Business
Detroit Future City’s 5th annual Equity Forum focuses on bridging gaps for Detroiters
Detroit Future City is gearing up for its 5th annual Equity Forum, with this year’s focus on increasing workforce equity for Detroiters. The event will be hosted from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Wayne County Community College Northwest Campus. “Five years later, it’s become a pivotal and seminal event for Detroit and the economic development and justice community,” Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss said. Alongside conversations on equity, inclusion and the future of work with local speakers and experts, the event will feature a session with Columbia School of Journalism Dean Jelani Cobb. It will also explore how companies of all sizes can help bridge educational and skill gaps to provide better employment opportunities and higher incomes to residents in the region. “We want to make sure that as Detroit and the region continue to grow and change that everyone is included in that,” Goss said. One Detroit’s Will Glover sits down with Goss to talk about the upcoming Equity Forum, which will focus on equity in employment. Plus, they discuss Detroit Future City’s goals of making the city more equitable and sustainable, and how companies can implement better equity practices across their organizations.
Michigan Tech Week 2024 hosted at newly renovated Michigan Central campus
Featured photo courtesy of Michigan Tech WeekThe 2024 Michigan Tech Week takes place Oct. 1-4 this year at the newly renovated Michigan Central in Detroit. As one of the largest convenings focused on technology and high-growth entrepreneurship in Michigan, the event brings together a diverse group of founders, investors, and innovators. Organized by a coalition of local organizations and presented by the Michigan Founders Fund, the event aims to strengthen Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees can expect a range of activities, including workshops, panel discussions, pitch competitions and networking opportunities. The startup conference will also feature prominent speakers, including Melissa Butler, CEO of The Lip Bar, who will share insights on her entrepreneurial journey. The event is seen as a crucial platform for connecting startups with potential investors and resources, reflecting Michigan’s commitment to enhancing its tech sector. One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with Rishi Moudgil, the executive director of the Michigan Founders Fund, about the four-day event for tech founders, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Future of work report addresses the state of small business in the Detroit area
Detroit Future City released a report in May that examined the challenges and goals for small and micro-sized businesses in the Detroit region. The report said 37 percent of respondents’ businesses were one to three years old. It also highlighted top challenges local small businesses face, including access to capital and navigating the cost of capital. Another report recently released was the 2024 Entrepreneurship Score Card from the Small Business Association of Michigan. Key findings from the report show that while there was an increase in small business formation and technological employment, the state grapples with declining labor force participation and widening income disparities with the national average. One Detroit’s Will Glover talks with Tech Town President and CEO Ned Staebler about the health of the local small business economy. Stay Connected: Subscribe to One Detroit’s YouTube Channel and don’t miss One Detroit on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56. Catch the daily conversations on our website, Facebook, Twitter @OneDetroit_PBS, and Instagram @One.Detroit View Past Episodes > Watch One Detroit Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on Detroit PBS, WTVS-Channel 56.
2024 Small Business Workshop explores practical solutions to navigate evolving business landscape
The Small Business Workshop, hosted by The LEE Group, returns for its 10th year on Wednesday, May 15 at The Corner Ballpark. Presented by Fifth Third Bank, the sold-out event is expected to draw a crowd of small business owners and entrepreneurs, industry leaders and other community advocates.
Artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce: A conversation with the Workforce Intelligence Network
Early signs point to white collar jobs being the most impacted by artificial intelligence. According to a conversation with the Workforce Intelligence Network, more women’s careers may be affected by generative AI than men.
Toronto transplant and Integral CEO Ashok Sivanand shares why Detroit became home for him and his business
Michigan’s population is at a crossroads. Ranked 49th out of 50 states in terms of population growth, Michigan has been struggling to attract new people and retain its residents, and the implications for the state’s economy and prosperity could be dire. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 43,000 people moved out of Michigan between 2020-2022.
2024 Detroit Policy Conference to tackle Michigan’s population growth and business development
The Detroit Regional Chamber is gearing up to host the 2024 Detroit Policy Conference on January 11 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. The annual gathering, presented by the Detroit Regional Chamber in January each year, draws hundreds of business and policy leaders. This year’s conference will explore initiatives and policy strategies that could bolster the state’s population and make Michigan an alluring hub for talent and business development.
From engineering to running an Asian American bakery, Rachel Liu Martindale set to open Q Bakehouse and Market
Rachel Liu Martindale, former engineer turned entrepreneur, is getting ready to open Q Bakehouse and Market early this year. The Asian American bakery, located on the west side of Ann Arbor, will feature a fusion of traditional Asian flavors.
Black Box: a family-operated coffee shop and art gallery in Dearborn
Nestled on the vibrant corner of Monroe and Village Drive in Dearborn, Black Box coffee stands as a testament to Michigan’s entrepreneurial spirit. It was created by the Alcodray family – retired engineer and IT leader Ray, his wife Lisa, and their daughter Sarah – Black Box, a coffee shop and fine art gallery, has become a fixture in its community. The family’s first location opened in June 2018. In October 2020, the shop moved to its current location.
New Black-owned grocery store aims to tackle the food desert on Detroit’s eastside
In a promising development for Detroit’s Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood on the city’s eastside, African American entrepreneur Raphael Wright is set to open the doors of Neighborhood Grocery LLC. This establishment is poised to make history as the first Black-owned grocery store in Detroit in nearly a decade.
Cooking with Que Founder Quiana Broden brings plant-based dining to Detroit with The Kitchen
At the intersection of positivity, community and eating healthy is the Detroit restaurant and culinary business The Kitchen, by Cooking with Que. Founded by Quiana “Que” Broden, a renowned chef and entrepreneur, her business specializes in providing delicious vegan and vegetarian meals and promoting healthy, plant-based eating options.
