focused on Abraham Lincoln’s role in the Civil War and key events that shaped American democracy and freedoms, Feb. 12-April 27.
Presented in partnership with the Detroit Historical Society, the program series includes exhibits, artifacts, and more than 20 presentations to inspire and educate visitors. A special one-day travelling collection from the True Black History Museum will be presented on Feb. 24.
“Freedom Confirmed focuses on a critical period of American history that shines a light on issues that are still important today” says William Wood, director of cultural affairs and community engagement at Macomb Community College.”
The series begins at 1 p.m. on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12, with a viewing of the film “Lincoln.” Macomb Professor Elton Weintz will provide cultural and historical context for the film and moderate a Q&A after the movie.
To open “Freedom Confirmed” exhibits on Feb. 24, the True Black History Museum will present The Collection, a showcase of artifacts that span from the 1600s to the present day. The Collection aims to honor the legacy of Black people and to educate others of their many achievements in various fields of human endeavor. This exhibit is only available on Feb. 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
At 11 a.m. on Feb. 24, the True Black History Museum also will present a celebration* of the Black American heritage through rhythmic movements featuring African American dancers, percussive sounds of African American drummers along with a rendition of the Black National Anthem.
For a detail schedule of events, visit here.
Baker College System Joins Gift of Life Campus Challenge
The Baker College System announces its participation in the Gift of Life Campus Challenge, a campaign running from through Feb. 29. The primary objective of this challenge is to encourage as many individuals as possible to register as organ and tissue donors.
The Campus Challenge channels fun rivalries and competitive spirit toward the cause of saving and healing lives. This program, characterized by its simplicity, ease, and free participation, has been a transformative force for the past 19 years, inspiring more than 40,000 people to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
During the five-week challenge, colleges and universities engage in friendly competition to register the most donors, with students, faculty, and staff actively participating through various channels such as social media, newsletters, and creative activities.
Each participating school receives digital resources and a link to the donor registry, earning points for every registration through their link. The real-time scores are displayed on Gift of Life Michigan’s website, culminating in the awarding of trophies to the top three schools for various achievements, including the most new donors recruited, the highest percentage of new donors relative to the student population, and the school earning the most activity points.
Throughout the campaign, Baker College is using social media efforts and hosting campus registration events to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation. The initiative is fueled by the belief that each person added to the registry brings hope and potential life-saving opportunities to those in need.
To participate, visit here.
