NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp
AUGUST 27, 2025 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
The cities of Warren and Sterling Heights have launched a national search to fill a key role for the Arsenal Alliance, a $500,000 agreement between the two cities signed in April aimed at growing the defense industry in southeast Michigan. File photo by Brian Wells
Lincoln High School students, from left to right, Sadya Hashem, Kyla Jordan, Deja Coachman, Rajae Noble and Ranae Noble help fill backpacks with school supplies. Photo by Erin Sanchez
Warren, Sterling Heights seek defense advisor for Arsenal Alliance BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
MACOMB COUNTY — Several months after the mayors of the two largest cities in Macomb County signed an agreement aimed at bolstering the defense industry’s ties to the region, they have collaboratively launched a national search to fill a key leadership position. The two cities are working together to conduct a search for a defense industry economic development advisor to drive the work of the Arsenal Alliance, a regional initiative aimed at growing the defense industry in southeast Michigan. The advisor will be tasked with leading stakeholder engagement across business, government and military sectors; developing a strategic plan aligned with emerging defense priorities; identifying and pursuing state, federal and private investment opportunities; and amplifying the region’s presence in national policy and procurement conversations. An Aug. 11 press release states the role is “a
first-of-its-kind regional blueprint designed to secure southeast Michigan’s place at the forefront of national defense readiness and innovation.” “This isn’t just about hiring a director of defense policy, strategy and advocacy — it’s about choosing the right partner to help us build the future,” Warren Mayor Lori Stone said in a statement. The Arsenal Alliance is a $500,000 agreement between Warren and Sterling Heights, which was signed in April. It aims to build on the strong defense industry already present in Macomb County by driving development, job creation and retention. “It’s long past time that we collaborate on more issues like this for the benefit of our people and for the betterment, really, of the nation,” Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said at the April press conference. The agreement, he said, takes funding from both cities to create a joint venture to support the contractors that are already here while also helping See ADVISOR on page 5A
Backpack Initiative supplies students for new school year BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — When a new school year begins, there are feelings of excitement and nervousness when meeting your teachers, finding your classrooms and catching up with classmates. Families also have the task of purchasing school supplies for their children. However, because of financial hardships, many families can’t afford them. But this year, approximately 8,000 local school children will receive the school supplies they need through the United Way of Southeastern Michigan Backpack Initiative. The United Way has partnerships with several schools, school districts and nonprofit organizations that will distribute the backpacks to students in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties for the 2025-2026 school year. The United Way purchased pencils, notebooks and more through $68,000 they raised in sponsorships from a number of businesses. Several volunteers from those companies gathered Aug. 12 in the Lincoln High School gymnasium for the initiative. They formed an assembly line to stuff the backpacks of various colors with folders, composition notebooks, crayons, pencils, erasers, glue sticks and scissors. There was a morning shift and an afternoon shift. Lincoln students also volunteered. Lincoln is part of the Van Dyke Public Schools district. Some supplies stayed in the district for its students. “We so appreciate United Way’s support and partnership,” Van Dyke Public Schools Superintendent Piper Bognar said. “The opportuSee BACKPACKS on page 9A