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LTU Gets Second Autonomous Electric Vehicle

LTU Gets Second Autonomous Electric Vehicle 795 795 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

SOUTHFIELD—Lawrence Technological University celebrated the gift of a second Gem e2 electric vehicle in an outdoor ceremony Tuesday at the university’s Southfield campus.

The university’s computer science program has turned the two-seat car into a second autonomous vehicle research platform for students to learn to develop software for the self-driving cars of the future.

Sponsors recognized included the United States Army’s DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren, the National Defense Industrial Association Michigan Chapter, the military business consultant Great Lakes Systems and Technology, the auto supplier DENSO, the Ann Arbor artificial intelligence technology developer SoarTech, the Ann Arbor simulation software developer Realtime Technologies, and the Rochester Hills drive-by-wire systems developer Dataspeed Inc.

LTU Provost Tarek Sobh, a robotics engineer by background, noted that Lawrence Tech is one of only 13 comprehensive, doctoral, private technological universities out of more than 6,000 institutions of higher learning in the country, “and that there is no project that embodies that unique nature like these vehicles.” LTU also offers one of the nation’s few fully accredited undergraduate robotics engineering programs, he added.

Lawrence Tech is also adding a new graduate program, a Master of Science in artificial intelligence, that has a concentration related to autonomous vehicle development. 

C.J. Chung, professor of computer science at LTU, has long spearheaded the university’s push into developing autonomous vehicles. He said the next step for the program is to develop high school summer camps where talented younger students can learn to program autonomous vehicles using the computer language Python with ROS (Robot Operating System). 

Lawrence Tech will be competing June 4-7 in the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, where it is three-time defending champion in developing autonomous driving capabilities. The competition is held at Oakland University in Rochester. It was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but is being held this year with protective protocols in place.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

 

LTU Named a ‘Best Value College’ by the Princeton Review

LTU Named a ‘Best Value College’ by the Princeton Review 500 500 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Lawrence Technological University is one of the nation’s top colleges for students seeking a superb education with great career preparation and at an affordable price, according to The Princeton Review, the Framingham, Mass.-based educational services company.

The education services company named Lawrence Tech as a Best Value College for 2021 in a feature the company posted on its website on April 20 at https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-value-colleges/ . The feature profiles 200 schools that The Princeton Review selected out of more than 650 institutions the company considered and surveyed for this year’s project.

Information on the Best Value Colleges for 2021 project and its seven categories of ranking lists, as well as profiles of Lawrence Tech and other selected schools, is accessible at no charge with registration on The Princeton Review’s website.

“The latest results from this well-regarded ranking is further demonstration that an education at Lawrence Technological University is well worth the investment in our students’ time and money,” LTU President Virinder Moudgil said. “Lawrence Tech graduates are in high demand in some of the fastest-growing occupations—jobs that provide both good salaries and opportunities to improve the future of society.”

The Princeton Review chose its Best Value Colleges for 2021 based on data the company collected from its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 colleges in 2019-20. The company also factored in data from PayScale.com surveys of alumni about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction figures.

In all, The Princeton Review analyzed more than 40 data points to tally ROI (Return on Investment) ratings of the colleges that determined its selection of the 200 schools for the 2021 project. Topics covered everything from academics, cost, and financial aid to graduation rates, student debt, alumni salaries, and job satisfaction. Lawrence Tech’s ROI ranking can be found at https://www.princetonreview.com/college/lawrence-technological-university-1023483?ceid=ctpyb#!careers.

“The schools we name as our Best Value Colleges for 2021 comprise only just over 1 percent of the nation’s four-year colleges,” noted Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “They are distinctive in their programs, size, region, and type, yet they are similar in three areas. Every school we selected offers outstanding academics, generous financial aid and/or a relative low cost of attendance, and stellar career services. We salute Lawrence Tech for these exceptional offerings and recommend it highly to college applicants and parents.”

