“When we assist local entrepreneurs in opening grocery stores right in the neighborhoods they know best, it empowers residents to meet essential needs while creating new jobs," says DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson. "This is one way to drive opportunity that uplifts our whole community.”
“Our Black Business Reunion is a celebration and recognition of Detroit’s Black business community, their everlasting legacy and the impact they make in our everyday lives,” says Christianne Malone, chief program officer at TechTown Detroit.
"Hatch Detroit continues to attract community-minded entrepreneurs who are strengthening Detroit's small business economy," says Christianne Malone, Assistant Vice President for Economic Development at Wayne State University and Chief Program Officer of TechTown Detroit.
The Metro Detroit hospitality industry is buzzing with new activity, so we check out eight places to try this year. "The amount of people that have stopped by to let us know that they live nearby and are excited is kind of overwhelming,” says Pie Sci founder Jeremy Damaske, who is opening an Oak Park location soon.
“Our story is one of passion, commitment and a genuine desire to contribute to Detroit's growth,” says Cred Cafè president and CEO Sylvia Crawford. “We started with a dream and transformed a vacant, blighted building into a multifaceted space that reflects the spirit of our community.”
“Taking the Rebuild course helped me in terms of fund allocation," says Detroit entrepreneur Tishera Page. "I’m a lot more knowledgeable now than I was before opening the business in terms of scaling.”
"Our success is a testament to the community's support, and we're excited to continue serving our unique Detroit-style pizza to the neighborhood," said co-owner Kristen Calverley.
Gathering spaces in Detroit are a hot commodity and not easy to come by, so the loss of just one is usually a substantial hit to the community. A handful of new baristas are trying their hand at pop-up coffee offerings and we can’t wait until they have some physical space to add to the growing demand.
“The EPIC Prize will really help the entrepreneurs in these incubators bring their technologies to market faster,” says Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan, Chief Commercialization Officer for the U.S. DOE's Office of Technology Transitions.
"...we know that if we don't learn to work together and trust each other and create that system, because we have systems against us, we need to be smarter to create systems for us working together," says Jason Dixon, founder of the Inkster-based Strategic Alliance Community Development.
Our Partners
Common Ground Is Brewing
Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).
Drink Better, Read Local
