City of Detroit, community partners, and Rocket Community Fund launch Small Business Technology Fund to help 140 local businesses modernize and compete

• First of its kind grant program will provide Detroit's smallest businesses with $1,000 tech grants from trusted business and neighborhood partners.
• Microgrants can be used to purchase hardware, software, AI, or other technology tools to help grow their businesses.
• The initiative was made possible through substantial investment from Rocket Community Fund and serves as a foundation for potential future small business efforts.

The City of Detroit and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC today announced the launch of the Detroit Small Business Technology Fund, a new microgrant initiative that will help Detroit's smallest businesses adopt essential technologies, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen long-term economic growth.

Funded through generous support from the Rocket Community Fund, the program will award $1,000 technology grants to 140 Detroit-based microbusinesses with 10 or fewer employees and under $500,000 in annual revenue. Grants may be used for hardware, software, and emerging tech tools that improve daily operations, including laptops, point-of-sale systems, accounting and e-commerce software, and AI platforms.

"Small businesses are the heart of Detroit's economy and they deserve access to the tools that help them grow and succeed," said Mayor Mary Sheffield. "This funding will make it easier for neighborhood small businesses to modernize, reach more customers, and operate more efficiently."

"Strong neighborhoods are anchored by thriving small businesses," said Justin Onwenu, Director of the Office of Small Business Services and Economic Opportunity for the City of Detroit. "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."

Administered by DEGC, the Technology Fund will partner with nine trusted business service and neighborhood organizations across the city to identify grantees. Each partner will distribute between 10 and 20 grants. Participating organizations include: the East Warren Development Corp, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, Live6 Alliance, Southwest Detroit Business Association, Michigan Black Business Alliance, Arab American Chamber of Commerce, ProsperUS Detroit, TechTown Detroit, and Michigan Women Forward. 

"Technology is no longer optional. It is foundational," said Sean Gray, Vice President of Small Business Services for DEGC. "By giving Detroit microbusinesses access to modern tools and connecting them with trusted support organizations, we are strengthening Detroit's local economy from the ground up."

Eligibility is limited to businesses located in the City of Detroit, with 10 or fewer employees, generating under $500,000 in annual revenue, and affiliated with one of the partner organizations. BSOs will select grantees and collect data on outcomes such as revenue changes, efficiency gains, digital adoption, new customers, and job creation.