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EMU Professor Receives $1.86 Million Grant to Improve Access to Behavioral Health Services

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YPSILANTI — Alexandros Maragakis, an assistant professor in Psychology at Eastern Michigan University, has received a $1.86 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to improve access to behavioral health services for children in Michigan.

Alexandros Maragakis

Assistant Professor Maragakis will receive approximately $465,000 per year for 4 years to integrate behavioral health services with pediatric primary care practices in a variety of urban and rural Michigan communities.

According to Dr. Maragakis, Michigan has a number of underserved urban and rural communities with limited access to quality mental health services for children, yet most children in these communities have access to primary care.

“The integration of behavioral health within primary care has recently gained global attention given that almost half of all pediatric primary care visits have some type of behavioral health concern documented,” said Dr. Maragakis. “The goal of this grant is to grow the behavioral health workforce to improve access to behavioral health services for children in Michigan.”

Trainees, which will include students from EMU’s Clinical Psychology and Social Work programs, will participate in interdisciplinary education that will expose them to various healthcare professionals, prepare them for both in-person and telehealth integrated behavioral health services, and emphasize experiences for working with minority cultures.

The Michigan Medicine/EMU Pediatric Integrated Behavioral Health Training Collaborative (the Collaborative) is a partnership with Eastern Michigan University’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and Masters of Social Work Program, and Michigan Medicine in collaboration with MidMichigan Community Health Services. The Collaborative has received prior support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and this project is an expansion of that work.

Dr. Maragakis is a founding member of EMU’s Center for the Advancement of Neurobehavioral Health.  His current research interests involve using quality improvement methods to analyze best practices in integrated behavioral and primary care settings. Specifically, his research investigates the impact of integrated services on somatic and behavioral outcomes, as well as healthcare expenditures, provider burnout and efficiency, and access to evidence-based behavioral health services.

For more information about the Health Resources and Services Administration, visit the organization’s homepage.

LAFCU Launches Free Personal Financial Course Open to Public

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LANSING — LAFCU is inviting the public to enroll in its new comprehensive personal financial course that helps strengthen the financial stability of individuals in Michigan. The enrollment deadline is Monday, Aug. 9.

The free, virtual course, named Pathway to Financial Transformation, will help participants, ages 20 and over, enhance current financial behavior and build a roadmap to attain financial freedom.

The 16 one-hour sessions will be presented on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, excluding holidays, Aug. 12, 2021–April 28, 2022, 6 p.m.

“Pathway to Financial Transformation is the result of many years of providing education through LAFCU’s financial literacy program,” said Shelia Scott, LAFCU community financial education & business development officer. “We’ve listened to people’s concerns about finances, and LAFCU specialists have identified topics they believe will support an individual’s pursuit of financial freedom.

“Attaining that freedom means having control of your finances instead of being controlled by them. You are able to make life decisions without financial impact being the primary driver. You’re also in a better position to qualify for lower loan interest rates, to purchase a home and to just live better.”

The course will cover all facets of personal finance and will identify many traps that often derail a person’s financial stability. It is structured similar to a college course with a syllabus, assignments such as completing a budget worksheet, and quizzes. The course is interactive as participants can ask questions during class.

Topics include savings, budgeting, managing credit, lending, investing, improving one’s credit score, home purchases, home ownership and information about possible barriers that have prevented equal access to financial resources.

Sharing their expertise will be seasoned financial professionals from LAFCU as well as a representative from LAFCU’s financial counseling partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness, headquartered in Farmington Hills. Free to all enrollees is an optional session with a GreenPath Financial Wellness expert.

Course graduates will be celebrated at a cap and gown ceremony.

“The benefits of attaining financial freedom have been accentuated during the pandemic,” Scott said. “Bills don’t stop even when we can’t work. But we also learned that many of the things we thought we couldn’t do without, we can do without. That’s learning how to save.

“It’s never too late to improve one’s financial management. This course will provide knowledge that can transform behavior. It’s the type of comprehensive course that’s rarely offered at no charge.”

To enroll, visit www.lafcu.com/pathway. The course is open to people who live, work, worship or attend school in Michigan, LAFCU’s geographical service territory.

U.S. Bank Foundation Invests $1 Million to Support Emerging Leaders, Community-Led Solutions to Address Economic Disparities

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MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jul. 28, 2021– U.S. Bank Foundation today announced a $1 million investment to 20 nonprofit organizations driven by a diverse group of exceptional emerging leaders who are focused on creating effective community-led solutions to the increasing economic disparities.

Organizations are in both rural and metro communities and are focused on support for entrepreneurs and small business owners, workforce development programs and financial inclusion efforts for individuals and families as solutions to wealth building.

