Mycology café, esports lab among 11 Detroit businesses winning $535K in grants from Motor City Match

• $535,000 in grants awarded to 11 Detroit businesses through Round 30

• Awardees include a mycology café, neighborhood market, and an esports computer lab and game center, among others

• Round 30 reflects Mayor Mary Sheffield’s inclusive growth priorities: 80 percent of businesses are minority-owned, 74 percent are woman-owned and 85 percent are owned by Detroit residents

• Motor City Match has supported more than 2,230 businesses and opened 200 brick-and-mortar locations across Detroit since 2015

JANUARY 20, 2026 (DETROIT) – Mayor Mary Sheffield and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) today, at a ceremony at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, awarded $535,000 in grants to 11 Detroit small businesses through the 30th round of Motor City Match.

Round 30 Cash awardees will open brick-and-mortar locations in 11 neighborhoods citywide, bringing new amenities, jobs and energy to commercial corridors. The awardees represent a wide range of businesses, from an early childhood program and adult day center to a mycology café, esports lab and neighborhood market, demonstrating the program’s ongoing commitment to supporting diverse entrepreneurs and strengthening Detroit neighborhoods. A full list of recipients can be found at the end of the release.

Motor City Match’s continuation advances new Mayor Mary Sheffield’s push to expand economic opportunities across all Detroit neighborhoods. Sheffield, who served more than a decade on Detroit City Council, including four years as its president, has prioritized inclusive economic growth since taking office this year. Round 30 exemplifies that commitment: 80 percent of awarded businesses are minority-owned, 74 percent are woman-owned and 85 percent are owned by Detroit residents.

“I’ve always been vocal about the need to invest in our city’s entrepreneurs. They bring fresh ideas, jobs and valuable goods and services to neighborhoods across Detroit,” Sheffield said. “These 11 entrepreneurs represent the Detroit I know. The one where hardworking people with great ideas just need a real shot to succeed. Motor City Match gives them that shot, and our whole city wins when they do.”

Motor City Match provides additional support to Detroit entrepreneurs beyond cash grants through its 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 total, 45 Detroit businesses representing five City Council districts and 15 neighborhoods received support through Round 30.

“Round 30 shows Motor City Match doing what it was designed to do,” said DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson. “We’re reaching entrepreneurs across the city, from longtime Detroiters with deep neighborhood roots to newcomers with bold visions. The geographic and creative diversity makes our commercial corridors stronger and our economy more resilient.”

A decade of small business support

Last month, Motor City Match marked the 200^th ribbon cutting in the program’s 10-year history, with the opening of The Debt Survivor, which offers credit and financial literacy education to Detroit entrepreneurs.

Of the total businesses supported by the program, 84% are minority-owned, 72% are women-owned and 70% are owned by Detroit residents. Nearly half are owned by individuals classified as low- to moderate-income.

Since its launch in 2015, Motor City Match has supported more than 2,230 businesses, leading to 200 new brick-and-mortar openings throughout the city. The program has awarded more than $20 million in grants and helped leverage $111 million in additional investment.

Through 30 rounds of the program:

·       Total business open: 200

·       Total businesses under construction: 56

·       Total cash grants: $20.5 million

·       Total leveraged investment: $111 million

·       83.9 percent are minority-owned businesses

·       71.9 percent are women-owned businesses

·       70 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents

·       2,236 total businesses served

Motor City Match Round 30 Cash awardees:  

• Children of the Rising Sun, LLC – $50,000

  • Children of the Rising Sun is a holistic early childhood program serving children from birth to age five and their families.

  • 19711 Greenfield

  • Greenfield, District 2

• Fungi and Fungal – $60,000

o   Fungi and Fungal is a cozy mycology café and retail space where coffee, community, and cultivation come together.

o   7627 Mack

o   Gratiot-Grand, District 5

• Heal Well Detroit, LLC – $55,000

  • Heal Well Detroit Adult Day Center offers compassionate daytime services for adults with disabilities, combining enriching activities, nutritious meals, transportation, and wellness monitoring.

  • 22243 Fenkell

  • Brightmoor, District 1

• Matron Saint, LLC – $50,000

  • Matron Saint is a wholesale and neighborhood bakery specializing in hyperlocal, seasonal pastries, with select ingredients grown on site.

  • 8418 W McNichols

  • Bagley, District 2

    
    

• Michigan Print Source, LLC – $20,000

o   Michigan Print Source provides high-quality materials, supplies and craft essentials for aspiring print entrepreneurs and creatives.

o   14191 Greenfield

o   Greenfield-Grand River, District 1

• Old Redford Treatment Center Inc. – $60,000

  • Old Redford Treatment Center provides specialized counseling for individuals diagnosed with or at risk for substance use disorders.

  • 23001 W Grand River

  • Oak Grove, District 1

• Pro Link Center – $50,000

o   Pro Link Center provides flexible, affordable business space rentals for entrepreneurs, creators and community professionals.

o   15334 W McNichols

o   Winship, District 2

• Riverwards Market – $55,000

  • Riverwards is a neighborhood market connecting farmers and makers with the community through fresh, local and seasonal food that celebrates Detroit and Michigan’s food culture.

  • 8933 Kercheval

  • East Village, District 5

• Ruby’s Natural Hair Care Products, LLC – $30,000

  • Ruby’s Natural Hair Care is a Black-owned, family-run beauty brand offering handcrafted, all-natural hair and skincare products.

  • 14415 E Jefferson

  • Riverbend, District 4

• TOA Café – $50,000

  • TOA Café blends Yemeni hospitality with modern coffee culture, serving specialty drinks, brunch, and fusion plates.

  • 2420 Bagley

  • Central Southwest, District 6

• Webdroid, LLC – $55,000

  • Webdroid is a Detroit-based esports computer lab and game center that provides high-performance gaming, coding and design experiences for youth and the community based in technology.

  • 2898 W Grand Blvd

  • New Center, District 5

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