Inside Detroit is getting out more and more these days as the downtown-based non-profit continue to create jobs and put a spotlight on the Motor City.
The 5-year-old organization went from its two co-founders, Jeanette Pierce and Maureen Kearns, a year ago to a staff of five people and eight tour guides. Inside Detroit was able to make this jump after doubling its revenue in between 2008 and 2009 and then tripling it the next year.
"We just hired another full-time staff person," Pierce says. "We're about to put a call out for eight more tour guides."
Inside Detroit has ramped up its service offerings in the last few years after starting with just walking tours. It has doubled the number of its Segway tours over the last year and helped big firms like
Quicken Loans and
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan with their moves downtown. It also started offering public bus tours that cover not only the greater downtown area but also neighborhoods in the city, such as southwest Detroit.
"The big picture is about economic development and community," Pierce says. "The Welcome Center doesn't bring in a lot of money but it's a great asset to the community."
That asset will be expanding soon. Inside Detroit is letting a George Clooney film use it for a movie shoot and then will reopen it as a new, expanded space in May. Inside Detroit will also launch a large volunteer outreach drive at the same time. For information, send an email to
[email protected].
Source: Jeannette Pierce, co-founder of Inside Detroit
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at
SEMichiganStartup.com.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.