Mike Dunggan: Motor City Match awards more than $1.3 million in cash grants to support 32 new & existing Detroit businesses

Sea Otter - Mike Dunggan | HOUR Detroit Magazine

By NW Wayne News reports

Apr 4, 2023

From February 1, 2023 post

Round 21 recipients include 17 new businesses and 15 existing businesses
Winners include new businesses ranging from a community-owned grocery store to a construction trades training center, fabric and upholstery stores and wine & book bar
74% are minority-owned businesses; 60% are women-owned businesses; and 68% are businesses owned by Detroit residents
Motor City Match recently doubled its impact each round, thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Motor City Match Round 21 cash grant awardees.

Today, Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to 32 new and existing Detroit businesses selected as recipients of Motor City Match’s Round 21 awards. The funds will be used to help Detroit entrepreneurs start new brick-and-mortar businesses and existing businesses make physical improvements to their building.

This year’s awardees include a community-owned grocery store, training hub for construction trades and a production and education facility for a national fashion brand, as well as an array of restaurants, bakeries and personal care services, among many more. The 17 new businesses receiving grants are distributed across 15 Detroit neighborhoods, including Warrendale, North Campau, Chalfonte, University District and Martin Park.

“The impact Motor City Match is having on neighborhoods across the city is remarkable,” said Mayor Duggan. “Neighborhoods that have lacked basic services and amenities for years are now seeing a real diversity of high-quality businesses opening along their commercial corridors, within walking distance of many residents. This program has been a major part of our strategy to strengthen and rebuild our neighborhoods.”

In Round 21, a total of $965,000 in grants have been awarded to 17 new businesses to open a brick-and-mortar location in the city. Another $341,000 in cash grants was awarded to 15 existing businesses for improvements to their current space, the latter made possible by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

In addition to the grants, the program confirmed awards to 48 additional businesses in its Business Plan, Develop and Design tracks. These awards offer technical assistance, including business services, workshops and one-on-one consulting for Detroit businesses still developing their projects.

In total, 80 Detroit businesses representing all seven council districts received assistance through Motor City Match’s 21st round.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and communities. They provide a tax base to fund our schools and city services, they provide jobs, and they provide goods and services within residents’ own backyard,” said DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson, whose organization manages the Motor City Match program. “If we want a strong, functional economy, then we need the small business community to thrive.”

Since 2015, Motor City Match has awarded more than 1,600 businesses, resulting in 143 new brick & mortar businesses currently operating throughout the city. Starting with Round 20, the program leverages federal funding from the city’s ARPA allocation to increase both the number of grants and scope of services available. The quarterly grant pool has been increased to $1 million for new businesses and offers $250,000 in grants to existing businesses 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, which was approved last year by Detroit City Council, has allowed Motor City Match and the DEGC to continue those efforts and target support to underserved Detroit entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are an integral part of what makes Detroit special. I am ecstatic that this round of Motor City Match Awardees is receiving the largest amount of funds from the program to date, for the purpose of either starting or continuing to build out the awardees' businesses,” said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. “This serves as a clear signal to prospective business owners that there are resources and support services available to assist in making their dreams come true!”

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 five tracks Plan, Develop, Design, Cash and Restore. 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 21 rounds of the program:

Total business open: 143
Total businesses under construction: 61
Total cash grants: $11.4 million
Total leveraged investment: $61.6 million
84 percent are minority-owned businesses
74 percent are women-owned businesses
69 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents
1696 total business served

Motor City Match Round 21 Cash Awardees:

- Irby Enterprises Company D.B.A. Balance & Flow Yoga Studio– $25,000
  - Yoga, health, and wellness Programs
  - 18728 West Warren Ave.
- A + Fabrics LLC– $35,000
  - Shop selling discounted upholstery fabrics
  - 15627 Harper Ave.
- Boarding House Hospitality - Adelaide's Superette– $40,000
  - General store with breakfast tacos
  - 13880 Joseph Campau St.
- Our Gathering Place– $40,000
  - Café and community meeting place
  - 20011 Grand River Ave.
- The Red Hook, New Center LLC. DBA The Red Hook Midtown– $45,000
  - Cafe serving coffee, pastries, wine
  - 3695 Woodward Ave.
- The Wildemere LLC– $50,000
  - Full-service bar and grill
  - 3143 W. McNichols
- Channel One Event Venue– $50,000
  - Event venue for all special occasions
  - 444 Meldrum
- Youthnique– $50,000
  - Start-up center and entrepreneurial education
  - 19456 Livernois Ave.
- Hope for Flowers L3C– $55,000
  - Fashion design, education, and training
  - 119 Garfield Ave.
- Natural-ish, LLC– $65,000
- - Natural beauty supply & salon
  - 6375 W. 7 Mile Rd.
- TT Sip-n-Read– $65,000
  - Book bar serving wine and coffee
  - 1620 Michigan Ave.
- Detroit Future Ops– $65,000
  - Construction technical assistance, workforce development
  - 326 18th St.
- House Of African Prints– $70,000
  - We provide affordable, high quality, modern, chic pieces incorporating traditional Ghanaian beads and fabric directly sourced and made in Ghana.
  - 15101 Livernois Ave.
- Al-Ahmed Halal Processing LLC– $75,000
  - Wholesale and retail Halal butcher and processor
  - 19055 W Davison St.
- Dream Estates– $75,000
  - Assistant living for low income, elderly and disable individuals
  - 16000 Pembroke St.
- Canfield Consortium– $75,000
  - Premium quality coffee shop
  - 10545 E. Canfield St.
- Neighborhood Grocery LLC– $85,000
  - Full-service grocery store
  - 500 Manistique

Motor City Match Round 21 Restore Awardees:

Omnia, Inc. DBA NINE Design + Homes– $25,000
- 21616 Grand River Ave.
Good Cookies, LLC – $21,390
- 19007 W McNichols
Good Times on the Ave, LLC– $25,000
- 19416 Livernois Ave.
Good Cakes and Bakes – $25,000
- 19363 Livernois Ave.
VMX International, LLC – $25,000
- 19315 Livernois Ave.
Sherwood Forest Art Gallery LLC – $25,000
- 18496 Livernois Ave.
Dymond Designs Beauty School – $25,000
- 3300 E Jefferson Ste 450.
Brewery Faisan – $25,000
- 1087 Beaufait St.
The Turkey Grill – $25,000
- 8296 Woodward Ave
Lush Yummies Pie Company LLC– $18,000
- 1520 Adelaide
Megan M Faircloth DDS PLLC/Harbortown Dental Care – $25,000
- 3374 E. Jefferson Ave.
The Trap Yoga and Massage Studio – $10,750
- 3374 E. Jefferson Ave.
Celebrity Carwash – $22,000
- 3179 Franklin
Gigi’s Birdcage LLC – $25,000
- 16920 W Warren Ave.
Audio Engineers of Detroit – $19,000
- 4750 Woodward Ave.