Written Content – Page 5

Izzo Subdued, Focused at MSU Madness

EAST LANSING, Mich. — No motorcycles. No cannons. No race cars. Just a jacket and a ring.

Tom Izzo went subtle tonight at Michigan State Madness, wearing his pumpkin orange Hall of Fame jacket and boulder-sized ring as he made his entrance. But he was quick to take it off and get back to business, donning a green and white jacket and whistle instead.

The tone at the Breslin Center was more subdued than in recent years, maybe because of the football team’s lackluster performance this season, maybe because of the stinging memory of Middle Tennessee State. But Izzo and his team are ready to get back to work and put those memories behind them.

The near-capacity crowd of students, alumni and top recruits got their first look at the star-studded freshman class, highlighted by high-flying Miles Bridges. He received the loudest ovation during player introductions and did not disappoint.

The Flint native dazzled during warmups with rim-rocking dunks that seemed to defy gravity. Sure, we’re totally overreacting because it’s just MSU Madness, but he sure does look like one of the best all-around athletes the Spartans have had in years.

Not to be outdone was redshirt senior guard Eron Harris, who drained a game-high six threes in the 20-minute scrimmage. Senior forward Ben Carter was not in attendance due to a knee injury and senior forward Gavin Schilling did not play in the glorified practice.

Junior guard Tum Tum Nairn sunk the eventual game-winning layup for the green team over freshman Nick Ward with ten seconds remaining. The teams combined for 88 points in 20 minutes; Let’s just say defense was optional.

Another noticeable characteristic of the scrimmage was the lack of size on the floor. At one point, 6-foot-5 Kyle Ahrens was the tallest player on the floor for the green team. With Carter out for an extended period of time, Ward and Schilling will be relied on to man the center position, with Bridges playing basically any other position on the floor.

Spartan fans: Take a breath, step back, and remember this is only one scrimmage. Don’t draw any conclusions from tonight, other than basketball is back and it feels oh so good.

Michigan State’s first exhibition game is Oct. 27 vs. Northwood University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Original article – http://impact89fm.org/sports/izzo-subdued-focused-at-msu-madness/

Performance Review: Marvin Clark Jr.

Originally published April 25, 2016 HERE

Impact Izzone will be handing out performance reviews for each Spartan in the following weeks. The series will start with the freshmen and move up the classes. Stay tuned for the rest of our grades! Check out Matt McQuaid’s performance review here.

2015-16 stats: 9.7 mins, 3.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 54.2% FG, 42.3% 3-PT

Blake Froling

Marvin Clark Jr. had a disappointing sophomore season. After a freshman year that showed incredibly promising signs of potential, Clark regressed. Granted, it was not entirely his fault. Clark battled injury through the early part of the season, then battled the depth of MSU’s bench. With freshman Deyonta Davis and redshirt freshman Kenny Goins earning more and more playing time, Clark saw his role dwindle. In the month of January, Clark only played a total of 37 minutes, while being held out of two games.

But when Goins injured his knee against Indiana on Valentine’s Day, Clark got his opportunity. He averaged 13.4 minutes per game in the final 10 games of the season compared to just 4.1 minutes in his previous 10. Clark’s ability to stretch the floor and shoot threes provided a different look to the previous lineups Coach Izzo used where no bigs could step out.

Clark decided that he would not be seeing the floor much once again next season and announced that he would be transferring from Michigan State, deciding to move on to St. John’s. After sitting out a year, Clark could be a valuable asset off the bench for a mid-level high major team that’s one piece away from being great. Coach Izzo knows he’ll be missing a great talent, but with four incoming freshmen next year, Clark just would not see the minutes he deserves.

Final grade: C+

Davey Segal

The clock finally ran out on Marv Time, as the numbers this past season speak for themselves. Less than 10 minutes per game, and just about four points to go along with two-and-a-half boards don’t equate to a happy player. Playing time was the overarching reason that Clark Jr. ended up transferring to St. Johns, but it wasn’t the only reason.

