From Pierre Batton, Senior Business Development Manager
The DEGC Small Business team continues to fuel the city’s resurgence by providing new and growing businesses access to a network of resources. Recently, the team has seen the impact of their dedication to Detroit’s small business community as they celebrated major milestones with awardees.
On Monday, Mayor Duggan, City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield, and the Motor City Match (MCM) team joined owner Raeshawn Bumphers for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the recent opening of Pink Poodle Dress Lounge. Bumphers was presented with the Spirit of Detroit Award for demonstrating her commitment to Detroit by opening her business in the East Riverfront neighborhood. Pink Poodle Dress Lounge, a bridal salon and dress lounge, is the first of its kind businesses to provide bridal and high-end retail services to the city.
The business was inspired by Bumpher’s grandmother and aunt who owned a music lounge by the same name in Milwaukee. Pink Poodle Dress Lounge features a vintage-themed showroom, event space, private fitting room and a makeup room for beauty services. Bumphers is an MCM Round 10 cash awardee and received a $25,000 cash grant to assist with opening her storefront. Fellow MCM awardee Urban Flavors is expected to open in the same building in the spring of 2019.
Our efforts to create density and beautiful walkable spaces in communities across the city extends beyond the MCM program. Last week, the Motor City Re-Store (MCR-S) team celebrated the completion of a major restoration project consisting of four awardee businesses.
The team joined building and business owner, Steven Harris in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening of Rebound Design Build, a full-service design and build firm offering preconstruction and construction services. The restoration project included extensive exterior improvements and landscaping, corrugated metal siding, awnings, a mural designed by a local Detroit artist, signage and decorative lighting, stormwater drainage within the sidewalks and green improvements such as solar safety lighting. The project – a $100,000 total investment – received a 75-percent matching grant because the businesses are clustered together.
In addition to Rebound Design Build, the project is comprised of the following businesses: R66 Consulting & Publishing, a health and wellness consulting agency; Kan Bookstore, a co-op bookstore that brings together the work of Michigan authors and artists; and Transformation Barbershop, which serves the community beyond its hair cutting services, serving as a community space for residents.
MCR-S saw the completion of nine projects in 2018 with an additional three additional expected by the end of the year.
Congratulations to the business owners we celebrated this past week. Our entire team is looking forward to the impact the programs will make as we head into another year of building retail supply for Detroit’s burgeoning demand.
Visit the awardee businesses during their hours of operation:
Pink Poodle Dress Lounge – 9215 East Jefferson Ave.
- Book an appointment Mon-Sun
- Fri. 5pm-8pm, Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. 12pm-6pm
Rebound Design Build – 9413 John R St.
- Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Kan Books – 9405 John R St.
- Tues./Thurs. 10am-6pm, Fri. 3pm-10pm, Sat./Sun. 11am-4pm
Transformations Inc. Barbershop – 9407 John R. St.
- Mon. 9am-5pm, Tues.-Sat. 9am-7pm, Sun. 10am-4pm
Five things you should know about the DEGC:
- Support small business by shopping local this holiday season. Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for the perfect gifts under $50.
- Motor City Re-Store recently announced the latest recipients fo the programs fifth round of design and construction grant awards.
- Motor City Match Round 15 and Motor City Re-Store Round 7 applications are open through January 4, 2019.
- MCM awardee, Norma G’s was recently featured on WXYZ-TV, spotlighting its Caribbean style cuisine.
- DEGC’s Lily Hamburger recently participated as a judge for the Holiday Window Walk contest in Midtown and Capitol Park.