DETROIT – Existing Detroit-based contractors now have an opportunity to learn about growing their businesses through the Motor City Contractor Fund (MCCF).
Hosted at Wayne County Community College, the MCCF is a 10-month classroom program that teaches its participants the skills needed to expand their business.
The program offers support, including one-on-one coaching from experienced professionals, as well as resources like affordable lending.
“The Motor City Contractor Fund program is a result of 30 powerhouse stakeholders that saw the critical need to support Detroit-based contractors. So in order to help support these contractors, we provide business education, capital, as well as job opportunities,” said program manager Shenai Jackson.
The Motor City Contractor Fund aims to educate its members with the knowledge necessary to secure major projects in both the private and public sectors.
Contractor Robert Matlock is just one example of the success of this program.
After being laid off from General Motors in 2008, Matlock started his own construction company in 2011.
After graduating from the course with the Motor City Contractor Fund, Matlock’s company expanded, landing him projects in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida.
“The Motor City Contracting Fund program, you know, it’s good for startups, it’s good for smaller business, but for a person like myself that’s seasoned, it’s still a lot that you may know, but you don’t, so you’re still able to grow. Again with me, I was able to get good contacts; I have a beautiful mentor from Barton Malow. I can call him anytime I need to, to answer questions, and being in the program opened doors. It allowed me to get in rooms with other large companies and owners, so I can network and build my business and let it grow,” said Matlock.
Kinnus Paul, a Senior Program Manager for the Gilbert Family Foundation, has been with MCCF since its creation, working closely as a partner to support the fund.
He spoke on why it was so important to The Gilbert Family Foundation to be a part of this program.
“We want to make sure that we’re building equity for the people of the city of Detroit. We want to include the city of Detroit residents in these opportunities. There’s nearly $5 billion worth of commercial projects happening in the city of Detroit, and we want to ensure that Detroiter and especially Detroit-based contractors get those opportunities,” said Paul.
This program aims to support its contractors and is currently seeking 50 new applicants for its next cohort.
