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.
Eastern Market to Host Sixth Annual Detroit Bookfest on July 16
The Detroit Book Club’s sixth annual Detroit Bookfest is slated to take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, at the Eastern Market’s Shed 5. Admission is free.
Sponsored by John K. King Used Books in Detroit, thousands of people are expected to check out “tons of great books, vinyl records, comics, creative arts, food, funk music, and more,” according to organizers at the Detroit Bookfest.
Music will be provided by DJ Seven Whales, while a variety of vendors will be selling food from mobile kitchens and food trucks. In addition to a full cash bar, coffee, tea, water, and bagels will be available for purchase inside Shed 5. Cash (single dollar bills) is the preferred method of payment, however, cards also should be accepted.
The Bookfest Official Afterparty will be at Eastern Market Brewing Co. and runs from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Like Bookfest itself, the afterparty is free.
For more information, visit detroitbookfest.com.
Carhartt Is Official Apparel Partner of the Grounds Crew at the Rocket Mortgage Classic
Dearborn work apparel manufacturer Carhartt has been named official apparel partner of the grounds crew at the Rocket Mortgage Classic to be played June 29-July 2 at the Detroit Golf Club.
Carhartt will supply gear for the more than 90 grounds crew members supporting the event.
“The hardworking grounds crew members performing behind the scenes to make it happen play an active role in the success of golfers on the course and fuels our determination to create durable gear that helps them outwork the elements and obstacles,” says Susan Hennike, chief brand officer at Carhartt. “Our sponsorship of the grounds crew at the Rocket Mortgage Classic represents a continuation of our more than 130-year commitment to champion those who work with their hands and help build stronger communities through hard work.”
The new apparel partnership will be supported through Carhartt Company Gear, the company’s business unit that supplies uniforms to businesses in need of outfitting their work crews.
Carhartt Company Gear will supply all crew members responsible for the upkeep of golf course grounds at Detroit Golf Club with its lightweight Force Polos, Rain Defender Sweatshirts, Force Ripstop Utility Pants, Canvas Mesh Back Caps, and backpacks.
Goldfish Swim School Locations Join Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson
Goldfish Swim School locations across North America will celebrate by participating in the 14th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson June 22. The global drowning prevention event was created by the World Waterpark Association to raise awareness of the importance of water safety.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drowning is the primary cause of unintentional death for children aged 1-4. Additionally, the majority of nonfatal pool drowning injuries among children under 15 years old happen between June and August, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Research by the National Library of Medicine shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning for kids ages 1-4 by 88 percent.
“Swimming lessons are such a vital element of drowning prevention, and we’re demonstrating our commitment to water safety by joining aquatic facilities across the world to raise awareness for this lifesaving tool,” says Nikki Thomas, director of training for the Troy-based Goldfish Swim School. “Our mission at Goldfish Swim School is to teach kids to be safer and confident in and around water.”
More information on the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson can be found here. Visit here to find the closest Goldfish Swim School.
Cadillac to Reveal ESCALADE IQ on Aug. 9
Cadillac has released a preview video of the all-new ESCALADE IQ ahead of its official reveal on Aug. 9. As the brand’s first-ever all-electric full-size SUV, ESCALADE IQ represents the reinvention of Cadillac’s most iconic nameplate.
The debut of ESCALADE IQ marks the next step in Cadillac’s commitment to offering a fully electric portfolio by the end of the decade. The ESCALADE IQ will be produced at Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center, which was renovated and retooled with a $2.2 billion investment to serve as the launchpad for GM’s EV strategy.
To view the video, visit here. For more information, visit cadillac.com.
Lansing’s Air Lift Co. Releases New Universal Air Spring Cradle
Lansing-based aftermarket air suspension manufacturer Air Lift Co. has launched the new Universal Air Spring Cradle, designed for lifted trucks.
The Universal Air Spring Cradle will keep height and work with air springs to maintain towing ability, the company says. Once combined with an air spring system like the LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate, a lifted truck will have the “ultimate load-leveling capability, adjustability, and ride quality.”
The Air Lift Universal Air Spring Cradle enables the air spring to become detached from the lower bracket, allowing full extension of your vehicle’s suspension while having a seat for the air spring to set into on compression of the suspension.
Motor City Pawn Brokers Opens New Hamtramck Location
Motor City Pawn Brokers celebrated the opening of its new Hamtramck location June 5 with participation by local dignitaries.
During the ceremonies, a $2,500 donation was made to the Detroit Friendship House, which will help to feed approximately 1,800 Hamtramck residents.
For more information, visit MotorCityPawnBrokers.com.
Reports: Demand for Homes in Detroit Increases, Including Among Black Homebuyers
Detroit Future City’s (DFC) two latest reports “Home Sales in Detroit” and “Black Homebuyer Demand” show a growth in homebuyer demand and purchases in the last two years, including an increase in demand from Black homebuyers at various income levels.
The reports also outline key areas for growth, citing the need to increase housing values to help improve Detroiters’ economic mobility, as well as an improvement in housing stock options and quality, housing at a variety of price points, neighborhood amenities, and neighborhood marketing.
