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.
Premier Private Jets at Oakland County Airport Completes $1.5M Renovation
Premier Private Jets, a full-service air charter company headquartered in Florida, as completed a $1.5 million renovation of its facility at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township that doubled its footprint.
Renovations include a fully redesigned lobby, a full-service aviation catering kitchen, a new pilot’s lounge, and added office spaces. The official grand opening is slated for 4-8 p.m. on Nov. 4.
“Until now there have not been major changes in menu and service options at this airfield,” says Marcus Raymond, executive chef for Premier. “The enhancements we are making are key in setting us apart in this industry and catering will focus on a variety of choices, including lifestyle menus and hearty classics, customized for each client.”
Josh Birmingham, CEO of Premier Private Jets, says, “With private air travel increasing, our expansion is a direct response to these new industry demands and the reality that more people are choosing to avoid busy commercial airport terminals. Premier remains agile and we’ve done everything possible to continue to grow by investing in cutting-edge facility updates to ensure we exceed the expectations of our discerning clientele.”
Fiber Internet Provider 123NET Surpasses 2,500 Lit Building Milestone
123NET, the Southfield-based fiber internet provider, has completed high-speed fiber connections into 2,500 commercial buildings in the state. The milestone was achieved just six months after the company reached 2,000 fiber lit buildings.
123NET says it continues to invest heavily in its network infrastructure to help achieve its goal of making Michigan “the best-connected state.” The company has been connecting buildings with an average growth rate of 51 percent per year over the past five years and connects two to three buildings per day.
“Reaching 2,500 fiber lit buildings is a major milestone and one that could not be done without the hardworking teams within 123NET,” says Chuck Irvin, director of network development and sales at 123NET. “I would also like to thank our customers for continuing to choose 123NET for their connectivity needs. We are grateful for the opportunity to expand network into our local communities, and together we will continue to make Michigan the best connected.”
123NET has fiber hubs in metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Flint, Port Huron, and Kalamazoo. For more information, visit here.
Unite Digital Launches New Regional Marketing Platform with Mitsubishi Motors Direct-to-Dealer Advertising Campaign for 2022 Outlander
Tier III Program Leverages Mitsubishi Motors’ Buying Power for Dealers
Unite Digital, a Bloomfield Hills-based digital marketing company that focuses on automotive dealer programs, announced the launch of a new regional marketing platform for the all-new 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander.
The platform enables Tier I creative — featuring AC/DC’s hit song “Thunderstruck” — to be customized with dealership branding and offers.
“Mitsubishi is leading the way as a disruptor in this space by creating a connected customer experience that combines the marketing power of the OEM with the distribution strength of the local dealer,” says Stacey Coopes, founder and CEO of Unite Digital. “Most OEMs do not provide customized broadcast assets for dealers to use in their local markets. For years, OEMs have aggregated budgets for regional advertising but sent the traffic to separately branded Tier II websites. As a result, many customers abandon the brand, confused by a disjointed shopping experience.”
Unite Digital’s regional marketing platform unifies the shopping experience by enabling dealers to integrate their branding and price points directly into high-budget advertising that drives traffic directly to their own digital properties.
“Mitsubishi may be a small auto manufacturer, but we have big products hitting the market right now,” says Mark Chaffin, COO of Mitsubishi Motors North America. “When customers see the best-in-class features and capabilities of our vehicles, they are wowed. We have the product, and now Unite Digital is helping us build our brand with breakthrough ideas that cut through the clutter, helping consumers connect with our dealers directly.”
A pilot for the new regional marketing platform that ran in the spring for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, featuring Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out,” yielded a 50 percent increase in lead volumes among participating dealers.
Beaumont Children’s Receives $1.87 in Children’s Miracle Network Grants
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has announced $1.87 million in financial support for programs at Beaumont Children’s to enhance pediatric programs at Beaumont locations for fall/winter 2021. More than 50 programs received funding.