“We are dedicated to empowering our communities by listening to those with lived experience and supporting their ideas on how to address racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change,” said Reba Dominski, executive vice president, head of social responsibility at U.S. Bank. “In addition to the funding, we are exploring ways to support these leaders and organizations by creating points of connection and access as well as opportunities to build their networks. We look forward to learning from these leaders as we continue to work to break down traditional power dynamics in philanthropy.”

The emerging leaders recognized through nonprofit grant funding include:

  • Joy Briscoe, Executive Director of 24/7 Black Leadership Advancement Consortium (Waterloo, Iowa), is advancing generational wealth for the black business community.
  • Erica DiMartino-McNertney, Site Director of Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Cincinnati (based in New York), supports justice-involved individuals in building career and financial stability.
  • Jeffery Beckham Jr., CEO of Chicago Scholars (Chicago, Illinois), is empowering first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the right mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation’s best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago’s next generation of leaders.
  • Luisana Victorica, Site Director of College Track (Sacramento, California), is more than doubling the rate of bachelor’s degrees for low-income and first-generation students.
  • Lori Boegershausen, Director of Educational Access for the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (Nelsonville, Ohio), is strengthening community resources to meet the needs of Black Appalachian Ohioans.
  • Arnella Williams-Foster, Community Coordinator of Nashville Business Incubation Center (Nashville, Tennessee), supports the development and growth of minority, women, and veteran-owned small businesses.
  • Buddy King, Chief Operating Officer of Higher Works Collaborative partners with Initiative Foundation (Little Falls, Minnesota), to support training courses, seminars, and technical assistance for low-income and minority entrepreneurs.
  • Whitney Peake, Board Member of Live the Dream Development, Inc. (Bowling Green, Kentucky), supports minority, women, and low-to-moderate-incomein small business owners.
  • Anamaria Rocha, Executive Director of Mercado on 5th Inc. (Moline, Illinois), provides office space, bilingual small business workshops, 1-on-1 technical assistance and mentorship.
  • Henry Jake Foreman, Program Director of New Mexico Community Capital (Albuquerque, New Mexico), provides business training that integrates Indigenous methodology.
  • Annamarie Dachtler, Executive Director of Olive Crest (Los Angeles, California), fuels economic stability and independence through transitional housing for vulnerable youth emancipating from foster care.
  • Juan Navarro, Artist-in-Residence at Riverside Art Museum (Riverside, California), is rejuvenating store fronts to contribute to neighborhood vitality, safety and economic development.
  • Ryan Quigtar, Executive Director of the Renton Innovation Zone Partnership (Renton, Washington), supports career immersion events for students from Title 1 schools through the Skyway Resource Center.
  • Cesar Garcia, Executive Director of Southside Redevelopment Corporation, Canopy South (Omaha, Nebraska), is establishing a revolving loan fund to be utilized for workforce housing.
  • Dara Eskridge, Executive Director of Invest STL (St. Louis, Missouri), cultivates opportunities for wealth building among households and small businesses to support equitable neighborhood development.
  • Silvia Castro, Executive Director of Suazo Business Center (Salt Lake City, Utah), provides long-term support for low-to moderate-income entrepreneurs.
  • Charis Blackmon, Executive Director of West Side CLT (Charlotte, North Carolina), tackles economic mobility through permanently affordable homeownership.
  • Trina Fleming, Executive Director of Women Helping Women (Irvine, California), equips individuals with employer-in-demand skills.
  • Keena Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Center of Economic Opportunity (Columbus, Ohio), provides women of color entrepreneurs equitable access to capital, connections and business know-how.
  • Amalia Luxardo, Executive Director of Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona (Tucson, Arizona), provides oversight for the Communities for Philanthropic Justice Fund, which, in close partnership with community, cultivates and builds BIPOC leadership and relevant practices within grantmaking institutions.

American Airlines, JetSMART Sign Letter of Intent to Create Network

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FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines and JetSMART have signed a letter of intent to create what officials in both companies are calling the “broadest network and most rewarding customer offering in the Americas.”

This proposed partnership would tie together the full-service, global presence of American with the complementary network of ultra-low-cost carrier JetSMART in South America to offer competitive fares and expanded travel options for flyers throughout North and South America.

“This proposed investment in JetSMART would give customers access to the largest network, lowest fares and best travel loyalty program in the Americas,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Revenue Officer. “This would enable JetSMART and American to grow aggressively and profitably across Latin America as demand recovers, while preserving the best aspects of each carrier’s business model.

“This partnership would also make AAdvantage the largest travel loyalty program in the Americas, creating more ways for customers to earn travel rewards and use their miles to access new destinations and elite benefits globally, no matter whether they earn in Latin or North America,” Raja added.

Operating from Chile and Argentina, JetSMART is a portfolio airline of Indigo Partners, one of the world’s premier developers of new generation ultra-low-cost airlines. JetSMART operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft and offers short-haul domestic and international service to 33 destinations throughout South America. American has served Latin America since 1942 and offers service to 17 destinations in South America from its U.S. hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York. Through the two airlines’ codeshare, customers would be able to travel seamlessly throughout the Americas.

