Business Spotlight

Black History Month may be over but Cinnaire’s focus on honoring Black History and fostering social equity continues. Throughout 2021 we will continue to highlight the importance of investing in Black communities and the work that still needs to be done to move our industry and our nation toward racial equity. Since our nation’s founding, government and banks have systemically and structurally disenfranchised Black communities – from financial paths to entrepreneurship and homeownership. In this episode of Advancing Communities Podcast, Prosperity Now CEO Gary Cunningham discusses how we can address the income and asset gap and build Black wealth in order to create an economy that works for all.

Wayne, Mich. – March 5, 2021 – Wayne RESA, the regional educational service agency that serves Wayne County’s 33 school districts, has announced the retirement of Dr. Randy Liepa, Superintendent. Dr. Liepa has served as Superintendent of Wayne RESA for six years and has spent more than 30 years serving schools in Wayne County in various roles. Dr. Liepa will continue in his role until June 2021.

Barry Owens, General Manager of Treetops Resort, joins Chris Holman on the Michigan Business Beat. They discuss Treetop's involvement in the Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") programs.

LANSING, MI – And the award goes to … Edge! The public relations and advertising agency took home three Addy Awards this year.

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU CEO Patrick Spyke has been named a 2021 Most Valuable Professional (MVP) by Corp! Magazine.

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has awarded Cinnaire $4.8 million in Capital Magnet Fund grants. The competitive grants are awarded to CDFIs and nonprofit housing organizations to develop and rehabilitate affordable housing for low-, very-low and extremely low-income families. Cinnaire was one of 48 organizations nationwide to receive a Capital Magnet Fund award from among the 137 applicants.

The month of February is usually a time for us to collectively pause and honor the achievements of Black Americans who came before us, to celebrate the powerful contributions the Black community has made, and to recognize the impact those contributions have made in our country’s history.

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) remains a driving force behind private sector investment in underserved communities, including Cinnaire’s work to raise capital through equity investments and lending. Last year, the Federal Reserve Board indicated it would go forward with its own rulemaking to update CRA regulations and solicited comments from the public, which were due on February 16th.

Michigan manufacturers need workforce solutions. MGA spoke with Roy Lemke, Director of Operations at Pro Services about their Full Maintenance Team resource. They provide a turnkey solution for manufacturers to consistently have the maintenance team. Listen to acquire a strategic approach to alleviating workforce challenges.

When the need intersects the right opportunity, the results can be amazing! Shaun Zisler saw such a need and went to work! As the founder and owner of Crooked Bend, he started a business that now ships across the country and has significant product offerings to meet a growing need!