As Blake mentioned above, injuries, as well as a plethora of talent on the Spartans’ roster, were the downfall of Marvin Clark Jr. in 2015-2016. Coming off a wonderful season, where he helped Michigan State advance to the Final Four with his electric dunks off the baseline and clutch three pointers, this past season was a disappointment, to say the least.

The addition of Deyonta Davis, the emergence of Kenny Goins, coupled with the myriad of injuries led to Clark Jr.’s decision to ultimately transfer. He will be a big loss for Michigan State, especially with the frontcourt for this upcoming season being thin as paper. However, for the Red Storm, Clark Jr. will bring an element of athleticism, as well as finesse.

Final Grade: C

David Manion

Marvin Clark Jr. was expected to make great strides going into the 2015-2016 campaign after posting splendid numbers as a freshman. Clark scored 4.5 points per game and made half of his shots while averaging 11 minutes per game. He embraced the role as a bench player and would consistently provide a spark by hitting a few shots and playing intensive defense that would get the Spartans on a roll. However, he failed to carry the momentum of being a crucial 6th man into next year.

It’s safe to say that Clark had a sophomore slump. Faster than the blink of an eye, he found himself falling behind on the depth chart. It was a culmination of him struggling to perform successfully as well as the emergence of a plethora of key players. Deyonta Davis was a dynamic piece that was added to the puzzle of an already deep position of forwards, including Costello, Schilling, Goins, and even Wollenman. They were all ahead of Clark throughout the majority of the season, which caused Clark’s confidence and job security to take a major hit.

Here was a good player that was surrounded by an abundance of talent and potential. It was really bad timing for Clark as new guys like Davis and Goins started to peak. At the same time, however, Clark was in a state of funk and failed to recapture his rhythm. He couldn’t hit shots, missed rebounds, and ultimately did not play to the best of his ability. His game was thrown off mainly because of his confidence declining and the pressure to excel his overall pace from the year prior.

The junior forward will no longer be with the Spartans in the following season. He announced on April 20 that he would be transferring to Saint John’s University and has two years left of eligibility. Spartan nation can envision Marvin Clark contributing early and often. Personally, I believe he can start or at the very least have a strong impact on most teams in any of the Power 5 conferences. Clark has the tangibles to guide him toward a successful college career and beyond. Don’t let my final grade on his performance review confuse you. This grade reflects his performance this season, not as a player overall. With some hard work and dedication, he can advance his game to the next level and possibly have the opportunity to play overseas and maybe even in the NBA.

Final Grade: C

Ryan Cole

Without a doubt, this past season was tough on Marvin Clark Jr. The sophomore was coming off a surprising freshman year in which he had a crucial role in Michigan State’s Final Four, so expectations for his second year in the program were quite high. Unfortunately for Clark, a foot injury sprouted up in the early fall, limiting his practice time in the preseason. That set him behind the other power forwards on the roster, namely Deyonta Davis and Kenny Goins.

On top of starting the season off on a bad note, his struggles continued in nonconference play. He wasn’t helped by Davis and Goins coming into their own and setting their feet in Tom Izzo’s lineup, making it even tougher for Clark to sniff significant minutes. His 9.7 minutes per game were 11th on the team, behind his power forward counterparts in Davis, Goins, and even Javon Bess. That was probably the biggest reason for his transfer away from Michigan State.

All in all, his talent level and athleticism are enough to make his new head coach at St. John’s, Chris Mullin, drool. In his limited minutes this year, Clark did do a nice job of getting on the scoring ledger. I was impressed with his improvement during conference play and thought he would play a big part in the next two Spartan seasons. But it was obviously a worry to Spartan fans that Tom Izzo trusted a former walk-on in Goins to be the backup power forward, and that is what I believe to be the reasoning behind his transfer. He should succeed at St. John’s, but his career at Michigan State will likely be subtitled with “what could’ve been”.

