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.
Rochester’s BC Flight Partnering with Rocket Mortgage Classic
BC Flight, a private jet service based in Rochester, is partnering with the Rocket Mortgage Classic as an official sponsor of the Delta Dental Pairings Party and Pro-Am.
At that event, BC Flight is giving away a three-hour flight on a classic light jet to one amateur player attending the Pairings Party on June 27. During the Pro Am on June 28, BC Flight will sponsor the Closest to the Pin Contest, awarding another two winning players with a luxury gift.
“As a lifelong local, I’m proud to see Rocket Mortgage and the PGA Tour bring such wonderful talent to our community,” says Thane Namy, founder and CEO of BC Flight. “I’m thrilled to support an event that makes a meaningful impact both locally and beyond, and I look forward to what the future has in store for this tournament.”
The company recently introduced its 10-Hour Jet Card for clients who fly occasionally, yet want to avoid the maintenance associated with private jet ownership. For clients who fly more often, BC Flight has 25-hour, 50-hour, and 100-hour jet cards available, fit for leisure and business travelers alike.
These cards enable growing businesses — small to medium-sized — to leverage the benefits of private aviation without the high cost. With reliable service, competitive pricing, and one of the lowest jet card commitments available, the company says it’s transforming private aviation into a practical, yet truly relaxing travel option.
For more information, visit bcflight.com.
Neiman Marcus and ATP.art Partner on Brand Activations Nationwide
New York-based Commercial arts consultancy ATP.art and luxury department store Neiman Marcus have partnered on activating retail locations nationwide with commissions by local artists, including the location at the Somerset Collection in Troy.
The activation in Troy is by artists Phillip Simpson and Tony Whlgn who created a 700-square-foot mural.
“We are thrilled to be working with Tony Whlgn and ATP.art for this exciting installation,” says Renee Janovsky, market general manager for Neiman Marcus Troy. “This exclusive mural illustrates our mission of ‘Leading with Love’ as it tells the story of two people making a true connection with one another. At Neiman Marcus, we lead with love through the relationships we develop.”
Whlgn says: “Leading with love allows me to show up in this world as my full self, which means I do what I love and love what I do. Being from Detroit, the Motor City drives me to innovate as a person and an artist. This piece is an example of how letting love lead will always result in progressive connection — to yourself, your community, or even a new love.”
Born in Detroit, M Den Launch Collaborative Apparel Line with U-M
Born In Detroit Apparel is partnering with The M Den and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for a first-time launch of official Born In Detroit and University of Michigan apparel.
The initial launch is now available at The M Den Detroit store (55 Columbia St., next to the Fox Theatre) in Detroit, and online at MDen.com.
The Born In Detroit and U-M collaboration is an officially licensed collegiate apparel line. This exclusive line includes a Valiant University of Michigan Born In Detroit Block ‘”M’” Tee and a Valiant University of Michigan Tee featuring the football helmet, both in navy blue along with the classic maize color. There will be a larger launch in July that will include a wider variety of clothing options for men and woman, additional apparel items, and the potential addition of more M Den store locations that would carry this exclusive line.
“We are thrilled to partner with the M Den and the University of Michigan in launching a brand-new apparel line,” says Anthony Tomey, co-owner, of Born In Detroit and CEO of The Tomey Group. “Born In Detroit was created to showcase pride in the city of Detroit, and now it is truly an honor to further align that pride with such a prestigious institution like the University of Michigan.”
For more information, visit bornindetroit.store.
Lear Corp. in Southfield to Host Seating Product Day June 27
Lear Corp., a Southfield-based automotive seating and e-systems technology provider, will host a Seating Product Day at 10 a.m. on June 27 at its headquarters at 21557 Telegraph Rd.
During the event, Lear executives will provide an overview of the company’s seating business, highlighting the strategic benefits of its vertical integration strategy and thermal comfort systems portfolio. Lear executive management also will discuss the future revenue growth and margin expansion opportunities in seating. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
The webcast link will be available on the company’s website.
