Photo credit: Flickr user memories_by_mike.

Detroit is known for cars, but it’s driven by people. That truism has even more importance when institutions falter like they have in Detroit. That’s why Knight Foundation is making four grants to help people who are starting businesses and people who can improve the way the city is run.

As Knight’s program director in Detroit, I was pleased to be able to stand with the many people who came together last Friday at the request of the White House to announce $300 million in commitments to the people of the city of Detroit. Included in the announcements were investments from other foundations that will support important efforts towards improved transportation, blight removal, public safety and more. As we examined our giving priorities in Detroit and the opportunities to help address the city’s challenges, we made a decision to announce two new grants supportive of entrepreneurship and small business, and deliver two new grants to enhance human capital dedicated to Detroit revitalization efforts. 

Economic growth, a key element of Detroit’s future, requires growing businesses. Knight Foundation has been contributing for several years to efforts related to Detroit’s business development. Friday’s announcement included pledges to the New Economy Initiative and to Detroit Development Fund, both past recipients of Knight support. You’ll hear more about the New Economy Initiative support in the future, as other contributors come aboard, but Knight, along with the Ford and Kresge foundations, opened this second round of New Economy Initiative funding by pledging a combined $15 million.

The Detroit Development Fund is a key part of that network of support as a provider of loans and technical assistance to small business owners, developers, building owners, contractors and subcontractors who are unable to acquire certain levels of capital necessary from traditional financing sources. Knight’s $250,000 grant to Detroit Development Fund will support early-stage retail and creative businesses in Detroit. Both the New Economy Initiative and Detroit Development Fund deliver their resources with the goals of revitalizing businesses and neighborhoods in Detroit and creating economic equity.

The White House is sending Todd Park, its chief technology officer, to Detroit in the coming months to work with a team of experts on using technology to improve municipal services and make recommendations for new solutions. Knight is making a grant of $250,000 to Detroit Future City to fund the human capital necessary to put in place the recommendations. Detroit Future City is playing a critical role in implementing practical solutions as part of a long-term strategic framework for a prosperous Detroit.

While new talent is needed in key areas like information technology, Detroit has a wealth of existing talent working on solutions in the public and nonprofit sectors each day. To support these individuals in getting the training they need, Knight is providing $250,000 to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to fund 50 $5,000 capacity grants to subsidize training for public sector and nonprofit staff who are advancing the future of Detroit in areas of economic growth, land use, city systems, planning and neighborhoods (the Detroit Future City elements).  We’ll make an announcement in the coming months regarding how these individuals can access these grants. The goal will be to make the funds available quickly.

The announcements made with the White House last Friday, as one of the meeting participants said, was only a “down payment” on the need Detroit has for true revitalization. However, it demonstrated the commitment of many people and organizations to the hard work ahead. As a resident of Detroit, I felt encouraged and proud to be at that table. There remains a lot of work to be done but we have started. As U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said, “If Detroit stands together, we can walk together. If Detroit walks together, we can run together.”

Katy Locker, Detroit program director at Knight Foundation