Final Grade: C

Performance Review: Matt McQuaid

Originally posted April 14, 2016 HERE

Matt McQuaid 2015-16 stats: 15.8 mins, 3.5 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 38.9% FG, 40.9% 3-PT

Blake Froling

Matt McQuaid came to East Lansing with significantly lower expectations than his freshman counterpart Deyonta Davis. McQuaid looked like the 12-year-old brother of the actual recruit Michigan State signed. But the babyfaced assassin played like a grown man when he got his chance.

With the lack of depth at the point guard position, the sharpshooter was forced to slide over to the point and run the offense, something he was not accustomed to. And he ran the offense admirably with a 2-to-1 assist/turnover ratio. As a shooter, McQuaid delivered on expectations, shooting 40 percent from long distance. But like most freshmen, he was incredibly streaky. McQuaid had five games with at least eight points and 10 games with zero points.

But where Matt surprised people was his big-time defense. In the second game of the year, the biggest game of his life up to that point, in the United Center against Kansas, McQuaid made a series of defensive stops at the end of the game that propelled MSU to victory. The image of the seemingly quiet McQuaid screaming after a block and screaming again after burying a three stands out as his shining moment.

Grade: B

Davey Segal

Although Steph Curry has coined the nickname “The Baby Faced Assassin”, Matt McQuaid could be a close second at the college level. When I saw him on campus for the first time, I thought to myself, “Who let a freshman high school recruit on campus?” But his play didn’t reflect his looks, starting off at the Champions Classic and his clutch shot against Kansas.

I was at that game in Chicago, and it’s safe to say I lost my mind, along with McQuaid himself, when that corner three hit nylon, and after he recorded a crucial block on the defensive end. That was McQuaid’s statement to begin the season, and Coach Izzo took notice.

McQuaid isn’t a natural point guard, but he played the 1 for most of the season (especially when Tum Tum Nairn’s foot injury became a real problem). Although he was put in a rather difficult situation, he thrived, in my opinion, and his shot was smooth as silk all season. His season statistics, as shown above, are rather solid for a freshman under Tom Izzo, and I expect much more out of McQuaid next season, with one year at MSU under his belt.

P.S. — I wrote this and didn’t see Blake’s baby faced assassin reference, I swear on Kevin Harvick’s life.

Grade: B

David Manion

There’s a reason why “Everything is bigger in Texas” is a popular saying. The Duncanville native reflects this motto with his sky high potential of possibly emerging into one of the best shooters in Michigan State Basketball history. His smooth shooting and prudent shot selection are the two main keys that will enhance his scoring and transform him into an offensive juggernaut in the foreseeable future.

The sensational 6-foot-5 shooting guard arrived in East Lansing with anything but soaring expectations, as his Freshman counterpart Deyonta Davis stole the spotlight. McQuaid, however, flourished with hardly any attention for a good portion of his Spartan debut. One of his best moments came early in the season against Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic. He came off the bench late in the second half in a tight contest and delivered with two clutch threes to put the game out of reach. He finished the night a perfect 3 of 3 from beyond the arc. Ever since his coming out party, he has stepped up time and time again. The sharp shooter excelled from three point land, draining 41 percent of those shots.

The lethal scoring threat does have some shortcomings. He was inconsistent throughout conference play, as he only averaged nearly four points per game. This stat suggests that Money McQuaid was either hot as fire or cold as ice. His inability to drive the basketball has made him a one-dimensional guard, as the majority of his shots came from long range. His current skillset strongly reminds me of Nik Stauskas’ freshman year at Michigan. Stauskas was able to develop his ball handling skills and his vision of reading defenses his sophomore year, which revolutionized him into a multi-dimensional scoring machine. Hopefully those improved skills translate to McQuaid. Improving his 73 percent free throw shooting couldn’t hurt either.

