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.
General Motors Announces $3M in Grants to Nonprofits
General Motors Co. in Detroit has made $3 million in charitable investments in 157 nonprofit organizations in the communities surrounding its U.S. manufacturing facilities.
The grants were provided through GM’s Community Impact Grants program, which was created in 2010 to empower local GM leaders and employees to direct funding toward nonprofit organizations addressing local issues facing their communities.
“Across the U.S., in the communities where our people work and live, GM’s Corporate Giving and Manufacturing teams continue to make a great impact year after year,” says Gerald Johnson, GM executive vice president of global manufacturing and Sustainability.
“Through the Community Impact Grants program, we are able to support our facilities and the organizations they believe in by utilizing our local relationships and the generosity of our workforce to strengthen our communities and build upon the incredible work these organizations do every day.”
Funding was provided to local nonprofits in cities including:
Flint: $270,000 was dedicated to eight nonprofits, including a $20,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint to implement a hands-on, activity-based STEM curriculum in their afterschool and summer programming.
Toledo: Seven grants totaling $100,000, one of which supports the Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, an organization that GM employees have volunteered with for 20 years.
Arlington, Texas: Six grants totaling $160,000, including $30,000 to a program that provides free skills training and employment services to veterans and their family members at the Community Learning Center.
Fairfax, Kan.: Seven nonprofits received grants totaling $125,000, including a $35,000 grant to the United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Family Empowerment Initiative, which will support at least 20 families through the eviction prevention program.
GM has provided more than $13 million through the Community Impact Grants program since 2019. These grants align with the company’s overarching philanthropic priorities focused on STEM education, vehicle and road safety, and community development, as well as targeted investments that enhance the quality of life in facility communities around the world.
In 2022, GM provided $60 million to more than 400 nonprofits dedicated to helping create inclusive solutions to social issues around the world. GM employees strengthened the impact with 158,000 volunteer hours and more than $5 million in donations.
New Immersive Entertainment Experience Opens in Ferndale
The Imani Immersive Gallery in Ferndale, 360-degree projection mapped room featuring custom-designed digital artwork, is open to the public.
Located at 211 W. Troy, the attraction will transport visitors with underwater ocean views, projected animations, and LED lighting to create an interactive experience for people of all ages.
The gallery will be open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.
“I wanted to create a unique experience that would use the tranquility of audio and visual sensations as an immersive experience, to allow people a temporary escape from life’s stresses,” says Lauren Fresh, owner of the gallery. “The world can be heavy, so the temporary solitude and peace of mind that make for a healthy balance are more sought after than ever.”
Once guests complete their underwater experience, they will be led to a second gallery, an interactive room filled with a variety of motion-themed exhibits, beginning with LED seesaws, interactive games, and a floating maze.
Additional exhibit themes will rotate through the gallery space throughout the year. At 4,850 square feet, the multi-use space can accommodate public and private events.
It also is equipped with a state-of-the-art audio and video podcast studio, with its own separate entrance. The podcast studio is $60 per hour for audio use, and $100 per hour for audio and video production.
“To be able to create this unique interactive space and also offer a platform for creatives in the podcast and art worlds to express their creativity is a bonus,” Fresh says.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit theiigallery.com.
Bloomfield Township Shopping Center Hits Online Auction Block
The Whole Foods Shopping Center in Bloomfield Township is one of a few local properties hitting the Ten-X online property auction in the coming days.
A growing trend in the commercial real estate business, large-scale property online auctions gives owners access to a national and global buyer pool, certainty of closing, and speedy turnover time, according to Ten-X, which claims that 96 percent of all sales typically go from list to close in 94 days or fewer.
Bidding starts June 6 at $9.5 million for the 156,000-square-foot, 31-acre shopping center anchored by the Whole Foods grocery chain and surrounded by luxury residential apartments, a Tesla showroom, and nestled in an affluent suburb where the median household income is more than $110,000 within a three-mile radius.
Another local property up for bids on Ten-X is a 46,468-square-foot office building on 13 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. Yet another is a 5,898-square-foot storefront retail office in Belleville. Bidding on both of these properties begins June 5.
Virginia Credit Union Adopts Troy’s Mahalo Banking’s Financial Management Platform
Park View Federal Credit Union of Harrisonburg, Va. has adopted the financial management platform of Mahalo Banking, a Troy-based credit union service organization.
The Mahalo platform enables the credit union to offer several new money management tools to modernize its member experience and enable more self-service options. Among the capabilities being implemented are real-time remote deposits with the ability to add custom memos, ACH origination through the core that creates a seamless money transfer experience and direct deposit allocations that enable members to easily schedule payments and transfers.