The Princeton Review’s editors noted that “students don’t often discuss a school’s motto, but with Lawrence Technological University’s motto of ‘Theory and Practice,’ they’re eager to share how they feel the school’s greatest strength is how involved you become in your major…It’s all praise for the ‘exceptional’ academics across all programs from industrial design to biomedical engineering…Undergrads love that their coursework often has a ‘hands-on aspect; it isn’t all about hitting the books.’ They also appreciate that professors are not only ‘technologically advanced,’ but ‘still in the industries they teach in.’”

In the student surveys, LTU students described themselves as “hard working, dedicated, and determined,” “extremely friendly,” and that “everyone is a techie.” Undergraduates pride themselves on the fact that the university attracts “people from all over the world.” But ultimately, no matter where they grew up, “students at LTU get to know each other fast and form a family. We help each other in courses and lift each other up.”

The Princeton Review is a tutoring, test preparation, and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources, and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

LTU Expo Gaming, Anime Fest Returns in Virtual Form

LTU Expo Gaming, Anime Fest Returns in Virtual Form 500 500 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

The LTU Expo (LTUX), a celebration of anime, gaming, and Esports events, returns to Lawrence Technological University after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 event.

The virtual event will be held from Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24.

The event will present the advanced project work of LTU game design and computer science students, along with the products and services of local game developers and business partners, plus Esports tournaments, keynotes, panels, and more.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit https://ltux.games/. The website, says LTUX shows “everything LTU has to offer: great work, a friendly and welcoming studio culture, and amazing potential.”

Faculty advisers for the event are Mars Ashton, assistant professor of game design, and Jose Gonzalez-Belmonte, game software development lecturer.

Said Ashton: “LTUX has always been something our students have looked forward to at the end of the school year. We are excited to be able to bring so much of what LTU offers to this virtual event and look forward to the time we’ll be able to host it on-campus again!”

LTU offers both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design and a Bachelor of Science in computer science with a game software development concentration. More about the BFA in game design at this link. More about the Bachelor of Science in computer science game software development degree at this link.

The initial LTU Expo, held on campus in 2018, drew a crowd of more than 1,200 to LTU’s Southfield campus. A similar-sized crowd attended in pre-pandemic 2019.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Lean Rocket Lab, Lawrence Tech’s Centrepolis Accelerator Receive Federal Grant to Grow COVID-19 Response

Lean Rocket Lab, Lawrence Tech’s Centrepolis Accelerator Receive Federal Grant to Grow COVID-19 Response 800 532 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced this week that a total of $29 million would be awarded to 44 organizations as part of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge. This includes a $569,300 federal grant from the Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) for Lean Rocket Lab, a Jackson, Mich.-based business incubator and accelerator that supports and invests in high- growth, high-impact companies across Michigan.

The SPRINT Challenge was launched last year to harness America’s entrepreneurial potential to address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship and innovation, according to the EDA.

“Michigan startups and entrepreneurs have proven their innovation and ingenuity time and again over the past year, developing innovative ways to keep our communities safe through COVID- 19,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “We applaud Lean Rocket Lab and Lawrence Technological University for their work in earning these federal resources and look forward to seeing how their efforts continue to help us put this pandemic behind us together, once and for all.”

The funding will support Lean Rocket Lab’s Manu-Tech Virtual Incubator Covid Response Unit, which is being led in partnership with Lawrence Technological University’s Centrepolis Accelerator, both of which are part of the statewide SmartZone network supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The project will deliver virtual programming, mentorship, incubator facilities, access to statewide manufacturing partners and suppliers, and access to the state of Michigan’s startup community and investor network.

The goal of the program is to expand access to the resources available through Lean Rocket Lab’s programming and support the ongoing engagements with client companies. It is also anticipated to bring 20 new companies to Michigan, create 120 jobs, and generate $25 million in new client investment capital.

“The program was inspired by the incredible entrepreneurs we’ve seen from across the state and the globe, who have developed and deployed critical technology focused on solving the very real challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Lean Rocket Lab CEO Brandon Marken. “We’ve seen tremendous density of technology that supports operational resiliency in manufacturing. These types of technologies are critical to keeping factories open and people working. Connected worker platforms, computer vision and AI-based inspection, on-demand manufacturing, and much more. We want to continue to support these entrepreneurs with critical access to our manufacturing community, expertise, our investor network and virtual programming.”