Despite the growing pains he might experience during his transition towards becoming a complete guard, McQuaid has a very bright future. His quickness and ability to get open on fast breaks will result in him stretching the floor, especially if he becomes a force driving to the hoop. His defensive game was a very pleasant surprise as he was often glued to his opponent, in large part due to unleashing his inner energizer bunny after a made shot. After his promising first impression, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished his career as one of the top scorers in MSU basketball.

Grade: B

Ryan Cole

On a team loaded with guards, Matt McQuaid did a nice job of playing his way into Tom Izzo’s rotation in 2015-16. The 6-foot-5 wing man out of Duncanville, Texas, was expected to play this season, but I think he outperformed his expectations. While his stats weren’t eye-popping, he played a key role in Michigan State’s stellar regular season.

The biggest key to McQuaid’s season was his competence at the backup point guard position. By nature he is a shooting guard and has been for his entire life. But when he came to East Lansing, Izzo (by necessity) switched the lanky shooter’s position to the point, due to the lack of a backup behind Tum Tum Nairn. For playing a position he has never played in his life, I thought McQuaid held his own in his minutes. He improved his ball-handling skills throughout the season so that he was no longer a liability against the full-court press.

On top of that, I was a big fan of his shot selection. For a freshman, McQuaid showed veteran-like reserve in his shot selection (albeit sometimes a bit too much reserve). Bad shot selection can lead to low shooting percentages, and McQuaid’s 41 percent rate from three-point range was impressive for a first-year player. Compare that rate to the freshman season of one of the better shooters in Michigan State history, Denzel Valentine, who shot only 30 percent from long range in his first year in East Lansing. Obviously, I’m not saying that McQuaid will end up a better player than Valentine, but his range–and ability to use that range controllably–are strengths to his game.

McQuaid didn’t offer astounding defense, but at times he made big defensive plays to fire up the team. He forced a crucial jump ball against Maryland, and his performance down the stretch against Kansas (multiple clutch threes and a block) endeared himself to Spartan fans for the rest of the season. His driving game could definitely use work, although I was pleasantly surprised with some of his moves considering he was labeled a shooter coming in.

As far as his future goes, I fully expect McQuaid to move back to the shooting guard position this offseason, thanks to the arrival of a second true point guard in Cassius Winston. This will allow McQuaid to play more comfortably and will offer him more shooting opportunities. But for this year, the freshman did a nice job of carving out a role and set himself up for a solid Spartan career.

Grade: B+

New TV deal means Pistons’ Andre Drummond set to cash in

This summer, 22-year-old Andre Drummond will become a very, very rich man.

The All-Star center is up for a new contract, and the Detroit Pistons have every intention of giving him a big one. Drummond averaged 16.2 points and 14.8 rebounds per game, good enough to earn All-NBA Third Team honors. (I guess free throws don’t factor in to that decision.)

Is Drummond actually worth north of $20 million per year? Maybe, maybe not. But the Pistons have to give it to him.

Drummond was a restricted free agent last summer, meaning the Pistons had first dibs at re-signing him and had the option to match any offer another team gave him. Instead of cashing in, Drummond accepted a qualifying offer, a one-year offer every team makes to their impending restricted free agents worth 125 percent of last season’s salary.

The move seemed like a selfless act by Drummond; it allowed the Pistons to sign point guard Reggie Jackson to a four-year, $64 million deal. But it was also a savvy move on Drummond’s part.

New television deal

The league signed a new television deal with ESPN, ABC and TNT in 2014 and it goes into effect this upcoming season, worth $24 billion over nine years. Compare this to the previous deal signed in 2007 worth $7.4 billion. The payments to the league increase every year, rising from $930 million to $2.66 billion, according to the New York Times.

Rising salary cap

Andre Drummond

So what does the NBA’s television deal have to do with Drummond cashing in this offseason? The money from the deal is factored into “basketball related income,” which is a component in determining the salary cap for the league. The more basketball related income, the higher the salary cap.

The projected salary cap for 2016-17 is $94 million. This is an increase from $70 million in 2015-16, which was an all-time high for the NBA. The figure is projected because the league doesn’t officially set the new salary cap until the beginning of July.

