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 Tigers Gear Up for ‘Miggy Celebration Weekend’
The Detroit Tigers and their fans will celebrate, salute, and thank future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera — one of the greatest hitters in MLB history — during “Miggy Celebration Weekend” this Friday-Sunday at Comerica Park.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating Miguel Cabrera’s legendary career with Miggy and his family and Tigers fans this weekend,” says Ryan Gustafson, executive vice president and COO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Our fans are savoring every last moment to watch one of the greatest players in MLB history take the field, and it will be an emotional weekend at Comerica. We encourage fans to arrive early to be a part of history, as we thank Miggy for his impact on our organization, the game of baseball, and our city.”
On Friday, with the first pitch against the Cleveland Guardians scheduled for 6:40 p.m., all fans will receive a Miggy Comic Book Cover presented by Comerica. It’s also “Friday Night Party in the Park” presented by Casamigos Tequila. During a pregame ceremony, Cabrera will be honored as the Tigers’ 2023 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the MLB player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions.
Following Friday’s game, fans who stick around will see a Drone Show presented by Meijer, and the last “Friday Night Fireworks” of the 2023 season.
On Saturday, with the game scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m., gates will open at 11 a.m.
Cabrera’s record-breaking career will be celebrated prior to first pitch, with fans encouraged to be in their seats by 12:45 p.m. The ceremony will feature the Cabrera family, former manager Jim Leyland, Hall-of-Famer Alan Trammell, and other Tigers greats.
The first 15,000 fans will receive a Miggy Print All Over Shirt sponsored by Visit Central Florida.
All fans in attendance for Cabrera’s final game on Sunday (first pitch 3:10 p.m. with gates opening at 1 p.m.) will walk away with a surprise commemorative item. Before the game, as part of Chevy Sunday Kids Days, there will be Face Painters, free rides on the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel and the Hi-Chew Carousel, and two Tigers players will sign pregame autographs on the concourse near the Big Cat Court.
For all three games, Tigers fans will have the opportunity to celebrate Cabrera’s career through several Miggy-themed offerings, including:
- Live bands
- A Miggy Museum
- Special merchandise
- Cabrera-themed food and beverages
For additional information about Miggy Celebration Weekend, visit Tigers.com/Miggy.
Invest Detroit Awarded $45M in New Markets Tax Credit Allocation
Invest Detroit has been awarded $45 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund).
This is the sixth time Invest Detroit has received an allocation since 2009 and the $45 million is one of the largest awards Invest Detroit has received to date.
“This award is an affirmation of the creative ways we have utilized the NMTC program over the last several years,” says Marcia Ventura, senior vice president of lending at Invest Detroit. “This new infusion of credits increases our ability to invest in Detroit neighborhoods and Detroit developers of color, as we continue our support of critical revitalization projects across the city and create high-quality new jobs throughout southeast Michigan.”
The NMTC Program helps economically distressed communities attract private investment capital. This federal program helps to fill project financing gaps by enabling investors to make larger investments than would otherwise be possible.
Wonderly Lights of South Oakland County Has New Owner
Wonderly Lights, a Waterford Township holiday lighting franchise, has a new owner, Scott Johnson, who will oversee operations for the business that provides homeowners and businesses with specialized design consultations, professional installation, post-holidays removal, and storage for subsequent use.
Wonderly Lights of South Oakland County serves the Farmington, Livonia, Northville, Novi, and Plymouth Township areas. Johnson, a former systems engineer, was already thriving with a seasonal franchise business during the warmer months, when in looking for a new opportunity found a complimentary seasonal outlet to fill out the rest of the calendar year.
“It fits well with my other business, which is seasonal, and it enables a good transition allowing me to extend year-round employment as opposed to just a few months,” Johnson explaines. “Plus, my family and I love this community, and I hope to light up the holiday spirit for people and help them to feel the excitement and anticipation they used to feel when they were kids.”
Wonderly Lights offers a solution to the typical holiday challenges: the risks of DIY installations, the mess of knotted lights, and storage troubles. By choosing Wonderly Lights, customers can bask in the holiday mood, leaving the experts to craft the visual spectacle.
For more information, visit here. Information on a franchise opportunity with Wonderly Lights can be found here.
Roof Resource Expands to Oakland and Genesee Counties
Local entrepreneurs Jeff Goldman and Adam LaBelle are launching The Roof Resource Oakland County, a company working to redefine the roof replacement experience for homeowners. Goldman and LaBelle’s new business is designed to simplify the entire roof replacement process for consumers in Oakland and Genesee counties.