Added Dan Radomski, executive director of Lawrence Technological University’s Centrepolis Accelerator: “The ManuTech Virtual Incubator programming has been a critical component of the Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem and we have been thrilled to be Lean Rocket Lab’s regional partner for the last few years. This SPRINT project deepens our relationship and allows us to deploy our deep bench of technical talent and engineering resources to high-growth startups and entrepreneurs as they integrate commercialize and deploy their technology.”

According to Radomski, LTU Centrepolis Accelerator has specific expertise in helping startups in de-risk through Manufacturing, Technology and Commercial Readiness Level coaching.

“The SPRINT Challenge builds on EDA’s efforts to work with communities to build strong regional economies,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “Our grantees’ projects are laser-focused on using innovation to help America overcome the economic, health, and safety challenges brought on by the pandemic.”

About Lean Rocket Lab

The Lean Rocket Lab removes common barriers to innovation by providing a collaborative workspace full of high energy entrepreneurs, advanced educational programming, and helpful resources so businesses and products can launch and thrive. Strategically located in one of the most diverse manufacturing economies and backed by access to experts, capital, prototyping, engineering, marketing, and technology resources, the Lean Rocket Lab is the place where entrepreneurs on the I-94 corridor come to get things built. For more information, visit leanrocketlab.info.

About Lawrence Technological University’s Centrepolis Accelerator

The Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University is accelerating the growth of Michigan’s advanced manufacturing, innovative hardware entrepreneurs and small manufacturers by providing access to funding, experts and key business and product development resources. Visit centrepolisaccelerator.com.

Defense Industry Group Becomes Sponsor of Lawrence Tech Autonomous Vehicle Team

Defense Industry Group Becomes Sponsor of Lawrence Tech Autonomous Vehicle Team 1200 794 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

SOUTHFIELD—The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan Chapter has become a sponsor of Lawrence Technological University’s team in a global competition for autonomous vehicles.

“In our efforts to both promote STEM (Science , Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and connect the defense industry with academia, we were pleased and honored to assist LTU in this global competition,” said Patty Lopez, NDIA Michigan Chapter STEM director.

LTU is developing two fully autonomous and fully collaborative self-driving vehicles. LTU now owns  two Polaris GEM e2 two-seat electric vehicles, and the LTU team is using a variety of sensors, systems, and software to turn them into fully autonomous and fully collaborative self-driving vehicles, according to C.J. Chung, LTU professor of mathematics and computer science and the faculty leader on the project.

The overall effort began in 2018 with a three-year, $150,000 subcontract from the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), subcontracted through Chesterfield Township-based Great Lakes Systems & Technology LLC, a ground vehicle technology and engineering firm.

Chung and a team of LTU faculty and students are now fitting the second GEM e2 vehicle with cameras, laser-based radar, GPS systems, and computers to make it autonomous. Chung said the biggest and most challenging task is developing software for self-driving vehicle functions, since that must be built from the ground up.

Chung said an invitation-only dedication of the second vehicle is planned for May on LTU’s campus. LTU’s cars will compete in the 2021 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, scheduled for June 4-7 at Oakland University (see www.igvc.org). (The 2020 competition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.)

Other sponsors of the LTU IGVC team are: Dataspeed Inc., the Rochester Hills autonomous vehicle products and services provider; DENSO, the Japanese auto supplier; Soar Technology Inc., the Ann Arbor-based artificial intelligence firm; and RealTime Technologies, the Ann Arbor-based driving simulation developer.

Working with Chung are faculty co-sponsors Nick Paul, an LTU alumnus, adjunct faculty member, and Soar Technology employee, and Joe DeRose, an LTU adjunct faculty member and Ford Motor Co. employee. Another LTU graduate, Mitchell Pleune, now an employee of Veoneer, the Swedish automotive electronics developer with U.S. headquarters in Southfield.