Players currently under contract for next season will see their salaries rise in proportion with the salary cap, which is nice for them, but even better for free agents. Salaries will balloon and non-superstars will be getting superstar money. Andre Drummond likes that scenario.

In the NBA, teams cannot sign players for as much money as they want. There is a limit to how much money a player can earn per year, based on number of years in the league and a percentage of the salary cap. For a player with six or fewer years’ experience in the NBA, like Drummond, the maximum salary per year is 25 percent of the salary cap. Do the math, and that works out to be $23.5 million for the first year. Not too shabby.

If you think these numbers are outrageous, just wait for the 2017-18 season. The salary cap will likely jump even higher to $107 million, making the outrageous deals this offseason seem conservative.

New apparel deal with Nike

The NBA reached a deal with Nike to be the official apparel provider of the league. The eight-year agreement is worth about $1 billion and will go into effect for the 2017-18 season. This is a 245 percent increase annually from the previous deal, according to ESPN. That’s a lot of basketball-related income to inflate the salary cap.

Adidas AG previously had an 11-year deal with the league and decided not to negotiate a new deal.

Jersey advertisements

For the first time in the history of the four major U.S. sports, the NBA will allow advertisements on jerseys starting in the 2017-18 season.

No, you won’t be rooting for the General Motors Pistons any time soon.

The advertisements will be a 2½ by 2½ inch patch in the top corner of the jersey. ThePhiladelphia 76ers became the first team to sell the patch, agreeing to a three-year, $15 million deal with StubHub.

This isn’t quite on the level of European soccer jersey advertisements. Chevrolet andManchester United signed a deal in 2014 worth $80 million per year, according to Forbes. The Sixers will be making mere chump change compared to those soccer teams, but the NBA sees this as a revenue stream that will only get bigger.

The money from the jersey advertising will be split in half. The first half will be split again in half, with one portion going to the team that sold the ad and one portion going into a revenue-sharing pool. The second half will be split with the players.

Is Drummond worth it?

So why do the Pistons have to re-sign Drummond? Well, because they can’t do much better than him right now. The other centers on the Pistons’ roster are Aron Baynes and Joel Anthony. Baynes was a serviceable backup last season, but the drop-off in talent was evident when Drummond was off the court. The Pistons are likely to release Anthony.

Drummond is also the best available center on the free agent market. Following are centers who will become free agents this offseason:

Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons): Age 22, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG
Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat): Age 27, 14.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.7 BPG
Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets): Age 30, 13.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG
Al Jefferson (Charlotte Hornets): Age 31, 12 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls): Age 31, 4.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG
Bismack Biyombo (Toronto Raptors): Age 23, 5.5 PPG, 8 RPG

Drummond is the youngest and had the best stats out of the top five free agent centers.

However, one stat left off that list is free throw percentage. Drummond set the NBA record for worst free throw shooting last season at 35.5 percent. This makes him a liability in late-game situations, when teams foul him intentionally so he has to shoot free throws. Coach Stan Van Gundy usually has to take him out of the game at this point because of his inability to make anything from the “charity stripe.”

Paying someone $23.5 million to sit on the bench during the most crucial part of the game might seem preposterous, but in the economic boom era of the NBA, the preposterous will become the norm.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160628/BLOG200/160629718/new-tv-deal-means-pistons-andre-drummond-set-to-cash-in

29-year-old polar bear to join Detroit Zoo exhibit

The Detroit Zoo will be bringing in a new polar bear to its Arctic Ring of Life.

Tundra, a 29-year-old female, comes from the Indianapolis Zoo, which announced Monday that it will be closing its polar bear exhibit for good.

“The Arctic Ring of Life is an incredible facility for this polar bear to spend the remainder of her golden years,” Scott Carter, chief life sciences officer for the Detroit Zoological Society, said in a statement. “She will receive the best possible care during her time here and enjoy the comforts of this expansive, naturalistic space.”