“The increase in home purchases over the last 10 years is a real testament to the cross-sector collaboration to create a healthy housing market,” says Anika Goss, president and CEO of DFC. “With the housing market strengthening in Detroit, we must leverage targeted investments that create stronger and more equitable homebuying opportunities.
“These investments should be prioritized to develop greater diversity in housing prices, allowing the city to capture homebuyers with broader ranges of income who have accessible opportunities to attain a mortgage.”
“Home Sales in Detroit” identifies that while the volume of sales decreased (from 27,734 to 26,286), between the 2012-13 and 2020-21 time periods, the balance of sales shifted from distressed to market. Additionally, market sales have returned to many parts of the city, notably in areas that previously had little to no sales activity. In total, 70% of the city’s census tracts saw a decrease in the number of distressed sales over this time period, most likely due to a smaller number of tax foreclosure sales, and an overall stabilization of the housing market. Median sales values have also doubled to $30,000 for the city as a whole, but this sales price remains low.
“Black Homebuyer Demand” shows that over the past decade the demand for mortgages by Black homebuyers has increased by 188 percent across Detroit and the region. In the city of Detroit specifically, demand for mortgages by Black homebuyers increased by 443 percent or 1,600 applications from 2012 to 2021, almost three times the region. But, even with the increase in demand across the city, regionally only one in five mortgage applications by a Black homebuyer are made within Detroit.
For more information, visit detroitfuturecity.com.
Portuguese Telecom Company Selects Ann Arbor’s Censys for Cybersecurity Services
NOS, Portugal’s largest telecommunications and entertainment group, has selected Ann Arbor’s Censys to protect it from cyberattack.
Censys’ technology provides NOS with complete visibility into its external-facing infrastructure, simplifies its monitoring process and eliminates irrelevant alerts. As an internet provider for both the B2B and B2C segments in fixed and mobile networks, NOS needed a tool that could enable them to identify all exposed elements across its network.
“Our customers rely on us 24/7 to provide connectivity and a great user experience in their homes and businesses,” says Jorge Graça, chief technology and information officer at NOS. “It is essential that we can fully understand what is going on in the attack surface to prioritize and address the most relevant threats. Censys allows us to take a proactive and streamlined approach to the management of our attack surface, enabling us to focus on our core services with added peace of mind.”
Herbology Cannabis Co. to Open Location in Ypsilanti
Herbology Cannabis Co. will be celebrating the grand opening of its fourth Michigan store, at 915 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti, starting June 23 and extending through June 25.
The grand opening weekend festivities promise an “exciting experience for cannabis enthusiasts.” The dispensary will offer an array of top-quality cannabis products, while providing a “memorable and enjoyable atmosphere for customers.”
Festivities will include a DJ, food trucks, and games to entertain attendees.
As part of the grand opening celebration, the first 100 customers each day, starting at 1 p.m., will have a chance to win a free ounce of flower.
Knight Foundation Announces Knight New Work Detroit Art Initiative
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — an organization that invests in communities to support a more effective democracy — is announcing its Knight New Work initiative in Detroit, calling for proposals from local artists and organizations that leverage technology into their work.
Knight will accept proposals until July 21 and is allocating a total of $250,000 for winners. Winners will be announced in fall 2023.
Detroit-based artists, artist collectives, and arts organizations across artistic genres are eligible to submit proposals. Applications will be reviewed by a national panel of artists, practitioners, and Knight Foundation staff. Knight New Work is seeking projects that use technology in their practice to create, disseminate, and enhance the way art is experienced. From interactive performances to immersive installations, Knight is looking to invest in projects that are authentic to the Detroit metro area with creators who push the boundaries of art through technology.
“Digital transformation has become the language artists use to challenge the status quo, experiment, and reach new audiences. For artists and art organizations, it’s the next frontier,” says Victoria J. Rogers, vice president of arts at Knight Foundation. “That’s why we launched Knight New Work. When we invest in music and museums, in poetry and performances, we are investing in the fiber that strengthens our communities.”
For more information, visit here.
Baker College in Royal Oak Freezes Undergraduate Tuition, Decreases Graduate Tuition
The Royal Oak-based Baker College Board of Directors has approved a tuition freeze for all programs for the 2023-2024 academic year, a decrease in graduate program tuition, and free housing opportunities.
Affordability initiatives announced in March will be continued this fall.
“For so many, the desire to attend college is overshadowed by the inability to do so affordably, says Denise Bannan, chair of the Baker College Board of Directors. “At Baker, we want to do what we can to ensure those that want a degree can find a tenable path to earning one.”
Jacqui Spicer, president of Baker College, says: “For Baker College to remain true to its mission, we are committed to putting our students first and to providing unique and impactful programs and services that allow more students to access a quality post-secondary education.
“We don’t want cost to be why students defer their educational dreams. We’ve expanded this mission further by offering students free housing on Owosso, Cadillac, and Port Huron campuses, to help even more students in need.”
Free housing is available for fall and spring semesters. Students looking for affordable tuition and free housing can contact Amanda Gebhardt-Keeton at agebha06@baker.edu or 810-510-4915.
