By John Gallagher
Detroit Free Press.
The City of Detroit announced Monday the latest round of projects that will share $500,000 in grant funding through the Motor City Match program.
Motor City Match, announced last year, provides funding both to landlords in the city’s old commercial corridors and start-up entrepreneurs who need space to operate — and often provide matchmaking services to bring the two together.
“Detroit’s economy continues to grow and improve, and Motor City Match is helping to ensure that the prosperity spreads across the city and into the neighborhoods,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “The business winners we’re announcing today are paving the way. They will be renovating neighborhood buildings, creating jobs and serving the community.”
Funding for 10 neighborhood small-business projects ranged from $10,000 to $100,000 to help pay for renovations or equipment needed at their locations.
For the first time, Motor City Match issued two grant awards to building owners leading what the city called “catalytic real estate development projects” in neighborhood business districts.
I’m Here LLC will receive a $100,000 top prize to help redevelop the historic Hunter’s Supper Club at 19344-19350 Livernois along the area known as the Avenue of Fashion. One of the businesses in the planned mixed-use development will be Motor City Match awardee Slyde restaurant. I’m Here will use the funds to help complete a façade for the three-parcel property, and interior improvements for two tenant spaces, while Slyde will also receive a $45,000 grant to help with equipment purchases.
Also, Resurget Cineribus LLC is leading a mixed-use redevelopment at 8044 Kercheval Ave. in the West Village business district. Funding will be used to help pay building renovations.
Other Motor City Match grant winners include a diverse range of businesses:
* Beautiful Bridal LLC, a bridal gown boutique co-owned by Vallery Hyduk and reality TV star Keasha Rigsby of “Say Yes to the Dress” opening on East Jefferson;
* Astute Artistry, a licensed trade school for fashion, film and makeup opening in southwest Detroit;
* Pharmacy 4 Less, an independent retail pharmacy that is expanding to offer patient consultation, prescription and non-prescription products on Gratiot Avenue; and
* Ali-Wali Child Care Center, a one of a kind Islamic childcare center that models Montessori education opening in the Banglatown neighborhood.
* Woodbridge Bikes and Coffee, a lifestyle retail boutique that will specialize in the commuting cyclist.
* R&L Color Graphics, a graphics, printing and publishing company that documents family legacies in the form of obituaries and photo biographies.
* Detroit Sip, a community gathering space selling Detroit-produced coffee, tea, doughnuts, pastries and other hometown products.
“We are excited about the success from the first two rounds of recipients and look forward to seeing the impact of local Detroit businesses,” said Linda Forte, chair of the Economic Development Corp. of the City of Detroit board of directors, which administers the Motor City Match program through the DEGC. “Through two rounds of Motor City Match we’ve issued $1 million in grants that has leveraged a total of $6 million in investment throughout Detroit, and we’re just getting started.”