Beaumont Children’s also announced the 2022 Children’s Miracle Network Child Ambassador for Beaumont Children’s will be Mila Sikes (age 6) of Sterling Heights.
Mila was born in January 2015 to parents Amy and Paul. She was due to arrive more than four and a half months later in May. At birth, she weighed only one pound, 10 ounces and was considered a “micro preemie” by her care team.
Throughout her 135-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mila fought many obstacles including brain bleeds, retinopathy, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP). Yet, she remained strong and hit milestone after milestone. Once her brain matured, she was able to regulate her body temperature on her own and, a few weeks later, she was breathing on her own and drinking from a bottle. Every day she grew stronger.
Mila will serve as the patient ambassador for Beaumont Children’s and will help to raise awareness for pediatric initiatives across southeast Michigan.
For more information on Beaumont Children’s visit here or call 855-480-KIDS (5437).
RHP Properties in Farmington Hills Acquires Pennsylvania Manufactured Home Community
RHP Properties in Farmington Hills has acquired Bonneau Heights in Gettysburg, Pa. This is the company’s 12th manufactured home community in Pennsylvania and brings the company’s total of manufactured home communities to 299 nationwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The strong demand for affordable housing continues and manufactured home communities offer pride of home ownership at a reasonable price,” says Ross Partrich, CEO of RHP Properties. “We look forward to being an active member of the community and providing our more than 30 years of management experience and stable ownership to our residents.”
Bonneau Heights is managed through RHP’s sister manufactured home community, New Oxford, located five minutes away.
AECOM and Cavnue Partnership to Deliver Automated Vehicle Corridor in Michigan
Dallas-based infrastructure consulting firm AECOM is partnering with Cavnue to deliver a connected and automated vehicle (CAV) corridor in southeast Michigan.
AECOM will provide engineering planning and design services beginning with a CAV lane project in Michigan and expanding to other locations across North America. The partnership also will deliver concept of operations, environmental documentation, and conceptual and final design on several major roadways in the state.
“Core to AECOM’s ESG strategy, Sustainable Legacies, is delivering solutions that will improve social outcomes and reduce carbon impacts on the planet,” says Jennifer Aument, global transportation chief executive at AECOM. “This partnership will advance transportation in a way that’s sustainable, smarter, and safer for generations to come in Michigan.
“We believe in Cavnue’s vision to unlock the potential in connected and automated travel and we’re thrilled to work together to create this future for the automated transportation industry and the communities that will benefit from it.”
In Michigan, Cavnue is integrating a first-of-its-kind roadway infrastructure stack with a unique hardware and software product to simplify the operating environment for all vehicles and to provide more information to vehicles about the road ahead, both of which unlock the powerful benefits of in-vehicle technology.
Cavnue, AECOM, and the Michigan Department of Transportation also are working closely to utilize this system to provide unique insights back to those that operate and manage roadways.
“This represents another stride for the mobility revolution as well as for MDOT and the state of Michigan’s continued leadership,” says Paul C. Ajegba, director of MDOT. “We look forward to further innovations from this first-of-its-kind project.”
Fourmidable in Bingham Farms Adds Two Apartment Communities to its Portfolio
Fourmidable, a national real estate management company based in Bingham Farms, was designated as the new managing agent for two low-income housing tax credit communities consisting of 246 apartments in Michigan and Tennessee.
In Michigan, Fourmidable is taking over management of 150 Edgewood Villas Apartments in Lansing. Ashland City, Tenn.’s Sycamore Place consists of 96 apartments.
“Fourmidable has established a great collaboration with this new ownership group and we are pleased to add the two new communities to our portfolio,” says Michael Schocker, president of Fourmidable. “We are excited about our relationship and look forward to continuing to serve their communities now and in the future.”
Carhartt in Dearborn Launches Job Opportunity Campaign
With more than 3.2 million skilled trade jobs sitting open as of August 2021, Carhartt in Dearborn is rallying America’s workforce and inspiring them to claim these job opportunities with its new Fit For The Next Frontier campaign.
