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.
Giorgio Conti Jewelers Opens New Store in Ferndale
Giorgio Conti Jewelers has opened at 22637 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale, in what the retailer promises will become the new destination for exquisite, handcrafted jewelry. The store is open by appointment until a grand opening in early April.
Giorgio Conti is a family-owned jewelry store that has been operating for more than 40 years with a commitment to quality craftsmanship and unique designs. It offers a diverse collection of fine jewelry pieces, including handpicked diamonds and gemstones, elegant necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more. Each piece is “meticulously crafted to reflect the beauty and individuality of its wearer.”
“We are thrilled to become a part of the vibrant Ferndale community and to share our passion for exceptional jewelry with its residents,” says Joseph Shihadeh, owner of Giorgio Conti Jewelers. “At Giorgio Conti, we believe that every piece of jewelry tells a story, and we are excited to help our customers find the perfect piece to cherish for a lifetime.”
Traverse City Restaurant Week Starts Sunday
Nearly 50 Traverse City area dining options will be available this year during the annual Traverse City Restaurant Week that starts Sunday.
The area’s top eateries will showcase their style and talent with pre-set menus with prices fixed at $25, $35, and $45. Restaurant Week starts Feb. 25th and runs until Saturday, March 2.
Traverse City Tourism is partnering with the Downtown Traverse City Association to create a free digital Restaurant Week passport. The digital guide contains essential information about participating restaurants, that includes their menus. Guests who check in using the passport will be eligible to win $50 gift certificates from participating restaurants.
Those who dine at two or more restaurants can claim a Restaurant Week oven mitt at the Traverse City Tourism Visitors Center. Those who stay at Traverse City Tourism lodging partners are eligible to win two grand prize gift certificates worth a combined total of $1,000.
“Restaurant Week always creates a huge culinary buzz, and this year it should be even bigger and better,” says Trevor Tkach, president of Traverse City Tourism. “The chefs love to be challenged to create memorable dining experiences every day, but they especially shine this week.”
Tkach adds the week helps restaurants when things are traditionally slower. It creates an opportunity to earn new year-round customers.
Due to the popularity of the event, reservations are suggested at all locations. While many of the participants in Restaurant Week are locals, managers say it attracts customers from Detroit, Grand Rapids and other cities around Michigan and the Midwest.
More information about Restaurant Week, including a list of participating locations is available here.
Former Detroit Lions Linebacker Stephen Tulloch Launches Signature Cold Brew Coffee
Former Detroit Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch kicked off the launch his Signature 55 coffee line and Good Vibes Nitro Cold Brew as a featured brand at the Taste of the NFL event and NFL Legends Lounge at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
Tulloch’s signature coffee line, which now fuels the Detroit Lions and other NFL teams, was one of only three NFL player brands to be showcased at the Taste of the NFL.
NFL legends from around the league also got the first taste of Tulloch’s new Good Vibes Nitro Cold Brew, along with his Signature 55 Drip Coffee and Espresso, at the Super Bowl’s NFL Legends Lounge.
Tulloch, who owns Circle House Coffee in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. took his Signature 55 coffee line products as well as his new canned Good Vibes Nitro Cold Brew, a smooth, nitrogen-infused, gourmet cold brew product only a handful of roasters are successfully producing.
The new signature coffee line, named after Tulloch’s jersey number 55, celebrates the linebacker’s love for gourmet coffee and creating positive change, with a portion of every product sale donated back to The Stephen Tulloch Foundation in support of local and global causes.
Tulloch’s Signature 55 Coffee, an aromatic medium-bodied blend with jasmine, hazelnut, and nectarine notes, is now available for purchase online (whole bean and ground). For each 12-ounce bag sold online, .55 cents will go directly to his charity foundation. The Good Vibes Nitro Cold Brew will be available soon for online and bulk orders.
FEMA Teams Working in Michigan Neighborhoods
Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews from FEMA are going door-to-door in central and southeast Michigan helping residents affected by the Aug. 24-26 tornadoes, severe storms, and flooding navigate the federal assistance process.
Crews will be starting in hard-hit areas of Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, and Wayne counties, with plans to move to other impacted communities in the weeks ahead.
These crews will be visiting homes, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in affected areas to help residents register for assistance, identify, and address immediate and emerging needs, and make referrals to other local, state, and voluntary agencies for additional support.
DSA crew members will never ask for or accept money and will always be wearing a FEMA identification badge with a photograph. A FEMA shirt, vest, or jacket is not proof of identity. While helping someone register, they will ask for personal information, including social security number, annual income, and bank information. Residents are encouraged to ask for identification before providing any personal information. They also can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify a FEMA visit is legitimate.
Michigan residents in declared counties don’t have to wait for a DSA crew to apply for assistance. To apply, download the FEMA Mobile App, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. For those who use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service when making the application.
For more information about the disaster recovery operation in Michigan, visit here.
Wisconsin’s Vivent Health, UNIFIED in Detroit Announce Plans to Merge
Vivent Health, a Wisconsin-based provider of HIV/AIDS-related services, and UNIFIED, a provider of HIV services in Detroit, announced their respective boards of directors have voted unanimously to pursue a merger.
