Twenty Round 20 entrepreneurs awarded grants to help bring their dreams of opening a business to reality
Recently-approved ARPA funding doubles grants provided by program that already has helped 138 entrepreneurs open their brick-and-mortar businesses
Round 20 winners include and array of restaurants and coffee/tea/juice shops, apparel shops and a popular farm and cider mill in the city
Round 21 applications open today at motorcitymatch.com
AUG. 30, 2022 (DETROIT) – Mayor Mike Duggan and Motor City Match celebrated the program’s Round 20 awards, which includes 20 grants totaling $1 million dollars to entrepreneurs looking to bring their dream of opening a business in Detroit a reality. This marks a doubling of the grant pool and increase of funding from $500,000 in grants every quarter to $1 million dollars.
The expanded impact was made possible by $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding approved recently by Detroit City Council.
“Motor City Match has unleashed the incredible entrepreneurial talent that has always existed in Detroit and is bringing a range of wonderful new businesses to neighborhoods across the city,” said Mayor Duggan.
“Thanks to this additional ARPA funding, the program will have twice the impact on the revitalization of our neighborhood commercial corridors.”
Among the businesses receiving grants are an African-themed metaphysics shop, high-end and custom apparel shops, a party supply rental shop, a community laundromat and a host of new neighborhood-based coffee, tea, juice and ice cream shops among many more.
In addition to grants, the program confirmed awards to 45 additional businesses in its Business Plan, Develop, and Design Tracks. These awards offer technical assistance, business services, classes and workshops, and one-on-one consulting for Detroit businesses still developing their projects. Round 20 Awardees represent all 7 council districts and more than 20 Detroit neighborhoods.
“The beauty of the Motor City Match program is that it continues providing valuable tools and resources for awardees throughout their entire journey from idea to open,” said Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. “This program helps to ensure that once open, those doors stay open and these businesses remain essential.”
Since 2015, Motor City Match has made awards to more than 1,600 businesses. Those awards, both cash grants and services, have resulted in 138 new brick & mortar businesses currently operating throughout the city. Starting with Round 20, the program will leverage an infusion of federal funding from the city’s ARPA allocation to increase both the amount of grants and scope of services available. The quarterly grant pool will increase to $1,000,000 for new businesses and offer a $250,000 in grants to existing business that have been operating in the city for at least one year.
Integrating ARPA funding into the program represents a continuation of the city’s efforts to support businesses in combatting the negative economic impact of the pandemic. The DEGC administered over $15 million in Covid relief grants between March 2020 and March 2021 and introduced the Detroit Means Business platform to provide wrap-around services for Detroit businesses. ARPA funding will allow Motor City Match and the DEGC to continue those efforts and target support to underserved Detroit entrepreneurs.
Motor City Match continues to grow Detroit’s small-business landscape
Combined with its other small business programming, DEGC is creating a sustainable small business environment that nurtures new concepts and ideas. Motor City Match offers business owners a wide range of assistance in four tracks Plan, Develop, Design, and Cash. The program helps Detroit entrepreneurs plan, formalize, and launch their business by providing business planning classes, site-selection assistance, financial planning, legal aid, design services, and gap funding.
Through 20 rounds of the program:
85 percent are minority-owned businesses
74 percent are women-owned businesses
68 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents
1,606 total business served
Total cash grants: $10.1 million
Total leveraged investment: $60 million
Total business open: 138
Businesses under construction: 64
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, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb 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 Motor City
Match Round 20 Cash Awardees
The Goddess Metaphysical Store LLC – $45,000
Holistic-based retail & community space
9701 Harper Ave.
Craig's Coffee – $50,000
Commercial kitchen and coffee roastery available for rent to foodservice businesses in Midtown
412 Peterboro St.
Ice Cream Detroit – $35,000
Ice cream shop offering innovative frozen treats
3762 2nd Ave.
Bouncing Around the Motor City – $80,000
Party decorations and bounce houses for rent, headquartered in the Bethune Community
13238 Fenkell St.
Pink Diamond Beauty Mall – $50,000
Health & beauty salon/spa in the University District
17350 Livernois Ave.
Thumbprint Artifacts – $40,000
Warehouse and distribution center in Southwest Detroit
2100 20th St.
Juicing with Jai d/b/a Pressed Juice Bar – $55,000
A Neighborhood juice bar and café in North Rosedale Park
19550 Grand River Ave.
Our Community Laundromat LLC – $75,000
Full-service laundromat in the Bethune Community
15429 Schaefer Hwy.
K. Walker Collective LLC – $30,000
A high-street apparel for audacious, urban professionals.
4161 Cass Ave.
Vecino Detroit – $50,000
Modern Mexican restaurant in Midtown
4100 Third St.
CommodiTeas Tea, LLC – $70,000
Tea café and B2B retail shop in Wildemere Park
8035 & 8045 Linwood St.
Taste of Love LLC– $70,000
Restaurant providing carryout and catering in the Oak Grove District
21559 Grand River Ave.
Virtual Virtual Offices– $45,000
Shared office space in Harmony Village
14029 W. McNichols St.
Someday– $40,000
Community art gallery and tea shop offering decadent pastries and award-winning art.
2857 E Grand Blvd.
Detroit Farm And Cider– $40,000
Cider Mill in the Dexter-Linwood neighborhood
1600 Lawrence St.
The Rectory – $45,000
Restaurant and residential units in the Historic Atkinson neighborhood
1920 Atkinson St.
Detroit Denim LLC– $35,000
Custom jeans shop in Midtown
651 W. Alexandrine St.
Le Souk– $55,000
Pop-up space and podcast studio in the Bagley neighborhood
8632 W McNichols St.
Complete Image Manufacturing– $40,000
Full-service apparel manufacturing company on the Avenue of Fashion (Sherwood Forest)
3187 Franklin St.
DPI Plumbing Heating & Cooling, LLC– $50,000
Plumbing sales and installation in the Dexter-Linwood neighborhood
10330 Dexter Ave.
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