DBusiness Daily Update: Lawrence Tech Duo Uses Digital Fabrication to Cut Cost of New Homes, and More

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.

Lawrence Tech Duo Uses Digital Fabrication to Cut Cost of New Detroit Home

An architecture professor at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield and his onetime student are partnering on a new approach to housing construction they say could cut the cost of building new single-family homes by 20 to 25 percent, reduce construction time by 50 percent, and significantly shrink the home’s environmental footprint.

The company leading this effort, called houm, pronounced “home,” was co-founded by Scott Shall, associate professor of architecture at LTU, and Breck Crandell, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from LTU in 2014 and 2016, respectively. After years of research, the company is building its first home on Cochrane Street in Detroit’s North Corktown neighborhood using its novel building techniques.

The home is constructed of a prefabricated panelized system and a digitally fabricated “service core” containing plumbing and electrical systems, creating a structure that can be assembled in just days once the materials arrive on a prepared building site. Their approach also reduces the waste normally associated with housing construction.

Shall and Crandell point out that the typical wood-frame house uses building techniques unchanged for centuries. “We’ve been banging sticks together with rocks for hundreds of years,” Crandell says.

Shall adds: “A lot of potential homeowners are locked out of the market because the use of antiquated construction methods inflates the cost, time, and environmental resources required to build a home.”

Combining a novel form of exterior cladding — essentially super-strong plastic foam — held together with steel framing, and wood components that are built offsite, so they fit perfectly with minimal waste, isn’t actually new technology.

“We’re not actually inventing anything,” Shall says. “We’re just talking to a lot of really smart people and networking their knowledge and tools in ways that have never been done before.”

Wayne County Awards Livonia $8M for Senior Wellness Center

Plans for a new Livonia Senior Wellness Center took a leap forward when the Wayne County Commission approved an $8 million grant on Nov. 2.

“This is truly a transformative project that reimagines the city center with mixed-use residential, business, and community spaces, creating a functional downtown area,” says Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan. “Building a new Livonia Senior Center opens the existing space at Five Mile and Farmington and paves the way for a transformational redevelopment project.”

The new senior wellness center will be located next to the Kirksey Community Recreation Center and create a safer, healthier space with a separate entrance, parking spaces and improved amenities.

“The Livonia Wellness Center’s impact on the city and surrounding communities will be significant and I am excited Wayne County was able to contribute American Rescue Plan dollars for this initiative,” says Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

The project is projected to have a positive impact on the city’s economy, with estimates of public-private investment opportunity of more than $200 million, $840,000 in new property taxes, $570,000 in annual commercial rent, and new housing for hundreds of new Livonia residents, and creation of about 60 to 80 jobs.

Construction is expected to begin in 2024.

Michigan’s Minimum Wage Set to Increase on Jan. 1, 2024

On Jan. 1, 2024, Michigan’s minimum wage rate will increase from $10.10 to $10.33 per hour as set by Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018, which establishes the annual schedule of increases.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024:

• The minimum hourly wage will increase to $10.33 per hour.
• The 85 percent rate for minors aged 16 and 17 will increase to $8.78 per hour.
• The tipped employee rate of hourly pay increases to $3.93 per hour.

There is pending litigation that might affect this minimum wage increase. For information regarding the pending minimum wage litigation and potential amended minimum wage rates as a result of that litigation, or a copy of the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act and related resources, visit Michigan.gov/WageHour.

NEI Announces Expanded Funding for Underserved Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs

Today, the New Economy Initiative (NEI) in Detroit announced more than $3.4 million in new grants to drive inclusive small business growth in southeast Michigan and further expand its reach in Wayne County to underserved entrepreneurs who want to launch or scale their business.

“NEI is helping businesses grow by creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and effective network of support that reaches more small business owners in Wayne County than ever,” says Wafa Dinaro, executive director of NEI. “Our grantees are embedded in their local communities and best positioned to address the most common small business challenges, such as lack of access to capital and technical support.”

The $3.4 million in grants to 25 business support organizations ultimately provides resources to the small businesses they serve. The grants, ranging from $50,000 to $200,000, are part of NEI’s Inclusive Small Business Support Network Fund to drive small business growth in Wayne County communities.

This grant cycle includes three new grantees, which will help underserved, and underrepresented entrepreneurs launch, grow, and scale their small businesses.

