Detroit celebrates 200th Motor City Match business opening in Mayor Duggan’s final ribbon cutting

• The Debt Survivor, founded by Detroiter Ebony Cochran, prepares Detroit entrepreneurs for traditional bank lending through credit and financial literacy education 

• This milestone marks the 200th Motor City Match ribbon cutting during the program’s 10-year history 

• Event serves as Mayor Mike Duggan’s final Motor City Match ribbon cutting 

• $50,000 Motor City Match grant funded major renovations to transform a vacant commercial space into an entrepreneur-focused education and consulting hub 

• Motor City Match businesses now operate in 48 Detroit neighborhoods, creating 1,730 jobs. 

DECEMBER 16, 2025 (DETROIT) – The Debt Survivor, a financial education firm founded by Detroit native Ebony Cochran, became the 200th Motor City Match business to open Tuesday, marking a milestone for the decade-old program and serving as Mayor Mike Duggan’s final Motor City Match ribbon cutting before leaving office. 

The business is located at 11145 Morang Drive in the Yorkshire Woods neighborhood, where Cochran grew up and launched her first venture as a teen mother on welfare more than 20 years ago. She now returns as a property owner and educator focused on helping Detroit entrepreneurs secure funding from traditional lenders and other financial resources. 

“I started my first business in this neighborhood as a teen mom on welfare,” Cochran said. “Today I’m celebrating a space designed to help entrepreneurs build strong foundations and secure the funding they need to grow.” 

Financial literacy remains a critical gap among small business owners nationwide. Research indicates that a little over half (54%) of small business owners possess a good understanding of financial management prior to starting a business, while one in four (28%) lack confidence in their financial knowledge.  

Cochran received a $50,000 Motor City Match grant to renovate the 7,300-square-foot building, which had been a vacant shell. The funding transformed the space into a functional education and consulting hub where entrepreneurs can learn about credit management, documentation and financial planning — skills necessary for accessing funding. 

Since founding The Debt Survivor in 2017, Cochran has helped clients collectively secure millions in traditional bank funding after completing her programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Michigan University and three associate degrees from local community colleges. 

“Ebony’s story is what Motor City Match is all about,” said Duggan, adding that he hopes the program continues its longevity with the incoming administration. “She built a business from scratch, came back to where she started and created something that will help other Detroiters succeed. This program works because it invests in people who know these neighborhoods and understand what it takes to build something real here.” 

Since launching in 2015, Motor City Match has distributed more than $20 million in cash grants to Detroit small business owners, with the majority going to Detroit residents, women and entrepreneurs of color. The program has supported entrepreneurs across all seven council districts, with businesses now operating in 48 Detroit neighborhoods. These openings have created 1,730 jobs. 

“Opening our 200th Motor City Match business is a major moment for Detroit and demonstrates how far the program has come,” said Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at DEGC, which manages the program. “Ebony understands what entrepreneurs need to move from ideas to investment-ready businesses. The Debt Survivor will help more Detroiters take that next step.” 

Cochran operates the business with her 20-year-old daughter as a part-time employee and several freelance contractors. The new location will expand class offerings and, beginning in 2026, welcome walk-in entrepreneurs seeking guidance. 

“This space is just the beginning,” Cochran said. “If I can help parents and business owners change how they think about money, that change will show up in their businesses, their families and their futures.” 

Through 29 rounds of Motor City Match: 

• Total cash grants: $21 million (Total leveraged investment: $110 million) 

• 85% of awardees are minority-owned 

• 73% are women-owned 

• 69% are owned by Detroit residents 

About Motor City Match 

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com