“Our teams have collaborated on all facets of the implementation process, and our joint vision to give their members the tools to effectively address today’s banking needs are aligned,” says Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. “The Mahalo team strives to cultivate strong working relationships with our credit union partners, which is vital for delivering fantastic digital banking experiences and innovating efficiently.”
Michigan Fashion Week Returns June 16 for 11th Annual Showcase
The 11th annual Michigan Fashion Week (MFW) will take place June 16 at Eastern Market in Detroit along with other events throughout the week.
This year’s theme is “Black + White” and will feature more than 30 fashion designers showcasing their collections and over 100 models from across the Midwest. More than 30 local, national, and international vendors also will attend the showcase to provide product and services to attendees.
“We’re looking forward to going bigger for the 11th year of Michigan Fashion Week by highlighting the talent and trends that come out of the Midwest and providing a platform for small businesses from the region,” says Loren Hicks, founder and CEO of Michigan Fashion Week. “This year’s ‘Black + White’ theme will showcase chic and timeless designs within street wear and high fashion. There will be pieces and looks for all styles, shapes, and sizes.”
Tickets, vendors, and a schedule of events for Michigan Fashion Week 2023 can be found at MichiganFashionWeek.com.
Acrisure Accelerates Fintech Model
Acrisure in Grand Rapids announced today that it will begin to unify the company under a single brand to best represent its status as a global fintech leader that offers multiple financial products and services to millions of businesses and individual clients.
Further, the company days it will organize by geographic region and operating platforms led by existing Acrisure partners. The roll out of the platforms and brand will start in the next 30 days and will occur over the next several quarters.
The leaders of these new platforms will be titled managing partners and will report to Grahame Millwater and Sozon Vatikiotis. Millwater takes on the new role of chief revenue officer with the purpose of ensuring that Acrisure provides the products and services clients want and need. Vatikiotis remains COO and chief administrative officer and takes on the operational aspects of the platforms.
“From a standing start, we have built a global fintech company that operates the fastest growing insurance broker in industry history, is the largest independent title broker in America, has expertise in Mortgage origination, and delivers a full spectrum of cyber security solutions,” says Greg Williams, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Acrisure.
“This product and service offering is just the beginning as we’re highly intentional about meeting the full needs of our clients. Given our track record for profitable growth, and the recent investments in Acrisure’s brand, the time is right to increasingly operate under the Acrisure flag and, relatedly, organize to meet the vast needs of our clients.”
Organizing into platforms allows for an orderly and coordinated brand roll out at the right pace and timing. Acrisure’s reinsurance broker, Acrisure Re, will continue to be branded as such.
Motown Museum Chairwoman Robin Terry to Speak at EO Detroit’s Regional Conference
Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Detroit announced that Robin Terry, chairwoman and CEO of the Motown Museum, will be a main stage speaker at XCentric 2023, Oct. 2-4 at the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit.
Terry joins Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Penske Corp. President Bud Denker, and global change agent Cassandra Worthy as the first four speakers to be announced for the event.
As the granddaughter of the late Esther Gordy Edwards, the “Mother of Motown,” Terry will share stories with the global business owners about entrepreneurship, identifying and nurturing talent, protecting a legacy, transforming a community, and inspiring a bright and sustainable future.
“We are thrilled that Robin will be taking center stage in the city where her family founded the Motown label,” says Jenny Feterovich, co-chair of XCentric and president of EO Detroit. “Like so many of our EO members, her passion for what she does is intoxicating and contagious. Our 600 guests are in for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Motown Museum is currently in the process of raising funds for a $65 million expansion that will create a world-class entertainment and education destination that will inspire talent, entrepreneurship, and future generations around the globe.
For more information, visit eoxcentric.com.
Collaborative Looks to Secure $160M NSF Innovation Engine Award for West Michigan
Ida Byrd-Hill, CEO of Automation Workz, a top 10 ranked U.S. cybersecurity bootcamp, with the support of W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is leading the West Michigan African American Tech Readiness Collaborative and feasibility study.
The West Michigan African American Tech Readiness Collaborative and feasibility study will celebrate unification of the Battle Creek/ Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids/ Benton Harbor/Albion/Jackson region with a kickoff meeting at 7:30 a.m. May 24 at 400 W. Michigan Ave. in Battle Creek. The event will feature a keynote speech by Allen Walker who will answer the question, “Can the Battle Creek region become a NSF Innovation Engine?”