• BasBlue: Midtown Detroit nonprofit supporting and mentoring women and non-binary entrepreneurs.
• Live6 Alliance: Neighborhood-based community planning and development organization that connects entrepreneurs in Northwest Detroit to small business support services.
• Zaman International: Inkster-based nonprofit that provides training, technical assistance, mentorship, and coaching to aspiring female entrepreneurs.

“NEI supports trusted organizations that serve as the front door for entrepreneurs within their communities,” says Dinaro. “Our goal isn’t to offer a Band-Aid to struggling small business owners – it’s to provide a foothold toward growth and economic mobility that help them thrive within their local business districts and neighborhoods.”

The grants, which were awarded to 22 other organizations, are designed to increase access to capital, practical assistance, information, and connections to business resources.

Ambetter from Meridian Expands Health Insurance Offering to St. Clair County

Ambetter from Meridian, a product offered by a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corp., which provides insurance to under-insured and uninsured populations through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, announced today that it will offer a variety of affordable health insurance plans to residents in St. Clair County, bringing its total to 33 counties in Michigan for 2024.

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace for Michigan is running through Jan. 15, 2024.

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality health care that is affordable, convenient and provides a broad network of providers close to their home, school or work so they can live better, healthier lives, which is why we’re excited to add St. Clair County to serve more people across Michigan,” says Patty Graham, plan president for Meridian plan.

Ambetter from Meridian offers its members access to quality care, convenient services, and valuable rewards.

Warner Law Firm Moves to New Macomb County Office

Warner Norcross + Judd has moved to new offices in Macomb County at 12900 Hall Road in Sterling Heights.

The new space provides additional attorney offices and collaborative areas that will enhance the firm’s ability to serve individual clients as well as the growing commercial and industrial businesses in Macomb, the state’s third most-populated county. Warner opened its first Macomb County office in 2006 and is the only major Michigan law firm to have offices in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

“Macomb County is a thriving community with consistent population growth, incredible natural resources and a strong, collaborative business sector,” says Matthew K. Casey, executive partner of Warner’s Macomb County office. “Yet the county is underserved by local professional service providers needed to support its growth and industries. Warner’s office is staffed with many lifelong Macomb residents like myself, who are fully invested in the county’s success and know how to get things done.”

Warner’s suite is on the second floor of the Sterling Town Center building and features approximately 20 attorney offices, three private conference rooms, and informal gathering spaces to promote collaboration. Enhanced security, cutting-edge technology, and convenient parking are designed to create an engaging and welcoming atmosphere for attorneys, staff and clients.

“This new office is a reflection of Warner’s long-standing commitment to Macomb County and will meet our immediate need for additional offices while keeping us on a strong path forward,” Casey says. “Macomb County is growing, and Warner is here to help it keep growing and to grow with it. We look forward to welcoming our clients and community into our new space.”

Detroit Pistons Unveil City Edition Uniforms Inspired by ‘Bad Boys’ Era

The Detroit Pistons have unveiled their 2023-24 Nike NBA City Edition uniforms paying homage to the “Detroit Bad Boys” era of Pistons’ basketball that generated back-to-back NBA Championship teams in 1989 and 1990.

A “Detroit Bad Boys” retail collection, including the 2023-24 Nike NBA City Edition jersey and shorts, is available now at Pistons313shop.com.

Inspired by the team’s iconic championship history, this year’s design pays tribute to the original “Detroit Bad Boys” logo. The uniforms are colored black with orange piping and feature “Detroit” in the classic script font across the chest.

The shorts are adorned with a modernized take on the logo which features a crackled “313” logo to reference the skull and cross bones from the original design. Cross bone details are featured down the sides to tie in classic elements even further. The jock tag includes a CD2 logo paying homage to Hall of Fame Pistons Coach Chuck Daly, who led the Detroit Bad Boys to five straight Eastern Conference Finals, three straight NBA Finals and won back-to-back NBA titles solidifying their championship reputation.

The team also unveiled a special edition black and orange “Detroit Bad Boys” court that will be used when the team wears its City Edition uniforms at Little Caesars Arena. The court boasts the same “Detroit” in classic script font at center court as well as the modernized crackled logos on opposite ends of the playing surface. Skulls and cross bones with the jersey numbers of each of the players on the 1989 and 1990 championship rosters as well as Coach Chuck Daly are represented down the sidelines while the names of those who have been Detroit Pistons season-ticket holders for 20 or more years are etched inside the block Pistons logos on the baselines.

