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.
Tree Lighting Scheduled for Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit Nov. 17
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) and DTE Energy Foundation will present “Merry & Bright: 20 Years of Holiday Lights” in Detroit, a special Detroit Tree Lighting edition marking the 20th anniversary milestone of the opening of Campus Martius Park and the first tree lighting in the park.
For the first time this year, DDP will host a full weekend of free, festive activities and entertainment following the annual tree lighting to accommodate the growth and popularity of the event.
“This year marks a joyous milestone as we honor 20 years of Campus Martius Park, hand in hand with our community,” says Eric Larson, CEO of the DDP. “Two decades ago, about 3,000 people came together for the first-ever Detroit Tree Lighting event in Campus Martius Park. Today, over 100,000 holiday enthusiasts join us downtown every year to officially kickoff the holiday season tradition in the best and most vibrant public square in the U.S.”
The Tree Lighting events (from 4-9 p.m.) include:
- Detroit Tree Lighting
- Live Skating Spectacular and Ice Show
- Musical acts and entertainment
- Channel 7 broadcast beginning at 7 p.m.
Those planning to attend the 20th annual Detroit Tree Lighting are encouraged to arrive early to experience amazing lighting attractions totaling more than a million lights across the downtown, festive activities, holiday shopping and so much more, including:
- Downtown Detroit Markets at Cadillac Square
- Cadillac Lodge
- Food trucks
- Dining options downtown
- Photo ops
- Winter Sponsor-land
Blocks away from Campus Martius Park, another holiday celebration will take place on Friday, Nov. 17, from 4 p.m.-9 p.m., when Beacon Park kicks off the holiday season with “Light Up Beacon Park” and unveils the transformation of the park into a winter wonderland. A full list of activities at Beacon Park will be available at DTEBeaconPark.com.
To view the 2023 DDP winter brochure, visit here.
Survey: 22% of Employers Impacted by UAW Strike
Twenty-two percent of employers were affected by the UAW strike of the Detroit three automakers, according to a survey of 147 employers by Troy-based ASE.
Prior to the UAW’s announcements of tentative labor agreements with Ford, GM, and Stellantis, ASE sought to determine the impact to area employers.
Highlights of the ASE 2023 UAW Strike Impact Survey include:
- 22 percent indicated that the strike has affected their operations, while 57 percent stated that they have not experienced any impact from the strike. The remaining 20% anticipate being affected if the strike persists for 30 to 60 more days.
- Among businesses with direct or indirect ties to the major OEM, a slightly higher proportion reported that their operations had been affected by the ongoing strike. Specifically, nearly 42 percent reported that the strike had impacted their operations. Most prevalent was lost revenue (82 percent) and layoffs (54 percent).
- Among all employers affected by the strike, lost revenue (79 percent) was the largest impact, followed by production or supply chain disruptions (48 percent), layoffs (40 percent), reduction in hours worked (38 percent), cost reductions (25 percent), and other (6 percent).
- For those employers that laid off workers, 28 percent reported that 1-10 staff members were affected, 20 percent reported that 11-50 were affected, 20 percent reported that 51-100 were affected, 20 percent reported that 151-200 were affected, and 12 percent reported that 101-150 were affected.
- Of the 147 employers that responded, 42 percent are involved in direct or indirect transactions with Ford, GM, or Stellantis.
“We are pleased that the parties involved appear to have reached a settlement in their labor negotiations,” says Mary E. Corrado, president and CEO of ASE. “As the survey findings indicate, the labor disruption had been taking a toll on a significant number of suppliers to the Big Three, affecting their operations and labor force. This positive development in the negotiations is a promising sign for the industry as a whole, as it suggests potential relief from the adverse impacts of the ongoing labor dispute.”
To obtain the full survey results, ASE members can log in to the ASE Member Dashboard. Non-members can request the results by completing this request form.
Voting Open for USA Today’s Best Holiday Parades in America
The Parade Co. announces that America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White is again nominated by USA Today “10Best” as one of the Best Holiday Parades in America. The Detroit parade was named the Best Holiday Parade in the United States in 2022.
The Parade Co. invites the public to vote for Detroit’s iconic Thanksgiving Parade as number one in the 2023 USA Today “10Best” Readers’ Choice Awards. The public can vote online daily here.
