One of the primary goals of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (“DEGC”) is to help start new, permanent businesses and strengthen existing businesses in Detroit’s commercial corridors. The DEGC recognizes that the path from start-up to success is long and arduous. To help small businesses navigate that path, Small Business programs tackle the city’s startup challenges by matching the best businesses from Detroit and around the world with Detroit’s best available real estate and providing competitive grants, loans and counseling to help both building and business owners succeed.
In order to achieve these goals, the DEGC has established the Motor City Match program (“MCM”). MCM is a Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funded program for small business development and commercial corridor revitalization administered by the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (“EDC”). Business that take part in MCM are placed into several award categories that vary based on each of the businesses’ needs. The assistance provided for in these award categories includes, but is not limited to, assistance in locating and securing an appropriate location for their business, help modifying their business plan, financial consulting, and design assistance. Overall, the MCM program seeks to help business owners refine their business models to fit their long-term goals, educate business owners about requirements and recommendations for an appropriate location, and offer financial guidance that will enable their sustainable success.
The EDC is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) in order to further the goals of MCM by selecting organizations to provide training and educational services in partnership with EDC Small Business programs. The training and educational services are anticipated to be business-related courses in any of the MCM award categories for up to thirty-five (35) new business applicants each quarter. The EDC anticipates issuing a contract for services for approximately a one (1) year period ending on December 31, 2019, with an additional renewal at one (1) year intervals subject to the EDC’s discretion.
