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Detroit, MI

Oakland County allots $15 million for 3D printers to small manufacturers

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Oakland County allots  million for 3D printers to small manufacturers


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Andres Gutierrez/CBS Detroit


ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., (CBS DETROIT) – Oakland County is expanding a program to give small and mid-size companies a tool that aims to take them to the next level of manufacturing.

Unique Short Tree Design and Upholstery, located at M-59 Crooks Business Park, opened four years ago.

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During the pandemic, they obtained a 3D printer for free that helped their business survive.

Now it’s thriving. 

“It’s not waiting for parts to come, you know, from overseas. It’s from our printer to actually using it. And we were actually able to do the design of this one part and be able to produce the chair in just a day,” Tammy Packard, the owner of Unique Short Tree Design, told CBS News Detroit.

Packard received the 3D Printer through Project DIAMOnD, an initiative from Oakland County and Automation Alley that began in October 2020.

During the project’s first phase, Oakland County spent $10 million from the CARES Act to give away 250 3D printers to mom-and-pop manufacturers.

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“We thought it would help us out being able to lower our costs; we never realized that was going to help us from our supply line and our carbon footprint for our customers. So it’s been a win-win situation for us throughout the program,” Packard said.

Besides giving them the equipment, companies also received training to use the 3D printers immediately.

“We really need to have our manufacturers understand the power of 3D printing, what 3D printing brings to the table,” Pavan Muzumdar, COO of Automation Alley, said. “Traditional manufacturing is very process driven, and 3D printing is much more design driven.”

The county is now setting aside $15 million to buy more 3D printers as the project enters its second phase.

“By leaning into this technology, we can preserve our existing businesses, grow our manufacturing base, not only here in Oakland County, but across the state and across the country, so that we can compete with the world,” David Coulter, County Executive for Oakland County said during a news conference on Wednesday. 

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During the second phase, Oakland County is looking to distribute another 250 3D printers to small and mid-size companies.

“This is what making in America looks like,” Dave Woodward, Chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, said to CBS News Detroit. “This is what keeping jobs here in America in the manufacturing space, raising wages and all that type of stuff, is tied to this.”

If you are interested in applying for Project DIAMOnD, click here.



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Detroit, MI

Suspect at large after 2-year-old boy shot in leg on Detroit’s east side

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Suspect at large after 2-year-old boy shot in leg on Detroit’s east side


Detroit police are searching for a man they say shot a 2-year-old boy Tuesday on the city’s east side.

Police said the child was in stable condition Tuesday night, though the alleged shooter remained at large.

Authorities were dispatched to the 500 block of Dickerson Avenue, between Freud Street and Essex Avenue, at 6:48 p.m. for a report that a child had been shot, Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said.

Investigators believe Darius Lacey, 27, arrived at his ex’s home and went inside to move some items out of the house. Inside he encountered his ex’s new boyfriend, Bettison said.

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“Ex-boyfriend gets into shootout with new boyfriend and in the exchange of gunfire his child was shot,” Bettison said.

The child was shot in the thigh and the bullet went all the way through his leg, police said.

Investigators were still working to piece together more details, including which of the men fired the first shot.

Bettison said at least 15 shell casings were discovered at the scene.

As of Tuesday night, police were searching for Lacey, who fled the scene with two companions in a black Dodge Charger, Bettison said. He was confident Lacey would be arrested soon.

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“The public in general isn’t in danger. It was a domestic so I’m not as concerned there,” Bettison said, “but, we will have him apprehended shortly.”

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

@max_detroitnews



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Detroit, MI

GM doubles leased space in Detroit Hudson’s building to 4 floors

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GM doubles leased space in Detroit Hudson’s building to 4 floors


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Excitement is growing inside General Motors for the company to relocate from its current world headquarters at the Renaissance Center along the Detroit River to the new Hudson’s Detroit building on Woodward — so much so that the company will now double the space it planned to occupy at the new location, sources said.

GM confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on Monday that it plans to lease four floors in the Hudson’s building, rather than the original plan to take up two floors, when it moves into the building either late next year or early 2026.

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“It’s good news that we’re taking up more space in the building for our employees,” a person familiar with the plans told the Free Press. The person asked to not be named because they are not authorized to share this information publicly. “There’s a lot of excitement around it and a lot of folks and teams have raised their hands to say they want to be down there.”

The overall $1.4 billion Hudson’s project is two new side-by-side buildings: A 49-story skyscraper and a wider 12-story “office block.” A total of 1.5 million square feet of space is planned. The developer is Dan Gilbert’s real estate firm Bedrock.