“We are honored to have been named the best in the country in 2022, and excited that USA Today nominated America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White as one of the best holiday parades in the country,” says Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Co. “This near-century tradition in Detroit is full of heart and brings us together in a very special way — from families gathering on Woodward Avenue Thanksgiving morning to the millions of people watching around the country.”
Gale Debuts New Digital Archive Series on Environmental History
Farmington Hills-based Gale is introducing the first installment of its new Environmental History series of digitized primary sources. “Environmental History: Conservation and Public Policy in America, 1870-1980” is the research market’s first digital archive that examines the history of the environment and conservation efforts across the globe from the late 1800s onward.
The collection concentrates on the role of various government agencies, conservation organizations, and individual actors who pioneered the study of the natural environment and campaigned for its protection. This new innovative series provides scholars and researchers with historical context on today’s conservation movements from a variety of viewpoints, enabling new insights and connections about environmental efforts.
“We created the Environmental History series in response to the interest we received from librarians and scholars on the topic,” says Seth Cayley, vice president of global academic product at Gale. “Environmental history is a fast-growing area of research. With the effects of climate change already upon us, the need has never been greater to understand the long history of human–environment interaction and responses to environmental issues. So, this archive is very timely and a must-have for teaching and learning environmental history.”
Comcast Donates $50K, 60 Laptops to Brilliant Detroit
Comcast in Plymouth Township is giving a $50,000 grant and 60 laptops to local nonprofit Brilliant Detroit to help households connect to the digital world.
Grant funds will be used to expand six existing technology hubs to provide community residents with reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi, digital skills, and support needed to navigate an increasingly digital world. The hubs, strategically located throughout the city, give community members onsite access to digital devices, high-speed Internet, digital literacy programming and more.
Comcast also will fund digital navigation programming at Brilliant Detroit’s Morningside Hub (located on the eastside of the city) to establish a team of digital navigators committed to helping families stay connected, hosting digital skills training, and supporting the hub participants during open tech hours. Digital navigators are trusted voices in the community who help residents connect to free and low-cost Internet options and learn how to build their digital skills.
Veterinarian and Life Coach Dr. Julie Cappel Releases New Book
Veterinarian, podcast host, blogger, and life coach Dr. Julie Cappel announces the release of “Love Your Veterinary Life: The Veterinary Life Coach Guide to Harnessing Your Mind and Building an Incredible Life.”
In the book, Cappel examines the struggle of constant stress, compassion fatigue, and the everyday challenges the complex career path of being a veterinarian bring. Drawing from personal experience, she helps readers regain control of themselves and their minds, enabling them to reclaim their love for veterinarian medicine and create an inner balance to love the life they’ve built.
“I wrote this book to help veterinarians and their teams struggling with stress, burnout, and impostor syndrome learn to love their profession again,” Cappel says. “Veterinary Medicine is our dream job, but it can be a nightmare if we do not learn to care for ourselves first. ‘Love Your Veterinary Life’ contains self-development techniques compiled from the world of leadership, life coaching, and veterinary medicine to help the healers get their lives back.”
The book is available on Amazon.
Williamston’s Old Nation Brewing Co. Earns Untappd Top 15 Spot
Williamston-based Old Nation Brewing Co. has been named as one of the Top 50 Regional Breweries in the country by Untappd, earning a No. 15 placement. Old Nation is the only Michigan brewery to make the list.
“We take what we do very seriously,” says Travis Fritts, brew master at Old Nation. “We are truly thrilled to be included on Untappd’s chart.”
Untappd’s “best of” lists are based on millions of user reviews, with rankings averaged and compared against other breweries and their beers. The Top 15 ranking for Old Nation places it in an elite group based solely on consumer ratings.
For more information, visit OldNationBrewing.com.
Michigan Institute of Urology Opens New Sexual Wellness and Aesthetics Center
The Michigan Institute of Urology (MIU), with 17 offices across the Detroit metropolitan area, has opened a new REDEEM sexual wellness and aesthetics center for men and women at 2151 E. 14 Mile Road in Birmingham.
MIU acquired the business formerly known as MOXXI, which previously was located in Clawson. It is rebranding the clinic as REDEEM and bolstering treatment services by adding Duolith, a low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction, and MonaLisa Touch, a noninvasive laser therapy to treat vaginal dryness and incontinence.
