Features

Development News Anton Art Center. Photo by David Lewinski.

Mt. Clemens' Anton Art Center adapts programming to the COVID-19 era

The Anton Art Center's mission is to promote and celebrate the arts from its home in downtown Mt. Clemens. How, then, will they do so as "non-essential" businesses and organizations are shut down to help combat the spread of the coronavirus?

Development News Dearborn Town Center, 4700 Schaefer Rd

Dearborn DDA holds virtual town hall for city businesses, offering tips, resources, and more

Local business leaders and officials gathered on the Zoom app for a roughly hour-and-a-half videoconference where Dearborn stakeholders could interact with and ask questions of the experts.

Development News Dearborn Historical Museum. Photo by David Lewinski,

Enjoy the Dearborn Historical Museum for free, and from the comfort of your own home

Though their doors may be temporarily closed to the public, the Dearborn Historical Museum is maintaining its connection to the community through increased online programming and a series of educational videos.

Development News Pamela Lewis is the director of New Economy Initiative.

NEI launches COVID-19 resource to help entrepreneurs affected by pandemic

What do entrepreneurs need right now to survive the negative impact of COVID-19? Liquidity, awareness, technical assistance, and inspiration, says Pamela Lewis, director of the New Economy Initiative.


Innovation News TDIC worker

Macomb manufacturer switches gears to make PPE for healthcare workers

A second-generation manufacturing business in Sterling Heights has pivoted from creating protective automotive robot covers to providing medical PPE to Henry Ford Health System to help fight COVID-19.

Feature Story art

Art & Words: City of Royal Oak connects kids and seniors isolated by COVID-19 pandemic

“Love needed; drawings wanted,” was a plea put out in late March by the City of Royal Oak.

Feature Story Sterling Heights city center

Sterling Heights, wider Macomb host small business webcasts, grant funds during COVID-19

As small businesses close doors during COVID-19 quarantine measures, a new grant is planned for April to support Macomb companies with under 50 employees, and Sterling Heights has launched a workshop initiative aimed at supporting local businesses.

Feature Story too-many-cooks-list

Amid challenges brought on by COVID-19, Metro Detroit chefs and restaurants find ways to give back

From food boxes for veterans and the elderly to operating a vegan food pantry, local restaurants are finding new ways to help amid their own businesses’ struggles.

Partner Content So far, BGCSM employees have distributed more than 1,300 meals to families in need across Southeast Michigan.

COVID-19 poses major challenges for Detroit organizations serving youth, but the mission continues

To meet the need, local organizations have been shifting their work and accelerating their efforts in response to the crisis. However, the increased demand for services also means increased demand for funding, which is likely to overwhelm already strapped organizations, and financial support from partners will be crucial in serving the most vulnerable.


Development News Mark and son Steve McCoy, McCoy Farms certified organic produce in Farmington.

Downtown Farmington farmers’ market on track for May opening

As Farmington Farmers & Artisans Market manager Walt Gajewski recovers at home from COVID-19, he's still planning to launch on Saturday, May 16.

Development News sam-abbas

Dearborn restaurateur optimistic business community will recover

Dearborn's business leader Sam Abbas is taking things in stride. "The Dearborn community is resilient," he says.

Feature Story help

Metro Detroit COVID-19 Resources

We'll be updating this page as we find more resources for you. If you have any tips or want a resource listed here, please send an email.

Feature Story A rendering of the ACM Event Center.

American Center for Mobility breaks ground on event space, upgrades cellular network

The American Center for Mobility (ACM) has noted clients’ needs for both a dedicated event space and even faster network speeds – and responded without delay.

Feature Story Concept art of the Robotics Innovation and Collaboration Center.

Macomb County Robotics Innovation and Collaboration Center prepares kids for next-generation careers

The recently launched nonprofit center aims to offer shared robotics resources and programming for county students of all ages.

Feature Story Mahendra Muli, director of marketing and new business development for dSPACE, runs dSPACE's sensory realistic simulation.

Metro Detroit companies create virtual environments for safer, quicker, cheaper auto testing

Automakers, Tier One suppliers, and tech companies are increasingly testing their products in virtual worlds before they hit real-life highways. And many of those virtual worlds are being created right here in Southeast Michigan.

Feature Story Victory Garden

Ferndale garden design company finds 'essential service' helping clients plant Victory Gardens

Jessica Soulliere was looking forward to her biggest business year yet when COVID-19 hit, Here is how she changed course.  

Feature Story UpDog Yoga, online, COVID-19

Metro Detroit's yoga community finds breathing space online during COVID-19

Yoga has long been a way for participants to deal with stress, so with studios around metro Detroit forced to close during COVID-19 concerns, yogis are even more determined to reach their clients and are getting creative with virtual classes.  

Feature Story We the People, COVID-19, Mutual Aid

Mutual aid is making a comeback during COVID-19 outbreak

Mutual aid is not a new idea, but with COVID-19 increasing the need of communities around the world, it’s becoming a more popular—and more organized—one.

Feature Story Detroit Sewn's Karen Buscemi estimates that the manufacturer will be able to produce 1,000 masks per day during the first week of production.

Amid mask shortage, Detroit apparel manufacturers step in to produce protective gear for hospitals

As hospitals around the state – and the globe – experience a shortage of protective medical gear due to coronavirus, Detroit apparel manufacturers have stepped in to dedicate their factories to producing masks while creating jobs in an uncertain economy.


Feature Story Water activists Debra Taylor and Monica Lewis-Patrick instruct volunteers on water delivery protocols on March 21, 2020, at St. Peter’s Episcopal church in Corktown.

Planet Detroit: Activists rush to deliver bottled water to Detroit residents as COVID-19 spreads

Although hand-washing has been recommended as the best and easiest way to prevent spreading the COVID-19 virus, this is difficult for the roughly 10,000 households in Detroit who don’t have access to running water. The inability to flush toilets could make this even worse. And, of course, these households still need water for drinking, cooking, and mixing infant formula.  

 
Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan are contributing their thoughts via journal entries on how COVID-19 is affecting their organization. 
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.ACT. Click here to read the journal entries.