The Indianapolis Zoo is shutting down its exhibit, which opened in 1988, because it needs updating. “As we constantly look at our asset replacement and repair, the exhibit is due for an upgrade in three to five years,” Judy Palermo, a senior public relations manager for the Indianapolis Zoo, told Crain’s. “For Tundra, our 29-year-old polar bear, that means a relocation. While healthy now, Tundra is older and now is the right time to move her for her best interest.”

Palermo said the zoo explored many different options before deciding the Detroit Zoo had the best facilities for an older bear like Tundra. The Indianapolis Zoo is donating Tundra to the Detroit Zoo free of charge, and will cover all moving expenses.

“Considered one of the leading polar bear facilities in the world, the Detroit Zoo offers large spaces and pools with easy slopes for Tundra to enter and exit the water, especially as she gets older,” Palermo said.

Polar bears usually live about 15-18 years in the wild, but they have longer life spans in captivity due to health care and nutrition provided by the zoo.

The Detroit Zoo’s Arctic Ring of Life, opened in 2001, is home to two other polar bears: female Talini and male Nuka, both 11 years old. The facility is one of the largest polar bear habitats in North America, encompassing more than 4 acres of outdoor and indoor habitats and public spaces, according to the release.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619922/29-year-old-polar-bear-to-join-detroit-zoo-exhibit

Detroit Zoo’s new marketing campaign highlights wildlife conservation, sustainability efforts

The Detroit Zoological Society has launched a new marketing campaign titled “The Zoo That Could,” focused on highlighting the zoo’s recent wildlife conservation, energy sustainability and education efforts.

Poetry, art and animated videos are used in the campaign, which will also include print, digital and social media elements, according to a release.

“This campaign changes the conversation and explains what we do and why we do it,” Ron Kagan, Detroit Zoological Society executive director and CEO, said in a statement. “We hope it will educate and inspire the community to think of their zoo in a whole new way.”

Southfield-based advertising agency Doner developed the campaign for the zoo pro bono, and has worked with the zoo for 34 years. Animation was done by New York-based creative agency Psyop. The campaign has been in development for about nine months, said Patricia Mills Janeway, communications director for the Detroit Zoological Society.

“The zoo has a great image already,” David DeMuth, president and co-CEO of Doner, toldCrain’s. “People love it; they set record attendance numbers. [The goal] is to enhance their image in a different way so people appreciate all the work the zoo does behind the scenes or around the world with animal welfare and green initiatives.”

Two videos are already up on the campaign’s website, thezoothatcould.org. The other two videos will debut later in the campaign. The animated 60-second clips are narrated by a child and each video focuses on one of four areas the zoo wants to highlight: conservation, animal welfare, sustainability and education.

“We wanted it to stand out, and we thought the visual approach and the poetry, it’s sort of like viewing it from a child’s eyes,” DeMuth said. “Telling those impactful stories that way will get people to pay attention.”

The organization will spend $250,000 on ads on Detroit TV stations that will run starting Monday and through July. The print and digital elements will run through September.

The zoo announced in April that it will become the first in the U.S. to use a biodigester. The $1.1 million project will convert more than 400 tons of animal manure into compost and capture the methane byproduct to help power the Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex. In another energy conservation effort, the zoo said in December it would switch to 100 percent renewable electricity from wind farms to power its Royal Oak campus. The zoo also stopped selling plastic bottles of water last year.

The Detroit Zoological Society, which operates the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, was named 2015 Best-Managed Nonprofit by Crain’s. The Royal Oak location hosted nearly 1.5 million visitors last year and is home to 2,400 animals.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619925/detroit-zoos-new-marketing-campaign-highlights-wildlife-conservation

SRG Global to move headquarters to Troy

SRG Global Inc., a tier one interior and exterior trim supplier, is moving its world headquarters to Troy from Warren.

The new facility, at 800 Stephenson Highway north of 14 Mile Road, is more than 51,000 square feet. It will be home to more than 250 employees who support the company’s global and North American business, the company announced Tuesday.

