Ellyn Davidson

#ClientNews Eastern Market Partnership has just opened its Urban Farmers grant program, part of a new grant initiative with the City of Detroit which will give five collectives and three individual farmers a total of $225,000. The funding will support projects that help local farmers grow more, sell more and feed more families. "In addition to the types of educational programming that we're encouraging farmers to apply for, it's really important to us as the market to be a source for those farmers to grow their businesses," said Katy Trudeau, president and CEO of the Eastern Market Partnership. #PRSA #Agriculture #Detroit Watch the story on WXYZ-TV: https://lnkd.in/evB8hBm4

29

#FellowFeatureFriday: Deja Strong, City of Detroit Community Development Fellow Deja Strong is helping the City of Detroit streamline key procedures and processes. She’s working across community and economic development departments (with the JET and LEAN teams) to make engagement with the City, especially for small businesses, more accessible. Her work includes creating standardized operating procedures for departments supporting business development, standardizing processes for the City’s boards and commissions, and is spending a significant portion of her time helping Detroit work toward Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification. The RRC program empowers communities to be ready for development by building a strong foundation of zoning, planning, and economic development. Once RRC certified, communities unlock access to even more programs and resources from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This helps not only the City, but also business and housing developers who will have access to more capital to move their community-driven projects forward. One of the elements Deja noted she has particular appreciation for, beyond the variety of experiences, is the networking opportunities she’s been afforded through working in the mayor’s office. CEDAM’s Shate’ja Curry, Community Development Fellowship manager, learned more about Deja’s work in Detroit when she visited her earlier this fall.

17

Award-Winning Creative Leader Akil Alvin Guides Local Businesses Through Trusted Connector LIVONIA, MI [January 28, 2026]— Great Lakes Women’s Business Council is proud to announce Akil Alvin, Founder and Global Chief Creative Officer of Digital Detroit Media (DDM), as a Marketing Pillar Instructor for its Trusted Connector program. In this role, Alvin will guide cohorts of business owners, sharing practical marketing strategies to strengthen brand visibility, storytelling, and market positioning. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Akil to the #TrustedConnector program. He brings a wealth of practical, real-time coaching that business owners can immediately apply to their marketing and growth efforts. His ability to translate strategy into action will be a tremendous asset to our cohorts,” said Shawntay Dixon, MBA, CWDP, Senior Director, Education and Program Operations at Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. The Trusted Connector Program is a place-based initiative that equips local business owners with essential skills, expert guidance, and meaningful connections to support business growth. Supported through a partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the program brings instructors together with small business cohorts and concludes with opportunities for participants to pursue individual grants and receive membership support to join their local chambers of commerce. Akil Alvin is the Founder and Global Chief Creative Officer of Detroit Digital Media, where he leads brand strategy and storytelling for ambitious companies through innovative digital marketing. Since founding the agency in 2013, Alvin has worked with globally recognized brands including The Walt Disney Company, De Beers, and Coca-Cola, earning national recognition for his creative leadership, including a Forbes 30 Under 30 honor, an Emmy Award, and multiple Telly Awards. About Great Lakes Women’s Business Council Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (Great Lakes WBC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing small business growth and success. Under the Great Lakes WBC umbrella, the organization operates an award-winning Women’s Business Center of Excellence, serves as the regional certifying body for women-owned businesses through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and expands access to capital through CEED Lending. Great Lakes WBC represents more than 1,500 WBENC-certified women-owned businesses and partners with over 90 corporations to create meaningful opportunities within corporate supply chains and the broader business ecosystem. For more information visit www.greatlakeswbc.org.

5

1 Comment

On this day in 1920, WWJ in Detroit became the first commercial radio station to be licensed. Radio became the original “mass media,” bringing voices into homes for the first time. Suddenly, news wasn’t just in print. It was live, shared and urgent. PR Takeaway: Every new channel feels strange at first (radio, TV, social, AI search), but those who jump in early and master the medium shape the conversation. The rest just buy ads later.

3

2 Comments

Great piece by our Chief of Public Spaces Officer, David Cowan, in the Michigan Chronicle highlighting how the Downtown Detroit Partnership is redefining what it means for public spaces to be truly open and inclusive. While so much of what we encounter today as “free” comes with strings attached, the parks and public spaces in Downtown Detroit are an exception—offering the community genuine, no-strings-attached programming that’s accessible to all. The op-ed dives into the intentional, long-term work behind this effort and what it means for the future of the city. Well worth a read: https://lnkd.in/gwTHfYXV

19

MichAuto Senior Director Drew Coleman, EDFP, MBA, along with partners from the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Detroit Regional Partnership, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, hosted leadership from the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation(UCCEI) in South Korea for a discussion on Creative Economy and Innovation. The Ulsan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation serves as a startup base institution that supports the growth of local startups in all directions, fostering collaboration among tech startups that aim to be part of the next generation of mobility developments.

10

USA TODAY Co. has acquired The Detroit News from MediaNews Group, marking a strategic investment that strengthens our commitment to high-quality local journalism across the Detroit metropolitan area. Bringing The Detroit News into the USA TODAY Network reinforces our commitment to journalism that informs, connects, and serves local communities. Read more about the acquisition here: https://lnkd.in/gsW85if5

225

1 Comment

Great news for Illinois and the Joliet community: Hyundai Translead, North America’s largest manufacturer of semi-trailers, is bringing two dormant factories in Joliet back to life, creating more than 2,500 jobs. The company, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, will invest nearly $500 million to redevelop the former Caterpillar Inc. and Lion Electric facilities, expanding its manufacturing footprint beyond Mexico. This investment will support the production of truck trailers and other automotive components, delivering a significant boost to Illinois’ manufacturing sector. Congratulations to Governor JB Pritzker, his team, and the Illinois EDC, Board Chair John Atkinson and President & CEO Christy George, for securing this major win for our state. This achievement was made possible through strong collaboration with key partners, including David Boulay (IMEC Illinois), ComEd CEO Gil C. Quiniones, Cas Peters (Governor’s Office), Aly Grady (DCEO), Doug Pryor (Will County CED), Joliet Junior College, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Ed.D., and Paul Kearns at Argonne National Laboratory amongst many. A special shout-out to Claire DeLay of the Illinois EDC, who successfully led this business development effort. Read here Crain's Chicago Business coverage: https://lnkd.in/gQPrQZbY

109

5 Comments