“We look forward to working with American to continue delivering low fares and customer choice throughout South America,” said Bill Franke, Founder and Managing Partner of Indigo Partners.

Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer of JetSMART, added, “By connecting and growing our respective networks, and maintaining our distinct business models, we see a compelling value proposition. When completed, this proposed partnership would accelerate JetSMART’s path to becoming the leading South American low-cost carrier while expanding service for American’s customers.”

Under the proposed transaction, American would invest in JetSMART to facilitate this growth and give American a minority ownership stake in the short-haul South American carrier. Additionally, American and Indigo Partners would jointly commit to provide additional capital to fund potential future opportunities in the region. American can strengthen and grow its South American network through this proposed partnership to attract more travelers in more markets. This proposed partnership, along with others in Latin America, would also give American customers access to more low fares and travel options on a network that is twice as big as other alliances.

The intended investments and codeshare agreements are subject to definitive documentation and any required governmental and regulatory approvals.

Federal Government Awards Record-Breaking $145.7 Billion in Contracting to Small Businesses

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WASHINGTON (Globe Newswire) — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the federal government exceeded its small business federal contracting goal, awarding 26.01 percent or $145.7 billion in federal contract dollars to small businesses, a $13 billion increase from the previous fiscal year.

“Despite the fact that it’s been an extremely challenging year for small businesses, the SBA is proud to announce that our nation’s entrepreneurs used their trademark ingenuity, grit, and determination to do a record amount of contracts — $145.7 billion — with the federal government,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman. “Thanks to the support of countless dedicated government professionals, the federal government exceeded its small business contracting goal for FY20 with a $13 billion increase from the previous fiscal year.

“However, we know that there’s much more to do to ensure all of our small businesses can get contract-ready and have the opportunities they need to engage with the world’s largest customer,” Guzman added. “We’re committed to increasing these opportunities and lowering barriers to give our small businesses a chance to grow their revenues through contracting. Our goal this year, and every year, is to make sure that small businesses can be like the giants they are in our economy and to create conditions to guarantee their success.”

The federal government also added almost a million jobs to the American economy through the $145.7 billion in prime contract dollars and $82.8 billion in subcontracts awarded to small businesses.  Overall, the federal government exceeded its goal of 23 percent in prime contract dollars and earned an “A” on this year’s government-wide Scorecard. Eight federal agencies earned an “A+” for their agencies’ achievements in small-business contracting.

At the same time, the Biden-Harris Administration recognizes there is much work to be done to advance equity in federal procurement. President Biden’s Day 1 Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities instructs agencies to ensure that federal contracting and procurement opportunities be made more readily available to all eligible vendors and to remove barriers faced by underserved individuals and communities. In his June 2021 speech in Tulsa, Oklahoma commemorating the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Biden announced a goal of increasing the share of contracts awarded to small, disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent over five years.

FY2020 Small Business Federal Procurement Scorecard:

The individual agency scorecards released today by the SBA, as well as a detailed explanation of the methodology, is available at SBA.gov. Highlights from the overall Federal Procurement Scorecard are:

  • In FY20, the federal government exceeded the service-disabled veteran-owned small business and small disadvantaged business goals of 3 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
  • Although dollar awards increased to new records from previous years in all small business categories, the federal government fell short of meeting the goals established by Congress for women-owned small businesses and HUBZone small businesses. The government spent over $27 billion with women-owned small businesses and over $13 billion with HUBZone businesses, figures that both exceeded the prior year’s spending by over $1 billion.
  • The federal government also exceeded its subcontract goals for awards to small businesses and women-owned small businesses. In all, the government awarded almost $83 billion in subcontracts to all small businesses.
  • Despite the overall increase in the value of small-business awards, the number of small businesses receiving prime contracts with the federal government decreased.

Experts: U.S. Economic Data ‘Generally Positive’

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Press Release
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U.S. economic data released this week was generally positive. New home construction and home sales improved at the end of Q2. Leading indicators showed positive momentum for the U.S. economy heading into Q3.

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased by 0.7 percent in June. Eight of the 10 LEI components rose for the month, led by initial claims for unemployment insurance, the ISM New Orders Index and the Leading Credit Index. The Coincident Index rose by 0.4 percent. The lagging Index was unchanged. 

Total U.S. housing starts increased by 6.3 percent in June to a 1,643,000 unit annual rate. June starts were in the upper part of the recent range defined by a high of 1,725,000 from March of this year and a low of 1,447,000 from February. Single-family starts increased by 6.3 percent in June to a 1,160,000 unit annual rate.

