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.
Recaro Automotive North America Acquires South Carolina Material Supplier
Clinton Township-based Recaro Automotive North America has acquired the assets and technology of C12 Technology in South Carolina company. Terms of the deal
C12 Technology specializes in advanced material component development and production utilizing compression molding, RTM, autoclave, and rotomolding processes, inclusive of carbon fiber rotational molding for complex structures.
RECARO Automotive is a leader in the development, production, and marketing of premium vehicle seats for automotive OEM’s, motorsport, aftermarket and commercial vehicles in North America, Europe, and Asia.
OEM’s want innovative partners to support and service their product lines from design concept to production, Recaro says. By incorporating these advanced composite material capabilities from raw material development through final component production, Recaro Automotive says it aims to strengthen its brand in the premium performance seat market.
“In our effort to increase support for our customers from concept to manufacturing, it made sense to vertically integrate the proprietary engineering, development, and manufacturing of composites,” says Emil Kreycik, president and COO, of Recaro. “We welcome the global support of the entire C12 Technology team, with Oliver Wainwright and Reid McFarlin, joining us, respectively, as vice president of global advanced manufacturing and development, and director of advanced technology.”
Inflation and Labor Struggles Continue to Hinder Small Business Economy
Small business owners are not feeling optimistic in the current economic environment, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) Small Business Economic Trends survey.
The survey’s Optimism Index decreased 0.1 points in October to 90.7, marking the 22nd month below the 50-year average. The last time the Optimism Index was at or above the average was December 2021.
“Unfortunately, the news is even worse here in Michigan,” says Amanda Fisher, state dIrector in Michigan for NFIB. “The legislative majorities and governor have made it nearly impossible for small businesses to do business, let alone thrive in our state.
“Earlier this year the legislature repealed right-to-work, reinstated job killing prevailing wage regulations, and passed a bloated state budget with massive increases in spending. Michigan’s economy is already seeing the negative effects of this legislation by the unwillingness of both small and big business to make further investments.”
Also, a new law mandating “clean energy” by 2040 was passed along party lines by the Michigan legislature that will cost ratepayers an estimated $200 billion or more in energy costs. The restrictions put in place by this new law could lead to rolling brownouts, further hampering small business’ ability to operate.
“It is a very discouraging time for NFIB members.”
Key survey findings include:
- 22 percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem, down one point from last month.
- Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months was unchanged from September at a net negative 43 percent.
- A net negative 17 percent of all owners reported higher sales in the past three months, down nine points from September and the lowest reading since July 2020.
- 43 percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, unchanged from September and remains historically very high.
- 24 percent of owners plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up one point from September.
As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, a seasonally adjusted net 17 percent of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months. Overall, 61 percent of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in October. Of those hiring or trying to hire, 90 percent of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.
By industry, shortages are reported the most frequent in the transportation (16 percent), finance (12 percent), and retail (11 percent) sectors. Shortages in construction (6 percent) have been reduced because home sales have slowed dramatically due to higher interest rates. A net 0 percent of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months, up one point from September.
The net percent of owners raising average selling prices increased one point from September to a net 30 percent seasonally adjusted. Twenty-two percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, down one point from last month.
Unadjusted, 11 percent of owners reported lower average selling prices and 39 percent reported higher average prices. Price hikes were the most frequent in finance (56 percent higher, 7 percent lower), retail (47 percent higher, 8 percent lower), construction (41 percent higher, 7 percent lower), transportation (41 percent higher, 18 percent lower), and wholesale (39 percent higher, 14 percent lower). Seasonally adjusted, a net 33 percent of owners plan price hikes.
Seasonally adjusted, a net 36 percent of owners reported raising compensation, unchanged from September. A seasonally adjusted net 24% of owners plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up one point from September. Nine percent cited labor costs as their top business problem and 23 percent said that labor quality was their top business problem.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Detroit Lions Announce 2023 #MIKidsCan Turkey Day VIP Winner
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced that 10-year-old Keala Paulus from West Bloomfield Township has won the ninth annual #MIKidsCan Turkey Day VIP Sweepstakes.