Detroit has the highest HIV prevalence rates in the state, accounting for more than two-thirds of all cases. Of the nearly 11,000 Detroiters living with HIV, a disproportionate number are people of color — 68 percent are Black and 23 percent are Hispanic/Latinx. Further, 20 percent are diagnosed late and 20 percent are not engaged in care which is shown to lead to poorer health outcomes.
UNIFIED sought a partnership with Vivent Health because its approach to integrated HIV care and treatment is proven to narrow racial and ethnic disparities in HIV and advance health equity. The merger is expected to close on May 1.
“Vivent Health is working with UNIFIED to transform their model of care to ensure people living with HIV and at elevated risk for HIV exposure have direct access to critical health care, antiretroviral therapy, prevention, and essential social services to combat co-occurring HIV, sexually transmitted infection, and opioid epidemics in Detroit,” says Brandon Hill, president and CEO of Vivent Health. “While HIV is often associated with individual behavior, HIV exposure and transmission are underpinned by social and structural factors such as food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of employment opportunities. Which is why our integrated approach to HIV care and prevention is rooted in tackling broader inequities and removing barriers to care and services.”
Vivent Health’s approach to care has helped 95 percent of patients achieve viral suppression, which means a person living with HIV can live a full life expectancy and is unable to transmit HIV to others, reducing the number of new HIV infections. This exceeds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2030 Ending the HIV Epidemic goal of 90 percent, national rate of 66 percent, and Michigan rate of 72 percent. Further, 93 percent of Vivent Health’s Black/African American patients have achieved viral suppression, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 62 percent and Michigan rate of 67 percent — underscoring the continued need to address racial and ethnic disparities in HIV care and prevention.
“With racial inequities continuing to drive the HIV epidemic, the need to transform the way we deliver HIV care and prevention services in Detroit and broader Michigan is clear,” says Matt Browning, chair of UNIFIED’s board of directors. “Which is why our board pursued bringing Vivent Health’s innovative model of care to our community. Seeing the positive impact Vivent Health is making in a growing number of communities, we’re confident that adopting their innovative care model will enable us to battle gaps in access to HIV care and provide long-term sustainability.”
The Right Place Assists Ludus with Grand Rapids Expansion
The Right Place Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corp., announced that digital ticketing sales platform Ludus will be establishing its headquarters in a yet-to-be-determined location in the greater Grand Rapids region. The company plans to add 37 new jobs and $310,000 in capital investment.
Ludus was founded as a side project to assist Holland Public Schools in navigating online ticket sales. Since then, the company has grown rapidly and counts more than 2,000 universities, K-12 schools, and community and professional theaters around the country as customers. The company was recently ranked BO. 706 on Inc.’s list of the 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Ludus currently has 21 employees around the country.
“We at Ludus are thrilled to plant our roots in Grand Rapids,” says Zack Collins, co-founder and CEO of Ludus. “Our commitment is to be a leader and contributor to the city’s growing tech scene. Together, we’ll build a future where GR stands at the forefront of technological excellence. Additionally, we are dedicated to attracting and cultivating top-tier tech talent from all around the country, ensuring that GR becomes a magnet for brilliant minds and a place where tech talent can call home.”
The Right Place worked closely with the MEDC to ensure the company continued its growth in the region rather than competing sites in Chicago and Austin.
“Ludus’ decision to locate its headquarters in the Grand Rapids region speaks volumes about the vibrant tech ecosystem we are building,” says Jen Wangler, vice president of technology at The Right Place and project lead. “It validates that the region offers an unparalleled quality of place and affordable, high-quality lifestyle that young tech talent is looking for.”
Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit to Host Benefit Brunch March 23
Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit in Dearborn will conduct its second Best Buddies Brunch presented by The Envelope Printery on March 23 at Park Place Caterers in Dearborn.
This year offers two seatings: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and 1:30-4 p.m. The early seating will feature host Dan Miller, sports director at FOX 2, with the afternoon featuring host Brooke Allen of podcast “Caffeinated Conversations with Brooke Allen.” Each seating will provide guests with fundraising activities, entertainment, and a program.
Proceeds will go toward Friends for Animal’s operations fund, providing animals with the best care possible until their time of adoption. The event will feature two respective Hall of Friends inductions, which honor individuals who continually help to support animal welfare.
Admission for the brunch includes four tiers: $25 for ages 12 and under, $55 for adults, $65 for premium tickets that include an open bar, presented by the Best Buddies Premium Ticket Bar Sponsor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. A table for eight premium tickets can be reserved for $600. The “Second Chances Animal Sponsor” also is available for $250 and includes two premium tickets.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Nova Zorok at 313-943-2697 ext. 1019 or nzorok@metrodetroitanimals.org for more information.
Park Place Caterers is located at 23400 Park St. in Dearborn. The event will offer a buffet accommodating gluten-sensitive, halal, vegan, and vegetarian dietary needs. It also will feature 50/50 and tin can raffles, silent auctions, and Friends for Animals merchandise will be available for purchase.
DJ Marcie Bolen will provide the entertainment at both seatings.
Donations and reservations can be made here.
