Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
GM Unveils New Thanksgiving Day Parade Float
General Motors Co. will have a new float when America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade presented by Gardner White rolls down Woodward Ave. on Thursday.
Titled “Everybody In,” the float — built by The Parade Co. — recognizes GM’s brand campaign to advance an emissions-free future and progressive company vision that is inclusive and accessible to all.
“GM is a committed leader and partner in our community,” says Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Co. “We are thrilled to welcome them back to The Parade Co. family and look forward to celebrating their tremendous work in Detroit and around the world on Thanksgiving morning.”
The company is committed to delivering on its goal in creating a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. The animated front piece of the float provides a nod to the automaker’s work in our community by highlighting some of its nonprofit partners. The float also features notable buildings and landmarks from downtown Detroit throughout.
“Our new float celebrates Detroit and the future of mobility, and we’re proud to be building that future here in the city that we’ve called home for more than a century,” says Terry Rhadigan, vice president of corporate giving at GM. “We’re thrilled to be part of this longstanding tradition in Detroit and can’t wait for our float to make its official debut down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving Day.”
Themed “Love on Woodward,” America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White will air live on WDIV-Local 4 from 10 a.m.-noon, including a one-hour syndicated national broadcast from 10-11 a.m. reaching more than 185 television markets across the country. News/Talk 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith and Audacy WOMC 104.3 also broadcast parade shows.
Report: Detroit Area Consumers Ready to Spend This Holiday Season
Business management consultant Accenture, which has an office in Detroit, says consumers in the Motor City will spend more this holiday season than last year, according to its recently released Accenture U.S. Holiday research.
The average Detroit consumer plans to spend $647 on festive/holiday purchases this year, compared to $562 in 2020, the research indicates. The national average is $598 per adult.
After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, holiday celebrations are back. Seventy-two percent of Detroiters will be visiting family and friends, hosting meals and parties, and going out to festive events compared to 59 percent nationally.
Forty-three percent of Detroit consumers anticipate doing the majority of their holiday shopping online. Despite that number, retailers are ready for the holidays. Having bolstered supply chains and changed their approach to recruiting and training temp workers, retailers are ready for the holiday season.
With 2022 on the horizon, fiscal responsibility is top of mind for many, according to Accenture.
Thirty-one percent of Detroit consumers are re-cutting the household budget due to rising prices, 40 percent of Detroit consumers are saving for retirement, and 52 percent of Detroit consumers are paying down debt.
High Life Farms Enters Michigan’s Recreational Cannabis Concentrates Market
High Life Farms, a privately held cannabis company with operations in Michigan and California, is bringing its live rosin and distillate cartridges to Michigan’s recreational market.
The launches represent HLF’s first expansion into the state’s adult-use cartridges market.
The new products are the Chief Solventless cartridges, which will be available in the state in early December, and Annie Tokeley distillate cartridges, which are available now.
The Chief 0.5g Live Rosin cartridge is High Life Farms’ first in-house branded live rosin cartridge. This offering expands HLF’s Chief’s Solventless premium brand, manufactured using ice water extraction methods and sought-after genetics and terpenes, into the vape space. First to launch will be Rozay Cake and Alien OG.
The Annie Tokeley line includes 1 gram distillate cartridges in six different varieties.
“From our thoughtful cultivation to our premium ice water extraction for Chief’s Solventless, each and every cartridge is created utilizing the most optimal and forward-thinking methods,” says Ben Celani, co-founder of High Life Farms. “We are thrilled to add the live rosin cartridge to the Chief Solventless family and to launch Annie Tokeley, our first full product line of recreational cartridges, in dispensaries across Michigan. Our goal is to create an expanded and robust product offering for our customers who are increasingly seeking a vast selection of concentrates to choose from.”
Busch’s Fresh Food Market Helps Fight Hunger During the Holidays
Busch’s Fresh Food Market is conducting its 14th annual Season of Sharing food drive through Nov. 28, to help those in need during the holidays. Proceeds will go to local food banks and rescue agencies in the communities of all Busch’s locations.
Donations will be accepted at all Busch’s locations in southeast Michigan through Sunday, Nov. 28, during normal business hours. The community has several ways to get involved, including purchasing a pre-made “Ready to Go” donation bag with 16 items for a family in need, making a donation at a Busch’s checkout register, purchasing gift cards, and donating bottle return slips.
“Busch’s is your local supermarket helping those in need in our community,” says Doug Busch, community director for Busch’s. “Working together we can all make a difference, and, with Season of Sharing, we do.”
To learn more about where and how to donate to those in need during the holidays, visit any Busch’s location or visit here.
Community Housing Network Offers Emergency Support and Housing Resources for Homeless
November is Homelessness Awareness Month and Community Housing Network in Troy offers support, resources, and hope for hundreds of metro Detroit individuals facing homelessness through its PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) outreach team.
Michigan’s colder temperatures begin to make it harder for homeless individuals to find shelter and support. Shelters throughout the state continue to be at capacity making it difficult for individuals to find safe, warm places to stay during the winter. CHN’s PATH team works throughout Oakland and Macomb counties identifying homeless individuals in need, finding support and, hopefully, assisting them into housing.
In addition, CHN has partnered with Oakland County Public Health Nurses and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide mobile health units, harm reduction teams, and vaccine clinics out into the streets.
“CHN PATH teams see an average of 30-40 individuals each week that are either temporarily or permanently homeless,” says Mellena Martinez, director of community programs, housing resources at CHN. “Our goal is to help them into housing, but also to meet them where they are with essential safety items and basic items to help them survive.
“We are always aware that due to issues, some individuals want to survive outside, even in the winter. Whether it be because of legal issues, mental health issues or PTSD, there are individuals that may not want go into a shelter and it takes time to build that trust.”
For more information, visit here.
Albion College to Serve as Home for Carnegie Classifications
Albion College, west of Jackson, will assume operational and administrative responsibilities for the Carnegie Foundation’s Carnegie Classifications, including the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and the Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
“Situating these classifications at Albion College speaks to the college’s future-focused approach to curriculum advancement and student success beyond the classroom,” says Mathew Johnson, president of Albion, who has worked as a visiting fellow and as director of the Elective Classification for Community Engagement. “At Albion, we understand well the responsibilities of institutions of higher education to create thoughtful students who make lasting impacts on society. With these classifications in place, we are prepared to deliver on that commitment more effectively than ever before.”
The Elective Classification for Community Engagement has been housed at Albion since July 2020. The movement of the Basic Classifications to Albion College will build on this partnership.
Albion College will launch the Commission on Public Purpose in Higher Education (CPPHE) to serve as the administrative and research home of the Carnegie Classifications and to actively engage in initiatives that explore the public purpose of higher education through collaboration with students, faculty, institutions of higher education, community partners, and networks for community engagement and social innovation.
“Albion College is an ideal example of an institution transforming the educational experience by uncovering opportunities and solutions previously unseen,” says Paul LeMahieu, senior vice president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “Through its focus on community engagement and public serving scholarship, Albion is well-positioned to continue to make an impact on the greater academic landscape. Operational and administrative leadership of the Carnegie Classifications is one excellent example of this.”
For more information, visit albion.edu and carnegiefoundation.org.
