Economic Development

Detroit's economic development work runs through several coordinated arms: the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) handles business attraction and incentives, the Housing and Revitalization Department runs grant and certification programs, and Detroit at Work (operated by the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation) is the city's official workforce agency. The Motor City Match program has awarded small-business grants twice already in 2026 — $535,000 to 11 businesses in January and $370,000 to 8 businesses in May — and the city opened 2026 registration for its Grow Detroit's Young Talent summer youth jobs program in March.

Motor City Match grants directly fund new storefronts and small businesses in Detroit neighborhoods, while Detroit at Work's nine career centers (one per council district) and the youth summer jobs program aim to connect residents to employment. Mayor Sheffield's first budget also proposed expanding the Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Fund from 40% to 100% of city-owned commercial property sale proceeds, tying land sales more directly to housing investment.