The person familiar with the project said the plans call for a restaurant on the top floor of the office block. GM will now occupy floors 8 through 11. The new world headquarters at the Hudson’s site will be home to GM’s key support corporate staff employees with functions such as communications and accounting, as well as the top executives, the person said. GM salaried employees have been working under a hybrid system since earlier this year under which they are required to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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As the Detroit Free Press reported in April, the Hudson’s skyscraper tower is expected to contain a 210-room ultraluxury Edition Hotel and about 97 condominiums and apartments. Commercial real estate brochures show each floor in the office tower next door is just under 50,000 rentable square feet. That means, based on standard office space allocation, a 50,000-square-foot office could fit about 285 to 300 people if allowing for 150-175 square feet per person, according to Zippia.com. The number would vary depending on the office layout, desired density and any communal areas such as conference rooms included in the space. 

GM spokesman Kevin Kelly confirmed GM’s expansion to four floors, but declined to say how many GM employees will be assigned to the building or other details. In Michigan, GM employs 51,400 people, Kelly said.

In a statement to the Free Press on Tuesday, Kelly said, “GM is proud to call Detroit our global corporate headquarters, as it has since 1911. Hudson’s Detroit is a modern office location that fits the evolving needs of our workforce, and our employees have shared how excited they are about the new location. We now have the opportunity to bring even more people downtown and will expand our HQ offices to about double the size originally planned.”

GM announced it would relocate its world headquarters in April. It will be the anchor tenant at Hudson’s Detroit and have a 15-year lease.

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GM bought its five towers at the RenCen for pennies on the dollar in 1996 without needing a mortgage. In moving, GM walks away from unneeded office space, but it takes on the cost of rent. GM has not provided its operating costs, such as taxes, utilities and janitorial expenses at the RenCen. GM President Mark Reuss said in April that GM would incur costs in the move, but declined to provide specifics or say how much rent GM will pay. 

On Monday, GM released its plans for the RenCen once it relocates. It said the tallest tower would stay standing while two others would be demolished to then remake the iconic complex. The RenCen office space has struggled to stay filled after COVID-19 when many workers went remote and stayed that way. The cost to revamp the complex is $1.6 billion, including $250 million GM seeks in public support.

The development on the Hudson’s site broke ground in December 2017. It is the former site of the landmark J.L. Hudson Co. department store, which closed in 1983 and was imploded in 1998.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. Staff reporter J.C. Reindl contributed to this article.

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Detroit, MI

Lions Are 10.5-Point Favorite Against Bears

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Lions Are 10.5-Point Favorite Against Bears


The Detroit Lions are 10.5-point betting favorites to defeat the Chicago Bears in Week 13.

Last season, the two teams split the games played, with each team winning at home.

Lions center Frank Ragnow expressed it would be nice if he could enjoy Thanksgiving, and that would occur if the NFC North leaders could end their seven-game losing streak playing on the holiday.

“Usually, in the past years it’s been like don’t really want to talk to my family, all upset about everything. So I’d really like to enjoy Thanksgiving. And put on a show for the crowd cause it’s a unique environment and we don’t take it for granted,” Ragnow said. “It’s a special, special game and it’d be really nice to get a W.”

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Dan Campbell indicated the Bears will rely on their defense and sees the many challenges Matt Eberflus’ squad presents.

Lions Not Afraid to Play Emmanuel Moseley All Over Secondary

“This is a tough out. This team plays hard, they’re physical, got a lot of really good players. Offensively, quarterbacks’ playing better, has gotten better, really, every week, these last two weeks playing pretty good ball, efficient,” said Campbell. “He’s got weapons with (DJ) Moore out there and he’s got (wideout Keenan Allen) 13 in the slot and then the rookie, (Cole) Kmet, tight end, O-line is – they’ve been banged up, but they’re back and they’re doing a pretty good job.”

Detroit’s fourth-year head coach expects the Bears to try and find success rushing the football out on the perimeter.

“They’re going to try to run it, get (D’Andre) Swift on the perimeter. Swift’s doing a good job, he’s been a good asset for them,” said Campbell. “And then defensively, it’s kind of the anchor of this team, always has been. This D-line, (Montez) Sweat, those guys up front really bring it.

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“Man, the backers, (T.J.) Edwards flies and hits, (Tremaine) Edmunds, (Jaylon) Johnson’s playing outstanding out on the perimeter,” Campbell continued. “They’ve got (Kevin) Byard who’s playing really well. So, just a ton of good players, run-and-hit defense, good special teams crew and this is going to be a hell of a test. This is going to be a hell of a test.”

Game odds refresh periodically, and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.



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