The campaign comes to life in a new 60-second video, “Fit For The Next Frontier,” which brings together real people who represent the patchwork of America in a cinematic “call to work.” Featuring 55 different types of tradespeople who are defining the next frontier in their industry — including a solar panel technician, farmer, carpenter, mechanic, arborist, and many more — the story is grounded in unity through the foundation of America.
“Since 1889, Carhartt’s story has always gone hand-in-hand with those building the next frontier of America,” says Brian Bennett, vice president of creative and executive producer at Carhartt. “We exist to serve and protect all hardworking people, and right now, we need them more than ever. That’s why for us, this isn’t just an ad, it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation to join the skilled trades and be a part of building our country’s future.”
To view the video, visit here.
Hudson Avenue Partners Advises United Safety on Acquisition of Fireboy-Xintex
Hudson Avenue Partners in Detroit advised is United Safety & Survivability Corp. in its acquisition of Fireboy-Xintex, which has an office in Grand Rapids, from W.S. Darley & Co.
Hudson Avenue Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Dubin Clark and United Safety in arranging financing to support the acquisition and future growth capital needs of the company.
Founded in Exton, Pa., United Safety is a designer and manufacturer of safety, survivability, and technology solutions for an array of transit, industrial, municipal, commercial, and defense-related end markets. The company’s core product portfolio includes driver seats, passenger seats, fire suppression products, and related spare parts, as well as other specialized air purification and anti-bacterial solutions for niche transportation and extreme-duty end users.
Fireboy-Xintex, provides safety products for the recreational and commercial marine, transportation, and industrial markets, specializes in fire suppression and fire and gas detection solutions. It also has facilities in the United Kingdom.
Buddy’s Pizza Relaunches Buddy Bones to Support Michigan Humane
Buddy’s Pizza, in commemoration of its 75th anniversary, is relaunching its dog treat, Buddy Bones, benefiting Michigan Humane. Buddy Bones will be available at all Buddy’s locations beginning Nov. 3.
Pet owners can support the cause and purchase Buddy Bones at all Buddy’s restaurants for a suggested $2 cash donation per bag, with proceeds going to Michigan Humane.
“It’s important for us to maintain and re-energize our initiatives with longtime partners like Michigan Humane through both new and ongoing efforts,” says Wes Pikula, chief brand officer, Buddy’s Pizza. “If we can help support the organization’s mission to get rescued animals into their forever homes, then we know we’re making an impact in the community – just as we’ve done for the past 75 years.”
The pup favorite treat is created using an all-natural recipe approved as canine-friendly by Michigan Humane veterinarians. It is made from leftover multigrain pizza dough as an effort to cut down on waste in addition to raising funds for animals in need across metro Detroit.
13th Annual JVS Human Services Trade Secrets Event Offers New Hybrid Format
JVS Human Services in Southfield is planning its 13th annual Trade Secrets event, which raises money for Women to Work, a program changing women’s lives by providing skills needed for immediate employment.
It will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 with a new hybrid format that offers both a limited in-person evening dinner with only six people per table and at Detroit Marriott Troy and a streamed online version with at-home attendees receiving a personalized box of snacks, a small bottle of champagne and party favors.
This year’s honorary chair and keynote speaker is Shari Finsilver, who has dedicated her life to advocating for patients, like herself, who suffer from essential tremor, the most common movement disorder affecting an estimated 5 percent of people world-wide.
For those attending in person, there will be a sticker system in place to ensure those wanting to maintain a social distance are able to do so. The event also offers the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets with prizes including a $2,500 Somerset Collection gift certificate, $1,500-worth of skinnytee apparel, and an $800-value phone consultation with medium Rebecca Rosen, along with a signed copy of her book.
Tickets for Trade Secrets 2021 start at $150 for the online event and sponsorship opportunities are available by emailing Reisa Shanaman at rshanaman@jvshumanservices.org.