The “Detroit Bad Boys” nights schedule is as follows and is subject to change:

• 5 vs. Phoenix (Isiah Thomas)
• 26 vs. Brooklyn (Rick Mahorn)
• 27 vs. Washington (John Long)
• 26 vs. New York (James Edwards)
• March 20 vs. Indiana (Vinnie Johnson)
• March 22 vs. Boston (John Salley)
• April 1 vs. Memphis (TBD)

SkillFusion to Combat EV Charger Reliability with Certification Pathways, Worker Database

SkillFusion, a Detroit-based customer success platform for electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) operations and maintenance (O&M) providers, has launched to meet the growing demand for skilled service workers to increase EV chargers’ reliability.

SkillFusion’s approach provides charger-agnostic skill enhancement and certification, creating a proprietary database of certified workers available to service the country’s growing EV charger network. The program developed by SkillFusion covers the full spectrum of skills needed to support charger operations, including licensed electricians and technicians specializing in technical support, networking and communications, cybersecurity, and more.

“The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is working to fund a large-scale deployment of EV charging infrastructure across the country, which is required to maintain a 97 percent operational uptime,” says Rue Phillips, co-founder and president of SkillFusion. “This is a tall order, in and of itself.

“However, combined with the skilled labor shortage already affecting operations and maintenance, scaling the country’s charger network will create unprecedented stress on the industry unless we can train and certify more workers.”

For more information, visit SkillFusion.com.

Appearance Tech Group Acquires Detroit’s RBL Products, Kwik Paint Products

Appearance Technology Group (ATG) in Boston has acquired Detroit’s RBL Products and Kwik Paint Products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

RBL Products is a leading supplier of consumable protective plastics, masking films, and paint preparation products utilized by automotive original equipment manufacturers and paint, body, and equipment users across the United States and internationally.

“We are excited to welcome RBL into the Appearance Technology Group family of brands,” says Nathan Iverson, CEO of ATG. “As a fellow Detroit-area entrepreneur, I have long admired Ron and what he and his team have built at RBL.”

Opus IVS and Transtar Unveil Redefine Vehicle Support with IVS 360 Paired with RAP

Dexter-based automotive diagnostics software supplier Opus IVS has introduced IVS 360 with its distribution partner, Transtar.

This latest addition to the RAP platform promises to “revolutionize the way complex vehicles are diagnosed and repaired redefining the efficiency of automotive service.”

IVS 360 is designed to provide live expert assistance from OEM Dealer Master Technicians, ensuring that every intricate issue is tackled with precision and speed, minimizing the bay time a vehicle spends in the shop. With this cutting-edge solution, the need for outsourcing complex tasks is greatly reduced, resulting in significant cost savings for automotive shops.

IVS 360 represents an integration of OE-specific knowledge, experience, and software, ensuring that every vehicle receives the highest standard of care without the need for dealership outsourcing. By fostering a collaborative environment between our seasoned technicians and on-site staff, automotive shops can enhance their operational capabilities and deliver exceptional service to their customers.

Synchrony and GreatWater 360 Auto Care Partner on New Financing Program

Synchrony, a Grand Rapids-based consumer financial services company, announced a new partnership with GreatWater 360 Auto Care to provide customers multiple customized financing options to help pay for maintenance and repairs of their vehicles.

Through this partnership, GreatWater 360 Auto Care joins the Synchrony Car Care network, enabling GreatWater customers to use its private label credit card at all GreatWater locations in the U.S. as well as the more than one million gas stations and auto parts and service businesses nationwide.

FLO Helps Develop SAE EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) Technician Certification

FLO, a Canadian electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider, helped develop a new program to educate and certify future EV charging station technicians.

Experts from FLO supported SAE International, the world’s leading authority in mobility standards development, on building its new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Technician Certification program.

The certification program will provide education and skills for technicians who maintain, repair, and operate EV charging stations. The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Technician Certification will be granted to technicians who have successfully completed a comprehensive training program and passed a rigorous exam administered by SAE ITC Probitas Authentication.

“Certification programs are built upon the foundations of technical credibility,” says Michael Paras, manager of business development and strategic partnerships for SAE International.  “As the world’s largest mobility standards organization and technical society, SAE fully leveraged our global network to assemble the world’s leading experts and companies to develop a body of knowledge on which the certification is based. The final result is a comprehensive, technically sound, and credible program built by industry for industry.”

The certification program and exam are expected to be available by the end of 2023.

