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 Unveil New City Connect Series Uniform, Will Debut Friday
The Detroit Tigers on Monday unveiled their 2024 Nike MLB City Connect Series uniform. The team will wear its new gear — a celebration of the Motor City — for the first time this Friday and Saturday against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park.
The Tigers also will don their City Connect duds for all Friday home games for the rest of the season.
The uniforms are designed to celebrate the history, culture, and spirit of each MLB city.
Replacing the creamy white jersey with the old English D, is a dark blue jersey with MOTOR CITY across the front. Tire treads down the middle of the jersey is shaded in electric blue, representing the wheels keeping the Motor City and the Tigers accelerating toward the future.
An M-1 patch on one sleeve, with 313 incorporated in it, is a nod to Woodward Avenue and Detroit’s 313 area code. Racing stripes on the jersey’s sleeves signify Detroit’s role in the racing industry. A VIN tag of 190135456884 represent the first year of the club’s charter membership in the American League (1901), and 35, 45, 68, and 84, which celebrate Detroit’s four World Series Championships.
Tiger Eyes, which appear near the beltline on the right side of the jersey and appear on the inside brim of the cap, symbolize the passion, energy, and tenacity of Detroiters and its baseball team.
The City Connect cap replaces the iconic old English D with DETROIT and the VIN tag on the right side. The team’s Connect batting helmets are electric blue with a similar gradient design seen on the jersey. Like the cap, “DETROIT” is scripted across the front and includes the VIN tag on the right side with a matte finish.
“We are excited to introduce the Tigers City Connect uniforms and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Motor City,” says Ryan Gustafson, president and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “The City Connect uniforms represent Detroit’s unique combination of muscle and innovation and pay homage to the city that put the world on wheels.
“From the tire treads to the VIN tag to the M-1 patch on the sleeve, there are unique features on the uniforms, caps, and batting helmets we feel Tigers fans and Detroiters will appreciate. Above all, the uniforms are symbolic of the revitalization and exciting future ahead for the Tigers and our great city.”
To celebrate City Connect launch week, presented by Meijer, the Tigers and Nike will host a pair of free City Connect-themed block parties outside Comerica Park on May 10 from 4-7 p.m., and May 11 from noon-6:30 p.m. The block parties also will feature live music on the Meijer Stage, local food and beverage trucks, muralists, merchandise outlets with City Connect gear available for purchase, giveaways, a Kids Zone, photo opportunities, and a classic car show.
Oak Park’s Bollinger Motors Taps Amerit Fleet Solutions for Mobile Service, Warranty
Bollinger Motors Inc., a commercial EV manufacturer in Oak Park, has selected California’s Amerit Fleet Solutions to provide mobile service and maintenance to Bollinger’s commercial fleet customers.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly provide EV service and warranty support for the Bollinger B4 in key states allowed by law, as well as future vehicles developed by Bollinger Motors.
The Bollinger B4 Chassis Cab is an all-new, all-electric class 4 commercial truck designed from the ground up with fleet and upfitter input. Bollinger’s chassis design protects the 158 kwh battery pack and components. The company anticipates deliveries of the Bollinger B4 to begin in the second half of 2024.
Under this agreement Amerit will provide maintenance, repair, and warranty services to customer locations outside of the designated service area of a Bollinger authorized dealer. Amerit’s Mobile Service Centers are an important complement to Bollinger’s service strategy, providing convenient and essential services on location, minimizing downtime, and maximizing fleet efficiency.
Survey: Drinking Water Safety Called into Question by 41% of U.S.
According to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, 41 percent of customers say they do not feel the water provided by their local utility is safe to drink.
A seemingly non-stop barrage of safety alerts, growing concerns about per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and supply shortages has not been a favorable environment for nurturing customer confidence in local water utilities, according to J.D. Power in Troy.
“Water utilities need to do a better job of communicating with their customers about the efforts they are making to keep water supplies safe and the steps they are taking to shore up infrastructure,” says John Hazen, managing director of utilities intelligence at J.D. Power. “When customers are aware of the work utilities are doing to maintain infrastructure and they feel confident drinking the water, overall satisfaction scores rise considerably. The issue is that many utilities are not engaging in this type of proactive communication.”
Following are key findings of the 2024 study:
- Overall, 59 percent of residential water utility customers say their unfiltered tap water supply is either safe or very safe to drink. The remaining 41 percent of customers do not perceive their water is safe to drink.
- Perceptions of water safety increase with age of customers. Those in the Pre-Boomer and Boomer generations are the most likely to say their water supply is safe to drink, 80 percent and 69 percent, respectively. Among Gen X customers, 60 percent say their tap water is safe. That percentage falls to 53 percent among Gen Y customers and 45 percent among Gen Z customers.
- Proactive communication is the single most important step water utilities can take to increase customer satisfaction. Among customers who say their utility does a good job maintaining its current water infrastructure, overall satisfaction scores rise 229 points (on a 1,000-point scale). Water utilities are delivering on this key performance indicator 87 percent of the time.
- News reports about PFAS contamination in U.S. tap water have spurred growing consumer concern about drinking water safety. Despite widespread news coverage, just 2 percent of residential water utility customers say they recall receiving any communication from their utility about PFAS.
For more information about the U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, visit here.
