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The year was 2007, and Michigan’s economy was decimated. People were losing jobs left and right. Businesses were folding. Homes were being foreclosed upon. I wanted to do something to help, but wasn’t sure what. Eventually I took a trip to South Africa that changed everything. Afterwards, I decided to start paying attention to where my dollars
After 7 years in Chicago, attorney Nick Gorga, moved back to Detroit. He knew he wanted to help revitalize the city. Over a decade later, what started out as an idea captured on a cocktail napkin, is now a thriving economic development program called Hatch Detroit. The organization was founded in 2011 with the intention of giving
Any time is a fun time to visit Glass Academy in Dearborn, but this July may be one of the best times ever. Guests can try their lungs at glassblowing, support a local community organization, and help break a Guiness World Record, all at the same time. The project is aptly-named Breath of Michigan, and it runs
Applications for Renaissance Venture Capital’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) UnDemo Day® are now open. Early-stage companies seeking capital in the next 18 months are encouraged to apply. UnDemo Day is a virtual extension of Renaissance’s biannual event that connects regional startups with hundreds of venture capital funds from around the country. It will be held Wednesday, April 27,
Our state, like most of the world, is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic both from a health perspective and an economic one. Many small businesses in particular have been devastated by closures, supply chain issues, and ongoing employment challenges. With so many global events affecting us, it can feel like there isn’t much that
Capitalizing on a growing trend in the beverage industry, Long Road Distillers released a line-up of three canned craft cocktails in August of last year. At the time, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers, Kyle VanStrien, remarked, “We’re excited to bring some of our favorites to market, and we look forward to expanding offerings and distribution
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is a quasi-state agency that exists to help Michigan’s economy flourish through investments in communities, connecting businesses to potential new clients, promoting the state’s image as a business destination and a variety of other services. Its latest endeavor is the release of a new podcast aimed at global trends with an eye
Michigan women sure have come a long way when it comes to our careers. From a pioneering woman named Magdelaine Laframboise, who was our state's first female fur mogul to current General Motors CEO Mary Barra, the first women to ever lead a major automotive company. While both of those women may have had to carve out
Since the pandemic hit, a number of cities and towns across the state identified specific areas to provide additional outdoor dining space for their restaurants. Some utilized the sidewalk in front of each eatery, while others did full street closures either for the entire period, or at designated times and days each week. Now, with COVID-numbers rising
Once you meet Dorothy Zehnder, it’s hard to forget her. She may be a tad diminutive in stature, but she’s definitely not short on kindness, charm or energy. In fact, the 98-year young matriarch of the Zehnder family still works full time six days a week! She is the co-founder and co-owner of the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn,
A year ago, over even six months back, no one could’ve predicted the fashion trend sweeping the nation would be face masks. Yes, they are a necessary precaution during the pandemic, but in typical American form, they are now taking on stylish looks as well. Fabric masks can be washed and reused, yet for style’s sake, there
The global COVID-19 health crisis will affect virtually every business. The depth of that effect and whether it is primarily negative or positive, depends on each businesses ability to adapt to the ever-changing predicament. Here are some tips experts advise to mitigate damage and set a course to survive and thrive. Review and revise business plans For
We first introduced Jackson Riegler to our community when he was just a high school student developing a brand new, inspiring idea to help preserve the Great Lakes. He won our Up & Coming Entrepreneur Contest at the tender age of seventeen, back in 2017. Today, he’s a student at the University of Michigan with a full-blown
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on our economy, but we can work together to minimize the negative impact. Place carryout orders from local restaurants One of the easiest ways to help, and let’s face it, give yourself a break too, is to pick up a curbside carry-out from your favorite
There’s no question that the Lake Huron shore is an incredible place to gaze at the stars, but could it also soon be reaching for them? That’s the plan, according to the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA), who has named the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport as its top candidate for a potential horizontal space launch site in Michigan. The
The 12th Annual Global Automotive and Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) semi-finals will take place in the Architectural Engineering Building on the campus of Lawrence Technological University on Thursday, February 27. GAMIC was created in 2008 out of a partnership between what is now SAE International and the MI Innovation Alliance. The purpose is to identify innovative companies
Three prominent entities have banded together to give Michigan a leap forward in manufacturing amidst the 4th Industrial Revolution. Automation Alley, Lean Rocket Lab and Lawrence Technological University’s (LTU) Centrepolis Accelerator have created a new Industry 4.0 Accelerator program, which is the first of its kind in the U.S. The goal is to help small and medium-sized
The team at Ann Arbor-based Ripple Science has plenty to smile about these days. The company, which designs research management software, recently completed a $2.5M equity financing round, and it just signed its 100th customer. Like many local companies, it all started in at the University of Michigan where Dr. Nestor Lopez-Duran ran into some challenges managing
A report released earlier this month by Coldwell Banker as part of its A Look at Wealth series, examines the desires and real estate preferences of millionaire millennials. It defined the group as those Americans between the ages of 23 and 37 who have a net worth of more than $1 million. As one might expect, eight of the
Before it became a powerhouse in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan got its start through humble beginnings in the heart of Detroit. It was originally known as Catholepistemiad or University of Michigania. The cornerstone of the first building was laid on September 24, 1817, near the corner of Bates and Congress, but the school eventually moved
Credit Unions have a long history of boosting local businesses and supporting their communities. This month, in celebration of International Credit Union Week, many across our state will be at it again in the form of a lunchtime cash mob. CU Lunch Local will kick off its eighth year of grassroots economic development on October 15, 2019.
Lawrence Technological University’s (LTU) Centrepolis Accelerator and Planet M are looking for the next great ideas in hardware development. The two entities are teaming up for a pitch competition that will take place in conjunction with the Hardware Tech Summit, scheduled for June 19, 2019 at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit. "The competition provides cash prizes and
Increasingly homes and businesses are filling up with smart phones and televisions, security systems we can control and monitor from other places, and even appliances that connect to the internet. Many transportation systems are already dependent upon accessing the internet, and we are about to enter an era when driverless vehicles will likely become the norm. How
A new business tenant is set to howl in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Coyote Logistics, a Chicago-based transportation management services company, intends to establish a new tech hub at 1700 Fort Street. The third-party logistics provider was co-founded by Jeff and Marianne Silver in 2006 with a goal to create a better service experience in the transportation industry.
Calling all young artists, designers, techies, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Detroit is the place to be this fall. Forbes, the financial news and investment publisher, announced Tuesday that it is bringing its flagship Under 30 Summit to Detroit for the next three years. The first conference is set to convene in the city October 27-30. The Announcement The announcement was
