Features

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Networking opportunities abound with reinvigorated Metro Detroit Young Professionals group

After the group was on pause due to COVID-19, the Metro Detroit Young Professionals, run by the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, is back to hosting events. The Young Professionals group is an opportunity for community members aged 21 through 40 to make connections.

Development News The new Forgotten Harvest distribution center is located at 15000 W. Eight Mile Rd. in Oak Park.

Forgotten Harvest to celebrate new Oak Park distribution center with community open house

“We’re thrilled to have such increased capacity at our new building to help thousands more people,” says Forgotten Harvest CEO Kirk Mayes.

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Women’s boutique and spa finds room to grow with new location in downtown Farmington

“We’ve seen an increase in foot traffic just in the last 30 days,” says Kelly Freeman, who co-owns All About Women’s Health Boutique & Spa with her cousin Mariam Searcy.

Feature Story Frame, Bar, Hazel Park

Dining Destination: Michigan's first cannabis lounge part of a bigger movement in Hazel Park's scene

Nowfal Akash is proud of what he and his team have done with the John R. Road location for the new Hot Box Social cannabis lounge in Hazel Park: "It's part of the community now, it feels like it's been there forever." Biba Adams dives into the foodie scene there, from Frame movie pairings to city policy changes, to find out how it's evolving.

Development News Farmington’s award-winning social district, The Syndicate, opened in January 2021.

Farmington’s social district a winner at this year’s Main Street Awards in Oakland County

The award recognizes Farmington’s The Syndicate as the best practice for designing and implementing social districts in communities throughout the state, says John Bry, program coordinator of Main Street Oakland County.

Development News LMP Collective Studios & Coworking celebrates its grand opening with an open house on Friday, May 13.

Creative coworking space and photography studio to celebrate grand opening in downtown Pontiac

“I’m really proud to be doing this in Pontiac,” says Brandon Still, co-owner of LMP Collective Studios & Coworking.

Feature Story Chef Omar Anani at Saffron De Twah.

Make food, not waste: 30 Metro Detroit food businesses to lead the U.S. in sustainability pledge

In the food business, less is more. These 16 Metro Detroit food businesses have already started leading the country in a sustainability movement boasting economic, environmental, and community benefits. They're looking for more to join them.

Feature Story SPJ awards

Metromode and Model D recognized for excellence in journalism in Detroit awards

Our team received multiple awards this week in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Detroit’s 2022 Excellence in Journalism awards, with 13 journalists and photographers making the finalist list for their work in the past year. Journalist Mike Galbraith won for his innovative Instagram strategy in a series, while Nick Hagen and David Lewinski took out first place for their portrait and feature photography.

Feature Story April Boyle

'Hustling for the hustlers': Meet the woman uplifting innovative talent in Sterling Heights

In the last 10 years, April Boyle has founded Detroit's Build Institute, established restaurants, raised a family, and even opened for the B-52s in an all-mom rock group. Now, she's set her sights on igniting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Macomb County. It's easy to see why we should all be watching what she does next.

Feature Story Cyclists cross a bridge at George George Park.

Despite false starts, Macomb Parks are forging ahead with big spring plans

With new developments on the way, visitors will soon have even more great reasons to check out a variety of Macomb County Parks.

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Sterling Heights makes way for more butterflies and more trees (and public art, too)

“We don't just want to be another vanilla municipality in a sea of suburban cities throughout metro Detroit,” says Mayor Michael C. Taylor. “We want to stand out and we want our residents to be proud that they live here.”

Development News A scene from last year’s inaugural Shop for Good Village at the Berkley Street Art Fest.

Shop for Good Village to return to downtown Berkley for annual street festival

“The Shop for Good Village really sets the Berkley Street Art Fest apart,” says Darlene Rothman, executive director of the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re the only art fair making a direct effort to shine a well-deserved spotlight on members of the community who are committed to doing good. We hope many more artisans will join our one-of-a-kind mission-driven fair this year.”

Longform Maker Works Executive Director Josh Williams.

More than a maker space: How Farmington Hills is learning from Ann Arbor's Maker Works

Maker Works' founders say inspiring and aiding other maker spaces was a key goal since they first started discussing the idea of opening one themselves. Now, new maker spaces like Farmington Hills' forthcoming HAWK Makerspace are taking their lessons to heart. 

Feature Story DCS Corporation, Sterling Heights

New research and development center in Sterling Heights expanding defense innovation

John Johnson has been working with the defense contractor in Michigan for more than 20 years. Now, he's overseeing DCS Corporation's new center in Sterling Heights and is excited about the innovation happening in the region. 

Feature Story Cold Frame Farm in Romeo uses enclosed beds to extend the growth and harvest season.

3 family-owned farms in Macomb to visit this year

Macomb is home to more than 400 active farms, from high-tech greenhouse hubs to market suppliers to flower growers. Many are legacy businesses, handed down from industrious grandparents: "When 23 Mile Road was a two-lane dirt road, they had a produce stand out in front." 

Feature Story Todd Scott know first-hand (or should that be first-foot?) who is doing urban bike infrastructure well in metro Detroit.

Which metro Detroit cities are doing urban bike infrastructure well?

Todd Scott says it's obvious when a city takes cycling seriously: "They consider bikes to be [both] recreation and transportation, whereas a lot of places just see bikes as recreation, something that people can do on the weekend to get fit."

Feature Story  Commissioner Charlie Cavell (D-Ferndale), Ferndale Public Housing on Withington Street

Can Oakland County’s new resolutions, blueprint to end homelessness, increase housing security?

Oakland County's two new resolutions have been called "potentially transformational" in achieving housing equity. Can they make a difference? “If we segregate this so the rich live here and the poor live there, it’s a recipe for disaster,” says Commissioner Dave Woodward “And history will bear that out.”

Development News “We’re very happy to reopen and hit the ground running,” says Browndog co-owner Paul Gabriel.

After two years away, Browndog Barlor officially reopens in downtown Farmington

“We’re very excited to be back — it was not fun to make that decision to close in the first place. Farmington was our first full-scale restaurant, so it was not a happy decision to close,” says Browndog co-owner Paul Gabriel. “We’re very happy to reopen and hit the ground running.”

Development News X

New contest for small and emerging Michigan snack makers offers $50K in cash prizes and more

“The growth of new small craft and niche snack food companies in Michigan is exciting,” says Duncan Smith, President and COO of All Star Services, Inc. “All Star Services is a growing small business and we want to help bring more focus to the growing segment of snack food companies in Michigan.”

Feature Story NFT

Can NFTs provide local artists with financial stability?

“I looked at my friend when it sold out, we literally cried,” Emily Swift says of her NFT collection. “We could pay our rent." But the artist warns there's more to managing non-fungible tokens than meets the eye. 

 
Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan are contributing their thoughts via journal entries on how COVID-19 is affecting their organization. 
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.ACT. Click here to read the journal entries.