Even with a May and June increase, the trend in single-family starts this year has been flat-to-down. Multifamily starts increased by 6.2 percent in June to a 483,000 unit rate, range-bound over the last 12 months. Total permits fell by 5.1 percent in June to 1,598,000 unit rate. Permits for single-family construction were down by 6.3 percent in June to a 1,063,000 unit annual rate, the weakest rate so far this year. Permits for multifamily construction dipped by 2.6 percent to a 535,000 unit rate, also the weakest rate this year. 

Homebuilder confidence ticked down in July, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Survey results point to declining housing affordability as a headwind for builders. 

Existing home sales rose by 1.4 percent to a 5,860,000 unit annual rate in June, after falling to a 5,780,000 rate in May. In June, sales were up across the Northeast, Midwest and West. They were unchanged in the South. The months supply of existing homes on the market for the overall U.S. ticked up slightly to 2.6 months. This is still a very tight housing market, resulting in strong home price appreciation. The median sales price for an existing home hit a record high at $363,300 in June, a 23.4 percent increase from a year earlier.

Mortgage applications for purchase fell by 6.4 percent for the week of July 16, after some opportunistic buying early in July as mortgage interest rates dipped. On a four-week moving average basis, purchase apps were down 17.1 percent from the year-ago level. Refi apps eased by 2.8 percent for the week after surging by 20.4 percent the week before. They were down 15.2 percent from a year ago. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage inched back up to 3.11 percent. 

Initial claims for unemployment insurance unexpectedly rose by 51,000 for the week ending July 17 to hit 419,000. Even as we continue to see weekly gyrations in the data, initial claims remain near the recent lows set in June. Continuing claims fell by 29,000 for the week ending July 10, hitting 3,236,000. The total number of claims for all unemployment benefit programs fell by 1,262,815 for the week ending July 3 to reach 12,573,833. 

The Federal Reserve is in its media blackout period ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee policy meeting. Recent hot inflation data, including house prices and rents, will be a key topic of discussion at the meeting. We expect Fed Chair Jay Powell to continue to try to talk inflation expectations down while the Fed solidifies plans for unwinding exceptionally accommodative policy.

Robert Dye is vice president and chief economist for Comerica. Daniel Sanabria is senior economist for Comerica.

Entrepreneurs’ Organization West Michigan Elects Wade Wyant as President for 2021-2022

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Guest Submission
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Entrepreneurs’ Organization West Michigan elected Wade Wyant as its president for 2021-2022. EO West Michigan is the local chapter of a global peer-to-peer network of 198 chapters in 61 countries representing more than 14,000 business owners.

Senate Votes to Advance $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package

By
Brad Kadrich
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Last week, a vote on the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package failed in the U.S. Senate, with even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voting against it (in a procedural move).

But on Wednesday, signals came that the bill may finally be moving forward.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said Wednesday the bipartisan group negotiating the package had reached an agreement on the major issues, were working on legislative text but were “prepared to move forward.”

Hours later, the Senate did just that, voting to advance the legislation and setting up a final vote on the bill, likely to come within the next several days.

That procedural motion passed 67-32, with 17 Republicans – including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — joining all 50 Democrats to begin legislative action.

According to NPR, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who has been leading talks for the Democrats, told reporters they were “very excited to have a deal.” She said she had spoken to President Joe Biden and he seemed “confident” about the bill, according to NPR.

During remarks Wednesday in Pennsylvania, Biden added that he was working with Democrats and Republicans on the deal because “while there’s a lot we don’t agree on, I believe that we should be able to work together on the few things we do agree on.”

The bill is expected to be around $1.2 trillion over eight years, with roughly $550 billion in new spending. Details on key issues were still being worked out.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said there is $65 billion for broadband deployment in the bill. She acknowledged “it has not been easy” to get a deal, “but we have reached agreement on the major issues,” according to NPR.

A White House fact sheet on the deal also outlines:

  • $110 billion for roads, bridges and other major projects;
  • $11 billion in transportation safety programs;
  • $39 billion in transit modernization and improved accessibility;
  • $66 billion in rail;
  • $7.5 billion to build a national network of electric vehicle chargers;
  • $73 billion in power infrastructure and clean energy transmission.

Portman said the bill is paid for, including using funds from combating fraud in unemployment assistance programs. The White House said it will also be offset in part by “targeted corporate user fees” as well as economic growth that’s expected from the investments.

The group is awaiting a final price tag from the Congressional Budget Office.

According to NPR, South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune, who opposed the procedural motion, told reporters that Republicans still wanted to see the final details, but he was open to voting for the bill.

“I want to encourage this because I think it’s good to have a bipartisan exercise around here once in a while on something that matters, and it’s important to people in the country,” Thune said. He thought leaders would work on a deal to consider amendments so both sides could try to add elements.

Senate Democrats are also trying to push the $3.5 trillion spending package that is the key component of Biden’s economic plan.

Schumer said Wednesday the Senate was “on track to do both,” according to Yahoo! News.

