Detroit restaurants, neighborhood grocery store and creative hub among those awarded $330K in Motor City Match grants

• $330,000 in grants awarded to five Detroit businesses through Round 32 of Motor City Match

• Cash awardees include two restaurants, a full-service grocery store, a creative media hub and neighborhood café

• Round 32 cash awardees represent five Detroit neighborhoods across three City Council districts

• In Round 32, 90% of awardees are minority-owned, 88% are woman-owned and 70% are owned by Detroit residents

September 1, 2026 (DETROIT) – Mayor Mary Sheffield and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) today announced $330,000 in grants to five Detroit small businesses through Round 32 of Motor City Match, bringing new commercial space to three of the city’s seven City Council districts.

The announcement was made at Vander Detroit, itself a Round 32 awardee, in its soon-to-be-renovated cafe. The five businesses will open or expand brick-and-mortar locations across the city, adding dining, grocery and creative space.

The businesses include Cash Only Bistro, a build-your-own pasta restaurant coming to the East Warren corridor; Calamansi, a Filipino restaurant opening in Southwest Detroit; La Altena Supermercado, a full-service grocery store in Springwells; The Creative Union, a media and cultural development hub in Milwaukee Junction; and Vander Cafe, a neighborhood café serving everything from morning coffee to evening non-alcoholic cocktails.

“These five businesses are bringing fresh food to our communities, creating places for people to connect, giving new ways to build community – and more reasons to believe in our neighborhoods,” said Sheffield. “Every dollar invested in these entrepreneurs is a vote of confidence in Detroit’s future.”

Motor City Match supports Detroit entrepreneurs beyond cash grants through its Plan, Develop and Design tracks, which provide business services, training and one-on-one advising to help entrepreneurs move from concept to launch. Round 32 awarded 15 businesses in the Plan track, 15 in Develop and five in Design, in addition to the five Cash awardees.

“Motor City Match is helping entrepreneurs turn proven experience and strong ideas into permanent brick-and-mortar businesses,” said DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson. “A Southwest Detroit family with decades in the food industry and creatives building something new in Milwaukee Junction are indicators of what’s possible in our city. Motor City Match is investing in Detroit, and Detroit is investing right back.”

About the Round 32 cash awardees

Cash Only Bistro (ADH Ventures Holdings LLC) will receive $75,000 to establish a build-your-own pasta restaurant at 16215 E. Warren Ave. in Morningside, District 4. Owner Sharletta Hall brings a background in restaurant management and previously ran a build-your-own pasta bar catering business before pursuing a permanent location.

Calamansi (Fifty/50 LLC) will receive $60,000 to bring Filipino cuisine to 4458 W. Vernor Highway in Central Southwest, District 6. Owner Marcee Sobredilla and her team bring more than 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry, with a concept built around Filipino hospitality.

At 7843 W. Vernor Highway in Springwells, District 6, La Altena Supermercado (La Altena LLC) will use an $85,000 grant to open a full-service grocery store with produce, an in-house butcher shop and baked goods and tortillas made on site. Owner Joel Padilla has spent 25 years running his family’s Southwest Detroit restaurant, Taquería El Nacimiento.

The Creative Union (The Creative Union LLC) will receive $50,000 to expand its media and cultural development ecosystem at 2937 E. Grand Blvd. in Milwaukee Junction, District 5, adding space for content production, education, entrepreneurship and creative collaboration.

Vander Cafe LLC will receive $60,000 to open at 626 Harper Ave. in Medbury Park, District 5, serving coffee by day and non-alcoholic cocktails into the evening. Its team brings experience from Rhythm Coffee pop-ups, private events and community activations.

Motor City Match impact

Motor City Match continues to connect Detroit entrepreneurs with funding, technical assistance and resources needed to launch and grow brick-and-mortar businesses across the city.

The program has supported 209 businesses that are now open, with another 71 under construction, and has awarded $21 million in grants that helped leverage $119 million in additional investment. The program has awarded 2,276 businesses since 2015.

About Motor City Match

Motor City Match is a small business incubator program powered by a partnership between the City of Detroit, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) and Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC). The program awards cash grants and provides planning, design and development support to entrepreneurs looking to open or expand a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit. Applications are accepted quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com.