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 Riverfront Conservancy Opens Uniroyal Promenade
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, partners, and hundreds of community members celebrated the completion of the 3.5-mile East Riverfront on Oct. 21 and marked the opening of the Uniroyal Promenade, a newly built connection and half-mile extension of the Riverwalk, completes the East Riverfront.
The completed riverfront illustrates the conservancy’s 20-year vision of a revitalized riverfront and includes a series of parks and trails from Huntington Place to Belle Isle in downtown Detroit.
The new promenade, developed on a site that has stood vacant since 1980, connects Gabriel Richard Park to Mt. Elliott Park and provides access to Belle Isle — the country’s largest island park designed by Frederick Olmsted, designer of Central Park in New York City.
Other destinations along the East Riverfront managed by the conservancy include Robert C. Valade Park, Cullen Plaza, the Dequindre Cut Greenway, and Dennis Archer Greenway.
“Twenty years ago, a fledgling new conservancy made a promise to the people of Detroit that we would transform the Detroit Riverfront through the creation of a 3.5-mile system of parks and trails between what is now Huntington Place and Belle Isle,” says Matt Cullen, founding chairman of the conservancy’s board of directors. “Today we celebrate the fulfillment of that promise. Working together, we have brought that bold vision to reality. It’s a special moment for all of us and one that will be celebrated for generations to come.”
The Uniroyal Promenade represents an $11 million investment. Construction began on the promenade in May 2021 following a one-year, $3 million shoreline restoration project that was led by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Uniroyal property contains 42 acres of land, and the Uniroyal factory once employed 10,000 people. It closed in 1980 and was demolished in 1985.
The conservancy also announced the naming of the plaza at Gabriel Richard Park in memory of Christopher Stroh, whose family has committed a significant gift to support the mission of the conservancy.
For more information, visit detroitriverfront.org.
Study: Number of People Attending Haunted Attractions Growing
The number of people visiting haunted attractions is growing, according to the Haunt Industry Report, released by Passage, a Detroit-based event ticketing company.
The survey includes data from 215 haunted attraction owners in the US and Canada, plus data from Passage’s HauntPay platform, which includes statistics from more than 1,300 haunted attractions and events.
“While we found that 66 percent of haunt owners identified their biggest revenue producer as ticket sales last year, we also found that merchandise and gift shops were the biggest earners for 13 percent of haunts,” says Alex Linebrink, co-founder and CEO of Passage. “This information is incredibly useful to the industry we serve, as HauntPay offers the opportunity for haunts to increase their revenue stream with convenient merchandise and add-on items at point of sale.”
Another notable find from the survey was that half of haunts were either operated by a nonprofit organization or donated a portion of their proceeds to a nonprofit. Also, half of haunts offered timed ticketing, with 85 percent of those offering a way for guests to pay reduced their time in line through a VIP entrance or skip-the-line pass.
Haunted attractions are growing in popularity and are no longer limited to the season of Halloween. Fewer than 3 percent of respondents reported their attractions were only open during the fall. Instead, 16.2 percent were open for Krampus/holiday events, 15 percent on Friday the 13th, 11.2 percent were open for Zombie Prom, and 10.9 percent were year-round.
Other findings include:
- 33 percent of haunts expect to see between 5,000-10,000 guests this year.
- Nearly six out of 10 haunts charge $20 or less per person for admission.
- Guests continued to spend 61 percent more when purchasing tickets online.
Comcast Bringing $7.5M Broadband Network Expansion into Ingham County
Comcast is nearing completion of a $7.5 million fiber-backed build of its Xfinity 10G Network into Mason, Webberville, and Williamston, where the company will now offer up to 2 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) Internet to households, and Internet speeds up to 100 Gbps to businesses. This announcement comes on the heels of the company’s $7 million expansion into Eaton County, including Charlotte, Dimondale, and Potterville from earlier this year.
Over the last three years, Comcast has invested more than $850 million in technology and infrastructure in Michigan, including upgrades to its broadband network.
“From Eaton County to now Ingham County, we invest in communities, big and small, to connect them to the power of the Internet,” says Kristee Cominiello, senior vice president of Comcast in Michigan. “This is a critical time for Michigan to ensure its homes and businesses have access to fast, reliable and secure broadband to stay economically competitive in our increasingly digital world.”
State Announces Support for Expanded Insurance Coverage of Mental Health Services
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration expressing support for newly proposed federal rules that will help improve access to timely high-quality mental health and substance use disorder treatments.
