DBusiness Daily Update: Detroit Grand Prix Reveals New Logo, Launches Ticket Sales on Monday, and More

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.

Detroit Grand Prix Reveals New Logo, Launches Ticket Sales on Monday

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear has unveiled a new look and feel reflecting the next era of the Grand Prix and its return to downtown Detroit June 2-4.

The new Grand Prix logo and branding theme honors the heritage of the event in the Motor City while looking ahead to its future at its new home on the streets of Detroit, according to race organizers.

Elements representing Detroit, the race’s primary event partner Chevrolet, and presenting partner Lear Corp. are featured in the new logo design.

The stylized “GP” in the new marque recognizes the nine-turn, 1.7-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit that will highlight some of the most iconic and popular roadways and landmarks in the city including a representation of the Spirit of Detroit, the 65-year-old bronze and marble monument that has come to symbolize the city and the strength and resiliency of its people.

The newly designed street circuit will guide the world-class competitors and their high-performance race cars by the Spirit of Detroit, the Joe Louis “Fist” monument, Hart Plaza, the Riverwalk, and the GM Renaissance Center.

“We are so proud to bring the Grand Prix back to its original home on the streets of downtown Detroit in 2023 and we felt it was important to usher in the evolution of this event with a new creative direction that honors Detroit and all this event has meant to the city, as well as what it can deliver in the future,” says Michael Montri, president of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.

“The Detroit Grand Prix began on the streets of the city in 1982 and for the first time since 1991, the event will be back downtown this summer bringing excitement, energy, international attention and economic benefit to the city and its local businesses. We want to capture that renewed enthusiasm and passion for the city and the Grand Prix with a new look and feel that will carry this event forward and down new roads.”

With its return to downtown Detroit, organizers say the event the will become a more inclusive and welcoming annual event in the Motor City. More than half of the event’s footprint will be open and accessible to fans free of charge.

There will be free activation and display areas in Spirit Plaza; music, entertainment, and the Meijer Fan Zone in Hart Plaza; and the Autotrader Winner’s Circle on the Riverwalk adjacent to the GM Renaissance Center. Free viewing platforms also will be placed along Jefferson Avenue so fans can see the non-stop racing action throughout the three-day weekend.

Racing enthusiasts who want to purchase tickets will be able to do so starting Monday at DetroitGP.com, starting at $40 for a Saturday single-day grandstand ticket, $50 for a Sunday single-day ticket, to multi-day ticketing options.

Fans also can purchase tickets to “the Rooftop presented by Piston Group” party area, located on top of the Center Garage along the Detroit Riverfront, overlooking Turns 5-7 on the racetrack. Limited passes also are available for the Corvette Car Corral and for those looking for a more exclusive hospitality and entertainment experience, passes also are available for the Pit Lane Suites and the Turn 3 Club.

Detroit Manufacturing Systems Sells Toledo Plant to Mayco International

Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS), a contract manufacturing and assembly company, has sold its Toledo manufacturing facility to Mayco International in Sterling Heights. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As part of the negotiations, DMS and Mayco International structured the deal to ensure all 300 employees were offered the option of staying on with Mayco.

“We are thankful for the Toledo community and the talented team we amassed over our four plus years of ownership of the manufacturing plant,” says Bruce Smith, chairman and CEO of DMS. “Our dream from the beginning was to create a company that was interwoven into the fabric of the community and to make a positive impact. The community of Toledo warmly welcomed us, and our incredible team at the Toledo facility helped us live that dream. We are certain they will continue to make a positive impact in the community.”

For more information, visit dmsna.com.

Marelli Selects OneStream to Streamline and Unify Financial Operations

Marelli, an automotive supplier with North American headquarters in Southfield, has selected Birmingham-based corporate performance management (CPM) vendor OneStream to unify financial consolidation, reporting, and planning across its enterprise.

Marelli will integrate OneStream’s Intelligent Finance platform to serve as a single source of data, allowing Marelli to efficiently manage different business units while maintaining corporate control at financial and operational levels.

The supplier embarked on an initiative to integrate the financial consolidation, reporting, and planning of its businesses into a single, unified entity and needed a CPM platform that could help the company transform their financial processes and redesign their operations. OneStream proved to be the platform that could deliver the proper foundation for Marelli to simplify their complex processes and drive faster decision making, cost efficiencies and agility across the organization.

“Partnering with OneStream will allow us to align our financial and operational strategy across the company, driving transformation across every level,” says Mike Mills, senior vice president global team, value creation and change at Marelli. “Through this transformation, OneStream will help reduce the close process time, improve efficiency and reduce corporate financial costs.”

Johan Edlund, senior vice president of sales at OneStream, says: “We are excited to partner with Marelli on their transformation journey to align financial and operational processes and drive efficiencies throughout the organization. OneStream’s Extensible Dimensionality provides Marelli with the agility to support their different lines of business on a granular level, while serving as the single source of truth across the enterprise.”

Ann Arbor’s Strata Oncology Announces Addition of Gilead as Collaborator

Strata Oncology Inc., a precision oncology company based in Ann Arbor, announced that Gilead Sciences Inc. in California has agreed to collaborate on the Strata Precision Indications for Approved THerapies (Strata PATHTM) trial by providing TRODELVY for eligible patients with cancer.

Strata PATH is a prospective pan-tumor therapeutic trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of multiple FDA-approved cancer therapies in new, biomarker-guided patient populations.

