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.
SBAM to Launch New Women-owned Business Certification
The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) in Lansing announced it is partnering with the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council to offer its members a Women Business Enterprise certification.
This distinction for majority women-owned businesses offers educational support through training, coaching, and mentoring programs, and expanded visibility in corporate supply chain diversity, governmental agencies, and other procurement organizations.
“We are thrilled to be offering this new certification to our members,” says Michelle Beebe, chief revenue officer of SBAM. “A Women Business Enterprise certification will pave the way to countless opportunities for our women-owned businesses, making valuable new local, state, and national connections as potential partners.
“In our ever-changing entrepreneurial landscape, our members will especially benefit from the mentoring, coaching, and networking prospects offered by the Women Business Enterprise certification.”
The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council is one of 14 certifying partner organizations nationally for the WBE certification. It also offers access to capital, corporate contracting opportunities, and educational support for small businesses with a women and/or minority-owned distinction.
To learn more, visit here.
Biggby Coffee Named Official Coffee of the Detroit Tigers
Biggby Coffee, based in East Lansing, is the official coffee of the Detroit Tigers and will be available for purchase at Comerica Park early in the season. Fans also will see Biggby signage throughout the concourse and in the outfield.
“Biggby Coffee is on its way to becoming part of the fabric of game days through this partnership,” says Rita Bettino, chief marketing officer for Biggby Coffee. “About 75 percent of our coffeehouses sit in the greater Tigers broadcasting and advertising region, and our owners and team members are excited to roar alongside passionate fans. Game days often come with a lot of meaningful traditions among loved ones, and Biggby Coffee is excited to become a part of yours.”
New Tigers-inspired beverages include the Game Day Latte, a caramel-vanilla latte with festive orange sprinkles; the Tiger Stripe Sweet Foam Cold Brew, a mocha and white chocolate cold brew with a sweet foam topping; the Tiger Cub Magic Milk, a caramel milk drink complete with whipped cream and orange sprinkles; and the Triple Play Red Bull Mocktail, a combination of Red Bull, blood orange, and mango.
These beverages are available only at participating Biggby Coffee locations in the state of Michigan and areas within and surrounding Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Toledo, Ohio; and South Bend, Ind.
KeyBank Grants $180K to MCHS Family of Services for Skilled Trade Program
KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation announced an investment of $180,000 in MCHS Family of Services, aimed at developing the Skilled Trade Program to enhance the services of youth aging out of the foster care system.
MCHS Family of Services is a child welfare agency, located in Redford Township and Detroit, providing foster care and adoption, transitional living, child abuse prevention, and community wellness programs. The Skilled Trade Program will be designed for older youth in MCHS’ independent living program and transitional housing programs. The training and pre-apprenticeship program is projected to serve approximately 200 youth annually.
Target outcomes of the program include:
- 90 percent of the young adults complete the program.
- 75 percent of the young adults advance their career with an apprenticeship, skilled trade job, or secondary education related to the skilled trades within 3 months.
- 90 percent of the young adults advance their career with an apprenticeship, skilled trade job, or secondary education related to the skilled trades within 3 months.
- 75 percent of the young adults are in their apprenticeship, skilled trade job, or enrolled in secondary education six months later.
Since 2017, KeyBank has made more than $259 million in investments in Michigan, supporting affordable housing and community development projects; small business and home lending to low-to-moderate income individuals and communities, and transformative philanthropy.
Southfield Woman Business Owner Gets $10K Grant from The Boss Network
Gena Harrison of the FOY Med Spa in Southfield is one of 25 female business owners to receive $10,000 grants from The Boss Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs, and event-based networking, and Sage, a leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses.
The partnership’s Invest in Progress grant is a three-year, $1.5 million commitment via the Sage Foundation to support the Boss Impact Fund, which is focused on raising investment funding for more than 500 Black women-led businesses and preparing entrepreneurs to build scalable, growth aggressive companies.
In January 2024, participants were invited to apply for the Invest in Progress grant, which offered 25 Black women entrepreneurs across the United States, the opportunity to receive a capital investment of $10,000 toward successfully starting and growing their business, in addition to an entrepreneurial mentor program in support of Black women-owned small businesses.
The grant includes a 12-month program of entrepreneurial mentorship, coaching, connections, and education focused on knocking down barriers to business success and guiding these businesswomen to reach their full potential. Each Invest in Progress grant awardee receives:
- $10,000 in funding.
- Quarterly business training courses through Boss Business University sponsored by Sage, focusing on marketing, finance, customer service, and business strategy.
- Access to The Boss Network online community.
- Complimentary Sage Business Cloud Accounting software.
Local Government Leaders to Discuss Strategic Business Insights April 19
The Troy Chamber will again host Your City, County, State & You, presented by Consumers Energy from 8-10 p.m. on April 19 at the Detroit Marriott Troy (200 W. Big Beaver Road).
The government relations panel highlights city, county, and state policies and perspectives, and their effect on the current business climate of Troy, Oakland County, and Michigan at large.