No timetable was given for the move.

“Our new facility was created to inspire greater collaboration between our employees and customers, which will help drive more innovation into our designs and manufacturing solutions that meet the auto industry’s evolving needs,” said Dave Prater, president and CEO of SRG Global. “The building serves as a creative center focusing on our employees’ fulfillment and will be a place for them to foster ideas, share knowledge, inspire new technology developments and to develop their capabilities to create the greatest value.”

The company employs more than 5,600 people worldwide and has an advanced development center in Taylor.

SRG Global is a Guardian Industries company.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160614/NEWS/160619902/srg-global-to-move-headquarters-to-troy

Magna Seating to add 148 jobs, invest nearly $6 million at Highland Park facility

Magna Seating Detroit plans to invest nearly $6 million in its Highland Park facility and add 148 new jobs, thanks in part to a public-private investment to rebuild the Davison Freeway service drives near its facility.

The Michigan Department of Transportation awarded a $777,749 Transportation Economic Development Fund Category A grant to the city of Highland Park to help rebuild the service drives, according to a news release. The city will contribute $233,100 in matching funds for the project, which will cost $1,010,849 total, the released stated.

MDOT said Highland Park will reconstruct both directions of the Davison service drives of from Oakland Avenue east to the Detroit Connecting Railroad’s bridge.

Magna was considering locating its expansion in Ontario or Tennessee because of the poor condition of the roads, northbound and southbound M-8 near Oakland Park Boulevard. They were so deteriorated the company’s trucks and products were getting damaged as a result, according to a release.

“This program provides a way to target specific infrastructure challenges that would otherwise directly and negatively affect economic growth,” said Frank W. Ervin III, senior director of government affairs for Magna International. “The improvement of the Davison service drives will allow us to more easily support our customers from our Highland Park facility and make a positive economic impact in the community.”

Highland Park officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Work on the project is expected to begin at the beginning of next year and should take about two months, according to Michael Leon, TEDF program manager for MDOT’s Office of Economic Development.

Magna Seating Detroit is a division of Magna International, a Canadian global automotive supplier that has 306 manufacturing operations and 92 product development, engineering and sales centers in 29 countries.

TEDF helps finance highway, road and street projects that encourage private investment in Michigan resulting in job creation or retention.

Two additional TEDF grants were also awarded Tuesday:

In Jackson County, a $269,471 grant was given to widen and reconstruct roads nearLomar Machine and Tool Co., which designs and manufactures machines for aerospace, automotive, agriculture, medical and military markets. The county will pay $69,823 and Lomar will contribute $20,000. Lomar is investing $2.5 million to expand its facility, creating 18 jobs and retaining 24, according to a release. The company considered moving to Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Mexico.
In Iosco County, a $1,090,991 grant was given to replace Whittemore Road bridge nearNational Gypsum. The company has a quarry and wallboard plant in Grant and Sherman townships, with 57 employees. The bridge has been deteriorating over the years and as a result, its weight limit has been downgraded from 60 to 28 tons. The company indicated the facilities would likely close if no improvements were made to the bridge. Iosco County Road Commission will provide $275,309 in matching funds, according to Leon.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160614/NEWS/160619897/magna-seating-to-add-148-jobs-invest-nearly-6-million-at-highland

Arts, Beats & Eats adds selfie contest, parking meter painting to 2016 festival

Always aiming to keep Arts, Beats & Eats fresh, the 19th annual Labor Day weekend festival in Royal Oak will add a parking meter beautification program and scavenger hunt.

Organizers of the 2016 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort on Wednesday announced the new programs and unveiled a commemorative poster for the Sept. 2-5 festival.

Meters Made Beautiful presented by Ford, a new collaboration between the festival and theRoyal Oak Commission for the Arts, will invite artists to submit a custom design to paint parking meters in the city. Professional and amateur artists ages 18 and older can submit their applications through July 21 at artsbeatseats.com/meters-made-beautiful.

