When Chef Matthew Cooper says relocation of the Mott Community College Culinary Arts Institute into a new home in downtown Flint will help it better serve the area, you could take that in a variety of ways. For example, it means that students stationed in the new 36,000-square-foot quarters at the northwest corner of Saginaw Continue Reading
The typical person might view a backyard garden as not much more than a hobby. Deb Hamilton sees economic opportunity. By providing a supply of fresh, inexpensive food, says Hamilton, a garden might free up household cash for additional nutritious food items or other expenses, as well as help reduce medical costs by promoting health. Continue Reading
A central entertainment district along Second Street. More than 1,200 additional residential units. A network of bicycle lanes. A revamped Saginaw Street streetscape. Those are among the possible developments outlined in the “Downtown Flint Gameplan,” a new study that set out to determine which land use, placemaking and mobility enhancements are necessary or desired in Continue Reading
International trade is a vital component of strong, healthy economies, and small businesses play an essential role in reaching beyond our borders to sell their goods and services abroad. In fact, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that small businesses represent 98 percent of all U.S. exporters. That figure includes businesses in Flint & Genesee, Continue Reading
Mixed-use developments are already in the works in downtown Flint and may soon become common throughout Genesee County. As the push toward urbanization and more walkable communities continues, the redevelopment of vacant spaces is trending toward mixed-use buildings – i.e., properties that includes both commercial and residential space – and a ‘downtown feel.’ In downtown Continue Reading
During a four-day trip to Brazil’s Cerrado region in July, Angie Root had the opportunity to learn first-hand why the Daterra Farm is the first coffee farm in the world to receive “Level A” certification from the Rainforest Alliance. More than one-third of the 14,800-acre property consists of protected natural areas. And thanks to its Continue Reading
Call it a lodging boom for Genesee County. Several hundred new hotel rooms are headed for the southern half of the county. Two new hotels are going up and more may be in the works. A multi-million Fairfield Inn & Suites in Grand Blanc Township and a $16 million Hyatt Place in Mundy Township are Continue Reading
Flint’s Mass Transportation Authority is more than just a fixed route bus service. The public transportation agency better known as MTA is recognized nationally for innovative programs that take people to buy their groceries and get them to and from important medical appointments. “The last 10 years for us has been a real transformation…. We’re Continue Reading
A group of community-minded businessmen emerged from a meeting nearly 20 years ago, committed to help their struggling city make a comeback. Each put up a significant amount of their own cash to try to redevelop a sleepy downtown with numerous shuttered storefronts and buildings. The investors formed Uptown Six LLC in 2001 and Uptown Continue Reading
Doug Witten, Baker College’s cyber defense program director, tells a funny story that illustrates just one of the dangers of being lax about cybersecurity. When Witten worked at EDS, one of his friends was a practical joker. That guy left his computer unlocked around the Christmas holiday. Witten noticed that, went in and called up Continue Reading
