Twenty Detroit Small Businesses Win Big as Motor City Match Pot Doubles to $1M

The latest round of Motor City Match cash award winners is the first to receive a major bump in funding thanks to the allocation of federal aid to the small business support program.

Twenty current and aspiring business owners on Tuesday received a share of $1 million in round 20 of the program — marking a doubling of the grant pool and increase of funding from $500,000 every quarter to $1 million. The awards got a bump from $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds approved by Detroit City Council.

“This round is a particularly special round,” Motor City Match Director Drew Lucco said. “Thanks to (City Council), we’re able to award $1 million in grants every quarter.”

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, on hand Tuesday for the announcement, earlier this year pushed for the increase in funds to help boost revitalization of the city’s neighborhood commercial corridors.

Round 20 winners — which include a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, apparel retailers, and a farm and cider mill that will be Michigan’s first Black-owned cider mill — were awarded grants of $30,000-$80,000 each.

The big winner is a company that works to provide fun and entertainment for Detroit residents.

Bouncing Around the Motor City was awarded $80,000. The business, which offers party decorations and bounce houses for rent, is based in the Bethune neighborhood on the city’s near west side.

Bouncing Around the Motor City owner Cathyrn Coleman, who plans to set up shop in a long-vacant building at 13238 Fenkell St. previously scheduled for demolition, called receiving the award a dream come true.

“I’ve literally been bouncing around the Motor City. I’ve done TechTown Detroit, the Build Institute, ProsperUs Detroit,” Coleman said. “I told (Duggan) at an event that I’d do great things. I told him my vision and it came to life. I’m very excited. I’m taking over a space that’s been vacant for 30 years. It was on the demo list and I said, we can’t do that. It has potential.”

Detroit Farm & Cider owner Leandra King earned a $40,000 award as she works to add a cider mill to a 4.9-acre farm at 1600 Lawrence St. in the city’s Dexter-Linwood neighborhood. King has hosted events such as dinners to raise funds for the cider mill, recognized as the first Black-owned cider mill in the state.

“I’m thankful that Motor City Match is a program that helps marginalized groups and not one that exploits them like some other groups in Detroit,” King said.

Our Community Laundromat LLC owner La Cesha Brintley on Tuesday earned $75,000 to help with her business at 15429 Schaefer. The award, she said, goes beyond helping business owners alone.

“This is a resource that helps us create jobs and show people what we can do when we have some support,” Brintley said.

• The Goddess Metaphysical Store LLC, a holistic-based retail and community space at 9701 Harper Ave.: $45,000
• Craig’s Coffee, a commercial kitchen and coffee roastery based at 412 Peterboro St. and available for rent to food service businesses in Midtown: $50,000
• Ice Cream Detroit, ice cream shop at 3762 Second Ave. offering innovative frozen treats: $35,000
• Bouncing Around the Motor City, party decorations and bounce houses for rent, headquartered at 13238 Fenkell St. in the Bethune neighborhood: $80,000
• Pink Diamond Beauty Mall, health and beauty salon/spa at 17350 Livernois Ave. in the University District: $50,000
• Thumbprint Artifacts, warehouse and distribution center at 2100 20th St. in Southwest Detroit: $40,000
• Juicing with Jai, d/b/a Pressed Juice Bar, a neighborhood juice bar and café at 19550 Grand River Ave. in North Rosedale Park: $55,000
• Our Community Laundromat LLC, a full-service laundromat at 15429 Schaefer Highway in the Bethune neighborhood: $75,000
• K. Walker Collective LLC, a high-street apparel for urban professionals at 4161 Cass Ave.: $30,000
• Vecino Detroit, a modern Mexican restaurant in Midtown at 4100 Third St.: $50,000
• CommodiTeas Tea LLC, a tea café and business-to-business retail shop at 8035 and 8045 Linwood St. in Wildemere Park: $70,000
• Taste of Love LLC, a restaurant at 21559 Grand River Ave. providing carryout and catering in the Oak Grove District: $70,000
• Virtual Virtual Offices, shared office space at 14029 W. McNichols Road in Harmony Village: $45,000
• Someday, a community art gallery and tea shop at 2857 E. Grand Blvd. offering decadent pastries and award-winning art: $40,000
• Detroit Farm & Cider at 1600 Lawrence St. in the Dexter-Linwood neighborhood: $40,000
• The Rectory, restaurant and residential units at 1920 Atkinson St. in the Atkinson neighborhood: $45,000
• Detroit Denim LLC, custom jeans shop at 651 W. Alexandrine in Midtown: $35,000
• Le Souk, podcast studio at 8632 W. McNichols Road in the Bagley neighborhood: $55,000
• Complete Image Manufacturing, full-service apparel manufacturing company at 3187 Franklin St.: $40,000
• DPI Plumbing Heating & Cooling LLC, a plumbing sales and installation company at 10330 Dexter Ave. in the Dexter-Linwood neighborhood: $50,000

Other Round 20 Motor City Match awardees were selected to receive technical support with design, development or planning. In total, 66 small business owners received awards in this round.

Round 21 applications are open through Sept. 30.

Launched in 2015, Motor City Match works in partnership with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. Through 20 rounds, the program has awarded $10.1 million in cash grants and helped facilitate the opening of 138 businesses. Of those businesses, 85 percent are minority owned, 74 percent are owned by women and 68 percent are owned by Detroit residents.