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’s Reyes | Finn Gallery Show Featuring 125 Local Artists Opens Saturday
This Saturday, Detroit’s Reyes | Finn gallery will open “Get Together,” a group show featuring works from 125 Detroit-based artists.
By “getting together” a wide range of artists in different stages in their careers, Reyes | Finn honors their dedication to the creative life of Detroit.
Embracing all aspects of the show’s inclusive and open nature, submissions for “Get Together” are constrained only by size; all the artists included in the show have submitted one piece to the gallery smaller than 30 by 30 inches. Besides this single condition, the invited artists have free reign with material, content, and style when it comes to their selected work.
The Detroit artists of “Get Together” represent mainstays alongside Motor City up-and-comers. Among the celebrated participants is Allie McGhee, the 82-year-old declared “a pillar of Detroit’s art scene” by The Detroit News, who will bring his abstract expressionist paintings that examine everything from the supernatural to African diaspora to free jazz. Younger artists include Leif Ritchey, who “excels at pale, manipulated pours and textures,” according to The New York Times, and photographer Eleanor Oakes, whose prints made in breast milk investigate issues of bodily labor.
“Get Together” is expected to present a dynamic snapshot of the vibrant contemporary arts community in Detroit, one that is too often overlooked, according to show organizers. The show is meant to act as a pilot program for a more sustainable future for Detroit art and artists. Reyes | Finn officials say they intend to bring together the wild and immense talent the city has to offer all into one space.
The show will be on display from Feb. 25 to May 6, with an opening reception from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 25. In addition to the reception, “Get Together” will be accompanied by performances, events, live music, audio works, dances, and video screenings.
For more information, visit reyesfinn.com.
Home Depot, Commonwealth Associates Announce Expansions in Warren, Jackson
The Home Depot announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art distribution center at the former Warren Transmission Plant in the city of Warren. Commonwealth Associates Inc. in Jackson also revealed plans to renovate the recently vacated four-story Comerica Bank facility in downtown Jackson that will serve as its new headquarters facility and showroom for customers.
The Home Depot distribution center will provide same-day and next-day delivery to customers in the Midwest. It is part of a larger project that will include the demolition of the existing structures, site and utility infrastructure development, and 1.4 million square feet of new industrial space that will house multiple tenants.
The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $6.1 million and create around 80 jobs, supported by a $480,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over a competing site in Ohio.
Most associates in the new distribution center will prepare large or bulk items like lumber for shipping to stores and customers. The jobs offer consistent schedules and competitive pay, and The Home Depot provides growth and promotional opportunities, training programs, paid internships, and tuition reimbursement to its associates.
Commonwealth Associates is an electrical engineering consulting firm whose primary services include engineering and design, consulting, and planning and studies. The company also provides expert licensing and design services for power generation, electric distribution line, transmission line, and substation projects, plus projects involving renewable energy. Its project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4.2 million and create 60 engineering and office management jobs, supported by a $400,000 Jobs Ready Michigan Program performance-based grant. The company chose Michigan for the project over a competing site in Texas and an additional proposal over hiring non-Michigan residents and having them work remotely.
“The decisions by these companies to expand in Michigan highlight the strength of our advanced manufacturing ecosystem and further demonstrate Team Michigan’s commitment to providing long-term economic growth for all Michiganders,” says Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and president and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund board. “These projects are wins for the entire state. These projects reflect our commitment to ensuring that Michigan becomes an even better place for each of our 10 million-plus friends and neighbors to live, work, visit, play, and create futures. Work remains ahead, yet we are grateful for the vote of confidence that continues to be shown in Team Michigan’s economic environment.”
Credit Union Providing $500 Credit Cards to Help Michiganders Impacted by Recent Ice Storm
Plymouth-based Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU) is providing $500 credit cards with instant approval to help Michiganders impacted by Wednesday’s ice storm.