It consists of a virtual platform that combines the convenience of online shopping at cost with a preferred network of top roofing and installation companies to deliver transparency, significant savings, and quality roofing for homeowners.
Goldman and LaBelle are among the first 10 franchise owners of The Roof Resource in the country. Their West Bloomfield Township branch is dedicated to providing homeowners in Oakland and Genesee counties with a simpler, cost-effective, and worry-free solution for roof replacement.
The new roofing service will be available in Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, West Bloomfield Township, Waterford Township, Independence Township, Clarkston, Orion Township, Brandon Township, Davisburg Township, Highland Township, Milford, Commerce Township, White Lake, Walled Lake, Holly, Highland Township, and Brandon Township, along with Genessee County communities including Fenton, Grand Blanc Township, and Burton.
For more information about The Roof Resource, visit theroofresource.com.
Comerica’s Volunteerism Initiative Gains National Recognition
Comerica Bank and its commitment to building stronger communities earned national recognition as the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation named the Comerica Cares program a recipient of a 2023 ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award.
The award was given to Comerica for its efforts in the Volunteerism category and will formally present the honor during the ABA’s annual convention on Oct. 10.
“Comerica is built on relationships, those with our customers, colleagues, and local communities,” says Wendy Bridges, executive vice president of corporate responsibility at Comerica. “Our colleagues continue to rally behind our efforts to build strong and sustainable communities fueled through volunteerism. We believe colleagues at all levels of our organization gain valuable and relevant community insight through volunteering to make a difference in their community.”
Since its inception in 2009, the Comerica Cares program has served to build stronger communities across the bank’s footprint by supplying colleagues with volunteer opportunities.
Aligning with Comerica’s core values, specifically, being “A Force for Good,” the Comerica Cares program provides colleagues with the opportunities to give their time and talent to community partners and nonprofits such as participating on boards, conducting financial education training sessions or providing services requested by local community groups.
To learn more about the ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards, visit here.
Michigan Women Forward Announces Top Ten Finalists for Pitch Challenge
Public voting is underway on the 10 finalists in the Michigan Women Forward 53 Voices pitch challenge sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.
Each finalist submitted a 53-second video outlining their business idea. The public will have an opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite idea by visiting here through Oct. 11.
The finalists are:
- Zienethe Adewole of The Damage Zone, which offers a safe and non-judgmental environment to release stress in the form of destruction.
- Delana Hall of The LINAF Group, a mentoring and life coaching service assisting families, young adults, youth, and children.
- Aisha Harris of Harris Family Health, a direct primary care clinic providing quality, affordable, and personalized care through monthly memberships.
- Jen Heard of Love Bigger, which connects charities with givers committed to downsizing so that they can declutter.
- Kristina Lakey of The Goblin King Players, which specializes in unforgettable professional shadowcast theater and nostalgic entertainment.
- Courtney Larvadain of Reveille Skin Care, a luxury skin and body-care line providing structured neck-down regimens.
- Corynn Marchesi of The Inclusion Project MI, a speech and language provider offering in-home and community-based treatment, education, and advocacy.
- Marilyn McGee of Mkpads, which provides all-natural, premium feminine products, designed to keep women and girls cool, comfortable, and dry while improving their lifestyle.
- Katie Moore of Sisu Mobile Sauna, which offers a wide range of physical and emotional well-being benefits through the Finnish tradition of sauna.
- Debra Turnboe of Paradise Juice, an all-natural Jamaican themed juice company also providing functional health benefits.
The top three winners of the 53 Voices pitch challenge will be announced at a finalist event on Oct. 17 and livestreamed via Michigan Women Forward’s YouTube channel. The first prize winner will receive $7,500, the second-place winner will receive $5,000, and the third-place winner will receive $2,500.
Altair Wins Awards from Fortune and Newsweek Recognizing Employer Excellence
Altair, a computational science and artificial intelligence company in Troy, has been named to two lists that recognize companies that put employees first by placing them at the core of the business model and fostering an environment where they feel respected, inspired, and appreciated.
Altair placed 42nd out of the top 100 U.S. companies on Newsweek’s “Most Loved Workplaces in America” list and 39th in the large company category on Fortune’s “Best Workplaces in Technology” list for 2023.
“Being named to these highly respected lists alongside some of the world’s most prominent organizations is a tremendous honor and a continuing testament to Altair’s one-of-a-kind culture,” says James R. Scapa, founder and CEO of Altair. “I am so proud that Altair is consistently recognized as one of the premier places to work not just in the U.S., but in the world. We have something truly special here – something all of our employees build, maintain, and improve daily.”
