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.
MSU Buys $48M Property to House Health Care Services
Michigan State University in East Lansing has purchased a two-building property that will house all MSU Health Care providers under one roof, making services such as family medicine, pediatrics, and ambulatory surgery more accessible to patients.
The $48 million purchase, approved by the MSU Board of Trustees in February and finalized last month, is the most recent MSU investment to improve health care services in mid-Michigan, says Norman J. Beauchamp Jr. executive vice president for Health Sciences at MSU.
“At the heart of MSU Health Care’s mission is bringing more quality care to residents around mid-Michigan and expanding our clinical research capabilities,” says Beauchamp. “The purchase of this building gives the greater Lansing community a centralized location to get the care it needs.”
The 13-acre property is located on the corner of Hagadorn Road and Hannah Boulevard, immediately across from MSU’s campus. It has two buildings: a two-story, 60,000-square-foot building at 4700 Hagadorn Road, and a six-story, 150,000-square-foot building at 4660 Hagadorn Road, known as the Eyde Building. The buildings currently have several tenants with leases whose staggered terms will end in 2027. These leases will be honored under the terms of the agreement.
“This investment in property is showing the dedication of MSU Health Care to provide the best health care for the people of Michigan by making it easier to access health services,” says Seth Ciabotti, CEO for MSU Health Care. “Locating services often used together close to each other makes it easier for our health care workers to collaborate, ultimately leading to a better experience for patients.”
Currently, MSU Health Care — the university’s academic health center representing more than 600 faculty and affiliate providers — leases several floors of the Eyde Building. It recently opened the doors to an expanded Heart and Vascular Center that provides services such as ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring, cardiology consultations, non-invasive cardiology testing and echocardiography, electrocardiography testing and stress tests.
City of Pontiac Purchases Equipment to Expand Maintenance Programs
The City of Pontiac Department of Public Works recently took possession of the first of two street-sweepers and eight specialty lawn mowers to sustain landscaping and street cleaning operations.
Officials hope this purchase will better allow DPW to reduce blight in city parks and on city streets for major roads, local roads, and public parks throughout the city internally. It is the first time in a decade that Pontiac has owned its own equipment, allowing the administration to be less reliant on contracted services — thus saving taxpayer dollars.
“We take seriously the need to promptly address concerns for Pontiac residents as we continue to improve the quality of life in our city,” says Mayor Tim Greimel. “We’re pleased to announce the acquisition of lawn mowers and street sweepers to enhance the maintenance of parks and the cleaning of roads on a more consistent basis.
“Pontiac residents deserve clean neighborhoods and beautiful parks, and we will continue implementing plans to create better living conditions in our community.”
Before 2023, the city used outside contractors for mowing and rented street sweepers. As the city has ramped up its service delivery over the past year, it has become more cost effective for the city to provide those services in-house with city employees and city-owned equipment.
Features of the City’s new street sweepers are:
- Upgraded, three-wheeled vehicles.
- Debris tank in back (giving drivers a full view of brooms operating on the curb line).
- Runs up to 25 miles per hour on a 200-horsepower motor.
“We’re committed to increasing productivity and meeting the needs of the city at any given time,” says Al Cooley, director of the Pontiac DPW. “Our priority is to provide excellent service on behalf of our residents.”
The administration also purchased two 48-inch, stand-on rider mowers and six 61 inch-wide, zero-turn rider mowers. This allows the city to maintain local parks and public-owned properties on demand and at lower costs to taxpayers.
Blue Cross Supports Health Care Safety Net with $934K in Grants to Clinics
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced Wednesday $934,500 in grants to 50 Michigan health clinics to support their ability to provide free or low-cost medical, dental, and behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured community members.
Since 2005, Blue Cross has awarded $19 million to health clinics statewide as part of its Strengthening the Safety Net program, which serves approximately 64,000 vulnerable Michigan residents annually. They are located in 24 Michigan counties and plan on more than 185,000 free or low-cost visits this year. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is the single largest private funder of Michigan’s free clinics.
“Blue Cross is rooted in its social mission to improve the health and well-being of everyone in Michigan, and through these grants, we support health clinics as they provide screening and treatment for those who may have no other options or access to care,” says Ken Hayward, vice president and special assistant to the president for community relations at BCBSM. “This year is particularly challenging as the Medicaid redetermination process may result in patients losing the insurance coverage gained during the public health emergency. We expect even more people will need the care provided by these safety net clinics.”
