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.
M1 Concourse Announces ‘M1 Pontiac Power Week’ Aug. 12-20
M1 Concourse in Pontiac recently unveiled plan for its inaugural M1 Pontiac Power Week, Aug. 12-20, that will feature several automotive-related events and activities leading to its second Woodward Dream Show and the annual Woodward Dream Cruise.
New events during M1 Pontiac Power Week include an Australian burnout contest called Sick Skids, three days of new Dodge product reveals, and a parade designed to celebrate the Woodward Dream Cruise.
M1 also is presenting its second Woodward Dream Show presented by Comerica Bank and welcoming back Roadkill Nights (Aug. 13).
The M1 Pontiac Power Week schedule includes:
Friday, Aug. 12 —Sick the Magazine presents Sick Skids Contest
There also will be cars on display and a vendor midway during the evening. Sick Nights is sponsored by Motion Raceworks, Gear Vendors Overdrive, and Sick the Magazine. Proceeds will be donated to the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan and Bubba’s Buddies (degenerative myelopathy). Visit here for more information.
Saturday, Aug. 13 — MotorTrend Presents Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge
A one-day car culture festival that in addition to legal street drag racing, offers a full slate of fan activities, including Dodge thrill and drift rides, Dodge driving simulators, a classic and modern muscle car show and much more. Visit here for more information.
Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 15-17 — Worldwide product reveals from Dodge brand
Media and invited guests will be on hand Monday, Aug. 15 for current muscle car announcements; Tuesday, Aug. 16 for a gateway muscle announcement; and Wednesday, Aug. 17 for a future muscle announcement.
Friday, Aug. 19 – Woodward Dream Show presented by Comerica Bank
The second Woodward Dream Show presented by Comerica Bank celebrates 90 years of the 1932 Ford “Deuce,” 100 years of the Lincoln brand, and 55 years of the Pontiac Firebird. Activities include the Insiders’ Garage panel discussion, Race Speed Track Experiences available with M1’s team of professional drivers, remote control car races on a custom-built track, music and entertainment, food and beverage and peoples’ choice voting.
Saturday, Aug. 20 – Inaugural Woodward Dream Parade presented by Comerica Bank and Car Club Corrals
The Woodward Dream Parade presented by Comerica Bank and Car Club Corrals is a new Saturday event for all residents and fans of Woodward to enjoy. Participation is by invitation only, but it’s a spectator’s celebration. A police-escorted parade (limited to 200 vehicles) will include cruising on Woodward Avenue and on downtown Pontiac’s historic Widetrack Drive.
More information on both events is available here. Details about all events at M1 Concourse are available at www.m1concourse.com.
Plunkett Cooney’s ‘Bill’ Stanczyk Dies at Age 90
Longtime Plunkett Cooney attorney, president, and chairman Boleslaus “Bill” Ignatius Stanczyk passed away June 24 surrounded by his family. He was 90 years old.
Born in Detroit Aug. 18, 1931, Stanczyk joined the law firm of Ward, Plunkett & Cooney right out of the University of Detroit law school in 1957. Throughout his more than 56-year career, he gained a reputation as one of Michigan’s most successful trial attorneys in areas including medical malpractice, product liability, pharmaceutical liability, and municipal liability.
By 1970, what was then Ward, Plunkett, Cooney, Rutt & Peacock became Plunkett, Cooney, Rutt, Watters, Stanczyk & Pederson. It later became simply Plunkett Cooney. He served as president of the firm for decades and was chairman of its board of directors. He also was general counsel to the Michigan Municipal League Liability and Property Pool for decades.
During his tenure with the firm, it grew from 11 attorneys in one Detroit office to more than 150 attorneys and 10 offices including expansion into Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. He is credited with developing the firm’s reputation today as one of the Midwest’s top law firms. Stanczyk’s name also appears on dozens of Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court opinions as well as Federal opinions.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, children Matthew (Suzanne), Laura Stanczyk, Jennifer Stanczyk (Cheryl), Julie Stanczyk, and Aimee Norrell (Jeffery); step-children Dave Riepe (Naomi), Linda Riepe Brohl (Sean), and Carole Riepe Welsh.