Walker is a senior advisor in the U.S. National Science Foundation’s newly established Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). In this position, he focuses on potential partnerships through engagement with stakeholders across government, academia, industry, and nonprofits. He also advises directorate leadership on research and development strategy and policy. He acts as the TIP chief of staff supporting the assistant director.
While west Michigan has attracted three battery factories within a 60-mile radius, it did not become an NSF Regional Innovation Engine in 2022. Most of the NSF Regional Innovation Engines were designated in the U.S. Southeast corridor with its plethora of battery factories.
“This west Michigan region is attracting all sorts of tech employer investments, like the Ford-CATL Battery plant, LG Energy Solutions expansion, Ultium Cells battery plant, and the Gotion Semiconductor plant,” Byrd-Hill says. “As the CEO of a tech startup, I see the Michigan information technology cluster replicating the 22 percent growth it experienced over the past 10 years.”
To attend the meeting, visit here. To join the collaborative, visit here.
Baldwin House Oakland in Pontiac to Host Fundraiser June 3
Baldwin House Oakland (1915 Baldwin Ave.) in Pontiac and the Baldwin Society Supporting Older Adults are hosting their first annual summer fundraiser from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 3.
Billed as the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) Summer FUNd and Friend Raiser, the community is invited to attend.
One of the main attractions of the day will be Goat Pie Bingo is where a goat will be in a fenced area, marked with Bingo squares and the winner is determined by said goat making its first “deposit” on one of the squares.
Other features will include a goat-petting farm where attendees can feed and pet the goats and a goat coloring contest.
Throughout the day, Baldwin House G.O.A.T.s, Greatest of All Time residents, will on be on hand to answer questions and impart their many years of experience, wisdom, and stories, some of which can be seen here.
For more information, visit baldwinhouseseniors.com.
THAW Launches MI-Water Program to Help Michiganders Maintain Water Services
The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) today announced a new program for Michigan residents called MI-Water. The program, Water Assistance Through Efficiency and Repairs, supports healthy housing for financially insecure Michigan residents by maintaining water services.
The program is funded by a Michigan State Housing Development Authority grant using funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury American Rescue Plan to assist those adversely affected by COVID.
“THAW has worked for 38 years to help keep families safe and warm through utility assistance,” says Saunteel Jenkins, CEO of THAW. “Water is essential to keep people healthy and we want to make sure no one is left in a home without it.
“This program will help stabilize and empower Michiganders through bill payment assistance, and by providing services that increase water conservation, energy efficiency and reduces the cost for families.”
The statewide program has four components:
- Water bill payments for residential customers in Michigan who have a past due water bill, up to $2,500 per household.
- Water conservation including a home water conservation audit, conservation education and training, and water efficiency supplies.
- Remediation, including minor plumbing repairs designed to reduce water consumption (in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties only).
- Supportive services, including case management services and internal and external linkages to resources.
To qualify, Michigan residents must have an income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, proof that they are responsible for paying the water bill, and a past-due water bill.
For details about MI-Water, visit thawfund.org.
Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit Hosting Sensory-friendly Viewing of Immersive Disney Animation
Lighthouse ArtSpace Detroit (311 E. Grand River Ave.) has announced a slate of viewings of Immersive Disney Animation for audience members in need of sensory-friendly accommodations.
These accommodations include reduced sound volume, reduced capacity, comfortable gallery lighting at all times with no blackouts, sensitivity warnings for potentially agitating content and quiet areas outside the gallery where visitors can take a break from the show. Tickets for sensory-friendly viewings of Immersive Disney Animation are priced the same as regular viewings and are on sale here.
“Inclusion is important to us with all of our offerings, but all the more so with Immersive Disney Animation, which is truly an exhibit where everyone should feel welcome,” says Corey Ross, producer at Lighthouse Immersive. “These viewings reduce the sensory output of the show to offer a relaxed environment and judgment-free zone where the wonderful worlds and characters of Disney Animation Studios can be enjoyed by all.”
Dates and times for sensory-friendly viewings of Immersive Disney Animation are:
- June 10 at 9 a.m.
- July 9 at 10:15 a.m.
- 12 at 10:15 a.m.
Walt Disney Animation Studios has joined forces with North America’s top creator of experiential projection exhibitions (including The Original Immersive Van Gogh) to present the music and artistry within Disney Animation’s canon of films — from hits of today like “Encanto,” “Zootopia,” and “Frozen,” to all of the classics including “The Lion King,” “Peter Pan,” and “Pinocchio.” Audiences are said to feel like they’ve entered the worlds of beloved Disney characters and become one with them.
