Flint Cultural Center Academy on the Cultural Center campus

AIA-Flint Chapter annual design competition showcases the ‘excellent talent’ of local firms

Although the American Institute of Architects Flint Chapter had to hold its annual Celebration of Design Awards virtually this fall, the work that was honored will have a tangible impact on the local landscape for years to come. Five projects designed by area architects were recognized during the November awards presentation: • The Mott Community Continue Reading

Exterior shot of the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Flint

An iconic, historic building set to begin life anew as downtown Flint’s Hilton Garden Inn

“Awe.” “Appreciation.” Those are some of the responses the professionals involved with repurposing the former Genesee County Savings Bank building in downtown Flint hope to see from visitors when the long-vacant structure debuts as a Hilton Garden Inn in October. “I love working on historical buildings and the fact that we’re trying to preserve them,” Continue Reading

Downtown Swartz Creek

Grand Blanc and Swartz Creek declared ‘Redevelopment Ready’ More local communities expected to seek the MEDC certification

Ask economic developers what they expect from local units of government, and they’ll probably answer something like this: “Transparency. Predictability. Efficiency.” Thanks to the state’s Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) program, some Genesee County municipalities are achieving exactly that type of balance in their daily development activities. RRC, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., aims Continue Reading

Local companies step up to deliver essential medical supplies for frontline healthcare workers

While some Genesee County businesses were categorized as “essential” and were allowed to continue operating under the executive order Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued in March to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, at least a couple decided to become even more vital. For example, two area businesses — Fenton-based Domico Med-Device and BAJ Glass Continue Reading

A crowd of people

A ‘Complete Count’ crucial to making informed decisions for business and community leaders

Some basic math illustrates the importance of an accurate census count for Flint and Genesee County. “We cannot afford to miss anyone,” said Anthony Turner, Flint’s 2020 census coordinator. “A 10,000-person undercount is $2 billion (in federal funding) over 10 years that the city misses out on. Everybody will lose.” Indeed, the results of this Continue Reading

Production floor at Peckham Inc.

Filling the labor pool by helping residents clear hurdles to employment

Everybody deserves a second chance – or, depending on their circumstances, simply an initial opportunity. That’s the guiding philosophy of a variety of organizations in Genesee County whose mission is to assist people with overcoming barriers to employment. And, while leaders of the operations say they’ve always prided themselves on providing a societal service by Continue Reading

United States serviceman

VetBizCentral’s mission: Help vets apply military-honed skills to the realm of entrepreneurism

Attention to detail. Commitment. Discipline. All are characteristics that are important to business success – and that are also key to excelling in the military, notes Matt Sherwood, executive director of VetBizCentral. For 13 years, Flint-based VetBizCentral has served those who have served the country by helping them apply skills they honed in the military Continue Reading

TheraB Medical presents new product

XLerateHealth infusing Flint & Genesee’s ‘startup ecosystem’ with technical advice, connections

XLerateHealth is aiming to make the Flint area healthier — on a couple of different levels. The Louisville, Ky.-based health care accelerator provides technical advice and connections to fledgling companies that are seeking to address a variety of medical-related challenges. On a broader level, with the opening of its Flint location earlier this year, the Continue Reading