“Mental health care is just as important as physical health care, and we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure that Michiganders can get coverage for the treatments they need to stay healthy,” says Anita Fox, director of the DIFS. “I am pleased to offer the department’s support for these important rules and to make suggestions to further strengthen consumer protections to ensure that those who need these services have coverage on the same basis as other covered benefits such as cancer screenings and office visits.”
First passed in 2008, and later expanded in 2010 and 2021, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires most health insurers and plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatments without cost or use restrictions that are more restrictive than those applied to other covered treatments. The expanded law also put into place testing and data reporting requirements to help state agencies, including DIFS, and the federal government implement these rules.
The newly proposed rules further strengthen the consumer protections under MHPAEA by adding additional controls to the use of treatment limitations, such as prior authorization requirements, standards for provider admission to insurance networks, and methodologies for determining provider reimbursement rates. The proposed rules would also put into place an additional data reporting requirement that would have insurers collect and evaluate relevant outcomes data, identify any material differences between the types of benefits, and remedy any identified differences.
If finalized, the new requirements will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, for group health plans, and on Jan. 1, 2026, for individual health plans.
Waterford’s Elite Sportsplex to Host Holiday Bartering Expo Nov. 16
Trade First, a business-to-business trading network, is hosting a Holiday Bartering Expo from 4-8 p.m. at Elite Sportsplex (2220 Mall Dr. E) in Waterford.
Guests and members will be able to learn about trade and barter economy, enjoy complimentary food and drinks, shop more than 75 vendor booths, and enter to win a two-night trip to Las Vegas.
Registration is required. For more information or to register, call 248.544.1350 or visit tradefirst.com.
U-M Health Expands Use of Digital Pathology Solution from Connecticut
The University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor has expanded the use of the enterprise imaging solution from Sectra in Connecticut by including its module for digital pathology. This will enable pathologists to review and collaborate around cases, ultimately improving cancer diagnostics in the region.
According to Sectra, digital pathology leads to numerous advantages for hospitals, pathologists, and patients, including streamlined operations, reduced costs, and heightened diagnostic precision. The pathologists should be able to complement their use of microscopes with the digital solution, allowing them to review and collaborate around cases in a way that has not been possible before. They will now have instant and, if needed, remote access to digital images of tissue samples instead of relying on physical glass slides reviewed in microscopes.
The health center’s pathologists and radiologists now sharing a unified platform will pave the way for integrated diagnostics, which is key in efficient cancer care for example, as the different specialties can collaborate even better.
These advantages for Michigan Medicine and its pathologists will in turn provide their patients with expedited diagnoses and an increased likelihood of obtaining accurate and timely treatment, ultimately helping to enhance their overall healthcare experience and outcomes.
Pennsylvania Credit Union Picks the Online and Mobile Platform of Detroit’s Bankjoy
NET Credit Union in Scranton, Pa. has partnered with Detroit’s Bankjoy to empower its members with a seamless online and mobile onboarding experience via Bankjoy’s newly enhanced, standalone Online Account Opening solution to drive new member acquisition and deposit growth.
By partnering with Bankjoy, NET Credit Union will enroll new members using the company’s standalone Online Account Opening solution, which facilitates a fully automated, secure, and streamlined onboarding experience.
Bankjoy’s Online Account Opening features a 90-second onboarding process that verifies user identity through ID upload and selfie matching for secure and efficient account opening. Bankjoy’s onboarding process is designed for mobile, online, and in-branch channels, which gives members the option to enroll via their preferred device or channel.
NET Credit Union also can configure Bankjoy’s onboarding workflow to include account funding, types of accounts, and more, giving the credit union more flexibility to customize the account opening experience.
Additionally, Bankjoy’s Online Account Opening solution will integrate with NET Credit Union’s current digital banking platform, Alkami, which enables existing members to open additional accounts quickly and easily.
BP Station in Warren Gets High-tech Makeover
A BP gas station in Warren is getting a high-tech makeover thanks to Florida-based Grubbrr, a provider of self-ordering technology that is backed by celebrity chef Robert Irvine, and Dover Fueling Solutions in Austin, Texas.
Gas station owners rely heavily on retail sales to boost profits as gas alone doesn’t make them money. The new technology making its way to Warren, called the DX Market powered by Grubbrr, is designed to help these small business owners nearly double profits and provide an opportunity for customers to order food and shop for products while pumping gas.
Small Business Owners Tell the Fed to ‘Stop the Squeeze on Small Business’
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices has launched a multifaceted national media and advocacy campaign to tell the Federal Reserve to “Stop the Squeeze on Small Business and abandon the proposed Basel III Endgame regulation.”