Team members are LTU students Thomas Brefeld, Justin Dombecki, James Golding, and Joseph Schulte. Dombecki and Golding are working toward master’s degrees in computer science, while Brefeld and Schulte are working toward a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

The NDIA Michigan Chapter Connects to Protect Our Nation. It supports our nations’ warfighters by being the premier connector within Michigan’s defense community. The NDIA Michigan Chapter is an organization with a passion for bridging the gap between those who provide and those who use the best and latest in equipment and technology to keep our nation and its defenders safe.

LTU Science & Technology Showcase shows off student talent in the life sciences

LTU Science & Technology Showcase shows off student talent in the life sciences 500 500 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

The life sciences expertise of Lawrence Technological University students will again be on full display as the university conducts its fourth Science and Technology Showcase on Wednesday, April 28.

The event will be streamed live online from 2 to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “Bench to Bedside: Moving Medical Devices and Technology from Concept to Clinical Application.”

The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Jaideep Rajput, director of commercialization at Beaumont Health. Panelists include M. Therese Jamison, director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at LTU; Brianna Riley, manager at Henry Ford Innovations, the technology commercialization arm of Henry Ford Health; and Fred Molnar, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

They’ll discuss what hospitals and health networks are doing to engage with companies, how a startup can get the most out of conducting pilot studies with a health care system partner, how early stage companies can work with health care systems to generate user experience for new technologies, and how and why health care organizations should share their technical expertise.

Also at the Showcase, dozens of LTU students will show off their senior capstone projects and other research in a virtual poster session. The presenting students are majoring in biomedical engineering, nursing, molecular and cell biology, and other life science disciplines.

LTU’s curriculum combines scholarship, research, and real-world applications. Many employers over the years have found valuable talent at the Showcase.

The event is free and open to the public. To register, visit https://ltu.joinhandshake.com/events/716765/share_preview.

LTU began holding the event in the spring of 2017. The 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, is a private university founded in 1932 that offers nearly 100 programs through the doctoral level in its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for the salaries of its graduates, and U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwestern universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

Attend a Virtual Job Fair on January 26

Attend a Virtual Job Fair on January 26 1080 1080 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

Job seekers have a safe way to interact with potential employers at a virtual job fair on January 26, 2021 from 1-4 p.m.

The virtual job fair, hosted by Oakland County Michigan Works!, in partnership with the City of Southfield and the City of Oak Park, is a chance for individuals who are seeking a variety of types of jobs to connect with employers across many industries in a safe, socially distant way, online.

“This is an opportunity for job seekers to meet with a variety of employers virtually,” says Jeffrey Granat, program operation coordinator with Oakland County Michigan Works! Southfield, which is located on Civic Center Drive in the Southfield City Centre. “Job seekers can move from booth to booth, read about the employers and learn about their job openings.”

Participants can chat with potential employers and have a brief interview. “Employers do a nice job of putting together booths to entice jobseekers to learn more about their company and to chat with their representatives,” Granat says.

Across the multi-industry fair, employers are seeking a diverse group of employees from cleaners, environmental attendants, call center workers, logistics specialists, human services workers, transportation employees, cooks, certified nursing assistants and more. The virtual platform can accommodate as many as 30 employers, so there will be a variety of industries represented.

“There are a variety of different employers here and we try to offer something for everyone. There will be small companies and big companies from different industries. We want people to know there is something for you here,” Granat says. “Oakland County Michigan Works! will also have a booth to provide tips on resume writing and interviewing, and other tips for people seeking employment.”

Job seekers can use a computer, laptop or tablet to participate and will connect through a user-friendly job fair tool. Job seekers should register and build a profile and they can upload a resume. “The more information a job seeker can provide, the better,” Granat says.

Even during the pandemic, Oakland County Michigan Works! and the City of Southfield are working to ease unemployment and provide safe ways for individuals to return to work.

“It’s great that we have been able to put this virtual job fair together to help job seekers throughout southeast Michigan get back to work,” Granat says.

