BUSINESS

The latest business coverage from Detroit and Metro Detroit.

Coworkers working together on graphic design while sitting at a table and looking at a monitor in a modern office

Detroit Has 10,000 Designers. More Than Half Their Week Is Wasted.

Research shows the average designer spends 22 hours per week on operational tasks instead of creative work. For Detroit's 10,400 designers, that translates to nearly $190 million a year in salary spent on non-design work.

James Okafor | April 6, 2026

Dittrich Furs Detroit: 133-Year Icon Closes Its Doors

Detroit's Dittrich Furs, a 133-year-old institution, holds its final retirement sales before closing April 30. Here's what shoppers need to know.

By Nina Vasquez | April 1, 2026

Hand reaching for a delicious pepperoni pizza slice in a cardboard box.

Buddy's Pizza Sold to Local Investors for National Expansion

Buddy's Pizza, a Detroit icon since 1946, has been sold to local investors who plan to expand its frozen pizza business nationally while maintaining current restaurant locations.

By Aisha Laurent | March 28, 2026

Explore the raw, gritty atmosphere of an abandoned building in Detroit with a solitary man amidst debris.

Zug Island: Detroit's Industrial Epicenter & Contamination

Zug Island has been Detroit's industrial powerhouse for over a century, hosting steel production and coking operations despite early visions of it becoming a public resort.

By Marcus Cole | March 28, 2026

Traffic officer signals jeepney at a fuel station in the Philippines with clear weather and dynamic setting.

Car Price Hikes Unavoidable as Tariffs Impact Auto Industry

New vehicle prices set to rise further as tariffs on steel, aluminum, and auto parts from Canada and Mexico reshape automotive manufacturing costs.

By James Okafor | March 26, 2026

Professionals in a modern office near Detroit's tech corridor

FANUC America Opens $90M Robot Factory in Pontiac

FANUC America announces $90 million robot production facility in Pontiac, marking a major manufacturing investment for metro Detroit and the city's economic recovery.

By James Okafor | March 24, 2026

Real estate professional presenting a house model with keys

UWM Faces Bidding War for First Acquisition Target

United Wholesale Mortgage enters competitive bidding process for its first-ever acquisition, signaling major strategic shift for the Pontiac mortgage lender.

By James Okafor | March 24, 2026

Professionals meeting in a modern Detroit office

Detroit Public Library Faces $200-300M Capital Needs Assessment

Detroit Public Library system confronts major infrastructure challenge with capital needs study expected to reveal $200-300 million in required repairs and upgrades.

By Nina Vasquez | March 23, 2026

Automated production line with bottles in a manufacturing facility

Fanuc Robotics $90M Plant Detroit Creates 225 Jobs

Robotics giant Fanuc America plans $90 million manufacturing facility in metro Detroit with 225 new jobs, strengthening the region's automation economy.

By James Okafor | March 21, 2026

Cryptocurrency market analysis on a laptop screen

Crypto Landlord RealT's Detroit Real Estate Collapse

RealT's tokenized real estate model in Detroit has collapsed, payments stopped, and the city says the company owes millions in a cryptocurrency investment crisis.

By James Okafor | March 21, 2026

Gas station illuminated at night representing rising fuel costs

Gas Prices Squeeze Metro Detroit Restaurant Owners

Rising fuel costs from Middle East conflict are hitting Metro Detroit restaurants hard, with expenses compounding across supply chains and vendor invoices.

By Aisha Laurent | March 20, 2026

Modern corporate office environment with employees

Rocket Companies Offers Voluntary Buyouts to Cut Workforce

Rocket Companies offers voluntary employee buyouts as the Detroit mortgage giant adjusts its workforce amid declining housing market demand.

By James Okafor | March 20, 2026

Close-up of cannabis buds representing Michigan marijuana industry

Michigan's 24% Marijuana Tax: What Businesses Need to Know

Michigan increased its cannabis excise tax from 10% to 24% starting 2026. First payment due April 15, 2026. Here's what dispensaries and cultivators need to know.

By James Okafor | March 20, 2026

Abstract visualization of digital technology and data processing

Google DTE Energy Data Center Deal Southeast Michigan

Google commits to 2.7 gigawatts of power from DTE Energy for a new data center in Van Buren Township near Detroit.

By James Okafor | March 17, 2026

Detroit cityscape representing municipal finance and governance

Detroit Bonds Down, Pension Costs Up: 2026 Financial

Detroit paid off bankruptcy bonds early, but rising pension obligations threaten the city's financial recovery. A closer look at municipal debt.

By James Okafor | March 16, 2026

Group of people in business meeting at conference table

Stellantis Confirms Commitment to Jefferson North Assembly Plant Through 2030

Stellantis commits to operating Detroit's Jefferson North Assembly Plant through 2030, securing nearly 2,800 jobs and demonstrating continued manufacturing inve

By James Okafor | March 13, 2026

Detroit's Tech Corridor Along Woodward Avenue Attracts $200 Million in New Investment

Detroit's Midtown tech corridor attracts $200 million in new venture capital investment, fueling startup growth and major company expansions along Woodward Aven

By James Okafor | March 8, 2026

City skyline with modern office buildings

Amazon Opens Second Metro Detroit Fulfillment Center Creating 1,500 Jobs in Romulus

Amazon opens its second metro Detroit fulfillment center in Romulus, creating 1,500 jobs with starting wages of $17.50 per hour and representing a $180 million

By James Okafor | March 3, 2026

Shinola Announces Expansion of Detroit Watch Factory with 150 New Manufacturing Jobs

Shinola announces 150 new manufacturing jobs at its New Center Detroit factory, marking the company's largest hiring expansion since 2012 with wages starting at

By James Okafor | February 25, 2026

Bedrock Detroit Completes Hudson's Site Tower, Opens First Retail Spaces

Bedrock Detroit opens the first completed tower at the historic Hudson's site with 400 residential units and 18,500 square feet of ground-floor retail.

By James Okafor | February 18, 2026

Detroit's Unemployment Rate Drops Below 7% for First Time Since 2000

Detroit's unemployment rate fell to 6.8% in January 2026, the lowest level since 2000, signaling major economic progress for the recovering city.

By James Okafor | February 11, 2026

Ford Motor Company Announces 1,200 New Tech Jobs at Corktown Campus

Ford announces 1,200 new tech jobs at its Corktown headquarters, prioritizing software engineers and AI specialists in Detroit.

By James Okafor | February 4, 2026

Small Business Grants Through Motor City Match Fund 200 New Detroit Entrepreneurs

Motor City Match Fund awards $10 million in grants to 200 Detroit entrepreneurs, with Midtown emerging as a funding hub. The program continues supporting underr

By James Okafor | January 23, 2026

Rocket Companies Reports Record Q4 Mortgage Volume from Downtown Detroit Headquarters

Rocket Companies reported record Q4 mortgage volume of $127 billion from its Detroit headquarters, announcing 3,200 new jobs as expansion continues.

By James Okafor | January 15, 2026

GM Announces $500 Million Investment in Detroit-Hamtramck Factory Zero Expansion

General Motors invests $500 million in Detroit-Hamtramck Factory Zero expansion, boosting EV production capacity and creating jobs in the Hamtramck community.

By James Okafor | January 5, 2026