The event panel features:
- Karen Drew, anchor and reporter, WDIV-TV 4, moderator
- Ethan Baker, mayor, city of Troy
- Susan Corbin, director, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
- Dave Coulter, Oakland County Executive
“The Troy Chamber’s Your City, Your State event is different from any other government relations event,” says Tara Tomcsik-Husak, president and CEO of the Troy Chamber. “We remove the politics from the conversation and focus on how businesses can partner on programs and services at the city, county, and state level to enhance the needs of their business.”
Register here.
Michigan Credit Unions Adopt Mahalo Banking’s Digital Platform
Troy-based Mahalo Banking, a credit union service organization, announced that Gerber Federal Credit Union in Fremont, north of Grand Rapids, and The Local Credit Union in Sterling Heights are now live on its enhanced Thoughtful Banking platform.
Implementing the Mahalo platform enables both credit unions to offer members new digital features while streamlining the banking experience.
With a focus on core integration, Mahalo offers a seamless user experience across online and mobile banking platforms.
“Our team is passionate about accelerating credit unions’ digital banking capabilities and ensuring their services align with member expectations,” says Denny Howell, co-founder and COO of Mahalo. “Working with Gerber FCU and The Local provides our team with further opportunities to assist in transforming credit union offerings to better serve their membership base. Mahalo’s commitment to advancing the credit union industry remains unwavering, and these launches underscore our ongoing efforts to help credit unions and their members thrive.”
Chrysler Brand Marks One-year Anniversary of Partnership with Autism Society of America
The Chrysler brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills and the Autism Society of America are marking the one-year anniversary of a long-term partnership initiative to support the driving needs of those in the Autism community, in advance of World Autism Acceptance Day on April 2.
The partnership with the Autism Society, the oldest and largest grassroots Autism organization in the country, was first announced in 2023, during Autism Acceptance Month in April. Through the partnership, Chrysler brand and the Autism Society are joining forces to make travel more comfortable for individuals with Autism and their loved ones.
Chrysler recently delivered three 2024 Chrysler Pacifica vehicles for use in the Autism Society’s Road to Acceptance project, which features early spring road stops in cities across the U.S. to showcase and share the unique experiences within the Autism community. To kick off the partnership in April 2023, Chrysler also introduced a Calm Cabin package that transforms any Chrysler Pacifica into a sensory-supported mobile experience that eases the challenges of on-road travel.
“The Chrysler brand is proud to continue our long-term partnership with the Autism Society of America as we work together to support and enhance the mobility needs of those in the Autism community,” says Chris Feuell, CEO of the Chrysler brand for Stellantis. “The Chrysler Pacifica with the Calm Cabin package make life on the road more comfortable, safer and a little easier, and we’re excited to collaborate with the Autism Society moving forward to find more ways to make the driving experience even more harmonious.”
Chrysler staged Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid ride-and-drive experiential events throughout the U.S. during 2023, with the brand contributing $50 to the Autism Society for each ride-and-drive participant, resulting in an overall donation of $100,000 to the organization.
Chrysler Pacifica also offers more than 400 early development apps spanning education, games, music, and streaming entertainment available with Amazon Fire TV, which integrates into the Pacifica’s Uconnect 5 and Uconnect Theater system.
MIB International Hosting ‘She Means Business: Unleash 2024’ April 14
MIB International, short for Moms In Business, is conducting a program titled “She Means Business: Unleash 2024” from noon-5 p.m. April 14 at Epiphany Detroit (10103 Kercheval Ave.).
The event is designed to allow participants to:
Voice Their Truth — Dive into strategies specifically designed for women who tirelessly support others.
Transform Relationships — Embrace the journey of emotional healing and open to deeper, more meaningful connections. Step into a new era of balanced, nurturing relationships. Break away from one-sided dynamics and cultivate connections that celebrate mutual support and growth. Let’s break down those walls and invite true support and love.
Wealth and Opportunity — Uncover the secrets to attracting abundance in a career or business. Learn how to turn hard work and dedication into financial success and rewarding opportunities.
Build Community of Like-minded People — Join a vibrant community that understands struggles and strengths. Save time and energy by leveraging collective wisdom and experience, a support system.
For more information, visit here, call 248-214-3866, or email daynamottmib@gmail.com.
DIA to Launch Byron and Dorothy Gerson Lecture Series on Contemporary Art
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will host Franklin Sirmans, director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), for a lecture titled “A View from the Crossroads: A 21st Century American Museum,” to launch the DIA’s Byron and Dorothy Gerson Lecture series dedicated to 20th and 21st century American art.
The inaugural lecture will take place at 6 p.m. on April 30 and will be free with registration.
The lecture will explore art from Latin America, the Caribbean, the African diaspora, and the U.S. Latino experience – and their collective relevance to American art. This will be introduced through the lens of PAMM, whose pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas uniquely positions it to be a leader in showcasing works from this region and by historically underrepresented artists.
The talk will present artists such as Basquiat, Marisol, Warhol, Leandro Erlich, and exhibitions like “NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith” and “Futbol: The Beautiful Game.”
“We are honored to welcome Franklin Sirmans to the DIA to deliver the inaugural Byron and Dorothy Gerson Lecture,” says Salvador Salort-Pons, director of the DIA. “Franklin is a noted director, curator, editor, writer, and art critic who propelled Pérez Art Museum Miami to great heights. This lecture promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on art and artists from the crossroads of the Americas.”
