Flint Honors 18 at Art of Achievement Awards
The Flint & Genesee Group recognized local figures and organizations at its 12th annual ceremony, which also introduced a new veteran-owned business honor.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
The Flint & Genesee Group honored eighteen organizations and individuals at its 12th annual Art of Achievement Awards Wednesday night at the FIM Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint. Nearly 600 people registered to attend the ceremony.
Why it matters
The awards recognize contributors to economic growth, community development and the hospitality industry across Flint and Genesee County. The new Veteran-Owned Business Award adds a category tied to local veterans' services.
Three awards were selected internally by the Flint & Genesee Group, while 14 recipients were chosen from public nominations reviewed by two independent committees of local professionals and industry leaders. The group received hundreds of nominations this year.
The players
Flint & Genesee Group
The Flint-area organization that presents the Art of Achievement Awards and recognizes contributions to economic growth and community development in Flint and Genesee County.
Dan Kildee
A former U.S. congressman from Flint who received the Charles Stewart Mott Award for his public service and advocacy for the region.
Sharp Funeral Homes
A funeral service business that became the first recipient of the Veteran-Owned Business Award.
The details
Terry Pickard received the Art Hurand Award and Dan Kildee received the Charles Stewart Mott Award, while Kais-AIR was named Economic Development Project of the Year. Sharp Funeral Homes became the inaugural recipient of the Veteran-Owned Business Award, developed in collaboration with Genesee County Veterans Services.
Timeline
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Art of Achievement Awards ceremony held at the FIM Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint.
Next year (2027): Nominations for the Veteran-Owned Business Award open through the regular nomination process.
Culture Shift
The addition of a Veteran-Owned Business Award in the program's 12th year extends its annual tradition of recognizing local contributors into a category tied specifically to military service. The new honor reflects a growing emphasis on veteran entrepreneurship in regional recognition programs across Michigan.
Residents who run veteran-owned businesses in Genesee County can nominate themselves or others for the new award starting next year. The honor gives local veteran entrepreneurs a formal avenue for public recognition within the regional business community.
The takeaway
Recognition programs like the Art of Achievement Awards can highlight the community contributions that often go unnoticed. Readers interested in local honors can follow nomination cycles to participate in identifying future recipients.
What happens next
Nominations for the Veteran-Owned Business Award will be accepted through the regular Art of Achievement Awards nomination process beginning next year.
Further reading
Explore more Flint awards coverage to see other local honors and recognition programs.