Learn more about the virtual job fair at Oakland County Michigan Works! Southfield: OaklandCountyMIWorks.com. Or contact Jeffrey Granat at jgranat@cityofsouthfield.com.

Job seekers can register for the virtual job fair at: app.brazenconnect.com/a/Michigan/e/l5Pmw

Toad Opener Leverages Centrepolis Accelerator to Help Open Doors

Toad Opener Leverages Centrepolis Accelerator to Help Open Doors 950 950 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

As some businesses understandably struggle in pandemic conditions, others thrive. Toad Opener is one that is perfectly positioned for success with a simple solution for hands-free door opening.

When Nick Moritz, a Michigan ex-pat living in Shanghai, was forced to return to metro Detroit at the very beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, he noticed a product installed at the foot of a commercial door that allowed the user to open the door with a foot instead of a hand. Recognizing the inherent ingenuity, he contacted the company with the hope of becoming an installer of the product he knew would be needed during and beyond the pandemic.

When Moritz learned the product had no installer program, his entrepreneurial mind recognized an opportunity to create a similar — but better — product. In April, Moritz and business partner Clif Wells — a fellow Michigan State Spartan Moritz met in China — launched Toad Opener, a hands-free door opening product with enhanced design features not found in competitive products.

Installed with zero door damage

“The key differentiator is we are able to apply the units without having to drill permanent, damaging holes into valuable commercial doors.” Instead, the Toad Opener is affixed to the door using a patent-pending design and commercial-grade 3M adhesives, saving damage and allowing for removal and replacement if necessary. This also makes the units appropriate for glass and refrigerator doors.

In addition to servicing many other customers such as restaurants, bars and hotels, Toad Opener has provided “bright, beautiful, customized units” for the City of Royal Oak throughout their new city hall and ice arena. Using 3D printing, they embed logos and branding into the units. The product comes with a sticker affixed to the door at eye level to alert individuals to use their foot to open the door, hands-free.

Expanding product offering with support from Centrepolis Accelerator

Early on, Moritz and Wells sought the support of a business accelerator and contacted Dan Radomski, director of the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in the Southfield City Centre. Through the Centrepolis Accelerator, which is uniquely designed to support businesses that manufacture physical products, Toad Opener qualified for a $1,500 business accelerator fund grant for services, which the company is using to innovate new product offerings.

Moritz says he and Wells are now working with a new 3D filament material embedded with copper nanoparticles that are antiviral and antibacterial. “The new material kills not only COVID-19, but also the flu and MSRA,” says Moritz. “This makes Toad Openers appropriate for hospital and physician office settings.” They are also designing protective overlays for high-touch surfaces.

“From toilet stall latches to drinking fountains, we’re creating products that are healthier and safer and basically self-cleaning. We give people a high level of confidence, though we don’t want anyone to abandon the best practices of disinfecting,” Moritz says.

A target market for Toad Opener is government and commercial buildings in the Southfield City Centre. “A major selling point is not just that companies should add Toad Openers to their doors for the sake of it, but that it’s a competitive advantage for them to be able to say when people start coming back to offices, that they have invested in these products to make the return as safe as possible,” Moritz says. For now, Toad Opener positions itself in the business-to-business and business-to-government sectors, rather than selling directly to individual consumers. The product is also suitable for public buildings like libraries and schools.

“We are focused on protecting the community and making everyone safer,” Moritz says.

Learn more about Toad Opener at www.toadopener.com. Discover the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University at www.centrepolisaccelerator.com.

Starters Bar & Grille Opens in the Southfield City Centre

Starters Bar & Grille Opens in the Southfield City Centre 855 855 southfieldcc_3ik8d2

New to the Southfield City Centre, but with a well-established name, Starters Bar & Grille opened quietly in mid-December for carryout and delivery of its steakhouse fare and is poised to welcome diners in-house as soon as state COVID restrictions allow.

By setting up in Southfield, Starters Bar & Grille co-owner Ali Saad says he has made a smart business move and fulfilled a dream at the same time.

