Detroit business owners take center stage with Motor City Match at Spirit Plaza
- DEGC
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
To mark 10 years of impact, Motor City Match brought Detroit entrepreneurs and small business owners together at Spirit Plaza.
By Jasmine Ramirez, DEGC Communications Intern
On August 6th, I attended the Motor City Match Marketplace at Detroit’s Spirit Plaza. The event celebrated Motor City Match’s 10th anniversary by bringing together 14 Detroit entrepreneurs and small business owners who had been awardees over the years, each showcasing their unique products and services to the community. You can find the full list below.
However, it was more than just vendors. There was music, dancing and games for all to enjoy.
MCM had a clear motive for this event, which was to showcase the real, tangible impact their program has had on Detroit and its residents over the past decade.
You can catch the highlights in the reel below before diving into the full recap.
Here are 4 takeaways from the event:
Representation in Detroit’s small business community
At the marketplace, I met amazing entrepreneurs who were grateful to be part of the celebration. What struck me most was talking to these entrepreneurs and realizing that most didn’t come from privileged backgrounds. They were regular people who put in the work to build something meaningful. Seeing the array of diverse business owners confidently telling their stories and showcasing their products and services was an inspiring sight!
Since the start of the Motor City Match program, entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds have entered Detroit’s business community - 84% minority owned, 71.9% women-owned and 69.5% owned by Detroit residents.
I asked Sarah Williams, owner of Next Chapter Books, how she felt about participating in MCM’s celebration. She stated, “It’s a great way to be connected to other small businesses in the city. It helps you not feel alone.”
Detroit entrepreneurs are building the city
Within a decade, I’ve seen drastic changes in Detroit. Buildings have been restored and filled with thriving businesses, their windows now displaying “hiring” signs where “vacant” notices once hung. With more businesses opening, residents can secure jobs closer to them.
To date, MCM has opened more than 190 storefronts across Detroit neighborhoods and created over 1,600 jobs.
“Motor City Match is the premier program that everyone should be a part of to grow their business.”
Detroit innovation thrives through entrepreneurs’ vision
The entrepreneurs I met didn’t just see Detroit as it was – they saw what it could become.
The Nap Time Show, for example, is a children’s television series produced in Detroit that promotes healthy sleeping habits and emotional well-being. Executive Producer Sierra Boone explained their mission: “We are a leading producer of healthy, developmentally appropriate content for kids that will help them grow mentally and emotionally.”
Then there’s Next Chapter Books, a bookstore located on Detroit’s east side that’s doing something special. The bookstore offers a wide variety of affordable books to share knowledge and inspire creativity among residents. However, what makes it unique to Detroit is that it offers a wide selection of books by Detroit-based authors. “We focus a lot on uplifting local authors, poets, and writers,” said Williams.
No one has to dream alone
The most important thing I learned from this celebration was that Motor City Match always has your back. “MCM is the premier program that everyone should be a part of to grow their business,” said AGiftaVerse owner Gerald Harris.
Starting a business is tough, especially when you’re dealing with limited resources and capital. That is the reason why Mayor Mike Duggan launched the Motor City Match program to remove those barriers for Detroit entrepreneurs. “The program recognizes that entrepreneurship is hard work, but it also ensures that hard work gets noticed and supported,” said Ashley Marie, owner of Twisted Cornbread.
Vendors at the Marketplace included:
Over the past decade, Motor City Match has helped hundreds of Detroit entrepreneurs open storefronts, create jobs and build community. That legacy continues with Round 30, opening for applications on September 1. If you’re ready to take the next step with your business, this is your chance to join the growing network of Detroit small businesses that have found support through the program.
Learn more here.