DETROIT, November 30, 2011 – Hatch Detroit will engage more residents in supporting small retail businesses in local neighborhoods, with a $50,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Hatch Detroit recently concluded its inaugural contest where tens of thousands of public voters voiced their support for local business by choosing among 10 semi-finalists the storefront retail business most likely to add diversity and vitality to a Detroit neighborhood. The winner received $50,000, plus a suite of donated services from individuals and companies to help it “hatch” and thrive. The remaining semi-finalists received unprecedented exposure to potential funding, and supporters and showcased themselves as leaders in the burgeoning retail community.

Going forward, Hatch Detroit will further engage the community by working with local businesses and citizen leaders to support both existing and new businesses through a variety of ways, including running additional contests and structuring opportunities between contests for the citizen network to connect and mentor would-be entrepreneurs across the city.

According to Hatch Detroit co-founder Nick Gorga: “Knight Foundation’s mission is to promote informed and engaged communities. Hatch Detroit’s goal from day one was to inform the public of the great retail ideas in Detroit by displaying the biographies, business plans, videos, and stories of our contestants for the world to see.

And what could more closely engage a community than allowing it to decide who gets the grant of money and services? Finally, once the contest is over, the community continues to be actively involved – along with Hatch – in nurturing, supporting, and ‘shepherding,’ the businesses to lasting success. With the Knight Foundation’s support, we expect to be able to work with Detroiters for many years to expand and sustain these services.”

“Knight Foundation informs and engages in Detroit by investing in initiatives that make it easy for Detroiters to, together, lead and see themselves as leaders,” said Rishi Jaitly, Program Director, Detroit, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. “Hatch Detroit, through its inaugural contest in which there were more than 65,000 votes cast, has already demonstrated an uncommon ability to engage Detroiters. I look forward to Hatch empowering more Detroiters in more ways to lead and nurture small, community businesses.”

If you are interested in making a tax-deductable donation to, or partnering with, Hatch Detroit, contact them at [email protected]. You can donate online at http://hatchdetroit.com/support-hatch/

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About Hatch Detroit:

Hatch Detroit is a Michigan based 501(c)(3) organization that is focused on helping entrepreneurs in the City of Detroit through funding opportunities, professional services, education and training, events, and promotion. Hatch Detroit was founded in early 2011 by Nick Gorga and Ted Balowski, both Detroit natives who are passionate about the revitalization of the city, and giving everyone a chance to participate. For more information about Hatch Detroit, and ways to get involved, please visit www.hatchdetroit.com

About Knight Foundation:

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. Knight Foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit Knight Foundation.org Contact: Marc Fest, vice president/communications, 305-908-2677; [email protected]