Paulus will have the experience of a lifetime, riding on Blue Cross’ float in America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade presented by Gardner White, escorting the gameday football to Ford Field for the annual Thanksgiving Day Classic, and being hosted to watch the Detroit Lions take on the Green Bay Packers.
Paulus’ Turkey Day VIP Sweepstakes prize package also will include a custom jersey and commemorative football, 10 club seats for her family to watch the game, and a Thanksgiving dinner served at Ford Field. The sweepstakes supports Blue Cross’ ongoing commitment to children’s physical fitness and good nutrition through its #MIKidsCan campaign and ongoing partnership with the Detroit Lions’ Play 60 program. More than 6,600 kids entered this year’s sweepstakes.
Google’s 2023 Detroit Black-owned Friday Features Studio Detroit, RollerCade
Google is launching its fourth annual Black-owned Friday campaign featuring Studio Detroit Dance Center and RollerCade Detroit.
Google has partnered with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. to reimagine Black Friday as Black-owned Friday to inspire and encourage consumers to shop their values and support Black-owned businesses this holiday season.
Google worked with multi-hyphenated artist and entrepreneur Keke Palmer to create a film that transforms Black Friday into an interactive shoppable experience.
The film, which includes a remixed version of the iconic 90s single “100% Pure Love” turning it into “Black-Owned Friday (100% Supporting), featuring Crystal Waters (just shy of the original song’s 30th anniversary) and directed by Andre Muir, includes 12 Black-owned businesses, including two from Detroit.
Visit here to shop Black-owned Friday and support 100% Black-owned businesses.
Brighton’s Lake Trust Foundation Donates $63K to Local Organizations
The Lake Trust Foundation, an independent entity of Lake Trust Credit Union in Brighton, has donated $63,000 to various organizations supporting Michiganders as a part of its annual Powered By Good Day.
In addition to the donation, more than 375 Lake Trust Credit Union team members contributed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer hours to various community organizations.
For Powered By Good Day, Oct. 9, The Lake Trust Foundation partnered with Scholastic to host book fairs at Mason Academy in Detroit and North Elementary School in Lansing, and provided three free books for each student — a total value of $20,000. The foundation also purchased 500 winter coats, valued at $20,000, and donated them to students at Holmes Elementary School in Ypsilanti through a collaborations with Operation Warm.
In addition to partnering with these organizations, Lake Trust team members spent the day volunteering service to community centers, food banks, libraries, shelters and more. The Foundation also donated $1,000 to each organization they supported that day, including:
- Allen Neighborhood Center – Lansing
- Brilliant Detroit – Detroit
- Capuchin Soup Kitchen – Detroit
- Child and Family Charities – Lansing
- City Rescue Mission – Lansing
- Clothing Inc. – Mt. Pleasant
- Community Action House – Holland
- Community Catalysts – Howell
- Cristo Rey Community Center – Lansing
- Faith in Action – Chelsea
- Family Promise of Barry County – Hastings
- Friends of the Chelsea District Library – Chelsea
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan – Flint
- Food Gathers – Ann Arbor
- Howell Nature Center – Howell
- Gleaners Food Bank – Howell
- Lighthouse of Oakland County – Pontiac
- Livingston County Habitat for Humanity – Brighton
- Kenzie’s BE Café – Grand Haven
- Muskegon Rescue Mission – Muskegon
- Saint Louis Center – Chelsea
- Salvation Army – Lansing
- SOS Community Services – Ypsilanti
For more information, visit laketrust.org.
Grace Centers of Hope Launches $2.1 Holiday Meal Campaign
Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac has launched its annual $2.17 Holiday Meal Campaign taking place through Dec. 31. The fundraising campaign helps cover the cost to provide nutritious meals for the increased number of individuals and families who participate in recovery and rehabilitation programs at Grace Centers of Hope during the winter season.
