Michigan Chronicle
Ebony JJ Curry
July 27, 2023
Motor City Match, Detroit’s key business development initiative, is gearing up for another significant round of investments into the heart of the city. Thursday, Mayor Mike Duggan, Council President Mary Sheffield, Council Member Fred Durhal III, and Sean Gray, Vice President of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, will announce the 19 recipients of Round 23 cash grant awards.
With more than $1.2 million allocated for this round, Motor City Match continues to fuel the entrepreneurial dreams of Detroit residents and local businesses. These funds, which will be presented in a press conference at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, are earmarked for businesses eager to establish a physical presence in the city and vitalize their operations through much-needed renovations.
Highlighting the broad spectrum of businesses supported by this program, a community-owned grocery cooperative and Detroit’s only indoor playground will be amongst the cash grant recipients. These stand alongside a community bookstore and several health and wellness storefronts, cafes, and restaurants.
This recent round of funding comes after the program’s landmark decision to double its grant pool from $500,000 to $1 million starting with Round 20, which was less than a year ago. The consequences of this decision have been palpable. Since the increase, the program has awarded over $5.1 million to local Detroit entrepreneurs, assisting them in creating businesses that genuinely benefit the city and its inhabitants.
Motor City Match has indeed proved instrumental in shaping Detroit’s business landscape. To date, 150 businesses have been able to open their doors in Detroit, all thanks to the support from the initiative.
he press conference and award ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 1 p.m. EST in the Skylar Herbert Room at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters located at 1301 3rd Ave. Both Motor City Match officials and the awardees of Round 23 will be present at this significant event.
The dedication exhibited by the Motor City Match program, alongside the tenacity of our city officials and entrepreneurs, unmistakably reflects Detroit’s indomitable spirit. This sustained commitment to fostering local businesses underlines our city’s unwavering resilience and potential. As we celebrate these new grant recipients, we remain optimistic about the future of Detroit’s vibrant business landscape and the steadfast determination of its business owners.