Stories from the New Economy: NEIdeas

NEIdeas is a program that celebrates existing businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park — rewarding those with the best ideas for growth. NEIdeas will reward a total of $500,000 in cash awards to over 30 existing businesses in 2014.

NEIdeas has two types of awards, the $10k Challenge and the $100k Challenge. But the program is about more than just the money. NEIdeas is about connecting small businesses to the resources they need to grow. Over 54 small business support organizations in the City of Detroit are ready to help make idea a reality.

What’s your idea? Maybe it’s as ambitious as Berry Gordy’s Motown or maybe it’s as simple as one more barbershop chair. Whether you sell records or cut hair, bake bread or brew coffee, fix cars or build computers, sometimes you just need an extra hand to grow.

NEIdeas will begin accepting applications on May 8th.

Read the rest in Model D