“With the pool of creative talent in our region, we’re confident this program will be enthusiastically embraced and showcase some really cool, phenomenal art like nothing we’ve seen,” Bradley Bellamy, Detroit Region Business Development specialist at Ford Motor Co., said in a statement.

Artists will have the chance to win $4,000 in cash awards, selected by a jury and vote from festival attendees.

“We really believe we’ve built a great synergy between Ford Arts, Beats & Eats and the Commission for the Arts that will engage festivalgoers and bring art to the forefront of the event,” Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison said in the statement.

Another addition is a social media scavenger hunt called #ABEHunt16. Participants must take a photo of, with or in the location of each item or place on the scavenger hunt list, then post the photo on the #ABEHunt16 app on Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort’s Facebook page. Entrants can receive an additional entry if they use the Soaring Eagle Snapchat geofilter.

Each day, four winners will be selected to receive an overnight stay at the resort and other prizes.

“People have always loved Ford Arts, Beats and Eats as a backdrop for selfies and Facebook photos, and now they are able to win prizes for doing just what they normally would do while at the festival,” said Raul Venegas, director of marketing and entertainment at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

Royal Oak-based FWD, a design and marketing firm, created this year’s commemorative poster. The design is composed of individual shapes and colors that coalesce forming the poster’s type and imagery, representing the festival’s ability to bring so many people together.

“We are inspired by the talent, creativity and craftsmanship of our local artists, musicians and chefs and designed the poster to celebrate them,” said Melanie Derro, designer and partner at FWD.”

The schedule of musical acts for the festival will be released sometime in early August, organizers said. The event is being produced again this year by Royal Oak-based Jonathan Witz and Associates.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160615/NEWS/160619873/arts-beats-eats-adds-selfie-contest-parking-meter-painting-to-2016

Linda Forte, Comerica’s chief diversity officer, to retire after 42 years

Linda Forte’s 42-year career at Comerica Bank will come to a close in August.

Based in Detroit and a longtime community activist, the senior vice president of business affairs and chief diversity officer announced Thursday that she will retire from the company.

Nathaniel Bennett, senior vice president of talent acquisition, will add the title of chief diversity officer after Forte’s retirement. He will continue to be based in the bank’s headquarters city of Dallas.

“I have been blessed with a career in which I could fulfill my passion to empower others,” Forte said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to help raise appreciation and support for the diverse members of our community, as well as make our communities stronger through corporate contributions and volunteerism.”

Forte has been actively involved in the city of Detroit, serving on boards for the Economic Development Corp., Local Development Finance Authority, Neighborhood Development Corp., Henry Ford Health System, New Detroit and Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone. Forte was also appointed as a commissioner for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department in 2011 by Mayor Dave Bing.

“Under Linda’s leadership, Comerica has contributed millions of dollars to nonprofits in the communities we serve, provided our colleagues meaningful community volunteer opportunities, and driven our diversity program forward, making it one of the best and most recognized in the country,” Ralph W. Babb Jr., chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

Forte has earned several awards during her career at Comerica, including the 2014 Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Annual Humanitarian Award, the 2014 Michigan Women’s Foundation Woman of Achievement and Courage and was recognized in 2016 byBlack Enterprises’ “Top Executives in Diversity,” according to the release.

She was named to Crain’sMost Influential Women list in 2007 and 100 Black Business Leaders list in 1998.

Bennett, 44, became vice president of corporate human resources in 2009 and has been included in Comerica’s diversity program since then. He was promoted to senior vice president in 2010, making him responsible for all talent acquisition at Comerica. He graduated from Rice University with a degree in political science.

“When I joined Comerica, I recognized immediately the robustness and vigor around our diversity and inclusion efforts, and I am very enthusiastic about carrying that baton forward,” Bennett said in a statement.

Originally posted: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160616/NEWS/160619844/linda-forte-comericas-chief-diversity-officer-to-retire-after-42