A celebration of life took place Thursday evening. The family requests memorial tributes be sent to Special Olympics of Michigan.
Detroit Secures $12.1M to Ensure 486 Affordable Housing Units Will be Completed
Almost 500 units of new affordable housing in the city that were at risk of not being completed due to rising construction costs now will get built, thanks to $12.1 million worth of additional support the City of Detroit helped secure from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).
Six major housing developments in the city were at risk of either being put on hold or scaling back the number of affordable units from what they had originally planned. To cover those surging construction costs, the city and the developers requested additional Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from MSDHA, which had previously supported these developments with earlier LIHTC awards.
“One of the most urgent needs in our city right now is for more units of affordable housing to make sure every Detroiter has a quality place to live at a price they can afford,” says Mayor Mike Duggan. “Just as we all see rising costs at the grocery store and gas pump, construction companies that build affordable housing are being faced with higher construction costs. We are deeply grateful to our partners at MSHDA and Governor Whitmer’s administration for recognizing the importance of these projects and supporting them so that they can move forward.”
The six projects that can now proceed thanks to this additional funding are:
- 7580 E. Jefferson, 150 units
- Brush Watson, 160 units
- Left Field, 48 units
- Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center, 42 units
- Anchor at Mariners Inn, 44 units
- La Joya Gardens, 42 units
Nails and Ales for ALS II at Founders Brewing Co. Slated for July 30
Strongman and Mike Morse Law Firm attorney Don Cummings will be attempting to set a world record for the most steel spikes ever bent at Nails and Ales for ALS II at 11 a.m. July 30 at Founders Taproom (456 Charlotte St.) in Detroit.
All proceeds from the event go to the ALS Therapy Development Institute research team.
“This event is very important to me,” says Cummings. “My college wrestling teammate, Scott Smith, has ALS. He was diagnosed toward the end of 2020. He was a personal trainer and owned his own gym. An absolute athlete. Married with a young daughter and another daughter on the way. He found out he had ALS and within a year he could not walk or talk. He is in a motorized wheelchair full time now and cannot talk on his own. Very sad story.”
For more information and to donate, visit here.
Stronger Warrior Foundation Looks to Help Disabled Veterans in Metro Detroit
Stronger Warrior Foundation, a Milford-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is looking for applicants for its Adaptive Warrior Grant. The grant is for disabled Veterans, no matter the disability or how it occurred. Stronger Warrior Foundation will provide up to $6,000 for home and/or auto modifications.
“The Adaptive Warrior program is designed to reach injured veterans who need modifications for their homes or vehicles,” says Zachary Osaer, director of Adaptive Warrior. “Our goal is to help make a veteran’s living situation easier; Whether their injury was service related or not. The program is unique because it aims to help those who may not be getting sufficient monetary assistance for these needed modifications from the VA.”
For more information on eligibility and to apply, visit here.
2022 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Awards Announced
Thirty-one metro Detroit artists will share $550,000 in Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Emerging Artist Awards. The awards were announced by the Kresge Arts in Detroit office located at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, which administers the organization on behalf of The Kresge Foundation.
The 14th cohort of award recipients consists of 15 Kresge Artist Fellowships in film and music and five Kresge Artist Fellowships in live arts (which includes one collaborative duo), as well as seven Gilda Award winners in film and music and three in live arts.
For the first time, both Fellowships and Gilda Awards were divided between the two categories — Live Arts and Film & Music — based on the number of applications received in each category rather than 10 awards in each.
Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded more than $7.36 million directly to tri-county (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb) artists through 14 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards ($50,000 each), 258 Kresge Artist Fellowships ($25,000 each), and 42 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each).
