About Our Program

After 30 Rounds, MCM has served 2,236 business with $20.5 million in grant funds

-$20.5 Million in grants awarded

-202 Businesses opened 

-2,236 businesses awarded since 2016 

-$111 million committed investment 

Contact us at motorcitymatch@gmail.com or (844) 338-4626.

ResourcesApply

Of Businesses Owned By Detroiters

Are Minority-owned Businesses

Are Women-owned Business

Program Goals

1

Create economic mobility for Detroiters through entrepreneurship – increase incomes and grow wealth
2

Distribute program resources equitably – focus on low to moderate income Detroiters and underserved entrepreneurs
3

Create jobs for low to moderate income Detroiters and underserved communities
4

Increase access to capital for minority and women owned businesses
5

Eliminate blight by re-activating currently vacant space

How we do it:

1

Get business formalized and transactional earlier
2

Help businesses find the space appropriate to their model
3

Communicate clearly with awardees and partners
4

Provide need-based technical assistance
5

Provide subject-specific workshops
6

Facilitate loans from community lenders by focusing on capital readiness
7

Provide gap funding through grants of up to $100,000
8

Make connections to other business service organizations
Connecting entrepreneurs with vacant real estate properties.

Program Objectives

Motor City Match was founded in 2015 to help start new, permanent businesses and expand existing businesses in Detroit’s commercial corridors by providing tailored assistance throughout the launch and growth process.

Winning entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their business to a new location in Detroit must remain located within the City of Detroit for at least three (3) years, provide verification of new jobs created or existing jobs retained, and demonstrate a benefit to the community.

Serving Detroit’s Small Business Community

Building Owner Support

  • Building owners with commercial space available for lease can apply to be listed on the Make-a-Match Map
  • To be listed, properties must be up to date on city and state taxes, current on water bills, and have no outstanding blight tickets
  • Buildings listed on the Make-a-Match Map will be connected with the Motor City Match businesses looking for space – buildings that Match with a tenant will be eligible to apply for Motor City Match Design or Cash Awards

Two Types of Awards for Business Owners

Awards are funded with contributions from philanthropic partners and allocations from federal, state, and city sources. Awards are subject applicable compliance regulations and guidelines.

1. Technical Assistance Awards

  • The Plan, Develop, & Design Track Awards offer business services, architectural design services, one-on-one consulting, and group classes & seminars.
  • Plan track technical assistance awards provide up to $1500 worth of business services from one of our pre-approved consultants. Technical assistance services available include Business Development, Accounting, Visual Marketing, Legal services, Technology Services, as well as Architecture and Engineering.

 

2. Financial Assistance Awards

  • The Cash Track Award offers gap-funding grants of up to $100,000
  • Awardee businesses must contribute a minimum of 10% of the total project costs in equity investment
  • Financial Assistance Award Grants will not exceed 50% of total project costs
  • Cash Track Grants are an average of $50,000

Application Process:

  1. Quarterly Applications

2. 90-day application period

3. 30-days open application

4. 60-day evaluation period

5. Finalists notified within 30 days of application close

Application Open and Close

Award Selection

Applicants Notified By

Round 31: January 7 - February 9, 2026
Round 31: February 9 - April 30, 2026
Round 31: April 30, 2026
Round 32: May 1 - June 1, 2026
Round 32: June 1 - August 31, 2026
Round 32: August 31, 2026
Round 33: September 1 - October 1, 2026
Round 33: October 1 - December 31, 2026
Round 33: December 31, 2026

Who Can Apply for Motor City Match

New businesses seeking to open in the city of Detroit in a currently vacant commercial space.
  • New businesses just starting out that are not yet operational
  • Operational businesses opening in their first permanent location
  • Operational businesses opening a new, additional location
Applicants must also be…
For-profit businesses connected to Detroit by residency or location.
  • Connected by residency
    • Businesses applying to the Plan or Develop Track must be residents of the city of Detroit to be eligible 
  • Connected by location
    • Businesses applying to the Design or Cash Track must have a location secured in the city of Detroit with a letter of intent, lease, deed, land contract, or other legal claim

Which track to apply for?

Who should apply to the Plan Track?  New businesses and informal businesses that do not have a business plan

Who should apply to the Develop Track?  Transactional mobile, digital, or home-based, businesses looking to find a permanent location in Detroit

Who should apply to the Design Track? New businesses that have secured a location needing design and pre-construction services

Who should apply to the Cash track? New businesses that have secured a location in Detroit that need additional funding to complete construction

or

Existing businesses opening an additional location that need additional funding to complete construction

How are Applications Scored?

  • Initial applications are scored based on 5 criteria – up to 20 points can be awarded for each criteria. Maximum application score is 100 points
    1. Vision and plan for the business based on the soundness, completeness and creativity of the concept.
    2. Experience and capacity of the business owners and key members of the business team.
    3. Market opportunity to meet economic demand and advance business district revitalization.
    4. Community support for new businesses including benefit to low to moderate income communities.
    5. Leverage of business owner investment and other community investment initiatives in the area.
  • Top scores in the Design and Cash Tracks will be selected as finalists and be required to complete a supplemental application, site visit, and finalist workshop. The finalist application aims to determine the feasibility, readiness, and financial need of each project.
  • Up to 15 Plan Track Awardees, 15 Develop Track Awardees, 10 Design Awardees, and 15 Cash Awardees will be selected each round. Awardees are selected on a quarterly basis.
  • The open application period is 30 days and the evaluation period is 60 days.

Our Program tackles the city’s entrepreneurship challenges by matching Detroit businesses with the necessary support services, funding options, and available real estate.

What Our Program Provides

Classes and Seminars

Develop the skills and know-how in the development of your idea and company. Be prepared for difficult and strategic decisions.

Architectural Support

Our Design track provides business owners with architectural and construction consultation from licensed professionals, helping them to strategize their build out.

Technical Assistance

MCM connects awardees to business services provided by qualified professionals including legal services, accounting & financial planning, marketing, branding, web/digital services, and more.

Gap Funding Grants

Our Cash track connects awardees with appropriate lenders and available capital, then offers grant funding to fill the remaining financial gap.