For those who attend in person, there will be a product tour and lunch following the formal presentation.
160 Driving Academy Launches New Location in Grand Rapids
Illinois-based 160 Driving Academy, which trains truck drivers, has opened a new location in Grand Rapids.
School officials say starting salaries for its graduates (on average) start at $65,000 per year with “tremendous growth potential.”
160 Driving Academy’s data-driven programs focus on driver safety and personalized analytics to provide students with individual feedback and top-of-the-line instruction via a proprietary app.
Boxed Water in Holland Throws Shade on New York with Greenhouse SoulCycle Ride
Friends of Boxed Water, the Holland-based packaged water company, recently gathered at the Williamsburg SoulCycle in Brooklyn, N.Y., to celebrate the brand’s expanding New York presence and urban tree planting efforts that are currently underway in Queens and cities across the U.S.
By joining forces with SoulCycle, which recently converted all packaged water in studios to Boxed Water, attendees were treated to studio rides that featured numerous decorative plants provided by Horti. Following the “Greenhouse” spin, guests tried Boxed Water’s newest flavored water, Watermelon.
“We wanted to underscore a theme of replenishment in our role of offsetting plastic waste, offering clean hydration, and planting trees,” says Kavita Shah, vice president of marketing at Boxed Water. “We are thrilled that our presence and role in New York is growing commercially and philanthropically, where businesses and consumers alike are pushing for change for the benefit of the planet.”
Boxed Water is supporting the planting of 800 of a planned 2,000 urban trees to be added in Kissena Park, Queens, through One Tree Planted’s Urban Forestry Action Fund.
“We want Boxed Water’s existence to have a net positive effect with our consumers, our partners, and, most importantly, our planet,” says Daryn Kuipers, CEO of Boxed Water, who attended the New York event. “It’s wonderful to share space today with people looking to make change in a way that’s fun, replenishing and celebratory.”
For more information, visit here.
The District Detroit to Conduct Contractor Fair June 27
The District Detroit is hosting the first Olympia Development of Michigan and Related Cos. Contractor Fair at the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (11687 American Ave.) in Detroit. The event will take place from 3-5 p.m. June 27.
Representatives from both development companies and Detroit at Work will discuss contracting opportunities on the first construction project, 2200 Woodward Ave., as well as nine additional approved renovations and new construction projects — including hotels, and residential and commercial buildings.
To pre-register, visit thedistrictdetroit.com.
Monroe Community and Genisys Credit Unions Earn Recognition
Monroe Community Credit Union (MCCU) has received Outstanding Credit Union of the Year award from the Michigan Credit Union League in the large asset size category.
“This award is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our truly phenomenal board and team members,” says Kristine Brenner, CEO of MCCU.
Genisys Credit Union in Auburn Hills was named as one of the Best Credit Unions in Michigan on Forbes’ annual “America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions” list for the fourth consecutive year.
“This recognition would not have been realized without our members’ loyalty in choosing Genisys as your credit union.” says Jackie Buchanan, president and CEO of Genisys Credit Union. “The recognition from Forbes attests to the endless contributions from our team for continued member success and the guidance from our board of directors.”
State of Michigan Invests $1.2M in Companies to Lead Outdoor Experience Innovation
The state of Michigan has launched a new grant program — the Mobility Public-Private Partnership and Programming (MP4) Grant — to support the advancement of partnerships and programs that will help further evolve Michigan’s statewide mobility ecosystem. One element of that program is focused on the modernization of the state’s mobility offerings in the outdoor recreation industry as it transitions to more electric and technology-enabled vehicles.
These first three companies to be funded to deploy unique and first-of-their-kind outdoor recreation mobility solutions:
Polaris Inc., a global leader in powersports, will receive $700,000 to establish a first-of-its-kind network of charging stations for electric off road vehicles (e-ORV). The integrated network of multi-modal EV charging infrastructure will be available within a public off-road vehicle trail system, starting in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Starting next year, Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures, a Polaris Adventures Outfitter in Ontonagon, also will operate a fleet of all-electric Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic off-road vehicles as a part of its rental offerings.
