Ardelia Lee

On TV: Hamtramck Couple Vies For Investment In ‘Restaurant Startup' Tonight At 10pm

Tonight’s episode of CNBC’s Restaurant Startup will include the partnership of Hamtramck’s Rock City eatery owners, chef Nikita Sanches and Jessica Imbronone. The engaged rock’n’roll couple will compete for the opportunity to open a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles and to win the financial backing of investors. (We’ve included the last episode above for you to catch up). For the “Pie vs. Pie” episode, Sanches and Imbronone named their team Rock City Pies, after his former pie shop at Rust Belt...

Detorit FilmDetroitExxodus Pictures

More Than $1.3 Million In Film Incentives Goes To Detroit-Based Exxodus Pictures

The Michigan Film Office approved state incentives for three Michigan-based supernatural and horror film projects. These projects are the first ones approved in fiscal year 2015, culminating in $1,317,977 of incentives being awarded on $3,765,647 of approved production costs for the year. The projects, “Golem,” “My Soul to Keep,” and “Swish Master,” will be produced by Exxodus Pictures Studio, based in the Madison building in Detroit. “The announcement of a Detroit-based production company...

Dream Big AmericaEntrepreneurshipFlush down

Detroit Startup In Final Round of "Dream Big America"

Sometimes, it’s the simple things. Two Michigan startup businesses, one from Grand Rapids and one from Detroit, are two of the three finalists in the February Championship Round of the Dream Big America National Pitch Competition. The three startups competed in a Dream Big America round before the Feb. 27 episode in which they pitched their businesses. Each business won its respective round. During the Finals Round, a spokesperson for each startup gave a two-minute pitch of their company’s con...

Detroit river daysdetroit riverfront

It's Going To Be Warm Again, We Promise: Here's Info On The 9th Annual River Days Festial

We know that it’s 20 or so degrees out there, but we promise, warmer temperatures are ahead. After all, in our inbox was the information for the 9th Annual River Days Festival! The event, which runs from June 19-21, is an iconic summertime event that showcases the beauty of the Detroit riverfront. River Days Festival spans almost a mile of the Detroit River, from the GM Renaissance Center to Rivard Plaza and the William G. Milliken State Park. Last year, the Conservancy’s family-friendly eve...

M-1 RAIL Looking For Operations Contractors And Communications Strategists

M-1 RAIL is moving full steam (or electric buzz) ahead, and the non-profit organization dedicated to the design, construction, and future operation of a 3.3 mile streetcar route has issued some request for proposals (RFP). The organization has asked specifically for RFPs from rail operations contractors and communications strategists. Rail Operations Contractors Operations contractors interested in submitting a proposal must attend the mandatory pre-propsal meeting on Friday, March 13, 2015...

detroit fashionDetroit Garment Group Guilddg3

DG3 Accepting Applications for Designer in Residence Program

The Detroit Garment Group Guild (DG3), a non-profit dedicated to providing education and opportunities for Detroit’s fashion community, is now accepting applications for its 2015 Designer in Residence program. In the program, participants will have access to private offices, industrial sewing machines, design software, mentors, and business education opportunities. The purpose of the program is to walk fashion professionals from concept and development to sales and finished products. Partici...

DetroitDowntown Detroitdowntown detroit partnership

Survey Says: Downtown Detroit Has Potential, Perception Improved

The results of the Downtown Detroit Partnership’s 2014 Downtown Detroit Perceptions Survey are in, and they reflect the growth and changes that Downtown Detroit has experienced. The survey was taken by 4,685 people and focused on seven key areas: safety, cleanliness, parking, walkability and biking, transit, and living Downtown. The DDP will be conducting this survey annually they plan it to serve as a benchmark. “We had broad and diverse participation, four times more people took the survey...

Macomb CountyMichiganMichigan History

Explore Michigan’s History with 101 People, Places and Things that Made Michigan

From Feb. 28 to May 9, the Lorenzo Cultural Center in Clinton Township is featuring the 101 People, Places and Things that Made Michigan. Part of Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, the Lorenzo Cultural Center offers visitors a chance to explore Michigan’s intriguing, diverse history. The series will include exhibits and over 40 free events, ranging from presentations to performances. 101 People, Places and Things that Made Michigan starts at 1pm on Feb. 28 with Neal Rubin’s presentati...

ArtsDetroitDP2a

Hollywood Comes To Detroit This Thursday Night At DP2A Gala

Detroit Passport to the Arts (DP2A), a nonprofit dedicated to engaging the next generation of arts patrons in Detroit, is hosting a unique night of film viewing, glamour, and Academy Award-inspired festivities. “Hollywood in Detroit” will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Detroit Film Theatre. Guests will watch Oscar-nominated short films before enjoying a free shuttle ride to the Detroit Historical Museum to dance the night away at an unforgettable after-party featuring food, drinks, and...

