With one mural complete and a second nearly done, the public art scene in downtown Farmington has become considerably more vibrant.

The discovery of an old speakeasy is the kind of thing that makes a project like the historic Farmington State Savings Bank so enjoyable for GLP Financial Group. The company purchased the building at the beginning of the year and has been working on it ever since. It will eventually become home to their new headquarters.

Modeled after the national Share the Mic Now campaign that launched in June, the Detroit initiative kicked off Monday, Aug. 17 and runs until Aug. 26, featuring pairs of Black and White women in discussions that center the experiences of Black women in the current moment we're living in as well as explore how race and gender shape personal and professional experiences.

Whether it’s streamlining the permit process or instituting social districts, cities like Dearborn aren’t only thinking about using these tools to boost business during the COVID-19 pandemic, but after it, too. As is often the case, through adversity comes innovation.