In addition to care, grantees help patients explore coverage options and link them to services provided outside of the clinic that improve health such as food, housing, and transportation. Ten safety net clinics offer services bilingually and bi-culturally. As in the past, leaders are required to participate in unconscious bias education and encourage staff and volunteers to also complete training.
DMC Cardiologist Shares New National Guidelines on Catheter-based Heart Access
A Detroit Medical Center cardiologist who specializes in coronary intervention and catheter-based heart procedures last month presented a new set of guidelines for a novel way to access the heart at CVI 2023, a conference of the Cardiovascular Innovations (CVI) Foundation, in Austin, Texas.
Dr. M. Chadi Alraies, director of DMC’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab, shared the guideline’s specific steps to reach the heart through a vessel in the arm, called axillary artery access, for patient procedures that need larger catheters to move devices like heart valves and heart pumps.
Traditional access to the heart for larger catheters is through a vessel in the groin area, called femoral access. Once the catheter reaches the heart, the interventional cardiologist can then repair or replace heart valves, insert devices to treat different structural heart issues or insert a tiny, straw-sized heart pump to support blood flow in the heart for patients in cardiogenic shock.
“This newer technique was developed a few years ago, but leaders in cardiology from across the United States created these guidelines for hospitals still learning how to access the heart through vessels in the arm,” Alraies says. “While we are very experienced in radial access at DMC, the comfort and experience at many health systems varies. So, these guidelines are important, ultimately to help save and improve lives for patients not only in metro Detroit but across the United States.”
Alraies helped develop and publish guidelines for the procedure in 2022 for the Society for Cardiovascular Angiographer & Interventions (SCAI) with cardiology experts from the Cleveland Clinic, Emory University School of Medicine, and other health systems across the United States. He was the only cardiologist in Michigan to contribute to the guidelines.
“People who need TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) or need to have a supportive heart pump placed, these patients usually require a large vessel, typically a vessel in the leg,” Alraies says. “But if these vessels are narrowed by plaque buildup or access is difficult because the vessel curves and twists around quite a bit, in the past, that could eliminate the catheter-based treatment option.
“This was terrible news for those who need these procedures. Using an axillary artery through the upper arm provides new opportunity for those patients.”
Detroit Vineyards Releases Four New Wines for Summer
Detroit Vineyards is announcing that four new wines: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Vignoles from the 2021 harvest year are now available for purchase at the full-production winery in downtown Detroit.
The wines are great examples of what precision viticulture in Michigan can produce, and each reflects the skill of the farmers as well as the unique style of Detroit Vineyards’ winemaker, Chris Southern.
“2021 was challenging in many regards, but it was one of the best years for grape-growing in Michigan,” says Chris Southern, winemaker at Detroit Vineyards. “This release includes several of my favorites from that year’s harvest, showcasing the depth and harmony of the grapes grown here in Michigan, and are also very well-suited to be enjoyed during the summer and fall.”
Every Detroit Vineyards wine is made strictly from Michigan-grown grapes, sourced directly from family farms and vineyards across the state. Immediately after harvest, Southern transports the grapes back to the winery in Detroit’s Eastern Market, and the production process begins. Last year, Southern’s three-person team processed 52 tons of fruit, yielding approximately 8,000 gallons of wine (equal to 3,378 cases or 40,400 bottles).
The recent releases from Detroit Vineyards are:
2021 Pinot Noir ‘La Poignée de Main’ — Hailing from a beautifully farmed Old Mission Peninsula vineyard, on the spine of a hill surrounded by Grand Traverse Bay. One hundred percent pinot noir made by 25 percent whole cluster fermentation, 75 percent destemmed and saignée (a process of concentrating by removing juice), fermented in one ton lots, and aged for 16 months in neutral French oak barrels. ‘La Poignée de Main’ is French for “handshake” and a nod to working with growers who operate with a handshake deal. The 2021 Pinot Noir is acid-driven with cranberry, dried cherry, and clove flavors. Retails for $38.
2021 Cabernet Sauvignon — Detroit Vineyard’s largest growing partner, Domaine Berrien continues to surprise, calling at the end of harvest with a small allotment of cabernet sauvignon grapes. The Lake Michigan Shore AVA allows around two weeks of additional ripening and in warm years, can achieve juicy, fruit-forward cabs. 100 percent crushed and de-stemmed; pressed to three neutral French oak barrels. Flavors of plum, black raspberry, and violets. Just two barrels were produced. Wine Club Exclusive. Retails for $36.
