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.
Suburban Collection Showplace to Host Nation’s Largest Fishing Show Jan. 6-9
The largest pure fishing show in the country returns to the largest freshwater fishing market in the country when the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit docks at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Jan. 6-9, 2022.
More freshwater fishing licenses are sold in the metro Detroit area than any other similar geographic region in the country.
“We couldn’t be more excited for the show to arrive in Novi,” says Ben Nielsen, manager of the show. “We’ve got acres of fishing boats, fishing tackle, fishing gear, fishing vacations, fishing seminars, and factory-direct exhibits.”
The Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit, known for its extensive seminar line-up, will feature seminars every hour on five stages including Lake Ultimate and the Hawg Trough. Nearly every Michigan game fish species will be covered. Seminars are free with show admission.
Headlining this year’s lineup are national bass fishing personalities and Michigan residents Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona. VanDam will make an appearance on Jan. 6 only. Zona will make an appearance on Jan. 9 only.
Other presenters include bass experts Joe Thomas, Wayne Carpenter, Gerry Gostenik, and Jim Vitaro; along with walleye experts Mark Martin, Mark Romanack, and Lance Valentine; ice fishing specialist Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, and others.
This year’s show will feature the largest ice fishing display in the state at the Ultimate Ice Fishing Village. Along with a Shanty Truckload Sale, there also will be a large variety of augers, electronics, tackle, and gear for sale. Manufacturer booths from Clam, Otter Outdoors, Eskimo, Frabill, Striker, Jiffy, Normark, Marcum, Strikemaster, and more will be on hand all four days of the show.
Admission is $12 adults, $5 children 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and under. On-site parking is $5. To purchase tickets and get more information, visit here.
State Grants $2M+ to Help Programs Fill Talent Gaps
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in Lansing has awarded more than $2 million in grants to nine programs to help employers fill their talent needs.
These programs connect adult education participants in the state directly with employers by linking adult education, career and technical skills and workforce development.
Programs that receive funding will work with the Michigan Works! network to identify a cohort of participants who are most prepared to successfully enter the workforce. Participants must be working toward achieving their high school diploma or its equivalency or receiving remediation services through one of the funded adult education programs.
“Providing this connection between adult learners and local employers greatly increases the employability and earning potential of Michigan’s citizens,” says Stephanie Beckhorn, director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “This program helps fill the current talent gap by educating workers with the in-demand skills Michigan businesses are looking for.”
Students will receive technical training in a wide variety of areas, including construction trades, healthcare, information technology, machining, robotics, and welding.
The following programs will be awarded up to $350,000 each:
- Allegan County Area Technical and Education Center
- Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center
- Michael Berry Career Center (Dearborn Public Schools)
- Sault Area Career Center and Rudyard Area Schools
- Genesee Career Institute
- Kent Career Tech Center
- Muskegon Area Career Tech Center
- Careerline Tech Center (Ottawa Area ISD)
- Wexford-Missaukee ISD Career Tech Center
Dragonchain and CloudFace in Northville Launch Cryptocurrency/Cybersecurity Consultancy
Dragonchain and CloudFace in Northville have launched a consultancy group to assist start-up efforts and businesses with a broad range of cybersecurity needs.
The consultancy offers Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, supply chain, and multiple other solutions to assist in white paper campaigns, planning, systems development, or recommending the next phase of cybersecurity.
Dragonchain was started in 2014 at The Disney Co. With decades of experience, the consultancy says it knows where the pain points of blockchain implementation are and how best to leverage blockchain technology into all business models.
In the same realm, the new group and its partner companies have developed an individualized quantum-based cybersecurity platform. To better define the remaining segment of the business, a senior partner, Phil Abraham, COO of Dragonchain and founder of CloudFace, founded the two major supply chain business models in use today.
Dragonchain’s foundation provides the tools needed to build any scalable and flexible solution a business requires. The company can use all coding language and DevOps to connect to any system and maintain flexibility for unexpected changes in requirements.
For more information, email Jim Carlson at jim.carlson@cloudfaceUSA.com.
Boyne Highlands Resort Announces Major Brand Refresh and Renovations
Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs recently unveiled its “2030 Transformational Journey” and laid out a series of projects defined under first steps, and short-, mid-, and long-term plans.
Among the first steps is rollout of a brand refresh with new name — The Highlands at Harbor Springs — and logo design for the state’s largest ski resort. The Highlands, was chosen to strengthen the resort’s individualized identity and a modifier of “at Harbor Springs” to fortify its community connection, says Mike Chumbler, president and general manager of the resort.
“This is a historic and monumental day in our resort’s history as Boyne Highlands becomes The Highlands and builds on our amazing foundation and embarks on this next chapter,” says Chumbler. “We’re are also part of an extraordinary community, and we’re proud to showcase that in our new brand. The investments in the coming decade will assuredly set The Highlands apart in the Midwest and lure more widespread visitation to the resort and region throughout the year.”