In the 23 years Saad has been a restauranteur, he has worked hard to get to know his customers and welcome them as friends at the Starters Bar & Grille locations he runs with his father, Bahaa Saad, and uncle, Mike Saad, in Harper Woods, in midtown Detroit on Woodward, and the original Detroit location on Plymouth Road. (Their Dearborn location closed permanently during the pandemic economic shutdown in March 2020.)

It didn’t take long for Saad to realize that many of his best customers were from Southfield, and for them, he wanted to bring Starters closer to home. “It’s been my dream for 10-plus years to open in Southfield,” Saad says.

The newest Starters Bar & Grille is now open at 25242 Evergreen Rd., in the City Center Plaza near Ten Mile.

The welcome to Southfield couldn’t have been warmer. “I wanted to bring my dad’s vision and our brand to Southfield and we’ve been welcomed immediately. Customers are dancing around and thanking me when I should be the one dancing around and thanking my customers,” he says with pride and humility. “I wake up smiling and happy with the feeling I’m being welcomed into the community with open arms.”

Southfield is the perfect choice

For the first Starters location outside of Wayne County, Saad says he couldn’t have made a better choice than Southfield. As a much-needed entertainment and dining location in the Southfield City Centre, Starters will bring steakhouse fare to its target market of “2 years old to 90 years old,” Saad says, adding that with the business community, upscale hotels and surrounding residential communities, Southfield has “the trifecta” for Starters.

“I reach out for culturally diverse areas, and Southfield offers that. We know that if five people go out for dinner together, each person will find something they love on our menu,” he says. From wings, burgers, steak, lobster, crab, shrimp, fish and fettuccine, “we target the masses.”

In addition to its family-pleasing menu, Starters has a calming ambiance with custom-built booths, black granite surfaces flecked with gold and touches of hand-crafted woodworking. “The bar is our focal point, and our restaurant space is welcoming to families, children and grandparents. We want people to be able to come here, have a cocktail and enjoy themselves after a long day at work,” Saad says.

Fourteen large-screen TVs will cater to sports-loving customers and the high-end sound system will provide crisp, clear background music for diners. Lawrence Tech students will appreciate the phone chargers cleverly installed under the bar and at the meeting table, too.

“We executed it properly with the design of the space,” Saad says. Right now, Starters spans space formerly used by two restaurants, and will soon expand into a third contiguous space to provide even more dining space, eventually covering about 5,200 square feet.

A community anchor

Family owned and operated since 1977, Starters becomes a staple in its communities because it is a good employer, Saad says. “When we first opened, we hired our very first chef and he still works for us today. He’s still a part of the family,” Saad says. “We are not burn-and-churn with regard to hiring and firing. People who work with us stick around for 15 or 20 years and that’s something we hold high on our priority list. Consistency is the key to success, and with consistency of service, product and attitude, we are there.”

As a small business that brings food, drink and entertainment to a thriving Southfield City Centre, Starters Bar & Grille is excited to get to know new customers — from residents to business people to faculty and students at Lawrence Tech.

“I recognize that we are the missing puzzle piece in the grand scheme of things here, but I will humbly say that I needed the city of Southfield more than they needed me,” Saad says.

Visit Starters Bar & Grille at 25242 Evergreen Rd. in the Southfield City Centre. startersdetroit.com

Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative

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The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will utilize federal CARES Act funding to provide $10 million in grants to meet the urgent need of Michigan small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020.

Grant Information for Small Businesses

The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative (“Initiative”) will disburse an aggregate of $10 million in grant funding to eligible small businesses in Michigan. Applications will open at 9:00 A.M ET on December 15, 2020 and will be reviewed on a “first-in” basis by the Michigan Municipal League Foundation, which MEDC has selected to serve as the grant administrator. MEDC expects to fund approximately 650 small businesses with the funding allocated.

Prior to December 15, businesses can prepare for the application process by reviewing the following information:

 

Read More at MichiganBusiness.org