But he’s facing some pushback from inside his own party. Synema said she’s “made clear” she supports beginning the process, but does not support “a bill that costs $3.5 trillion.”

“In the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” Sinema said in a statement to the Arizona Republic.

U.S. Economy Grew 6.5% in 2nd Quarter, Surges Past Pre-Pandemic Levels

By
Brad Kadrich
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If you think the U.S. might finally be recovering from the economic morass brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be right.

According to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. economy grew at a 6.5% annual rate in the second quarter of 2021. According to Commerce, the size of the economy has now passed its pre-pandemic level.

That means the nation’s gross domestic product, which had already shown solid growth at 6.3% in the first quarter, accelerated the last quarter.

ABC News is reporting that second-quarter figure was less than the 8%-plus annual growth rate many economists had predicted. But the miss was due mainly to clogged supply chains related to the rapid reopening of the economy.

The Commerce Department reported that consumer spending surged again, advancing at an 11.8% annual rate, according to ABC. Spending on goods grew at an 11.6% rate, and spending on services, from restaurant meals to airline tickets, expanded at a 12% pace as vaccinations encouraged more Americans to shop, travel and eat out.

Companies, too, spent with confidence last quarter. Business investment surged at an 8% annual rate in the April-June quarter, adding 1.1 percentage point to GDP.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo called the GDP report “encouraging.”

“President Biden took swift, decisive action in his first 100 days to vaccinate Americans, deliver relief to families and businesses, and set the stage for a sustainable economic expansion for all Americans,” Raimondo said. “The President entered office with a plan to Build Back Better, and as he said last night, America is moving forward, but we can’t stop now.  A simple bounce-back is not sufficient.  We need the strategic investments included in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan to not only return to where we were prior to the pandemic, but to build our country and our economy back better.

“We need big, bold actions that invest in our families, our workforce, and our infrastructure that position America to out-compete on the global stage for decades to come,” she added.

Aiding with the recovery are the trillions of dollars in assistance from federal rescue programs, including stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits to small business aid to just-distributed child tax credit payments.

“Consumers are going to continue to drive the economic train,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told ABC. “There is a lot of excess savings, a lot of cash in people’s checking accounts.”

Michigan Philharmonic headlines first-ever downtown Detroit Motor City Car Crawl

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Guest Submission
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The Michigan Philharmonic, will headline the Detroit Motor City Car Crawl with a free concert at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5. “Motor City Movie Magic” features movie theme music, especially from auto-related films like “Cars” and “Back to the Future,” during an evening at downtown’s Campus Martius.

Cleary University Introduces Scholarships for Adults to Earn Degrees Fast, Affordably

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Press Release
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HOWELL, Mich. – Two new scholarships – the “Futures for Frontliners & Michigan Reconnect at Cleary Scholarship” and the “Courage and Public Service Scholarship” – provide easy, accessible, and affordable ways for adults to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Cleary University starting this fall.

Both scholarships provide a 50% tuition discount to qualifying students. For “Futures for Frontliners & Michigan Reconnect at Cleary,” graduates of the State of Michigan’s Futures for Frontliners & Michigan Reconnect programs receive the discount to complete their bachelor’s degree at Cleary. Educators, first responders, emergency personnel, civic and municipal employees and clinical health care professionals receive the discount for “Courage and Public Service Scholarship.”

Michele Thompson, vice president of enrollment management at Cleary, called it “amazing the difference a degree makes in lifetime earning potential.”

“Many employers are now requiring at least a bachelor’s degree and for adults who are already entrenched in a career, and busy juggling family and work, returning to school to earn that needed degree can seem daunting,” Thompson said. “At Cleary, we are dedicated to making it easy, fast and affordable – and these scholarships help do that.”

“Futures for Frontliners” is a State of Michigan scholarship program for residents who served on the front lines in essential industries during the COVID-19 pandemic to earn a free associate’s degree or skills certificate. Michigan Reconnect is a State of Michigan scholarship program for residents age 25 or older who have not yet completed a college degree, to attend community college or a skill certificate program for free. 

The Cleary “Futures for Frontliners & Michigan Reconnect Scholarship” offers these graduates the opportunity to transfer their credits from community college and earn a bachelor’s degree at a reduced tuition rate at Cleary University.

“We are committed to supporting adult students with these scholarships to make higher education more affordable. With the high starting salaries of Cleary graduates, we know that earning a business degree can lead directly to an in-demand, high-wage career,” she says.

Plus, Cleary collaborates with all 31 community colleges in Michigan and has created transfer guides for students to make a seamless transition to Cleary, where they can finish their bachelor’s degree – and, if they want, add on one year to earn a master’s, too.