The resort already has completed a number of additional first steps throughout 2021, including opening northern Michigan’s only Trackman Range, a 30-bay set-up that enables golfers to practice distance control, shot-shaping, and more using tour-proven swing and ball-flight tracking, analysis, and entertainment technology; as well as 87 new refined and elegant Main Lodge accommodations; RFID technology; continued snowmaking investments and advancements; and the makeover of Donald Ross Memorial’s Hole No. 1 to a very accurate facsimile of the famed No. 6 hole at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.
Future projects include:
- Continuing Main Lodge improvements
- Improving the culinary experience
- Installing the latest in ski lift and snowmaking technology
- A new Discovery Center arrival experience
- A new short golf course
- Expanding the hiking and biking trail systems
- A state-of-the-art conference center
- An equestrian facility
For more details, visit highlandsfuture.com.
Oxford’s Barron Industries Wins 2nd Consecutive Best Casting Award
Barron Industries in Oxford has received the Best Investment Casting Award from the Investment Casting Institute for the second year in a row.
The institute honors manufacturing companies that best demonstrate the benefits of the investment casting process for producing metal components. Barron won the 2021 Best Military Casting award for an aluminum casting the company manufactures for a military vehicle.
The company converted a distorted multi-piece welded fabrication into a one-piece lightweight and thin wall investment casting. Made of A356-T6 Aluminum, the thin-wall HVAC Diffuser is used in a military vehicle with tight packaging constraints.
Using the latest additive manufacturing (3-D printing) techniques, Barron produced a rapid prototype casting to prove the concept and manufacturing method. In order to meet test vehicle requirements, the diffuser was designed, cast, machined, and painted in just eight weeks.
“The former method of manufacture was time-consuming and costly,” says Bruce Barron, president of Barron Industries. “Barron Industries is producing this as a single piece casting at half the original cost of providing significant cost savings. Additionally, the investment casting process has provided the customer with a great deal of design flexibility not previously available.”
Clarience Technologies Supports Tornado Response with Initiative
Clarience Technologies, a Southfield-based provider of advanced LED lighting technology, vehicle safety systems, and advanced telematics systems for transportation, has launched Hope Shines Bright, a new fundraising initiative to support emergency response efforts after the deadly tornadoes in six states across the Midwest and South.
The company is pledging $50,000 to support response efforts through a combination of corporate and employee-matched donations.
“With every news report, the world learned of another devastated community experiencing its darkest hour,” says Brian Kupchella, CEO of Clarience. “Many of our companies operate in towns across the country that are similar to those communities affected. I couldn’t stop thinking ‘this could have been us’ and knew we needed to help.”
To participate, visit here.
JVS Human Services Offers Women to Work Course Starting Jan. 11
JVS Human Services in Southfield will be kicking off the new year by offering its Women to Work course, which has been providing metro Detroit women vital skills to help them get immediate employment since 1980.
The free, four-week course will be conducted at JVS Human Services (29699 Southfield Road in Southfield) and starts with an informational meeting Jan. 6, with the course proper beginning Jan. 11.
Women To Work Coordinator and Employment Specialist Judy Richmond says that recent program participants have frequently had substantial employment, but those jobs have disappeared, sometimes because of the pandemic.
“For many, their jobs no longer exist, or they were unable to do them anymore because of childcare or eldercare,” says Richmond. “Part-time and remote jobs are now often preferable, and many may need assistance in how to present themselves or gain skills necessary for potential employers.”
Classes will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, every Tuesday and Thursday for eight sessions. Topics to be covered include:
- In-depth vocational assessment
- Employment-related group counseling and emotional support
- Information & referrals to support services
- Help with networking, resume writing and interviewing
- Financial management advice
- Stress management tips
For more information and to register, contact Judy Richmond at 248-233-4232 or jrichmond@jvshumanservices.org.
Donations to The Salvation Army to be Doubled Through New Year’s Eve
All donations to The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit, up to $530,000, will be doubled and fully matched, dollar-for-dollar, through New Year’s Eve, thanks to The Consortium of Hope.
The Consortium of Hope is a group of local community leaders and businesses who join forces every year to help The Salvation Army reach its fundraising goal. This year, the nonprofit is looking to raise $8.3 million to ensure Hope Marches On for those who need it the most in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
“Now more than ever, we need the community’s support,” says Maj. Timothy Meyer, general secretary, metro Detroit area commander and COO for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division. “No amount is too small and every donation makes a difference — going twice as far to help feed, shelter, clothe and financially assist thousands of metro Detroiters who need it most.”
To donate, visit here, texting GIFT to 24365, or send a check payable to The Salvation Army to: 16130 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075.