The Stop the Squeeze on Small Business campaign launches with two new digital advertisements and will continue in the coming weeks with additional paid media, as well as other activations of small business owners to ensure policymakers understand the harmful impact of the proposed regulation.
Since Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices launched in 2020, small business owners have consistently stated that accessing capital is one of the biggest challenges they face, which led 10,000 Small Businesses Voices to partner with the Bipartisan Policy Center to produce three policy reports to address small business financing gaps and modernize the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The new survey data shows that small business owners are still deeply concerned about their ability to access capital, and how Basel III Endgame could impact their business. For instance, only 29 percent of small business owners say their business can currently afford to take out a loan given current interest rates, and 85 percent say if access to capital continues to tighten it will impact their growth forecast.
If access to capital continues to tighten:
- 67 percent of respondents say they will have to halt expansion plans.
- 42 percent say they will need to lay off workers or stop hiring.
- 21 percent would close their business.
Other survey results include:
- Nearly one-in-three (31 percent) cite 2023 as being their most difficult year over the past four years.
- 87 percent of small business owners say it is important for their elected officials in Washington to weigh in with the Federal Reserve regarding the impact of new bank capital requirements.
In July 2023, U.S. regulators proposed the Basel III Endgame rule, which will require large banks and most regional banks to further increase the amount of capital they hold by an estimated 20 percent on average. The negative impact to US small businesses includes:
- Reduced access to capital. If capital requirements for banks are significantly increased as proposed, they will be pressured to offer less financing to borrowers or offer it at a higher cost. The smaller borrowers are likely to be squeezed out — including small businesses, households, and consumers.
- Further disadvantage minority-owned small businesses. Minority-owned businesses already face significant challenges accessing capital. According to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices survey, 81 percent of Hispanic small business owners and 85% of Black small business owners are concerned about their ability to access capital. This proposal would make it even harder for minority-owned businesses to access loans and credit.
- More expensive borrowing. Many banks already consider small businesses to be bigger risks. The capital proposal will further exacerbate the problem, making it more expensive for banks to lend to small businesses.
Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2023 Comes to Detroit Zoo on Oct. 28
Metro Detroit-area residents are invited to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Detroit Zoo.
The Detroit Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which raised more than $810,000 last year, brings together individuals and teams from across metro Detroit. It will be emceed by longtime media personalities Chuck Gaidica and Diana Lewis.
In Michigan, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place in more than 20 locations across the state in September and October.
To register, donate, and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit act.alz.org/detroit.
2023 NKFM Kidney Ball Theme is ‘Glamping Under the Stars’
The theme of the 2023 National Kidney Foundation of Michigan Kidney Ball, 6 p.m. at the MotorCity Casino Hotel on Nov. 11, is “Glamping Under the Stars.”
Billed as “the most fun black-tie event in metro Detroit,” the annual NKFM Kidney Ball is the organization’s signature fundraiser that hosts hundreds of area business, health care, and philanthropic leaders to support the NKFM’s many programs and services for preventing kidney disease and helping the over one million Michigan residents living with it. The NKFM expects to raise more than $400,000 at the event.
The evening will feature a cocktail reception with drinks and appetizers, live and silent auctions, dinner, and dancing.
“The Kidney Ball is our signature fundraiser where we gather with our many friends and supporters from across the state,” says Linda Smith-Wheelock, president and CEO of NKFM. “It’s a fun event for a serious cause — preventing kidney disease and helping those living with it.”
Tickets for the Kidney Ball are $350 per guest and are available here by calling 800-482-1455.
Traverse City Beer Week Passport Now Available
An online passport is now available for Traverse City Beer Week with the support of Traverse City Tourism. The free passport makes discounts and prizes available from Nov. 10-17, in celebration of the northern Michigan beer scene.
“Once again Traverse City has been hailed as a top-ten small town beer scene by readers of USA Today,” says Trevor Tkach, president of Traverse City Tourism. “They called this a ‘hotbed of craft beer.’ The creativity our brewers pour into their creations are worthy of the recognition. Beer Week gives everyone a chance to taste the craftmanship and pride that goes into those brews.”
The mobile passport is available here. Participants take a self-guided brewery tour that also includes cideries. Those who check into five participating breweries earn a Traverse City Beer Week t-shirt, available for pick up at the Traverse City Tourism Visitor Center. Visitors who stay at a Traverse City lodging property will have an additional opportunity to win prizes including a $400 lodging gift certificate, tickets to Suds & Snow, downtown Traverse City gift certificates, and additional beer-related prizes.
A full list of participating breweries is available at traversecity.com/. Some breweries will offer discounts on beer flights and pints.
