Detroit Empowers 140 Small Businesses with Tech Microgrants

The City of Detroit, together with community organizations and the Rocket Community Fund, has started a new initiative to help small businesses in the neighborhood use modern technology and stay competitive in a quickly changing economy.

According to the news release, the Detroit Small Business Technology Fund will give $1,000 technology microgrants to 140 microbusinesses based in Detroit to assist them in buying necessary hardware and software. The Detroit small business tech microgrants focuses on the smallest businesses with 10 or fewer employees and annual revenues under $500,000.

Grants can be used for various technology costs, including laptops, point-of-sale systems, accounting and e-commerce software, and artificial intelligence platforms. Officials claim these tools can help businesses make operations smoother, connect better with customers, and boost sales. 

Mayor Mary Sheffield stressed how important this program is for Detroit’s economy saying, “Small businesses are the heart of Detroit’s economy and they deserve access to the tools that help them grow and succeed. This funding will make it easier for neighborhood small businesses to modernize, reach more customers, and operate more efficiently.”

Justin Onwenu, Director of the City’s Office of Small Business Services and Economic Opportunity, framed the program as an investment in both businesses and the communities they support:

“When we invest in our small businesses, we invest in the families they support, the jobs they provide, the communities they serve, and the future we are building together.”

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) administers the program and will collaborate with nine trusted neighborhood and business service organizations to find and distribute grants.

These include community groups like the Michigan Black Business Alliance, ProsperUS Detroit, TechTown Detroit, and the Southwest Detroit Business Association. Each partner will provide between 10 and 20 microgrants to eligible businesses in their networks.

Sean Gray, Vice President of Small Business Services at DEGC, pointed out that technology is a key tool for businesses in the 21st century, and the program aims to “strengthen Detroit’s local economy from the ground up.”

To qualify, businesses must be located within the City of Detroit, meet the size and revenue requirements, and be linked to one of the partner organizations.

The organizations will also gather data on outcomes such as increased revenues, improved operational efficiency, digital adoption rates, new customer acquisition, and potential job creation to assess the fund’s long-term impact.

The launch of the technology fund is part of broader efforts by city leaders and economic development agencies to improve equity and opportunity for small businesses across Detroit, especially in historically underserved neighborhoods.