Business briefs: New patent, JobsOhio grant, University Hospitals report, food waste app
Local inventors credited with new patent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stoneridge Control Devices Inc. in Novi, Michigan, has been assigned a patent developed by Benjamin A. Harriger of Bellville, Robert J. Steinman of Lexington, Trevor A. Pryor of Mt. Gilead and Mark W. Peters of Wolverine Lake, Michigan. The patent is for a "evaporative emissions leak check module with integrated control and communication system."
Ganymede Technologies awarded JobsOhio Inclusion Grant
BUCYRUS — Ganymede Technologies has been awarded a $50,000 JobsOhio Inclusion Grant, which will be instrumental in driving improvements to both the company's physical location and internal computer infrastructure as well as training for the associates. In addition, Ganymede Technologies introduced its e-commerce feature which works seamlessly with its point-of-sale software. Both announcements are a combined investment exceeding $150,000 and will create four full-time positions.
"The grant funds created the opportunity for me to make an investment in equipment and my team earlier than I anticipated, and because of this, I am able to grow and expand my business," said Fred Fisher, president and CEO of Ganymede Technologies. "I really appreciate the support from JobsOhio, Regional Growth Partnership, and the Crawford Partnership in helping us obtain this grant."
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant is a reimbursable grant program for eligible for-profit Ohio companies in targeted industries to help offset eligible costs related to increasing operational efficiency. Grants are up to $25,000, with an additional $25,000 available for minority-, women-, veteran-, or disabled person-owned businesses.
Ganymede Technologies, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Bucyrus, is a technology-driven company specializing in comprehensive point-of-sale management software and hardware solutions.
University Hospitals invests $531M to address health and economic disparities
CLEVELAND — In its most recent Community Health Investment Report covering 2022, University Hospitals (UH) showcases recent examples of its continued effort to invest in the community and to address health and economic disparities in Northeast Ohio. Since 2008, UH has invested nearly $5 billion in community benefit, and in 2022 alone, the health system’s community benefit expenditures totaled $531 million.
UH follows Internal Revenue Service guidelines to determine allowable community benefit contribution. UH’s community benefit spending includes Medicaid care ($285 million); physician and other clinical education and training ($103 million); medical research investments ($59 million); charity care to patients unable to pay their bills ($54 million); as well as community health and wellness programs and services in our neighborhoods ($30 million).
In addition, UH provides outreach programs, such as no-cost health screenings and health care resources, in order to enhance community health improvement.
Meijer customers keep 10 million pounds of food out of landfills through Flashfood app
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer says its customers have diverted 10 million pounds of potential food waste through the Flashfood app, making it the first retailer nationwide to reach this milestone with Flashfood.
Since the program’s expansion across the Meijer footprint in 2021, customers have purchased 10 million pounds of food on Flashfood, which offers deep discounts on groceries nearing their sell-by dates, preventing it from potentially entering landfills.
Meijer launched Flashfood as a pilot program in November 2019 at a handful of its supercenters in Metro Detroit. After reducing in-store food waste by 10%, Meijer expanded the offering to all its stores in 2021. Today, 264 Meijer stores offer the program, including all the retailer’s supercenters and grocery stores.
Through the Flashfood app, customers purchase food nearing its sell-by date, including meat, produce, seafood, deli, dairy and bakery products, at up to 50% off. Customers then pick up the food from the Flashfood zone located at the front of Meijer stores. According to Flashfood data, the most-purchased item from Meijer via Flashfood is the retailer’s produce box filled with various fruits and vegetables. Other top items purchased via the app are ground beef and Atlantic salmon.
Mansfield News Journal
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: New patent, Ganymede Technologies grant, UH report, Flashfood app
