9 Detroit Business Ventures Receive $500,000 In City Grants

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit officials have announced nine small business projects are getting a total of $500,000 through a city grant program.

Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday announced the third round of winning grants, which range from $18,000 to $100,000. The new and expanding businesses include restaurants, retail operations and professional services.

The money comes from a program called Motor City Match, which was launched last year and has given $1.5 million in grants. City officials say the roughly 300 awardees have turned those grants into $10.5 million in neighborhood business investments.

The program aims to connect business ventures with real estate and provide funding and technical support.

Organizers say two-thirds of recipients have been from Detroit and 70 percent of them are minority-owned.