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.
Michigan Wine Collaborative Announces 2023 Governor’s Cup Competition Winners
Michigan wines earned two Platinum Medals, 83 Gold Medals, 152 Silver Medals, and 45 Bronze Medals in the recent Michigan Wine Collaborative (MWC) 2023 Michigan Governor’s Cup, a partnership with the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI).
BTI conducted a series of professional blind tastings to rate and rank a set of Michigan produced wines, meads, and ciders at the BTI Chicago testing facility over a three-month period. BTI reported its average awarded gold medals in a competition was around 20 percent, and MWC reports it exceeded that average with Michigan wines earning 28 percent gold medals.
Among the winners were:
- Sweet/Dessert (R.S. ≥5%): 12 Corners 2021 Estate Grown Vidal Blanc (Platinum Medal)
- Vinifera Red: St. Julian 2020 Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc (Platinum Medal)
- Vinifera White: Modales 2022 Hollywood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Gold Medal)
- Hybrid Red: St. Julian 2020 Braganini GDN Estate Reserve Petite Pearl (Gold Medal)
- Hybrid White: Cherry Creek 2022 Charamar Collection Vignoles (Gold Medal)
- Fortified: St. Julian NV Solera Cream Sherry (Gold Medal)
- Sparkling: MAWBY NV Grace Brut Rosé (Gold Medal)
- Fruit: End of the Road NV Mount Me Cherry Wine (Gold Medal)
- Specialty Wine: St. Julian NV Sweet Nancie Sparkling Peach (Gold Medal)
- Rosé: St. Julian NV BFF Dry Rosé (Silver Medal)
The full list of wineries and wines with their medal ranks can be viewed here.
To celebrate the wine evaluation and present awards to the top placing wineries, MWC is hosting the Michigan Governor’s Cup Award Gala and Dinner in Lansing on June 28 at the Lansing Center. MWC also will be hosting a more casual tasting event, the Winners’ Showcase Tasting, at the Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center the next evening on June 29.
For more information, visit michiganwinecollaborative.com.
Michigan Receives $15.5M in AmeriCorps Funding
The Michigan Community Service Commission announced that Michigan has received $15.5 million in AmeriCorps funding to support the work of more than 1,100 AmeriCorps members as they tackle some of the state’s toughest challenges, including disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, education, health, and public safety.
“Michigan’s hardworking AmeriCorps members are on the ground every day in communities across our state, serving Michiganders and tackling some of the toughest challenges facing Michigan families,” says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “We owe it to them to have their back and support them with the resources they need to carry out their vital mission.
“This $15.5 million investment will support AmeriCorps’ work to grow economic opportunity, protect natural resources, invest in health and public safety, and help communities get back on their feet after natural disasters. Let’s keep working together to make a difference for Michiganders and build a state where everyone can envision a bright future for themselves.”
The $15.5 million in federal funding — a $3 million increase from the previous year — includes Public Health AmeriCorps funding to increase health access in the state. Public Health AmeriCorps is a partnership between the AmeriCorps agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, supported by a five-year, $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act, created to help meet public health needs of local communities by advancing health equity and increasing access to care while also creating pathways to public health-related careers.
AmeriCorps funds will support 23 Michigan organizations to expand their reach and impact in Michigan communities. Organizations receiving grants include.
These investments build on previous AmeriCorps funding – like the $7.1 million into the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program at Wayne State University since 2010 that helped more than 75,000 Detroiters engage with program activities.
During the last program year, AmeriCorps members served 30,436 youth, treated 596 acres of public land, provided health services to 16,930 individuals, and distributed 112,097 pounds of food and addressed a variety of other issues throughout the state.
The AmeriCorps agency will provide an additional $5.1 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members. Upon completion of a full-time term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an education award of $6,895, or a pro-rated amount for less than full-time service, that they can use to cover the cost of college or pay back student loans.
Comcast Offers Metro Detroit Xfinity Customers NOW TV
Comcast announced that metro Detroit residents can sign up for NOW TV, a new streaming offering that includes more than 40 live channels from A&E, AMC, Hallmark, and Warner Bros. Discovery, plus over 20 integrated FAST channels from NBC, Sky, and Xumo Play, as well as a subscription to Peacock Premium at no additional cost.
NOW TV is built to meet the needs of the value-conscious consumer who wants an entertainment product that is simple and convenient with quality programming movies, top shows, live sports, and news. NOW TV is available to Xfinity Internet customers for an everyday monthly price of $20, no equipment required, and the ability to sign up and cancel anytime.
“NOW TV delivers an unparalleled streaming experience, exceptional value and boundless entertainment possibilities to Xfinity Internet customers in Detroit and beyond,” says Kristee Cominiello, senior vice president of Comcast’s Heartland Region, which includes Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. “With Peacock Premium and FAST channels included, NOW TV is where high-quality entertainment, value, connectivity and streaming converge.”
NOW TV is the newest video offering from Comcast that leverages its global technology platform, the engine that powers the company’s entertainment and connectivity products, and experiences. Built using cross-company innovation and technology from Xfinity, Peacock, Sky, and Xumo, NOW TV is the first streaming offering in the market to combine a live TV streaming service, free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, and a subscription video on demand (SVOD) service.
Comerica Bank to Open an Expanded Office in Fort Lauderdale
Comerica Bank will open an expanded Fort Lauderdale, Fla. office in Plaza 100, located in the Central Business District.
The expanded office location, opening later this month, will house more than 30 employees from across the bank’s lines of business, including Commercial Bank; Wealth Management; Private Banking; Comerica Securities; Comerica Trust; Estate Settlement; Advisor Solutions; Community Development; US Banking; Dealer Services; Trust Advocacy; Guardian Angels, and Lending and Trade Services. The office serves as an extension of Comerica’s current banking center, located on the first floor of Plaza 100.
“Our office in Plaza 100 shows Comerica’s ongoing growth and investment in Florida and across the Southeast,” says Dave Galbreath, Florida market president for Comerica Bank. “We are excited to serve the needs of our Florida customers in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of South Florida.”
Comerica has continued to build a presence in Florida since it entered the state in 1979, with banking center locations in Naples, Palm Beach Gardens, Singer Island, Wellington, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale.
FLO and Nissan Canada Announce New Initiatives to Boost EV Adoption
FLO, an electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider with a charger plant in Auburn Hills, and Nissan Canada are trying to make EV charging more convenient with two initiatives — complimentary FLO charging credits and greater access to FLO’s residential EV chargers across Canada for new car buyers.
The programs will give $150 worth of charging credits to Nissan Canada customers who purchase or lease a new Nissan EV along with the Nissan EV Care protection package. Additionally, Canadian drivers can now purchase FLO Home chargers at Nissan dealerships nationwide.
“With more EVs on North America’s roads than ever before, FLO provides drivers with accessible, safe, and reliable EV chargers — at home or on the go,” says Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of FLO. “We welcome new Nissan drivers to the FLO network, which proudly boasts a 98 percent network uptime. These new initiatives with Nissan are only the beginning of our joint commitment to accelerating EV adoption in North America, and we look forward to growing this relationship.”
FLO provides EV drivers with a seamless network of easy-to-use EV charging stations and a complete portfolio of dependable charging solutions. Nissan drivers will have access to the FLO EV Charging Network, providing access to charge their EV at FLO Level 2 and DC fast chargers located coast-to-coast across Canada and the U.S.
