NEW ECONOMY INITIATIVE LAUNCHES THIRD AND FINAL YEAR OF NEIdeas SMALL BUSINESS CHALLENGE ON APRIL 20
NEIdeas to give $500,000 to 32 small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park with ideas to grow
DETROIT (20 April 2016) – New Economy Initiative (NEI), a special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), today kicked-off the third and final year of NEIdeas: Rewarding Ideas for Business Growth, a two-tiered challenge awarding $500,000 to existing small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park for their ideas to grow.
Over the last two years, NEIdeas has granted over $1 million in cash awards to more than 60 existing businesses, as well as provided access to business support for all applicants. Nearly 1,200 small businesses from every corner of the three cities applied to the NEIdeas challenge in 2014 and 2015. Business industries have spanned more than 16 sectors, ranging from barbers to manufacturers, mechanics to bakers and more. Seventy percent of NEIdeas winners were minority-owned businesses, 64 percent were women-owned businesses, and 53 percent were both woman- and minority-owned businesses. The businesses range in age from three to 93 years old.
“Over the last two years, we’ve seen the ripple effect that this challenge has had on so many small businesses in the city,” said Pam Lewis, Director of NEI. “It’s been incredible to not only watch the winning businesses grow, but to see the impact of the applicants who are now a part of the small business ecosystem and have access to community resources funded by NEI. This challenge is rewarding those whose spirit and determination over the years has kept the city afloat and are crucial to the future success of Detroit.”
NEIdeas features two types of awards:
- $10,000 for existing businesses that gross under $750,000 annually with ideas to grow
- $100,000 for existing businesses that gross more than $750,000 and less than $5 million annually with ideas to grow ‘big’
Thirty applicants will be awarded $10,000 each, and two businesses will be awarded $100,000 each. Businesses must be three years of age or older by the application deadline of June 1, 2016 to be eligible for an NEIdeas award. All applicants who apply to the challenge will gain connections to other small businesses and entrepreneurs, access to resources, and exposure through NEIdeas’ All-Applicant Assistance.
NEIdeas is operated in partnership with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC). DEGC coordinates an outreach program that features nearly 30 “Ambassador” locations including community organizations, associations and faith-based institutions across Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The ambassadors provide small businesses with information and guidance throughout the application process.
“The application process is quick and easy,” said Rodrick Miller, president and CEO, DEGC. “Nearly 1,200 small businesses have applied over the past two years, and they all have become part of a network that will help their companies flourish. The time is now to take advantage of this opportunity, so I strongly encourage business owners in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to apply.”
The application for the 2016 NEIdeas challenge is available online at NEIdeasDetroit.org. Printed applications are also available at nearly every Ambassador location. For-profit small businesses of any industry are invited to apply by submitting applications online or via U.S. Mail.
Application deadlines for the $10k and $100k challenges are Wednesday, June 1. Interested small businesses can learn more about NEIdeas through the five NEIdeas Info Sessions & Workshops. A full calendar of events is listed on NEIdeasDetroit.org.
After the application period closes, NEIdeas will narrow the pool of applicants and forward the semi-finalists to a jury comprised of empathetic entrepreneurs (including past NEIdeas winners) and nonprofit, corporate, and neighborhood partners. The jury will recommend finalists and, ultimately, winners. If selected as a finalist, applicants will be asked to submit additional information about their business. Winners will be notified by CFSEM in the fall.
###
About The New Economy Initiative
The New Economy Initiative (NEI) is a $134-million philanthropic effort to help make thousands of ideas the next economic engine by getting entrepreneurs and small businesses what they need, when they need it, in order to succeed and grow. This unprecedented initiative is supported by the following national, regional and local foundations: the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (Detroit), the William Davidson Foundation (Southfield, Michigan), the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation (Southfield, Michigan), the Ford Foundation (New York), the Hudson-Webber Foundation (Detroit), the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (Battle Creek, Michigan), the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (Miami), The Kresge Foundation (Troy, Michigan), the McGregor Fund (Detroit), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (Flint, Michigan), Surdna Foundation (New York) and the Skillman Foundation (Detroit). The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, which initiated the collaborative, serves as NEI’s administrative home. For more information, please visit neweconomyinitiative.org.
Since 2009, NEI has awarded over $96 million in grants, while exposing more than 174,000 individuals to entrepreneurial services, helping to create more than 1,656 new companies and 17,290 new jobs in Southeast Michigan. In addition, more than $800 million was leveraged into the entrepreneurial ecosystem not only through entrepreneurs themselves, but also through NEI’s grantees and service providers. In addition, Accelerate Michigan, an international business competition developed by NEI, has led to more than $6 million distributed in awards since 2010 and exposure to investors representing more than $6 billion in venture capital.
Press Contacts:
Carly Strachan
313.460.8100 mobile
Megan Ewend
989.392.9711 mobile