Cultured Kombucha in Traverse City Unveils Company Rebrand
The Midwest’s fastest growing kombucha company, Cultured Kombucha Co. in Traverse City, has unveiled a brand makeover the company says captures its commitment to creating healthier lifestyle choices one sip at a time.
As the company moves into almost a decade of handcrafting locally made kombucha, this transformation includes a newly developed logo and visual presence. It’s a refresh positioned to not only elevate Cultured shelf presence but also foster deeper consumer engagement.
Cultured Kombucha Co. is known for its certified organic kombucha flavors, including Genuine Ginger, YooperBerry, Namaste Nectar, and Lavender Bliss. With the new rebrand, the company says it’s embracing its commitment to healthier lifestyle choices while creating meaningful brand engagement with consumers.
“When you choose Cultured Kombucha, you’re not only enjoying the best kombucha available, you’re choosing to partner with a brand that’s investing in building your business, too,” says Courtney Lorenz, CEO of Cultured Kombucha Co. “Retail partners can expect operational excellence and consumer enjoyment with every order.”
To find a business where Cultured is sold, visit here.
University of Michigan Receives $6.7M Grant to Study Flu Immunity in Children
Aubree Gordon, a professor of epidemiology and global public health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, has been awarded a $6.7 million five-year grant to advance her innovative research into influenza immunity development among children.
Flu Lab, an organization supporting efforts to advance innovative solutions to persistent problems in the prevention and treatment of influenza, has funded the grant for Gordon’s FluGuardians: Michigan Influenza Immunity Cohort through the end of 2028.
Gordon and her research team will focus on the comprehensive study of flu immunity development, from infancy through childhood. The ambitious project aims to enroll up to 850 infants in Ann Arbor within six weeks of birth, with the goal of closely following their immune responses to both influenza infection and vaccination.
The FluGuardians study is leveraging a Michigan Medicine-led food allergy cohort study, the Michigan Sibling Immunity Birth Study, which is also enrolling participants this year. With 680 to 765 healthy children anticipated to participate in both studies, the research will not only investigate natural infection and vaccine-imprinted immune responses but also examine the broader immunological landscape, including innate immunity.
The study’s techniques include standard serological testing, systems serology using Luminex technology, and advanced machine learning methods to analyze the complex data. Supplementing Gordon’s established Dissection of Influenza Vaccination and Infection for Childhood Immunity Consortium study—conducted in partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—the research will explore how initial exposures shape B and T cell responses, potentially leading to recommendations for tailoring immunizations in children.
The findings from the study are expected to not only contribute significantly to the field of influenza research but also to inform strategies for the development and evaluation of next-generation and universal flu vaccines.
G2 Consulting Group Ranked on National Engineering Firm List
G2 Consulting Group, a Troy-based provider of geotechnical, environmental, and construction engineering services, is again included on the Zweig Group’s “Hot Firms” list for 2024.
Each year, Zweig honors the fastest growing architecture, engineering, environmental, planning, construction and related professional services firms. Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in gross revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth. G2, which is consistently included on the list, was ranked #81 of the nationwide firms surveyed.
“The 2024 Hot Firms have outperformed the economy and their competitors and are leading the AEC industry,” says Chad Clinehens, CEO of Zweig Group. “Their commitment to a strong culture, innovative marketing, and adaptability to change help set them apart as successful, growth-focused firms.”
G2’s work has steadily grown across its service areas of geotechnical, environmental and construction services. The company’s projects cross a variety of industries including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecom and healthcare to name a few. The company has completed projects in more than 35 states.
“At G2, we believe revenue success follows customer service,” says Mark Smolinski, principal at G2. “We feel fortunate to have a great team, great partners and great clients who have all helped us to be successful and to consistently deliver on our promise of Smart. Results. Fast.”
Zweig Hot Firm winners will be honored at a black-tie gala during the 2024 Elevate AEC Conference & Awards Gala in Tampa Sept. 18-19.
Hospice of Michigan Receives $75K Grant to Support NorthStar Palliative Care in Detroit
Hospice of Michigan in Ann Arbor recently received a $75,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to help expand NorthStar Palliative Care (NSPC) to Detroit. The grant will help serve local patients and families living with advanced or life-limiting illnesses.
NSPC is a community-based palliative care program that provides symptom management and advanced care planning services for patients who have been discharged from a post-acute setting to home. The program offers an additional layer of support in collaboration with the patient’s primary care physician and other treating specialists, until the patient is either eligible, no longer seeking aggressive treatment or ready for hospice care. NSPC supports caregivers and collaborates with physicians, health care organizations, and community organizations to ensure access to high quality, palliative care services in the home.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs.
For more information about Hospice of Michigan’s NorthStar Palliative Care Metro Detroit, visit hom.org.