ACG Detroit to Host Middle Market Entrepreneurial Business Growth Panel May 14
ACG Detroit is hosting a panel discussion titled “Entrepreneurial Business Growth in the Middle Market: Success, Scaling, & Lessons Learned” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 14 at the Birmingham Community House (380 S. Bates St.).
Business leaders including Ron Hall, president and CEO of Bridgewater Interiors; Mark Douglas, president of Avid Ford; and Dimitrius Hutcherson, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of First Independence Bank are the panelists. Elizabeth Masserang, senior project consultant at SME, will moderate the program.
Those interested in attending can visit here for tickets.
Detroit’s Youth Development Ecosystem Summit Set for May 21
The Youth Development Resource Center (YDRC) is conducting the Unify to Liberate: Detroit’s Youth Development Ecosystem Summit from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 21 at the Fellowship Chapel Conference Center (7707 W. Outer Dr.) in Detroit.
YDRC is celebrating a decade of progress while convening youth development professionals, policymakers, and funders to forge a future where every young person in Detroit thrives.
YDRC supports hundreds of Detroit youth development providers with a holistic approach to quality, networking, advocacy, and adult learning to expand youth provider skills and capabilities. The programs strengthen the individual and collective impact on youth by giving the youth providers the tools they need to increase program quality and produce measurable results.
Wisconsin Company Acquires Troy’s Check Technology
Wisconsin-based Innovative Motion Technologies (IMT) has closed the acquisition of Check Technology in Troy, a pioneer in flexible heating systems and control modules. Terms of the acquisition, this should enhance IMT’s position in the health care, agriculture, and off-road vehicle markets, were not disclosed.
Founded in 1993, Check Technology designs, manufactures, and markets heating and control systems tailored to meet the needs of seating and other applications across several industries. It has full-scale manufacturing in Troy.
The acquisition marks a significant step for IMT, positioning it as the No. 1 player in the health care heating controls market. It also expands the company’s footprint into the agricultural and off-road sectors. The addition of Check within the IMT platform will allow for a broader product offering for Check customers, complementing Check’s highly regarded product portfolio known for quality and customer service. Integrating Check Technology’s operations into the IMT platform will also provide enhanced engineering, supply chain and sales capabilities.
University of Detroit Mercy Partners with Kaplan to Offer Students Test Prep
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is partnering with global educational services provider Kaplan to providing all of its students with free test prep courses for graduate-level admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and DAT, and free test prep for professional licensing exams including the bar exam, INBDE, NCLEX-RN exam, and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
Additionally, students can prepare for a number of business and financial-focused products for free.
The new partnership aims to improve matriculation to graduate and professional schools, improve professional licensing passage rates, and improve employability for UDM graduates.
Eaton in Southfield Receives 2024 Automotive News PACEpilot Recognition
Southfield-based intelligent power management company Eaton’s heavy-duty 4-speed electrified vehicle (EV) transmission was named a 2024 Automotive News PACEpilot Innovation to Watch at an awards ceremony in late April 29.
The recognition acknowledges post-pilot, pre-commercial innovations in the automotive and future mobility space.
“We are honored to be chosen by the PACEpilot judges to receive this prestigious award,” says Scott Adams, senior vice president of global products at Eaton’s Mobility Group. “Our heavy-duty EV transmission is an innovation that is receiving interest from manufacturers around the world who would like to improve the performance of their electrified commercial vehicles.”
Lawrence Tech to Host 25th Robofest World Championship Starting May 9
Lawrence Technological University in Southfield will host hundreds of students from around the world during the 25th Robofest World Championship May 9-11.
Robofest, created at Lawrence Tech in 1999 by computer science professor C.J. Chung, is a series of robotics competitions for students in grades 5-8, called the Junior division, and grades 9-12, the Senior division.
Robofest was recently added to the list of eligible providers on the Michigan Department of Education 99h Robotics Competition Grants for Public and Private Schools, making Michigan schools eligible for grants to fund participation in Robofest.
Robofest differs from other robotics competitions with low barriers to entry — the entry fee is $75, and teams can use any robot platform, most of which can be purchased for less than $400. All Robofest competition categories feature robots controlled only by software, which is closer to how robots operate in real-world settings, as opposed to robots that are remote-controlled by people.
World Championship teams qualified for the event at regional competitions in 22 countries and nine states between November 2023 and April 2024. Each member of the top three Senior Division teams in multiple categories will receive an LTU Annual Scholarship certificate for up to $20,000 ($80,000 for four years) for any program of study.
For more information, visit here.
Motor City Revs Up Again in Destination: Scientology, Detroit
Scientology Network’s “Destination: Scientology,” the weekly travelogue series that takes viewers inside Scientology churches all around the world and discovers what makes each one unique, presents an episode featuring Detroit tonight at 9 p.m.
The Church of Scientology is located at the geographic center of the city’s resurgence, working to get residents back on the road to prosperity. Its building stands on what’s known as the Cornerstone of Detroit, the site of the first building ever built in Detroit and the entrance of the downtown Central Business District. Restoring the building’s Greco Deco architecture to its original glory is symbolic of the city’s own resurgence.
Viewers will learn the history of Detroit’s rise from a fur-trading fort to the automobile capital of the world. They’ll also see how the church works with the city on humanitarian objectives that are having a lasting impact on Motor City.