The details:

Futures for Frontliners & Michigan Reconnect Scholarship

·       50% tuition discount for anybody who is a Futures for Frontliners or Michigan Reconnect recipient who wants to transfer community college credits and earn a bachelor’s degree at Cleary

·       6 start times per year

·       100% online program with flexible class schedules

·       Up to 90 credits can be transferred or awarded for prior classes, professional certifications, and work experience

Courage and Public Service Scholarship

·       50% tuition discount for first responders, emergency personnel, civic and municipal employees, clinical health care professionals, educators and others who qualify

·       PLUS…25% tuition discount for spouse and dependents of those who qualify

·       6 start times per year

·       100% online with flexible class schedules

·       Up to 90 credits can be transferred or awarded for prior classes, professional certifications, and work experience

These opportunities are in addition to the coffers that were filled recently by Cleary’s annual fundraiser, Vehicle to a Better Future. This event raised $120,000 for student scholarships in June.

Former Michigan Senate Chief of Staff joins firm’s government affairs group

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Guest Submission
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Peter J. Langley, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekof, recently joined Plunkett Cooney as a senior attorney in the firm’s Lansing office. He is a member of the firm’s Government Relations, Public Policy and Regulatory Practice Group.

2021 Bank of America Student Leaders begin work at Focus: HOPE

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Guest Submission
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Bank of America has announced that five Detroit high school students/recent graduates chosen as Student Leaders have started their summer job experience with Detroit nonprofit Focus: Hope. Pictured are Tiera Barnett, Luke Graham, Nayeli Amoles, Lamont Satchel Jr. and Guadalupe Avalos.

Amanda M. Sheehan, DDS, among ‘40 Under 40,’ America’s best young dentists


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Guest Submission
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Amanda M. Sheehan, DDS from Oaklland Family Dental has been named one of the 2021 “40 Under 40” by Incisal Edge dental magazine. For an 11th consecutive year, Incisal Edge celebrates brilliant achievers in dentistry, ages forty and under, with its signature award.

Grand Rapids Regional Business Leaders Report Strong Confidence in Local Economy

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Press Release
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GRAND RAPIDS – As pandemic restrictions ease and businesses begin the transition to a post-pandemic mode of operation, The Right Place team met with leaders from 118 area companies in the month of June.

These meetings were designed to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing our regional companies, while offering insight into the region’s overall economic health. Overall, area businesses are reporting strong confidence in the health of their companies and the economy at large, as indicated by increasing sales and plans for expansion.

These 118 meetings represent the highest number of monthly visits with area business leaders recorded in the history of The Right Place. The organization routinely meets with nearly 400 area companies annually, or approximately 30 companies per month. During these meetings Right Place team members talk with companies about their plans and any barriers to growth they may be facing. While the details of individual meetings are confidential, The Right Place gathers qualitative data in aggregate form to provide a snapshot of regional business sentiment. 

Key insights from the data gathered in June include:

  • Increasing sales: Consumers and businesses are beginning to spend again, as indicated by 80% of companies reporting increasing sales. The remaining companies reported stable sales, with only one company reporting a decrease in sales.
  • The talent challenges persist: Keeping in line with national trends, recruiting talent to open positions remains a persistent challenge in a highly competitive market. 53% of companies surveyed reported they were experiencing recruitment challenges, and 47% reported they had no recruitment problems. In response, 35% of companies are increasing their investment in employee training programs.
  • Companies are projecting growth: 60% of companies reported they have plans to expand. This growth typically includes increased headcounts and capital expenditures, while being an indication that area business leaders are feeling confident in the future.

“Our team has been eager to head out and reengage face-to-face with our customers, which drove us to set the aggressive goal of meeting with over 100 area businesses in June,” said Randy Thelen, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “Through these meetings with regional business leaders, we’ve found an optimistic business community that is expecting strong growth in the second half of 2021.”

Of the businesses surveyed:

  • 71% employ under 100
  • 19% employ between 100-500
  • 10% employ over 1000

The revenue ranges of businesses surveyed included:

  • 31% of companies reported sales between $1 million and $9 million
  • 36% between $10 million and $99 million
  • 10% over $100 million
  • 4% over $1 billion

The businesses surveyed represent a global workforce of 754,433 people. The Right Place’s coverage area includes Kent, Ionia, Montcalm, Newaygo, Lake and Oceana counties. The organization primarily serves businesses in the advanced manufacturing, technology, health sciences and food processing industries.

Ford Investing $100 Million in Romulus Battery Park

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Press Release
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DEARBORN – Ford Motor Co., announced Tuesday it would spend $100 million to build its new global battery center of excellence – Ford Ion Park – in Romulus.

The move is accelerating the company’s research and development of battery and battery cell technology – including future battery manufacturing.

“Ford already is delivering on our plan to lead the electric revolution with strong new vehicles including Mustang Mach-E, 2022 E-Transit available late 2021 and the 2022 F-150 Lightning available from spring next year,” said Anand Sankaran, Ford Ion Park director. “The new lab will help Ford speed up the battery development process to deliver even more capable, affordable batteries and is part of Ford’s renewed commitment to making Michigan a centerpiece of its focus on EVs.”