Electric Outdoors will receive $325,000 to design, build, and deploy the campsite of the future. EO-Canopy, a solar-powered, off-grid battery storage destination platform, will enable EV charging at rural campsites and other destinations for the Michigan-based company.
Snowbotix, a manufacturer of all-electric, all-terrain, and all-season multi-utility robots, will receive $200,000 to electrify and automate labor-intensive and dangerous outdoor maintenance tasks, including but not limited to non-road/off-road snow removal, snow grooming, cleaning, power washing, and vegetation control. The company will deploy and assess the performance of a fleet of electric, autonomous multi-utility robots to help solve the labor shortage and reduce the environmental impact of gas-powered equipment in traditional practices.
“Billions of dollars are being invested in the transformation of the outdoor mobility experience through electrification and supporting technologies,” says Kathryn Snorrason, interim chief mobility officer for the state of Michigan. “By aligning our industry-leading initiatives and investment in vehicle technology with the expanding outdoor industry, we can attract industry investment and talent from across the nation while improving accessibility and sustainability within our outdoor recreational assets.”
Other key investments related to outdoor recreation being pursued by MEDC and partner organizations like the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, as well as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) include:
- New EV charging station installations in the Upper Peninsula.
- A partnership with Rivian and Michigan’s DNR to deploy EV charging stations across Michigan’s State Parks.
- The ongoing development of the Lake MI EV Circuit.
- A partnership with the National Parks Service to pilot emerging mobility technologies at Michigan’s national parks, in support of improving accessibility and sustainability.
Curtain Ready to Rise on Michigan Science Center’s Summer Film Series
The National Weather Service is predicting soaring temperatures this summer, and the Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) is offering a series of new films to help visitors keep cool while learning about science.
“National Parks Adventure” and a Laser Motown show have been added to its IMAX Dome Theatre offerings, as well as a limited run of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated drama “Oppenheimer” July 21-Aug. 10. “A Lunar Journey” also will join the museum’s line-up in its Planetarium.
“Storytelling is an excellent way to educate, and we are proud to boast three theaters at Mi-Sci that serve as portals to other habitats, ecosystems, worlds, and galaxies, putting our guests at the center of science through the big screen,” says Christian Greer, president and CEO of Mi-Sci. “With our rotating film line-up, audiences can explore topics that range from the depths of the ocean to the farthest known reaches of outer space, and everything in-between, with topics that suit all ages.”
In the IMAX, “National Parks Adventure” – narrated by Robert Redford – follows off-trail adventurers as they explore some of the United States most impressive outdoor landscapes, including Michigan’s Eben Ice Caves. “Oppenheimer” is based on the true story of famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The Laser Motown show visualizes Detroit’s legendary Motown music with energy and dazzling light.
In the Planetarium, “A Lunar Journey” fills the full dome, and focuses on the moon, exploring eclipses, the shapes it makes, as well as other moons in the solar system.
The new films join an existing suite of offerings that includes “Dream Big: Engineering Our World,” an IMAX experience that explores some of the world’s most impressive engineering feats, such as the Great Wall of China and underwater robots. The suite also features “Turtle Odyssey,” a 4-D experience in the Toyota Engineering Theater that follows a sea turtle’s journey across the ocean and “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” where Sesame Street favorites explore the solar system in the Planetarium.
The for the full list of films to be shown as well as ticket information, visit here.
City Institute Introduces Dearborn Walking Tour Series
Detroit-based City Institute has partnered with Downtown Dearborn to launch a Downtown Dearborn Walking Tours series geared toward locals.
On these two-hour walking tours, attendees will learn about new developments along two retail corridors in the city of Dearborn, get to know long-time and new businesses, and walk away with a better understanding of Dearborn’s past and present as well as ways to engage in its future.
Tours will be led by City Institute guide and long-time Dearborn resident, Muhammad (Max) Aghili.
For date, times, and ticket information, visit thecityinstitute.com.