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.
State of Michigan to Meet with Mobility Startups at CES 2023
CES 2023 opens Jan. 5, and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) and the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) will be in Las Vegas connecting with tech startups, innovators and leaders from around the world to explore potential partnership opportunities.
The OFME and MEDC teams will be connecting with startups, corporate investors, and members of the media interested in learning more about Michigan’s tech and mobility ecosystem and how the state’s newest innovations in electrification, automation, and sustainability are helping to shape the future of mobility and consumer technology.
State officials will be at the following events:
Panel Event: Electrifying the Future – Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer for the State of Michigan, will join panelists on Jan. 5, at 11 a.m. to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and predictions related to the transition to EVs.
Startup Meet and Greet: OFME CES 2023 Guided Match Meetings – To establish and strengthen existing relationships between corporations/investors and startups, the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) will facilitate networking sessions on Jan. 5 between 3-5:30 p.m. in the Bellagio ballroom, prior to the COVESA networking reception.
Networking Reception: COVESA 11th Annual CES Networking Reception – This year, the reception will feature more than 45 showcases, including a “connected mobility” pavilion, sponsored by MEDC. There will also be demonstrations, showcases, extensive networking opportunities, and more.
Report: Detroit Residents Spend $1,634 Per Month on All Household Bills
Detroit residents are spending $1,634 in monthly for the 10 most common household bills making it the 119th most expensive city in Michigan, according to doxo’s recently released U.S. Utilities Market Size and Household Spending Report for 2022.
Compared to Michigan and national averages, household expenses in Detroit, on average, are 18.4 percent lower than the national average of $2,003, and 6.8 percent lower than the state average of $1,754.
The report found the following:
- Utility bills in Detroit: $333 spent per month.
- Utility bills in Michigan: $310 spent per month.
- National Average Monthly/Annual Cost: $328 spent per month; $3,936 spent per year.
- Percent of U.S. Households: 78% of U.S. households pay utility bills.
- Average Annual Cost per U.S. Household: $3,070 per year.
- Total Utilities Market Size: $399 billion spent per year.
- Percent of Annual Income: Utility bills amount to 6 percent of consumers’ income per year.
Average cost of monthly bills in Detroit:
- Mortgage – $840
- Rent – $830
- Auto loans – $408
- Utilities – $333
- Health Insurance – $56
- Auto Insurance – $252
- Cable and internet – $107
- Mobile – $83
- Alarm and security – $109
- Life insurance – $71
Gesher Human Services Offers New Women to Work Program
Women to Work, a free four-week course from Gesher Human Services in Southfield that aims to provide women who have been out of the workforce with the vital skills to gain immediate employment, will conduct an informational meeting its headquarters (29699 Southfield Road) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Jan. 12.
Women to Work sessions will start on Jan. 17, being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and offer women the opportunity to start their working lives afresh in the new year.
“January is typically a time to take stock of your life, see what’s missing or what you can improve, and make those important New Year’s resolutions,” says Judy Richmond, employment specialist and Women to Work coordinator. “For some women it is the perfect time to join our program and reinvent their working lives. Whether their financial circumstances have changed, they are feeling the economic pressure of inflation, or want to get back into the workforce after a hiatus, we are here to support and encourage them to take the necessary next steps.”
For more information and to register for Women to Work, contact Richmond at 248-233-4232 or via email at jrichmond@geshermi.org.
Celanese Corp. Helps Grace Centers of Hope Raise $58K+
Grace Centers of Hope (GCH) in Pontiac announced that Celanese Corp. in Auburn Hills inspired the giving spirit this holiday season by making a matching gift challenge that helped the Pontiac-based nonprofit raise more than $58,000 as part of its I’ll Be Home for Christmas fundraising campaign.
Celanese matched all donations made to GCH from Dec. 1-14, up to $12,500. The campaign results far exceeded the organization’s expectations, and the monies will be used to support the nonprofit’s comprehensive life skills programs for people faced with homelessness, addiction, abuse and spiritual emptiness.
The I’ll Be Home for Christmas theme was chosen because every year during the holidays, all residents enrolled in the GCH one-year program are encouraged to work on reuniting with their families and overcoming past family difficulties as they continue their paths to sobriety and begin to live a positive, healthy lifestyle.
“At this very important time of year, we work very hard to support our residents’ strength and stability, reminding them how much they are loved,” says Kent W. Clark, pastor and CEO of GCH. “That is why we are truly thankful for the outpouring of kindness and generosity that Celanese Corp. engendered as part of their matching gift challenge. We are truly blessed to have our community’s support for our organization’s mission and the people we help each and every day.”
The monies raised as part of the campaign will help provide food, clothing and shelter for more than 120 men, women and children who are currently enrolled in the one-year life skills programs at GCH. In addition to providing food and shelter to those in need during the coldest months of the year, the funds also support GCH’s one-on-one case management, mentoring and specialized classes for residents.