A new collaborative learning lab opening next year, Ford Ion Park represents $100 million of Ford’s $185 million investment in developing, testing, and building vehicle battery cells and cell arrays. It is part of the company’s $30 billion investment in electrification by 2025 and a renewed commitment to making Michigan a centerpiece of its focus on EVs.

In 2010, Ford committed to making Michigan its center of excellence for electric vehicles and chose the lab’s Romulus location with collaboration and expedited tech sharing in mind. The company has committed to assemble its all-new, all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, with foreign and domestics parts, at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich. adding 500 direct jobs with the support of the Good Jobs for Michigan Program. Ford also repositioned its half-century-old Van Dyke Transmission Plant in May – renaming it the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center and expanding its production line to produce electric motors and electric transaxles for hybrid and fully electric vehicles, retaining a total of 225 Michigan jobs.

“Ford’s investment in battery research and development in Romulus will support hundreds of good-paying jobs, attract innovative talent to Michigan, and help us continue leading the world in advanced mobility and manufacturing,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Ford is an American icon that has left its mark on the world over a century, and with the research that will take place at Ford Ion Park, they will shape the next century while reducing emissions and accelerating electrification.”

“We are thankful for the support of the MEDC and the Michigan Strategic Fund in helping establish Ford Ion Park in Romulus,” said Sankaran.  

Ford will refurbish an existing 270,000 sq.-ft. facility to house up to 200 engineers and include world-class pilot-scale equipment for electrode, cell and array design and manufacturing engineering and innovation.

The lab will use state-of-the-art technology to pilot new manufacturing techniques that will allow Ford to research and quickly scale breakthrough battery cell designs with novel materials as part of its plan to vertically integrates battery cells and batteries.

From mines to recycling, the Ford Ion Park team is working with experts across the company, including experts at Ford’s previously announced Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory, Ford Customer Service Division, plus key suppliers and partners.

Experts: Demand for ‘the Experience’ is Key to Entertainment Industry Rebound

By
Rebecca Calappi
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Emagine Entertainment co-founder and chairman Paul Glantz.

Since March 2020, the goal for the world has been to “get back to normal.”

Dining out, going to the movies and working out at the gym were all once part of everyday life. After the pandemic struck, however, these industries were hit with mandates that all but prohibited the ability to give consumers the experiences they came to expect.

Capacity and masking mandates took the shine off these experiences, but now that Michigan is back to business as usual, the entertainment industry is still in flux—but not necessarily in a bad way.

Restaurants, which were particularly hard hit, are noticing a phenomenon.

“You’re seeing check averages way up,” said Justin Winslow, president and CEO, Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Some is inflation, but some people have pent up demand for the experience. That’s making up for traffic and the number of people dining away from home.”

However, even with the average amount of money spent in a restaurant up, the talent shortage is limiting the ability for restaurateurs to capitalize on the demand. After all, the restaurant industry in Michigan operated with capacity restrictions for 463 days.

“We started seeing it in April with the stimulus checks, then the flood gates were wide open in June,” said Winslow. “It was too fast for what (restaurants) were capable of delivering on. The supply isn’t able to respond, and the workforce was not there to meet this much demand. You’re seeing restaurants sit out this period. Some are closing just some days. It’s not something the industry wants to see permanent, but it’s the best way to manage it.”

Michael Gray is director of operations at Grey Ghost Detroit.

“It feels more normal. There’s still a little general hesitation but we’re seating every table. The energy is back in that regard,” he said.

Grey Ghost Detroit isn’t back up to pre-pandemic sales numbers, according to Gray. But with new safety measures in place, customers can expect a better dining experience, and that’s making a difference.

“We don’t allow standing room at this time. We’re controlling that traffic. But a comprehensively better experience is showing in the sales numbers,” Gray said.

The movie industry is seeing an uptick in sales as well.

“Our trade association is polling, now we’re up to 70-80 percent of people saying they’re comfortable coming back to the movies. I think it’ll ramp up. As more folks come, they see it’s clean, they see we’re providing the same experience they valued and recalled, and they’ll tell their friend. Word of mouth will spread,” said Paul Glantz, chairman of Emagine Entertainment.

Glantz said many streaming platforms, which offered new release movies during the pandemic, are expected to go back to traditional formatting by 2022, which will also help, considering June 2021 was the first positive month for Emagine in 15 months.

Like restaurants and movies, the fitness industry sales records show patrons are eager to work off their “COVID weight.”

“Life Time was proactive in our cleaning and safety protocols around COVID-19 and our members have shown they trust our operations. We are exceeding expectations,” said Amy Williams, manager, Public Relations for Life Time. “Life Time has been exceeding expectations across the nation, including in Michigan. Members and team members are excited to be back and focused on their overall health and wellness.”

