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.
Gilbert Family Foundation Commits $1.8M for Access to Jobs, Green Spaces for Detroiters
The Gilbert Family Foundation has announced a $1.8 million, three-year investment in The Greening of Detroit to strengthen the organization’s impact in Detroit. The announcement was made at a special ceremony honoring 22 new graduates of The Greening of Detroit’s signature workforce development program, the Detroit Conservation Corps.
“Tree canopy is critical for reducing pollution, mitigating heat, and creating safe, walkable streets,” says Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Gilbert Family Foundation. “Unfortunately, we often see a disproportionate lack of green spaces in predominately Black communities. This partnership addresses that head on by creating job opportunities while increasing access to quality green spaces in Detroit.”
The foundation’s investment will ensure more equitable access to quality green spaces in Detroit, create jobs for Detroit residents, connect youth to educational opportunities, and enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the city.
The $1.8 million program, which represents the largest private philanthropic donation in The Greening of Detroit’s history, is comprised of four parts:
Workforce Development: 12 cohorts of at least 200 trainees will go through the six-week Detroit Conservation Corps (DCC) workforce training program as tree artisans and landscaping technicians. Approximately 60 percent of DCC trainees are returning citizens, who face considerable employment barriers due to their incarceration. The Greening of Detroit boasts an 85% job placement rate for DCC trainees and aims to have at least 70% retain employment for up to a year.
TreeKeepers Kids: 140 youth will experience outdoor and indoor programming focused on environmental awareness and stewardship. Participants will come from Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) schools and City of Detroit Recreation summer camps.
The Shade Salon: Detroiters will bring their art, science and history knowledge into 12 salon events for discussions about an art project for their community. The outcome will be 7 art projects, one per Detroit District, focused on nature and trees.
Community Tree Planting: 1,000 trees will be planted at locations selected by Detroit residents via applications.
“I love that we announced this program at a Detroit Conservation Corps workforce development graduation with 22 of our newly trained tree technicians,” says Lionel Bradford, president of The Greening of Detroit. “Good, well-paying jobs are available in this industry, and programs like this will innovatively teach people that nature and trees can have a positive impact in so many ways in every corner of Detroit.”
The investment with The Greening of Detroit is a part of the Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund’s $500 million, 10-year commitment to support equitable opportunity for all Detroit residents.
Flo and General Motors Expand Workplace Charging at Tech Center in Warren
EV charging station supplier Flo, which is based in Canada but has an office and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, states it has increased the number of EV chargers at General Motors Co.’s Global Technical Center in Warren, making it the largest workplace deployment of Flo chargers on a single site in North America.
Under the expansion, additional Flo CoRe+ chargers and SmartDC fast chargers have been installed on the campus to help meet the growing EV charging needs for employees and visitors.
“GM’s Global Technical Center is at the heart of its engineering and technological innovation, and it only makes sense for FLO to help power its workforce, a fellow innovator in the EV space in Michigan,” says Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of Flo. “Working together, GM and Flo are bringing even more reliable EV charging options to drivers.”
Additionally, with the Global Technical Center being part of DTE’s MIGreenPower program, these Flo units will be charging vehicles using renewable energy.
“GM has long been a proponent of advancing and expanding EV charging infrastructure,” says Kristen Siemen, vice president for sustainable workplaces and chief sustainability officer at GM. “Providing additional charging solutions at our facilities that provide energy produced by renewable technology is a win-win that we are very excited about.”
The chargers were shipped from Flo’s Auburn Hills facility and are engineered to be durable and weather-proof. Flo began supplying workplace chargers to GM in 2021 and to date has shipped more than 1,200 chargers to GM facilities and manufacturing sites in North America as part of the program.
Pure Michigan Offers Renewed Perspectives with Expanded ‘Keep It Fresh’ Campaign
As Michiganders welcome the arrival of spring and the season of renewal, Pure Michigan is encouraging travelers to come experience all the freshness the Great Lakes State has to offer from cultural experiences in vibrant cities to adventures in the great outdoors and everything in between.
The award-winning “Keep It Fresh” campaign, which launched last spring to inspire visitors through fresh travel perspectives, continues to embrace each new change of season and showcase voices that live, work, and play across both of Michigan’s peninsulas.