“This idea ignited from one of our leaders staying at a hotel nearby,” says Tansley Stearns, president and CEO of CFCU. “They heard a conversation between their front desk and a family who had lost power. The family needed a room and had cash but not a credit card. The hotel was unable to accommodate them.
“We know this situation is not unique. Between lost groceries in their fridge, getting a hotel room, and getting going with their day, we observe an immediate need. Part of our strategy is to stand with our members through the darker times and the most joyful. Now is a time to leap forward.”
For those needing help during the aftermath of the ice storm, CFCU encourages individuals to visit a local branch, or call their care center at 877-937-2328.
Indian Trails Launches Detroit-Chicago Daily Service, National Ticketing System
Indian Trails Inc., which operates one of the largest fleets of deluxe motorcoaches in Michigan, will expand its daily routes to include new service between Detroit and Chicago starting March 1 with three roundtrips per day. It also launched the new national bus-ticketing system developed by Transcor Data Services (TDS).
The new Detroit-Chicago service will connect with all of its daily schedules north of I-94.
The new ticketing system is called the Multi-Modal Cloud Platform (MMC). The TDS system enables Indian Trails to expand connections with almost 80 independent interlining bus companies nationwide. Interlining gives travelers the ability to buy one ticket online, or from an agent, for a trip that includes two or more carriers in the national transportation network.
For decades, thanks to interlining, passengers have been able to buy a single ticket for travel across America on buses and trains. But Greyhound, which operated the former ticketing system called TRIPS, announced in September 2022 that it was terminating interline agreements with all carriers and discontinuing TRIPS effective Feb. 21. As a result, many passengers were unable to buy bus tickets after that date, and there was widespread disruption in the national transportation network.
Greyhound had been acquired by Flix SE, a German company, in November 2021. Flix proposed new interline agreements with all carriers in October 2022. Indian Trails objected to the terms of the proposed new agreements and ended its nearly 100-year interlining arrangement with Greyhound.
Using Transcor’s MMC ticketing platform, Indian Trails, which currently operates 31 schedules serving more than 80 locations, will continue to interline with all other carriers nationwide, including those providing intercity service in Michigan, such as Miller Transportation, Barons Bus, and soon Adirondack Trailways, which plans to begin Detroit-Toronto service this spring.
“We’re excited about the expanded capabilities of the new MMC ticketing platform,” says Chad Cushman, president of Indian Trails. “This new system will allow Indian Trails to grow its current network of interlining carriers throughout the country, while providing our mutual customers with a much-improved ticket buying experience.”
For more information, visit here.
USFL Announces 2023 Ticket Prices for Panthers and Stars Games at Ford Field
The USFL, whose Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars will play home games at Ford Field in Detroit, announced ticket prices for the 2023 regular-season.
Individual game tickets can be purchased for as little as $10 with season tickets starting at $25.
“The USFL is the best value in professional sports,” says Daryl Johnston, the league’s executive vice president of football operations. “We know how important our USFL football family is and we know our fans feel the same way about their families. That’s why it’s so important for the USFL to make it affordable for families and friends to be able to enjoy our exciting games together in a fun atmosphere at all four USFL host stadiums.”
Season tickets are heavily discounted and come with added value at each host stadium, including:
- Access and dedicated seating to all regular-season games.
- Ability to purchase additional tickets for family and friends at their season ticket holder price.
- Ability to purchase tickets at other USFL stadiums at their season ticket holder price.
- Access to dedicated account executives and payment plan options to fit any budget.
- NFT team tokens that unlock more benefits for fans.
- Digital ticket transfer.
- Premium ticket access to stadium clubs where available.
- Ability to post on the secondary market to recoup money when fans can’t attend.
- Ability to take tickets from a game that will be missed and have double the seats to another game.
Here is the detailed regular-season ticket pricing at Ford Field for five Panthers games and four Stars games:
- $100 Club Season Tickets
- $75 Sideline Season Tickets
- $25 End Zone Season Tickets
- $40 Club Individual Game Ticket
- $25 Sideline Individual Game Ticket
- $10 End Zone Individual Game Ticket
Games begin in Detroit on April 30. For more information, visit theUSFL.com.
