Business & Development

Published May 26, 2020

Coronavirus changes life for local businesses

ST. CLAIR SHORES — As a city with more small businesses than big-box stores, St. Clair Shores seems to be a microcosm of Mainstreet, USA.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit announced that it would be permanently closing the Lakeshore Family YMCA, 23401 E. Jefferson Ave., as of May 15.

Published May 26, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

COVID-19 leads to closure of Lakeshore Family YMCA

ST. CLAIR SHORES — As of mid-May, the YMCA announced that it would be permanently closing the Lakeshore Family YMCA, 23401 E. Jefferson Ave., as well as the Livonia Family YMCA.

Published April 29, 2020

Sterling Heights Sentry

Lakeside Circle, Sterling businesses adapt to coronavirus age

STERLING HEIGHTS — Whether retail or restaurant, businesses in Sterling Heights have taken drastic measures to stay ahead of the economic destruction caused by the novel coronavirus, the fear of catching it and the related government-ordered shutdowns.

Published April 21, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Local company adapts production to help frontline workers, employees

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In business since 1959, Rob Kotowski said that the Lake Shore Boat Top Company had never had to lay off an employee until March 23, 2020.

Troop 96 Scoutmaster Adam Prokop, left, and troop leader Paul Spiteri deliver lunch to hospital employees at Beaumont Hospital Grosse Pointe April 10.

Published April 14, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Local restaurant, Boy Scouts team up to feed hospital employees

ST. CLAIR SHORES/GROSSE POINTE FARMS/HARPER WOODS — Saying that they feel “blessed and honored to be able to feed these people who are on the front lines,” a St. Clair Shores restaurant helped the 50 members of Boy Scout Troop 96, of Grosse Pointe Farms, provide lunch for hospital workers at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe.

Published April 11, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

St. Clair Shores to work with companies affected by shutdown

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the stay at home order for Michigan through April 30, the St. Clair Shores City Council authorized city staff to work with companies that lease land or property from the city to provide them relief while their businesses are shut down.

Published April 8, 2020

Sterling Heights Sentry

Sterling apparel maker switches to mask production

STERLING HEIGHTS — Mathew Hunt, 28, said the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic gave him a new mission, adding facial masks to the list of items his company produces — at least for now. He wants his business to “help out as much as we can” to protect frontline workers against the virus.

Published April 7, 2020

Troy Times

Troy restaurant joins community to provide food to hospital workers, families in need

TROY — The Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse restaurant on Big Beaver Road in Troy has donated hot and cold meals to hospital workers and a Troy School District community initiative in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gilbert's Lodge provides lunch to employees at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit March 30.

Published March 31, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

St. Clair Shores restaurant provides meals for hospital employees

DETROIT/ST. CLAIR SHORES — “The support of the community is really what’s keeping the staff going right now,” said Lisa Caradonna, an executive assistant at Ascension St. John Hospital.

Published March 30, 2020

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Birmingham businesses shift gears to give back

BIRMINGHAM — If the COVID-19 virus crisis has taught us anything about the Birmingham community, it's that you can keep folks inside, but you certainly can’t keep them down.

Published March 30, 2020

Farmington Press

Downtown Farmington copes with temporary COVID-19 closures

FARMINGTON — After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-9, temporarily closing theaters, bars, casinos, and several other places of public accommodation, and limited restaurants to carry-out and delivery only, many Farmington businesses have been grappling with what that means for their establishment.

Published March 28, 2020

Sterling Heights Sentry

Sterling Heights cleans way for business to synthesize sanitizer

STERLING HEIGHTS — Sterling Heights city officials recently moved fast to get a local business help with its goal of manufacturing hand sanitizer, city officials said.

According to a GM statement, the company will begin manufacturing FDA-approved "Level 1" surgical masks in Warren next week. Equipment for the temporary conversion of the Mound Road Powertrain production facility was slated for delivery on March 27.

Published March 27, 2020

Warren Weekly

GM to make surgical masks at Warren Powertrain plant

WARREN — “The Arsenal of Democracy” is retooling to launch a mission of mercy. In a move reminiscent of the massive and critical American industrial contributions that helped defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II, General Motors Co. on March 27 announced a series of initiatives geared toward fast-tracking the production of medical and personal protective equipment needed to safe lives and battle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published March 27, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Oakland County announces $3 million Small Business Stabilization Fund

OAKLAND COUNTY — In an attempt to offer some relief to small businesses struggling under shutdown orders due to COVID-19, Oakland County Executive David Coulter announced a $3 million Small Business Stabilization Fund March 26.

Published March 20, 2020

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Local business donates car to resident in need

ROSEVILLE — The loss of a car can be devastating, especially for low-income families.

Published March 20, 2020

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Eastpointe City Council votes down container homes

EASTPOINTE — The Eastpointe City Council voted 3-2 against a proposed plan to work with Habitat for Humanity to build two new, small homes from shipping containers for low-income families in the city.

Published March 20, 2020

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Roseville/Eastpointe business community reacts to coronavirus pandemic

ROSEVILLE/EASTPOINTE — In every community around Michigan, there is an eerie stillness where, not long ago, there was hustle and bustle: School desks sit empty, barstools grow cold, store shelves lie bare.

Published March 20, 2020

Sterling Heights Sentry

Sterling Heights business community reacts to coronavirus pandemic

STERLING HEIGHTS — In every community around Michigan, there is an eerie stillness where, not long ago, there was hustle and bustle: School desks sit empty, barstools grow cold, store shelves lie bare.

Published March 20, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Council, Wild Bill’s come to agreement on site plan

ST. CLAIR SHORES — After balking at plans to black out the windows of the building at 23107 Harper Ave. to make way for Wild Bill’s Tobacco to move in, members of the St. Clair Shores City Council heard the business’s new plans for the site at its March 16 meeting.

Published March 20, 2020

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

St. Clair Shores business community reacts to coronavirus pandemic

ST. CLAIR SHORES — In every community around Michigan, there is an eerie stillness where, not long ago, there was hustle and bustle: School desks sit empty, barstools grow cold, store shelves lie bare.