Habitat for Humanity Partners with Oakland County to Offer Roofs, Ramps, Repairs
Oakland County, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, has established a program to provide grants for minor home repairs to eligible households within the city of Pontiac. The application for the program launched April 15and will close on June 24.
That will mark the end of that phase of the Roofs, Ramps and Repairs Program, which offers a variety of home repairs, helping homeowners to repair and replace roofs, heating systems, plumbing, water heaters, electrical hazards, improve accessibility, windows and doors, deck and porch repairs, kitchen and bath upgrades as well as a variety of other home upgrades.
This program is not intended for emergency home repairs. For heating emergencies — no heat during extremely cold weather, Nov. 1-April 1— applicants will be referred to other emergency programs.
A limited amount of grant money is available and will be distributed to eligible households based on the following criteria:
- The repair is estimated to cost less than $25,000.
- Priority is given to seniors 62 years and older.
- The program will be first come, first served determined by a completed application.
- The home must be a single family, owner-occupied dwelling.
- The home must be located in one of the qualified areas.
For more information and to submit an application, visit here.
Sixteen New PowerArt! Works to be Installed in Downtown Ann Arbor
Sixteen new Washtenaw County-based artists will be chosen for PowerArt! 2024, a public art project in downtown Ann Arbor with a call for art and jurors that is open until June 28.
Creative Washtenaw, in cooperation with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (AADDA) and the City of Ann Arbor Public Art Commission, announces the continuation of this public art & design project that wraps traffic signal boxes in downtown Ann Arbor with vinyl-printed replicas of local artists’ work. Public art champions, Larry and Lucie Nisson, are, in part, supporting this project.
The PowerArt! 2024 call for art application and further instructions, eligibility requirements and details may be found here. Individual artists or teams who reside, work, or attend school in Washtenaw County are eligible to apply and, if selected, will receive a $1,450 stipend.
With a commitment to artistic quality and including the public in its public art and design projects, Creative Washtenaw is implementing a two-step selection process. Step one is to seat a community jury that includes members of the public and art experts to select 22 PowerArt! semifinalists from the eligible submissions. Step two is to conduct an online community vote to select the 16 finalists.
Jury applications are now being accepted. To be considered for the jury, community members must live, work, or attend school in Washtenaw County. Jury applications are being accepted now through June 28 and may be found here.
Families Against Narcotics Rebrands as Face Addiction Now
Families Against Narcotics (FAN), a Clinton Township-based community-based nonprofit organization assisting individuals and families affected by substance use disorder, announced its rebranding as Face Addiction Now.
This change reflects the nonprofit’s evolution and growth, aiming to more accurately represent its important work and mission. The announcement was made by FAN Co-Founder and Executive Director Linda Davis.
Changing “Families” to “Face” acknowledges the many partners now involved in the organization’s mission. While initially focused on families, FAN has expanded to help and collaborate with friends, peers, colleagues, partners, and community organizations. The word “Against” was seen as harsh and unforgiving, not aligning with the mission to address addiction stigma with understanding, inclusivity, and comprehensive support. Similarly, “Narcotics” only represented a fraction of the substance use disorders FAN addresses today.
From its beginnings as a grassroots group meeting in the basem*nt of a Macomb County church, FAN has grown into a pioneering organization offering impactful programs and services across Michigan. Its mission, rooted in personal experience with the stigma and barriers surrounding substance use disorder, drives the development of effective strategies for addiction prevention and recovery.
Today, FAN has expanded to include more than 20 chapters, providing essential services to more than 62,000 people statewide each year. With more than 60 employees and over 100 contractors, FAN delivers a continuum of care for individuals struggling with addiction, serving as a conduit for accessing treatment services. These services include follow-up care and peer coaching for participants in recovery, along with a variety of programs aimed at meeting individuals where they are in their journey toward overcoming addiction. The organization also is addressing public health barriers within the criminal justice system, healthcare system, and community services.
FAN, along with the Macomb County Chamber, will celebrate the organization’s rebranding and expansion into its new offices — located at 43800 Garfield Rd., Suite 200, in Clinton Township — with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the building on June 17, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The networking event will feature hors d’oeuvres and refreshments and will include FAN staff, board, volunteers, community partners, elected officials, and FAN’s office neighbors, The Monahan Co. and Tiny Feet Wellness. To RSVP, visit FAN.eventbrite.com.
For more information about FAN, including its wide range of comprehensive programs and services, visit faceaddictionnow.org.
Wayne State University to Host Powwow in the D Aug. 3
Wayne State University in Detroit will host the American Indian Health & Family Services Powwow in the D, an annual Native American powwow and health fair, at its soccer field from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Aug. 3.
All dancers are welcome, and no drugs, alcohol or pets will be allowed, except service animals.
For more information, visit aihfs.org