Four Local Executives Are Part of EY Entrepreneurs Program
Ernst & Young (EY) announced the 70 Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs from across 20 states and Washington, D.C. selected for this year’s cohort of the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN). The group includes four Detroit area executives.
The Detroit-area participants are:
- George Hill, founder, chairman and CEO of Diversified Chemical Technologies Inc.
- Javier Evelyn, founder and CEO of Alerje Inc.
- Karl Johnson, president and CFO of Diversified Chemical Technologies Inc
- Vickie Lewis, president and CEO of VMX International
A nationwide business accelerator, EAN is a comprehensive, 12-month executive program designed to support Black- and Hispanic/Latino-owned innovative companies. Entrepreneurs were selected based on their leadership style, business acumen, company’s culture, level of innovation and potential for scalability. The program was first conceived in 2019, following decades of working with diverse entrepreneurs and understanding their opportunities and challenges.
This year’s cohort includes 70 individuals who run companies from more than 10 industries. Many of these trailblazing founders focus on solving some of the most pressing issues facing society and consumers today.
“The contributions of Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs are nothing short of transformative, and we are thrilled to support this talented cohort as they take their businesses to the next level,” says Lee Henderson, Americas EY private leader and executive sponsor of the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network. “The societal, economic and cultural impact of their businesses strengthens our communities on many levels — especially when these executives access the resources to succeed in the long run.”
For more information, visit ey.com/EAN.
Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone to Host Job Fair March 1
The Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) will host its first Downtown Job Fair of 2023 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 1 at the 1001 Woodward Building on the main floor.
Downtown Detroit employers are looking for full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions, as well as workers for special events. Employers looking to recruit include the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, the Downtown Detroit BIZ Ambassadors, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and many downtown restaurants, retailers, security firms, and more.
“This job fair is one of many ways the Downtown Detroit BIZ supports businesses and property owners within the Downtown; it is a direct response to the overwhelming need voiced by stakeholders who need employees,” says Gina Cavaliere, chief community impact officer and BIZ Director at DDP. “The Downtown Job Fair features full-time and part-time jobs, plus opportunities to work events to earn extra income.”
The BIZ collaborates with the Downtown Detroit Partnership to provide a variety of community and economic development services for businesses and property owners in downtown Detroit. Some of the services include safety, hospitality, park and street beautification throughout the downtown and riverfront, infrastructure maintenance, small business engagement, and more.
The event is open to everyone authorized to work in the U.S., including high school students. Participants are encouraged to come dressed to impress, bring a state ID, and come ready for on-the-spot interviews, as there will be hundreds of job openings and dozens of employers hiring for multiple positions.
Attendees who park at the One Campus Martius Parking Garage, located at 1140 Farmer St. between Gratiot and Monroe, will be provided a parking validation at the job fair.
Space is limited, but employers looking to participate in the Downtown Job Fair can contact biz@downtowndetroit.org.
To learn more and register, visit here.
Walsh College Graduate Programs Earn National Recognition
Six of the graduate degree programs at Walsh College in Troy have been recognized nationally by onlinemastersdegrees.org including a No. 1 online nationwide ranking for its Master of Science in Data Analytics program.
Other honors include:
- Master of Science in Taxation, No. 3 online nationwide
- Master of Business Administration, No. 6 online in Michigan
- Master of Marketing, No. 15 online nationwide, No. 13 most affordable online nationwide
- Master of Science in Information Technology, No. 18 online nationwide
- Master of Science in Finance, No. 20 online nationwide
The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of accredited colleges and universities across the country. Each program is evaluated on affordability, curriculum comprehensiveness, study convenience and flexibility, and access to valuable student support services.
“These exceptional rankings are a true testament to the quality and value of our degree programs, and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, who work hard every day to make a positive impact in the world,” says Suzy Siegle, president and CEO of Walsh College.
