Detroit, MI (March 2026) - When Ken Nixon was released from prison after more than 15 years of wrongful incarceration, he didn't waste time looking back. He looked at his city, saw a gap, and decided to fill it.
Retu
Dexter, MI (December 2025) - Winding quietly through Washtenaw County, the Border to Border Trail traces the Huron River, threading together neighborhoods, parks and towns from Ypsilanti to the edge of Jackson County. A 45-mile continuous pathway – nearly complete – it’s a place where the region’s communities meet: on foot, by bike and in motion.
Now,
Detroit, MI (October 2024) -When Jen Guarino wraps up her day at the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), she often encounters a familiar face still immersed in his work in the lab. “Okay, Emery, I’m closing up shop,” she says, spotting Emery Jones, a recent graduate of the Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production (FISP) program. With a passion for transforming fabric scraps into innovative designs, Emery is working on what he hopes will be his own clothing line.
Emer
Southfield, MI (August 2024) -Imagine how much easier snow removal would be if, say, a robot could do it for you. What if a smart AI cutting board could help you plan, prep and execute more nutritious meals? These are the kind of cutting-edge ideas that Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University helps bring to life.
Sinc
Jackson, MI (August 2024) - What do a doula, a dog groomer and a coach for parents have in common? These are just a few of the small businesses that make up Lean Rocket Lab LOCAL’s 2024 Fellows Bootcamp. Supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and a three-year grant from Walters Family Foundation, the Bootcamp serves new entrepreneurs in Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties.
Thro
Detroit, MI (May 2024) - During his 50-plus-year career as a Detroit musician, Freddie Palmer noticed a common problem among on-stage keyboardists: their sustain pedal never stayed in one place. This often caused distractions and forced musicians to make adjustments that took them out of the moment. Palmer often wondered why no one had come up with a solution. So, he set out to invent one.
Duri
Detroit, MI (May 2024) - There was a time when Fardusee Jaigirdar, Tahira Lasker and Farjana Dali would get together as friends to create event decor just for fun. It was a passion that they hadn’t necessarily considered beyond a hobby. But when Global Detroit’s Gracie Xavier spotted the group’s talent, she pointed out that their skills could be turned into a business. As the women entertained the idea and brainstormed the possibilities with Xavier, they began to get excited. They realized this is something they wanted to do.
In 2
Detroit, MI (March 2023) - Think back to the pandemic. Imagine the streets of Midtown Detroit, with all its bustling businesses and restaurants, suddenly as empty as a ghost town. While many of Detroit’s small businesses have recovered, Midtown’s independent apparel shops continue to lag behind, struggling to adapt to decreased foot traffic and increased online competition.
The
Traverse City, MI (November 2023) - In Kalkaska, Michigan, more than 90 families rely on daily childcare services from the Blue Fish Early Learning Center. When the education-based center first opened in 2019, it answered a growing demand for infant and toddler daycare in the region. Blue Fish’s owner, Kristin Andrews, was committed to providing this essential service in her hometown, but she needed business and legal assistance as her center expanded. She turned to Venture North.
Vent
Detroit, MI (May 2023) - On any given night in Detroit, homelessness impacts 14,000+ people, many of whom are Black women and children. These families often face insurmountable barriers including lack of access to employment opportunities and adequate transportation, challenges in mental health and systemic racism that make it nearly impossible to feel physically or financially safe, much less self-sufficient.