“Our holiday meal campaign is not just about filling plates, but about filling hearts with hope, kindness, and the reassurance that, in our community, no one is left hungry or alone,” says Kent W. Clark, pastor and CEO of Grace Centers of Hope. “We are hopeful that local donors will help us continue our legacy of service and aid by once again becoming the real heroes of our mission. They are a testament that the holiday season is a time for giving, kindness and compassion and for that we are truly thankful.”
At Grace Centers of Hope, it costs an average of $2.17 to provide a nutritious meal to the men, women and children enrolled in life-savings programs. The nonprofit organization serves three meals a day and more than 100,000 meals are served each year with the kitchen operating at full capacity during the winter months, making all gifts an important helping hand. A gift of $25 can provide a nutritious meal for up to 12 people.
Donations to the Grace Centers of Hope $2.17 Holiday Meal Campaign can be made online at gracecentersofhope.org or by calling 1-855-HELP-GCH. Donations also can be made through the purchase of meal tickets at each of the four Grace Centers of Hope Thrift Stores in Sterling Heights, Oak Park, Waterford Township, and Warren.
Wilson Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Invest $3.7M to Bring Exhale to Region
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund announced Wednesday a $3.7 million commitment to expand Exhale, the family caregiver initiative in southeast Michigan.
Exhale funds and supports innovative, collaborative projects that are reimagining respite and increasing respite opportunities for family caregivers of older adults. The program has operated since 2019, primarily working with organizations and businesses in New York state, and now will make grants, totaling $3.7 million, to organizations, communities, and businesses located in Wayne, Monroe, St. Clair, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties.
The decision to launch the program widely in southeast Michigan is on the heels of Exhale’s most recent cohort, which includes three grantees in Washtenaw County: Chelsea Senior Center, The Regents of the University of Michigan, and Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.
“Exhale’s growth over the past four years has been tremendous, thanks in large part to the organizations that are coming together to reimagine respite through strategic partnerships and creative ideas,” says Amber Slichta, vice president and programs and learning at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “Project teams, including those in Washtenaw County, are helping to improve family caregivers’ well-being, which can lead to better health and lower costs of care.”
Exhale is an opportunity for organizations, communities, and businesses of all sizes to work together to create innovative, community-based solutions that provide caregivers with an opportunity to breathe a little easier.
Through a short series of workshops, organizations based in eligible southeast Michigan counties and interested in developing caregiver respite projects and increasing access to respite services will receive free training in creative problem solving, the opportunity to connect with other organizations, and support throughout the grant application process. Each organization will receive a $500 stipend for workshop participation. Upon completing the workshop series, participants will be eligible to apply for Exhale funding. The workshop series begins Jan. 25, 2024.
Exhale is hosting two virtual information sessions to kick off its 2024 southeast Michigan program. These sessions will provide attendees with an overview of the Exhale program; information about the grant application process, including eligibility requirements; and the opportunity to hear from current Exhale grantees. They will be conducted from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Dec. 12 and from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Jan. 8.
Registration is open for the workshop series, and the information sessions at ExhaleForCaregivers.org.
Blake Corum Joins 7-Eleven’s Cleat Crew to Benefit Local Children at Beaumont Children’s
University of Michigan senior running back Blake Corum has teamed up with 7-Eleven, Speedway, and The Shoe Surgeon, to design a custom pair of cleats inspired by the athlete and the 7-Eleven family of brands.
The shoes will be auctioned to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals benefiting local member hospitals throughout the U.S.
Cleat Crew is a first-of-its-kind program where college football stars help Individuals were invited to join throughout the college football season to participate in an auction offering nine pair of custom cleats designed by favorite college football stars and high-end streetwear designer, The Shoe Surgeon.
Bidding for Corum’s cleats will open at 8 a.m. Nov. 24. Proceeds will directly benefit Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s to provide health care services that make the seemingly impossible possible for kids right now and into the future.
For information and bidding, visit here.