While dining out may take longer, the industries claim to be heading in a positive direction. Consumers are eager to re-experience the creature comforts of 2019 and the entertainment industry is eager to serve.

CDC: Vaccinated People in High-Transmission COVID-19 Areas Should Resume Wearing Masks Indoors

By
Brad Kadrich
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The Centers for Disease Control took a step backward Tuesday, issuing a recommendation that Americans in areas with high or substantial COVID-19 transmission wear masks in public indoor spaces in some situations, regardless of their vaccination status.

The CDC shift in its position on masks comes after having issued guidance in May easing its mask recommendations. The new guidance is designed as the latest step in combatting the Delta variant, a more highly contagious variant of the coronavirus.

“We have new science related to the delta variant that requires us to update the guidance regarding what you can do when you’re fully vaccinated,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a briefing Tuesday afternoon. “The delta variant is showing every day its willingness to outsmart us and to be an opportunist in areas where we have not shown a fortified response against it.”

In recent days, she said, new data shows the delta variant “behaves uniquely differently” than past strains. Information indicates that, in rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with delta variant after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others.

“This new science is worrisome,” Walensky said, “and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendation.”

The recommendation comes for people living in high-transmission areas, and in homes where there are people whose immune systems are compromised and young children.

The CDC is also recommending universal masking for all teachers, staff members and students in schools, regardless of their vaccination status.

“Students should return to full-time, in-person learning in the fall, with proper prevention strategies in place,” Walensky said Tuesday.

The new guidance replaces the CDC gave May 13, which was a time when cases nationally were falling sharply and before the delta variant had surged.

Now, cases are surging all around the country. At the beginning of July, the U.S. was seeing some 13,000 cases a day; that number is at 54,000 now, according to The Washington Post tracker.

The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes, Walensky said, is happening in places with low vaccination rates and among unvaccinated people.

“This moment and, most importantly, the associated illness, suffering and death, could have been avoided with higher vaccination coverage in this country,” she said. “COVID-19 continues to present many challenges and has exacted a tremendous toll on our nation.”

Michael O. Fawaz Appointed to the Board of Law Examiners for the State of Michigan

By
Guest Submission
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Howard & Howard attorney Michael O. Fawaz has been nominated by the Michigan Supreme Court to the Board of Law Examiners and appointed to the Board by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Fawaz’s appointment term commenced on July 1, 2021 and will expire June 30, 2026.

Coulter Presents Balanced Budget to Oakland County Commission

By
Press Release
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Oakland County Executive David Coulter

PONTIAC – Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter presented his balanced three-year budget recommendation to the Board of Commissioners Thursday evening at the Board of Commissioners Auditorium in Pontiac. His message focused on key initiatives that will move Oakland County forward such as improving access to healthcare, building a post-pandemic workforce, criminal justice reform, and cyber security. Click this link for details on these initiatives.

“While we’re still dealing with the impact of COVID-19, with some remote work continuing and vaccination campaigns ongoing, it’s also time to look to the future, dealing with both the lingering acute needs of our businesses and residents as well as addressing the chronic problems that we knew were there before the pandemic, but have been exacerbated in the past 16 months,” Coulter said.

Coulter’s budget recommendation is transparent, fiscally responsible, and realistic and provides a stable spending plan for the county. Coulter’s fiscal goals include a structurally balanced budget that will no longer require the use of the county’s $242 million fund balance to balance the budget in the coming years.

“Despite the impression that we’re flush with revenue from federal COVID-19 relief money and a healthy fund balance, this is an austere and realistic budget that represents a true spending plan based only on the level of revenue that can be expected to come into the county in the long-term,” Coulter said.

Oakland County’s economy is on the road to recovery from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The county’s economy is rebounding, too, with Oakland recovering about 60 percent of the roughly 150,000 jobs lost due to COVID. And some businesses have emerged from COVID-19 stronger and more nimble,” Coulter said.

While optimistic about the direction Oakland County is headed from the height of the pandemic, the county executive said that the county is not in the clear yet.

“We’re so close to getting 70 percent of our residents vaccinated… and there’s a palpable sense that things are going to be okay and back to the new normal, soon. But the Delta variant, which has caused case numbers to rise in recent weeks, makes it clear that we’re not done with COVID yet,” he said.

Coulter also commended the Board of Commissioners for their unity throughout the pandemic. “Finally, this board has shown remarkable unity when it comes to dealing with this pandemic. You unanimously approved our spending plan for the CARES money we got from the federal government last year. And right before the Fourth of July, you again unanimously approved our first batch of $27.5 million in funding proposals for the American Rescue Plan dollars we got this summer.” Budget hearings begin Wednesday, July 28 and continue through Wednesday, Aug. 25. The full board is scheduled to vote on the budget on Sept. 29. Click here to view the recommended budget.

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