2021 Cabernet Franc — Another from family-owned Domaine Berrien Vineyard in Lake Michigan Shore AVA, these grapes receive a lot of sunshine and the moderating temperatures of Lake Michigan keep the canopy dry. 100% crushed and de-stemmed, then quickly fermented in small lots. Aged 16 months in five neutral French oak barrels. Flavors of mulberry, currant, cranberry, and slate. Retails for $36.
Woodward & Vine 2021 ‘Le Coup de Chance’ — Translation: Happy accident. Domaine Berrien Vineyard had extra Vignoles at the end of harvest, so Southern decided to ferment some on its skin – resulting in a ‘trendy’ orange wine, and a fantastically fruity, dry wine. 100 percent Vignoles, fermented over two weeks at cool temperatures. Aged in neutral, French oak barrels for one year. Just two barrels were produced. Aromas and flavors of peach, pear, and wild meadow flowers. Wine Club Exclusive. Retails for $30.
For more information, including about the Detroit Vineyards Club and its tasting room at 1000 Gratiot Ave., visit detroitvineyards.com.
MobilityTRANS Donates Ford E-Transit Van to Pope Francis Center in Detroit
The Pope Francis Center took delivery of a new Ford E-Transit van, customized by Livonia-based MobilityTRANS, to provide safe transportation for guests requiring additional assistance.
MobilityTRANS, a division of Forest River Bus in Indiana, installed a flexible seating system, wheelchair lift, security mechanisms, passenger assist steps, grab bars, windows, and a climate control system.
In addition, MobilityTRANS has provided a Level 2 charging system for the Pope Francis Center to charge the all-electric vehicle at its new Bridge Housing Campus.
The Pope Francis Center, which supports people experiencing homelessness, will use the van as eco-friendly transportation for guests to attend medical and dental treatment appointments,
job, and other interviews, and for moving people to safer environments during extreme weather.
The van can accommodate up to 10 passengers or eight if a wheelchair is in use.
“We are honored to collaborate with the Pope Francis Center, donating this Electric E-Transit van,” says Dave Brown, general manager of MobilityTRANS. “It perfectly aligns with our mission of providing accessible transportation solutions and improving the well-being of individuals facing adversity. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Pope Francis Center’s impactful work.”
The van will be a critical part of the new Pope Francis Center Bridge Housing Campus in the Core City neighborhood. Scheduled to open next year, the campus will provide 40 apartments and wrap-around services to guests transitioning from homelessness to permanent, supportive housing.
“This vehicle will literally help save lives,” says Fr. Tim McCabe SJ, executive director of the Pope Francis Center. “Whether it’s a severe weather emergency or the urgent need for medical attention, we now have a way to move people without options to a place of safety. We could not be more grateful for this extraordinary gift.”
Physicians Health Plan in Lansing Achieves NCQA Health Plan Accreditation
Physicians Health Plan (PHP) in Lansing announced it has achieved full accreditation through NCQA Health Plan Accreditation for both the Commercial HMO/POS plan and the Exchange HMO plan.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas.
NCQA’s HEDIS is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website contains information to help consumers make informed health care choices. The NCQA Health Plan Accreditation provides a current, rigorous, and comprehensive framework for essential quality improvement and measurement. It is the only program in the industry that bases results on clinical performance and consumer experience (HEDIS and CAHPS).
Health plans that have obtained the NCQA Health Plan Accreditation have gone through rigorous evaluation on quality management and improvement, population health management, network management, utilization management, credentialing and recredentialing, members’ rights and responsibilities, and member connections. It also utilizes HEDIS data to effectively measure care and service performance, focusing attention on activities that keep members healthy.
To learn more about PHP or its offerings, visit the website here.
VanElslander Foundation Awards $250K to New Day Foundation for Families
The A.A. Van Elslander Foundation in Birmingham has awarded the Rochester Hills-based New Day Foundation for Families with a $250,000 Challenge Grant to address four key needs: patient and family hardship, cancer inequity, hospital staff shortages and high turnover, and organizational growing pains.
“This generous grant will be used to create organizational capacity to multiply the good,” says Gina Kell Spehn, co-founder and president of New Day. “The foundation’s commitment will help New Day scale its high-impact programs to reach and help more families across Michigan. With the leadership of a strong board and our five-year strategic plan, we will grow intentionally and build a sustainable future. We are grateful for the support of the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation in helping us accomplish these important goals.”