The Parade Co.’s Distinguished Clown Corps Marks 40th Year
The Parade Co. is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Distinguished Clown Corps (DCC) presented by Emagine Entertainment and will host its annual private Grand Jester’s Reception from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Huntington Tower in Detroit.
The 2023 Distinguished Grand Jester is Dr. Grenae’ Dudley, who will have the honor of leading the group down the parade route for the 97th America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White. With more than 200 members, the DCC is one of the parade’s most beloved traditions and it is comprised of top community and business leaders.
The DCC began in 1983 with business leaders Tom Adams, then the chief of Campbell-Ewald advertising and Walter McCarthy, then chief of Detroit Edison, who served as the spark in creating a way for the leadership to become personally involved in helping The Parade Co.
DCC annual membership is $1,000 per person and includes a one-of-a-kind Parade Co.-made clown suit with all proceeds benefiting the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation. For nominations, please contact CarolAnn Barbb at cbarbb@theparade.org.
Michigan Science Center Offers Two Evening Events This October
The Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) in Detroit is offering two evening events for families and adults in October to help visitors celebrate the fall with science.
The evenings include First Friday Late Night Oct. 6 and the adults-only After Dark event Oct. 13.
These nights promise a fusion of fun and learning, delivering “unforgettable experiences wrapped in the enchantment of autumn,” according to Mi-Sci.
First Friday Late Night extends museum hours until 8 p.m., offering busy families an additional opportunity to enjoy Mi-Sci’s exhibits and theater shows. The evening also will include access to Mi-Sci’s latest, limited-time Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks exhibit, featuring 20 of the world’s most impressive buildings, intricately replicated in LEGOs. The event is included with general admission tickets.
On Friday the 13th, After Dark will embrace Halloween with an eerie evening where science meets the supernatural. In addition to child-free access to the museum’s exhibits, the evening will feature a Stranger Things Laser Show, alchemically inspired elixirs, music, and the Reptarium reptile zoo. The event is 21+ and includes a free drink ticket. After Dark will take place from 6-11 p.m.; standard tickets are $48; member tickets are $35.
Six West Michigan Attractions Offer Members Free Admission in October
The Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange returns this fall offering free, reciprocal admission to members of six west Michigan cultural attractions during October.
Current members can visit each destination free of admission charge when they present a valid membership card and photo ID. Participating organizations include The Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Bird Sanctuary and W.K. Kellogg Manor House.
Reciprocal members should track their visits with a punch card, available at all participating locations. Cards with a minimum of three punches can be entered into a drawing for guest passes and gift cards to each of the participating organizations. Six winners will be drawn and notified by Nov. 30.
For more information, visit swmimemberexchange.com.
Gesher Human Services’ Art Program to Stage Poetry Reading Performance
Gesher Human Services in Southfield and Detroit’s Matrix Theatre Co. are collaborating on a new three-act theatrical experience called “The Open Door,” which will take place at the Matrix (2730 Bagley St., Detroit, MI) at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 15. with tickets costing $18.
The readings and poetry are written by Gregory Kiewiet, an author, who has experienced barriers to opportunities because of having an illness. He attends Gesher’s Lois and Milton Y. Zussman Activity Center (known as Clubhouse) in Southfield.
Clubhouse provides enrichment, educational, and employment opportunities for people living with mental illnesses and part of that enrichment program is Creative Expressions, which gives participants opportunities in the arts, everything from photography, painting, and sculpture, to music, singing classes and, in this case, theater writing.
“The Open Door” features three works by Kiewiet: poetry from “Plastered Heroics,” a one-act play called “A Beautiful Day,” and an excerpt from the play “She’s a Beauty.” Kiewiet’s work is influenced by cubism, jazz, and vanguard moments. His writing opened doors for him about cultural consciousness, including art as exploration, and contemplation of everyday life experiences. Both performances will also include an interview with Kevin Killian, a poet, author, playwright (of primarily LGBT literature), and the co-founder of the Poet’s Theater and the New Narrative movement in San Francisco.
An ongoing collaboration between Kiewiet and Matrix Theater Director Amy Johnson has led to a premiere of this staged reading, which features professional actors. Kiewiet describes the event as a “dream and major goal” and Gesher Human Services will be printing a book of his writing to accompany the event. To purchase tickets, visit to matrixtheatre.org.