Several types of biomarkers are being evaluated, including quantitative RNA and multivariate algorithms that may optimize the use of different anti-cancer therapies. These biomarkers can be analyzed in parallel with the genomic mutations assessed by comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), thus maximizing the information available from often limited tumor tissue samples.

“As the first diagnostics company to run its own prospective interventional trial to show the utility of its tests, Strata is honored to have the support and collaboration of forward-thinking biopharma companies like Gilead Sciences for the Strata PATH trial,” says Dan Rhodes, co-founder and CEO of Strata Oncology. “Quantitative RNA and multivariate biomarkers have the potential to optimize the use of expression-based therapies and improve the outcomes and the quality of life for cancer patients.”

Consumers Energy Makes $25M Contribution to Help Michigan Homes, Businesses with Bills

Consumers Energy in Jackson says it will provide $25 million to homes and businesses in an effort to help customers who are facing challenges with their energy bills.

The contribution, approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, is being delivered through $15 million in automatic bill credits to all Consumers Energy electric customers and another $10 million in assistance for financially vulnerable households.

In all, Consumers Energy has provided more than $37 million in help for energy bills and basic needs since the start of last year.

“Consumers Energy cares about Michigan and our customers, and we consider it our mission to look out for the households and businesses that count on us every day,” says Garrick Rochow, president and CEO of Consumers Energy’s. “We are putting dollars directly in the hands of our customers, particularly for those who need help staying warm and safe in their homes this winter.”

Homes and businesses that receive electricity from Consumers Energy will start automatically receiving $15 million in bill credits for the next 12 months based on their energy use. Customers do not need to take any action to receive those dollars.

People who need help should contact 2-1-1, a free service that connects Michiganders with nonprofits to find help with basic needs, from energy bills to food and shelter. Consumers Energy customers also should call 800-477-5050 if they are facing challenges with their bill.

“We want to make sure that everyone knows not only that Consumers Energy is helping, but that they can take steps today to get access to those dollars,” Rochow says. “Assistance is only a phone call away.”

Many people can manage their winter bills by starting with tips at home or work. Learn more here.

Lawrence Tech, Junior Achievement Reach Youth Business Education Agreement

Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Southfield has announced a new partnership with Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan (JASEM) to have LTU faculty, staff, and students participate with JA as facilitators and subject matter experts in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, technology, and career pathways.

Under the memorandum of understanding, LTU and JA will work together to provide program resources, training, and curriculum for high-quality educational experiences for middle and high school students—as well as meaningful volunteer opportunities for LTU students, faculty, and staff.

Under the agreement, JA will work with the area’s K-12 school students and community organizations working with youth to identify opportunities for LTU to provide educational programs in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

“We are happy to provide educational experiences taught by LTU’s expert business faculty to young people around southeast Michigan,” says Bahman Mirshab, dean of the LTU College of Business and Information Technology. “This partnership will also provide a great opportunity to our bachelor’s and master’s degree business students to volunteer — and help train the LTU students of tomorrow and the next generation of business leaders.”

Jason D. Lee, president and CEO of JASEM, adds: “We believe all youth and young adults, no matter their race, socio-economic status, or family structure, deserve the opportunities for their hopes and dreams to become reality. To achieve our mission, we believe in partnerships with best-in-class organizations interested in the inspiration and preparation of the next generation. The collaboration with LTU clearly meets our requirements for partnership excellence.”

Megabus and Miller Transportation Partner to Expand Bus Service from Detroit

New Jersey-based Megabus and Miller Transportation are partnering to offer connecting bus service from Detroit to 13 cities.

The partnership also connects Chicago with 23 cities, Indianapolis with 32 cities, Louisville with 24 cities, Nashville with 7 cities, and Memphis with 13 cities.

“The continued expansion of our network to more than 50 cities throughout the central United States is an exciting opportunity for Megabus,” says Colin Emberson, vice president commercial for Megabus. “We’re pleased to be able to offer the customers in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky additional convenient and safe travel options; with connections to points beyond.”

Schedules are available and tickets can be purchased beginning Jan. 25 here.

Pat Milliken Ford Donates $50K to Salvation Army of Metro Detroit

The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit recently received a $50,000 donation from Pat Milliken Ford in Redford Charter Township to benefit its annual Red Kettle Christmas Campaign fundraiser.

In December 2022, the auto dealership committed a portion of every new and used vehicle sold throughout the month, up to $50,000. The December donations from Pat Milliken Ford will help the nonprofit provide food, shelter, and financial support for those who need it most throughout metro Detroit.

“At Pat Milliken Ford, we know the importance of community and taking care of your own,” says Brian Godfrey, president of Pat Milliken Ford. “We’re proud to back The Salvation Army in its mission to serve our community’s most vulnerable and lend a hand to those in need of basic human necessities.”

With just two weeks left of the 2022 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign, the nonprofit has reported it is falling nearly $800,000 short of its $8.2 million fundraising goal.

“The Salvation Army is in dire need of donations,” says Maj. Bob Mueller, metro Detroit area commander for The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division. “Now more than ever, we must support those who are struggling to make ends meet and wondering where their next meal will come from.

“This incredibly generous donation from Pat Milliken Ford brings us just that much closer to meeting our $8.2 million fundraising goal — but there’s still a long way to go. Between now and Jan. 31, the community can make a real difference by ensuring our lifesaving programs and services are available for our neighbors in need all year long.”

To donate, visit sametrodetroit.org.