Debra Van Elslander, a VanElslander Foundation board member, says: “Cancer affects the entire family, not just the person with the diagnosis. New Day Foundation for Families provides relief to ease the financial strain that comes with such an illness. We are honored to support New Day to benefit Michigan’s communities in need.”
New Day is seeking both corporate partners and individual donations to meet the $250,000 challenge grant. For more information or to donate, visit the New Day website.
Chutney Festival Coming to Royal Oak Farmers Market Aug. 17
Chutney Festival, a celebration of south Asian and west Indian street food, is coming to the Royal Oak Farmers Market from 5-9 p.m. (316 E. 11 Mile Road) on Aug. 17.
The festival will showcase a diverse range of dishes from some of the best south Asian restaurants in Michigan. From spicy samosas and biryanis to sweet treats and refreshing beverages, there should be something for everyone. The event also includes henna artists and other cultural entertainment.
“Attendees can immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere, enjoy live music performances, appreciate captivating arts, and take part in various other entertainment activities throughout the evening,” says Surab Deb, producer of the event. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for friends and families to come together and experience the rich cultural heritage of south Asian and west Indian communities.”
Tickets for the Chutney Festival are available here.
Michigan Science Center and Aramco’s Traveling Science Program Returns Aug. 25
The Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) in Detroit and Aramco America’s annual event to commemorate the fall start of their Traveling Science Program returns Aug. 25.
The event will take place outside of Mi-Sci’s main entrance from 10 a.m.-noon featuring live science demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Started in 2012, the Traveling Science Program (TSP) brings interactive science programs into libraries, schools, and community centers throughout the state’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas as part of Mi-Sci’s mission to put Michigan residents at the center of science. This year, the program extended into 10 additional counties with support from Toyota Motor North America as part of Mi-Sci’s “Powers of 10” campaign, which celebrates the museum’s 10th anniversary. Mi-Sci is taking online requests for reservations for this program and other engaging science workshops, group presentations and interactive experiences.
“We’re thrilled to kick off another amazing year engaging students and families across the state of Michigan thanks to our partnership with Aramco Americas,” says Christian Greer, president and CEO of Mi-Sci. “Their generous support helps us provide new interactive STEM programs and demonstrations to communities unable to visit the Michigan Science Center in person. It’s a wonderful opportunity to advance our mission of putting people at the center of science.”
The energy company is active in the metro Detroit area with its Aramco Research Center-Detroit, located in Novi, developing transportation solutions. It also is a founding member of the ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials in Farmington Hills.
The activities at the Aug. 25 celebration will include:
- Ozobot Racers: Participants will learn basic programming as they operate a self-driving robot that turns hand-drawn colors and shapes into code.
- LEGO Six Bricks: Guests can improve their memory, movement and more in a variety of games played with just six LEGO® DUPLO® blocks.
- 60-Second STEM Skills Showdown: In this outdoor stage show, audience members can compete against the clock in a series of challenges that can be solved using STEM skills and concepts.
- Giveaways for the first 250 attendees.
All activities are included within general admission tickets.
To make reservations, visit here.
Formula SAE Student Racing Coming to Lawrence Tech Sept. 9
Lawrence Technological University will be hosting its annual fall semester Grand Prix for student-designed Formula-style race cars at its Southfield campus Sept. 9
Established in 2009, LTU’s 14th Grand Prix will be run in the LTU parking lots along Northwestern Highway in (Parking Lot D visit here for a map).
The event, in which teams race against the clock rather than each other, is free and open to the public for spectators. Competing collegiate teams are charged $250 to participate in the event. A DJ will be on site from noon-6 p.m., and the food trucks Abu Kunafa and Chubby Panda will be on site from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Along with Lawrence Tech, teams from Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the University of Toledo, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University, as well as other out-of-state colleges, are scheduled to attend.
Finals for most Midwestern teams are run in June at Michigan International Speedway.
In Formula SAE, students conceive, design, fabricate, and compete in half-scale open-wheel race cars. There are restrictions on the car frame and engine so that the knowledge, creativity, and imagination of the students are challenged. The cars are built with a team effort over a period of about nine months. Judging criteria include engineering design; cost; performance on a skid pad; a braking test; an endurance test; and a team presentation.
For more information, visit here.