ColburnColburnDevelopmentDixon Inc

Gilbert Buildings The New Home For Six Businesses

Bedrock Real Estate Services announced earlier this week that six new businesses have opened a total of 16,000 square feet of office space in Dan Gilbert-owned buildings. The square footages of each lease were not immediately available. * ColburnColburn, an insurance risk and management provider, opened in the 800,000 square-foot First National Building at 660 Woodward Ave. According to CoStar Group Inc., a Washington, D.C. based real estate information service, Gilbert bought the building fo...

Job retraining for VeteransMile2Veterans retraining

Veterans’ Cybersecurity Retraining Program A Success

There are many jobs available in the Detroit area, but often there’s a gap between the skills someone has and the skills a new career requires. To help address that, the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), in partnership with Merit Network, the Michigan Cyber Range and Mile2, recently unveiled an innovative veterans’ retraining program. The program, which lasts 13 weeks and prepares veterans for a career in cybersecurity, is unlike any other in the country. “We are very proud of...

Mayor Duggan Appoints New Planning Director For City Of Detroit

Mayor Mike Duggan has announced Maurice Cox as Detroit’s new Planning Director. Cox comes to Detroit from Tulane City Center, where he was director, and Tulane University School of Architecture, where he served as associate dean for Community Engagement. A New York City native, Cox received his bachelor’s in architecture from Cooper Union School of Architecture and was awarded the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He taught for Syracuse University’s Architecture...

Advanced Industry JobsDetroitjobs

Detroit Is In The Top 5 For Advanced Industry Jobs In United States

Detroit is the fourth best city for “advanced industries” jobs, according to a report recently released by the Brookings Institution. Advanced industries spend a lot of money on research and development, and they have a large number of workers in science, technology, engineering, and math-oriented roles. Not surprisingly, San Jose, the center of Silicon Valley, topped the list at 30% of advanced industry jobs per capita. Seattle, home to Microsoft and Boeing, came in second. Both of these ci...

DetroitKIND Snacks

A Day Of Kindness In Detroit On February 17

On Tuesday, February 17th, team members of KIND, the company behind the popular line of health-conscious snacks, will perform 24 random acts of kindness across the Metro Detroit area. They will begin the day at 8 a.m. at the Rosa Parks Transit Station, where they will hand out hats and gloves to commuters waiting for the bus. Afterwards, the KIND team will head over to Starbucks and Biggby Coffee locations to warm up and buy everyone in line a cup of coffee. Around lunchtime, the group will...

Business Contest WinnerDave EgnerJ&G Pallets

Two Detroit-Based Businesses Win $100,000 From NEI

Detroit’s J & G Pallets and Trucking and Highland Park’s Sherwood Prototype will each receive $100,000 awards to grow their businesses. Both companies were small business winners of the $100K Challenge for the first-ever NEIdeas: Rewarding Ideas for Business Growth. New Economy Initiative (NEI), a special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, hosted the challenge. Since the NEIdeas Challenge inception in May 2014, NEI has awarded more than $500,000 to 36 existing small...

Detroit Boat ShowDetroit Boat Show hoursKid Rock Cowboy Boat

Love The Water? Here Comes The Boat Show Feb. 14th - 22nd

It’s cold outside, but being Michiganders, many of us dream of warm rays and fun on the lakes. Not to mention, Michigan’s rebounding economy bodes well for the marine industry. The Detroit Boat Show, happening February 14-22 in the Cobo Center, is set to be the largest one the city has seen in recent years. At 350,000 square feet, the 2015 show will be 50,000 square feet larger than in 2014 and 150,000 square feet larger than in 2012. The boat show is riding the wave of increased boat, motor,...

Casey RocheteauDetroitHome for Writers in Detroit

Look Inside Write A House, Now Home To Poet Casey Rocheteau

Write A House, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Detroit’s emerging literary scene, has given Brooklyn poet Casey Rocheteau a new home. The organization purchases vacant houses in the No Ham/Banglatown neighborhood of Detroit and awards them to writers after renovating them. Rocheteau was recently announced as the winner of the Write A House residency, and she moved to Detroit on November 1, 2014. Casey and her cat, Omar, moved to Detroit and have transitioned seamlessly to life in the city....

CrowdfundingIngiegogoSister Pie

Get Down With Sister Pie at the Hippest Dancebreak-a-thon in Detroit

Sister Pie has entered the final stretch in its goal to open a complete bakery in Detroit’s West Village, and you can celebrate with them as they throw the hippest dance party fundraiser Detroit’s ever seen. To count down to this awesome party, Sister Pie (which we’ve written about before) is giving supporters the opportunity to crowdfund its expansion on Indiegogo. The opportunity to support Sister Pie won’t last long. The campaign ends on February 7, so if you want to contribute, now’s the t...