It's once again that time of year for area entrepreneurs to take a shot at winning a helping hand from a Detroit small business booster program, be it financially or otherwise. The application window for the eighth round of
Motor City Match closes April 1, 2017.
The small business program offers entrepreneurs the chance to win cash awards, landlord-tenant matchmaking opportunities, and design, permitting, and business plan assistance. $500,000 is awarded to small businesses every quarter.
"Detroit is experiencing a boom in entrepreneurship, with opportunities for long-time Detroiters as well as people coming from across the country," says Michael S. R. Rafferty, Detroit Economic Growth Corp. VP for Small Business. "We're glad that Detroit has become an attractive place to open up shop, and we're proud to have created a program that gives Detroiters a chance to participate in their city's comeback."
The list of Motor City Match winners is long and varied, including
co-working spaces,
boutiques,
a craft cafe,
a wellness center,
a media technology school, and many others.
Mikiah Westbrooks owns one of those businesses, the Brix Wine & Charcuterie Boutique. The bistro is expected to open in an old West Village bank building later this spring. Westbrooks won a $32,000 matching grant from a previous round of the contest, among other services.
"The people at Motor City Match make sure you have everything you need to be successful," says Westbrooks. "They helped me finish my business plan, build out the space for my business, and have been an incredibly helpful resource for me as I am going through this process. I would never be as close to opening my boutique as I am without their assistance."
Click here to apply for the eighth round of Motor City Match.
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
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