ENTREPRENEURS

The annual pitch competition saw the local entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to expert judges at Washtenaw Community College’s The Entrepreneurship Center in May.

The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest for entrepreneurs is back with $100,000 available through a donation from Comerica Bank.

With the help of mentors and donors, Quarter Quts is back up and running.

Three engineering students at the University of Michigan invented a mechanism that “prints” images onto toast as part of an entrepreneurship class taught by Dr. Eric Fretz. “We were looking for a fun class to take alongside our heavier engineering classes,” said Niket Parikh. AdOn the first day of the course, Dr. Fretz told his students to split into groups for the semester. (Niket Parikh)They pitched it to Dr. Fretz, who liked it so much he challenged them to print one of U-M’s most iconic figures on bread. With periodic check-ins and energetic mentoring Dr. Fretz ensures each team has the best chance to reach their full potential.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University announced it will be renaming its engineering and technology college in recognition of alumni group GameAbove, which has donated a total of $20 million toward student- and faculty-based initiatives over the past 15 months. The GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology name will go into effect on March 1. “The College of Engineering and Technology has a strong reputation. We greatly value GameAbove’s exceptional support of Eastern Michigan University students and faculty.”AdDean of the College of Engineering and Technology, Mohamad Qatu, said the group’s support has helped to “dramatically accelerate” the school’s ability to serve its students. To see the undergraduate and graduate level programs EMU’s College of Engineering and Technology currently offers, click here.

Open 24/7, Waffle House is also an affordable dining option for high school and college students. “I went from a Waffle House on every corner to coming up here and not having one in the entire state,” said Turner. Michigan Waffle House Club was born. So, what would be the ideal location for the Ann Arbor Waffle House? “Putting a Waffle House right on that corner would be the perfect spot.

DETROIT – A new development project is underway in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood that will offer over 200 apartments and ground-floor retail space. Construction of Woodward West, a $60 million mixed-use development project, broke ground on Nov. 9 on Woodward Avenue at Stimson Street. Slated to open in the summer of 2022, the five-story structure plans to offer 204 apartments and 25,000 feet of retail space. Officials say the site is meant to be inclusive of the existing neighborhood and its residents: 20% of Woodward West apartments will be offered as affordable housing, while a portion of the retail space will be reserved as “entrepreneur space” for new businesses, officials said Thursday. Visit the Woodward West website here for more information.