Motor City Match awards $450K to nine neighborhood businesses in latest round

• $450,000 in cash grants awarded to nine new businesses at the Round 29 awards ceremony

• Awardees include standout ventures such as a late-night childcare center, an immersive paintball facility, an empowerment-focused photography studio, various eateries and more

• 45 Detroit businesses representing five City Council districts and 14 neighborhoods received support through Round 29 through its Business Plan, Develop, Design and Cash tracks

• In Round 29, 87% are minority-owned businesses; 80% are women-owned businesses; and 89% are businesses owned by Detroit residents

AUGUST 19, 2025 (DETROIT) – The City of Detroit and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) announced today at a ceremony at DEGC’s offices in the Guardian Building that $450,000 has been awarded to nine local businesses in the 29th round of Motor City Match.

Round 29 Cash awardees will open brick-and-mortar locations in nine neighborhoods citywide, bringing new amenities, jobs and energy to commercial corridors. The ventures represent various industries, from childcare and creative hubs to restaurants, retail and cultural destinations, underscoring the program’s ongoing commitment to supporting diverse entrepreneurs and strengthening Detroit neighborhoods.  

“Motor City Match is all about turning Detroiters’ big ideas into real businesses,” said Deputy Mayor Melia Howard. “This round’s awardees are bringing fresh energy to our neighborhoods, from late-night childcare to paintball and farm-to-table dining, and that’s the kind of creativity that keeps our city moving forward.”

Motor City Match provides additional support to Detroit entrepreneurs beyond cash grants through its Business Plan, Develop and Design tracks. The tracks offer business services, training and one-on-one advising to help Detroiters move from concept to launch. In Round 29, 87% of the awarded businesses are minority-owned, 80% are woman-owned and 89% are owned by Detroit residents, demonstrating Motor City Match’s focus on inclusive growth.

“These numbers reflect what we’ve always believed, and that’s when you provide holistic support and remove barriers, Detroit’s entrepreneurs will thrive,” said DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson. “Motor City Match is building relationships and providing the tools business owners need to succeed and creating opportunities for everyone to participate in Detroit’s economic growth.”

In total, 45 Detroit businesses representing five City Council districts and 14 neighborhoods received support through Round 29.

Celebrating 10 years of small business support

Motor City Match marked its milestone 10th anniversary this month with a two-day celebration, showcasing the program’s impact on Detroit’s entrepreneurial landscape. The anniversary celebration began on Aug. 6 with a marketplace at Spirit Plaza and culminated Aug. 8 with a ribbon cutting for Candela Detroit, a flexible event venue and cultural space that became Motor City Match’s 192nd brick-and-mortar business to open. 

Equity remains central to Motor City Match’s mission. Of the businesses supported, 84% are minority-owned, 71.9% are women-owned and 69.5% are owned by Detroit residents. More than half are owned by individuals classified as low-to-moderate income.

Since its launch in 2015, Motor City Match has supported more than 2,200 businesses, leading to 192 new brick-and-mortar openings throughout the city. The program has awarded more than $20 million in grants and helped leverage $105.3 million in additional investment.

Through 29 rounds of the program:

·       Total business open: 192

·       Total businesses under construction: 68

·       Total cash grants: $20.3 million

·       Total leveraged investment: $105.3 million

·       84 percent are minority-owned businesses

·       71.9 percent are women-owned businesses

·       69.5 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents

·       2,266 total businesses served

Motor City Match Round 29 Cash awardees:  

• Books and Nooks Kiddie Care Academy, LLC – $45,000

  • A childcare group home licensed for 12 children, serving ages 6 weeks to 12 years per shift. With a mom-friendly mission, it will operate from 5:30 a.m. to midnight

  • 20151 Joy Rd

  • Franklin Park, District 7

• Equal Parts Detroit, LLC – $40,000

o   Detroit’s first craft beverage hub, offering premium ice, fresh juices, bar tools and cocktail kits directly to consumers. The Equal parts storefront creates a walk-in experience for hospitality enthusiasts, home bartenders and industry professionals.

o   3536 Michigan Ave.

o   Chadsey Condon, District 6

• KCD Photography, LLC – $25,000

  • KCD Photography offers empowering boudoir, heartfelt wedding and expressive portrait photography. The studio also spearheads the “I Am Worthy” campaign, championing women’s empowerment and community connection. 

  • 2835 Bagley

  • West Side Industrial, District 6

    

• Paintball 2 Go, LLC – $65,000

  • Paintball 2 Go offers an immersive experience that includes paintball, gellyball and archery tag for corporate events, birthdays, team building and more. 

  • 7577 W Eight Mile

  • Bagley, District 2

    

• Pink Flamingo Detroit, LLC – $60,000

o   Farm-to-table food business specializing in local, seasonal catering and pop-ups. Pink Flamingo will function as a cafe, retail food market, commissary kitchen and food hub. 

o   5200 Chene

o   Poletown East, District 5

• SushiRitas Midtown, LLC – $60,000

o   SushiRitas offers fast-casual sushi by day and a chill social bar by night. Fresh food, crafted drinks and a vibe that fits quick lunches, after-work hangs and late-night cravings. 

o   5700 Woodward

o   Cultural Center, District 5

• Sydney G. James, LLC – $55,000

  • 4617 Art Centre will be a vibrant creative hub offering five affordable workspaces for Detroit-based visual artists including painters, sculptors, photographers and filmmakers. It will also proudly host the BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival headquarters. 

  • 4617 E Davison

  • Davison, District 3

• Waka, LLC – $50,000

  • Waka by Baobab Fare is a vibrant East African eatery bringing authentic street food to Detroit. Offering bold, flavorful dishes inspired by tradition, Waka celebrates culture and community. With roots as a food truck, it’s expanding to a permanent Eastern Market location, creating opportunities and sharing the essence of East Africa

  • 2465 Russel

  • Eastern Market, District 5

• Westside Bike Club, LLC – $50,000

  • Westside Bike Club is a Detroit-based creative incubation firm that supports small business owners and creatives by providing workspace, workshops, resources, and mentorship.

  • 2020 Puritan 

  • Martin Park, District 2

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