“Sexual wellness is critical to overall health and happiness,” says Dr. Mitchell Hollander, CEO of MIU’s. “That’s why you see more men and women turning to specialty health clinics for solutions to problems they consider more aesthetic versus medical. Urologists receive the most extensive training available in physiology, anatomy, and treatments associated with sexual issues. Our expertise will ensure REDEEM provides state-of-the-art procedures that make clients feel exceptional, both inside and out.”
In addition to sexual wellness services, REDEEM will offer Botox and Dysport injections, dermal fillers, collagen stimulators, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, radiofrequency microneedling, and hair restoration services for women and men.
For more information, visit REDEEMmichigan.com.
Oakland County Launches Sweepstakes to Help Support Small Businesses
Oakland County has launched its “Local Gems” Sweepstakes, giving residents an opportunity to promote the small businesses in Oakland County that they consider to be local gems by submitting a selfie at the business.
Sponsored by Genisys Credit Union, each eligible entry increases a participant’s odds of winning $1,000 for first prize, $500 for second prize, or $250 for third prize.
“The holiday season is the perfect time to patronize and champion the amazing array of small businesses in Oakland County,” says Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “These businesses are what make our communities the unique and vibrant places that people want to call home and attract visitors to stop, walk and shop.”
The sweepstakes, which runs Nov. 1-25, is part of the Oakland County Department of Economic Development’s annual Small Business Saturday Campaign to help build visibility, foot traffic, and sales for small businesses in Oakland County during the holiday shopping season.
Participants can find the sweepstake entry form and more info at OakGov.com/ShopSmall.
To be eligible, participants must be 18 years or older and a Michigan resident. An individual can submit only one photo of their favorite Oakland County small business. There is no requirement to make a purchase.
Nearly $1M Available to help Underrepresented Michiganders into Apprenticeships
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) encouraging organizations who can help provide underrepresented individuals with access to life-changing career pathways through Registered Apprenticeship to apply for funding from the Michigan Statewide Targeted Apprenticeship Inclusion and Readiness System (MiSTAIRS).
MiSTAIRS aims to significantly expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for English language learners and individuals without a high school diploma or its equivalency.
LEO anticipates awarding 5-10 grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 to adult education partners who can significantly expand registered apprenticeship program opportunities for English language learners and individuals without a high school diploma or its recognized equivalency. Funding will expand existing and develop new programs, and better prepare 200 job seekers through registered apprenticeship programs.
Proposals will be accepted from now through 5 p.m. on Dec. 18. Awards will be announced Jan. 17, 2024. The grant period of performance runs through June 30, 2025.
For more information, visit here.
Higher Hopes! Celebrating 10,000 Turkeys, 10 Years of Service
Higher Hopes! In Detroit is celebrating its 10th year of feeding 1,000 families facing food insecurities at Thanksgiving. The 501(c)(3) charity organization will distribute 1,000 full Thanksgiving meal kits Nov. 20 to families from Detroit Head Start programs and Brilliant Detroit.
Each meal kit contains all the ingredients needed to make a full Thanksgiving feast: turkey, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, Jiffy corn bread, cranberry glazed sweet potatoes, dessert, and pop. For the third year in a row, each recipient will receive a $50 gas card. In addition, a donation match campaign, courtesy of several donors, will take place in the run-up to Thanksgiving to fund this and other events that benefit families in need. Volunteers are always needed to pack up the non-perishable items on Nov. 18 and help distribute kits to the families on Nov. 20.
For more information, visit higherhopesdetroit.org. To view a video about the organization, visit here.
Gesher Human Services to Host Annual Trade Secrets Event Nov. 16
Gesher Human Services in Southfield is hosting its annual Trade Secrets fundraising event at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Detroit Marriott Troy.
This year’s event aims to raise $400,000; well over $2 million has been raised since the event first started.
Monni Must, this year’s keynote speaker and honoree, will tell her story of resilience and her ability to channel her grief into positivity after the loss of her daughter Miya, the oldest of her four girls.
Working with Holocaust survivors, Must memorialized their struggles and triumphs in “Living Witnesses,” a two-part book series of portraits and bios that honored more than 400 living survivors in seven countries, many of whom were local Detroiters.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