This season, a new iteration of the campaign will include four new “Fresh Lives Here” spots showcasing Michigan’s cities, sports culture, and outdoor adventure. “Fresh Rides,” “Fresh Climb,” “Fresh Notes,” and “Fresh Goals” highlight the cultures and fresh experiences that communities like Detroit, Grand Rapids, Marquette, and the Keweenaw Peninsula have to offer visitors.
“From our winding shorelines and boundless nature to our bustling cities and diverse communities, we’re inviting travelers looking for a sense of renewal to come experience the warmth of Pure Michigan,” says Kelly Wolgamott, interim vice president of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. “This next evolution of the ‘Keep It Fresh’ campaign embodies more than just sunny skies and warm weather; it’s a celebration of the endless opportunities to discover new possibilities in Michigan.”
The expanded “Keep It Fresh” campaign will come to life across digital, connected, and linear TV, print, social media, radio, and streaming audio services through July 31 this season. The campaign will leverage $7.2 million in brand and partner funding with efforts targeting the state of Michigan, as well as Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Fort Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Louisville, Milwaukee, South Bend, St. Louis, and Tampa.
This season, Pure Michigan has 25 participating travel partners from across the state contributing funding to support the warm weather campaign.
Walsh College Among Top Military-friendly Schools
Walsh College in Troy is has been designated a Top Ten Military-Friendly School for the 2024-2025 academic year by VIQTORY, a Pittsburgh-based, veteran-owned organization that connects the military community with civilian opportunities.
This marks the 15th consecutive year Walsh College has received the honor.
“Walsh College is so proud to be recognized for our 15th consecutive year as a Military Friendly School,” says Suzy Siegle, president and of Walsh College. “We are also ranked in the Top 10 colleges in the United States as a Military Friendly School. I’m so grateful to our Walsh College team members for their hard work on this remarkable designation. We are so proud to continue our excellent service to our veteran students and alumni.”
The Military-Friendly Schools designation is awarded to institutions based on their ability to exceed benchmark standards in several critical areas of performance. These include student retention, graduation rates, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan default rates for all students and, most important, for veteran students.
Veteran initiatives at Walsh include:
- Waiver of application fees for veterans
- Personalized assistance with education benefits
- Support services
- Financial assistance
- Dedicated veteran space
Meijer Continues Fight Against Hunger with $2M Donation to Midwest Food Bank Partners
Grand Rapids-based Meijer announced a $2 million donation to 30 key food bank partners to help battle hunger in its local communities. These focused donations will create a larger impact helping the food banks to better meet the needs of those they serve, resulting in a positive ripple effect in communities across the Midwest.
“We recognize the vital role food banks play in addressing hunger and are proud to stand alongside our partners to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity,” says Rick Keyes, president and CEO of Meijer. “We know there is an elevated need in many of our communities, and we want to do our part to help feed our hungry neighbors.”
Michigan food banks receiving the donation include:
- Feeding America West Michigan
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Food Gatherers (Ann Arbor)
- Forgotten Harvest (Detroit)
- Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan
- Greater Lansing Food Bank
- South Michigan Food Bank
Visit Detroit to Host On The Clock Tour Event at Somerset Collection in Troy on April 4
Visit Detroit, in conjunction with the Detroit Sports Commission and local grass-roots partners, will host an On The Clock Tour neighborhood event at the North Grand Court inside Somerset Collection in Troy from 5-7:30 p.m. on April 4.
All “On The Clock Tour” events feature Visit Detroit’s mobile visitor center, the D-Rover. Temporarily rebranded as the Draft Rover, the multipurpose transit van will feature a 2024 NFL Draft design, as well as video and sound capabilities, including two 43-inch TV monitors and a plug-in mic for messaging, and a retractable awning.
“This is an exciting moment for our region, and we believe that the On The Clock Tour will allow all residents to be a part of the experience and bring the Draft to their community,” says Claud Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit.
North Grand Court will offer a home field advantage with DJs spinning all day while guests enjoy bites from eateries, including Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack, Crispelli’s, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and activities with Williams-Sonoma rice crispy decorating, Sur La Table cookie decorating, face painting, prizes, and more.
All On The Clock Tour events are free and open to the public. Events are subject to change, with more tour stops to be announced across the region.
