First Neighborhood Business Directory released in time for Small Business Saturday

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ken Harris unveiled their first Neighborhood Business Directory on Tuesday, a major initiative to spotlight the thousands of small businesses in Detroit.

This first edition includes more than 170 businesses and in-depth profiles on about 70. The directory is one of several city efforts aimed at steering more customers to these shops and restaurants ahead of Small Business Saturday.

Earlier this year, the mayor and the Michigan Black Chamber started ongoing conversations with more than 100 small-business owners to discuss how the city can help them flourish. Many felt that new businesses were getting all the attention and that the longtime entrepreneurs were being ignored.

“Though it’s great that we have all of these new businesses opening up shop in our city, it’s important to celebrate those who have been here, too,” Duggan said.

“We’re committed to making sure everyone is part of Detroit’s resurgence. Our neighborhood businesses played a key role in Detroit getting back on track.”

“The mayor wanted to know directly from business owners what the problems were,” said Harris. “The directory highlights the diversity and strength of Detroit’s business community, and this is only a sample of the many shops and restaurants in our city.” 

The city partnered with the Challenge Detroit fellows and had them go out into all seven council districts to track down the best small-business stories they could find. 

The mayor’s office also reached out to business associations and had them work with entrepreneurs in their districts to get them involved, and district managers came up with a lengthy list of shops and restaurants that deserved to be highlighted. There is no shortage of small businesses in the city to include. Next year, the city and chamber plan to highlight even more.

“We were honored to work with the Mayor’s Office to help build awareness for and capture stories of neighborhood small businesses,” said Shelley Danner, program director of Challenge Detroit. “Launching the hashtag #ShopDetroit on social media and in the community with Detroit Experience Factory and other partners is an integral next step to further that effort, encouraging residents and visitors to shop local this holiday season and all year round.”

Tuesday’s kickoff event was held at the new location of Mo Better Blues. Owner Gerald Watson had difficulties in his previous location.  He is now in Bricktown, having reopened thanks to $50,000 in grants from the City’s Motor City Match after benefiting from the help of the Department of Neighborhoods, the Jobs and Economy Team, and the family of support represented through the City’s small-business community.

The full-color guide will be made available for free at the Detroit Experience Factory downtown and at businesses throughout the city. Those interested also can download a print-your-own PDF version at www.dreamitdoitdetroit.org. The online version will expand, and businesses can add themselves to the guide by submitting their information through an online form.

The city also has partnered with Pure Detroit to expand the popular shop’s Detroit Small Business Passport, which offers discounts at small businesses and encourages metro Detroiters to shop local. The passport has expanded this year to include 41 independent shops and restaurants throughout the city of Detroit. View the map of all 41 businesses at http://bit.ly/1OR51X6.

“The success of Detroit’s small businesses in everyone’s business,” Duggan said. “Today is a celebration of small businesses in Detroit and all they do for our neighborhoods.”