Our Next Energy Begins Pilot Production of Battery Cells at Michigan Factory

Our Next Energy Inc. in Novi has started production of domestically made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells at its 20 GWh battery factory complex in Van Buren Township.

“The start of cell production at ONE Circle is a major step toward establishing an LFP battery industry in the U.S. supported by a North American supply chain,” says Mujeeb Ijaz, founder and CEO of ONE. “With Michigan-made LFP cells, ONE is eliminating dependence on nickel and cobalt while addressing the major needs of automakers — range, safety, and domestic supply chain.”

ONE is manufacturing the LFP cells using the company’s pilot line. The line allows ONE to validate its production intent cells and develop workforce training, while sharing samples with customers for their testing purposes. ONE will launch a larger multi-GWh scale LFP line next year.

Kymera International Acquires KDF Fluid Treatment, Inc.

North Carolina’s Kymera International, a specialty materials company, has closed its transaction with KDF Fluid Treatment Inc. in Three Rivers, acquiring the majority of its assets.

KDF provides sustainable media for water and industrial treatment systems and is a technological leader in the fluid treatment industry, providing solutions for economical clean water.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer Wins Best Full-size SUV in 2023 Newsweek Autos Awards

Grand Wagoneer, from the Jeep brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills, is the winner of Newsweek’s Best Full-Size SUV as part of the publication’s annual 2023 Autos Awards competition.

Wagoneer also received top honors for Best Family-Friendly Technology and Best Passenger Ecosystem.

Hannah Architects in Detroit Mark 30 Years of ‘Designing Experiences that Matter’

Hannah Architects in Detroit will close out 2023 celebrating its milestone 30th anniversary.

The company was founded by native Detroiter Beverly Hannah, the first Black woman to obtain an architectural license in Michigan.

“Owning and operating an architectural firm for 30 years as a Black woman is proof of disruption — in a positive way,” Hannah says. “I stand on the shoulders of those who fought for their respect in this industry, and it’s my role to serve as visual proof and provide impactful mentorship for emerging professionals who look like me.”

Since its founding, Hannah Architects has provided professional architectural and interior design services for a wide range of clients encompassing community-centered initiatives, experiential environments, mixed-use developments, and workplace spaces, with the goal of transforming visions into a built environment through thoughtful architecture and design for more than three decades.

In 1996, the firm was one of only 10 architecture firms in the United States owned by a Black woman, with early projects including a church sanctuary and automotive contracts, including collaboration with Albert Kahn.

The company’s notable projects in Detroit include the Curtis L. Ivery Health and Wellness Educational Center at Wayne County Community College District, the newsroom and office renovation at WDIV-TV, the Shed at Valade Park for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Skillman Foundation headquarters renovation, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan headquarters renovation, the Lear Innovation Center, the Wright-Kay Building renovation, and multiple projects with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

“As a professional, this anniversary means that we have maintained a design firm which is strongly positioned to be an institution that will stand for generations,” says Hannah. “These past three decades have allowed us to be a part of my hometown’s revitalization, and as a DPS Alumna, who follows in the footsteps of my mother’s legacy, I am blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone moment for the formation of my own legacy.”

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Presents Metro Detroit’s End of Fall Ball Charity Event

The Lathrup Village-based Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Michigan will host its inaugural End of Fall Ball to raise money, awareness, and hope for a cure for cystic fibrosis, a progressive, genetic, multi-organ disease that affects 40,000 people in the United States.

The black-tie event will take place from 6:30 p.m.-midnight on Saturday at The Mint in Lathrup Village. Tickets are available on the event’s website.

The End of Fall Ball will include a spotlight Chef’s Tasting featuring several of metro Detroit’s leading chefs, an open bar, live music entertainment, dancing, a live and silent auction, and an after party to finish off the night.

“The venue, the auction items, incredible food from top restaurants in metro Detroit, generous sponsors and amazing entertainment will make this a can’t-miss event and an unforgettable inaugural occasion that we aim to outdo every year,” says Randell Gans, chair of the End Fall Ball. “The leadership committee has worked tirelessly to create an amazing End of Fall Ball for attendees and generate critical funding for the important work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.”

In 2022, the foundation funded $265 million in research and care for those affected by cystic fibrosis. All proceeds raised at the End of Fall Ball and hundreds of related events nationwide support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s mission to cure cystic fibrosis and provide all people with cystic fibrosis the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug development, partnering with the cystic fibrosis community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care.