If you walk down Woodward Avenue from the riverfront to downtown Detroit today and remember what it looked like 10 years ago, the changes are visible and remarkable.

Although less observable, LaunchDETROIT, the Rotary-powered program created 10 years ago to help entrepreneurs in disadvantaged areas of Detroit, has also made significant progress.

According to Margaret Williamson, President of LaunchDETROIT, the program provided business training, mentorship and networking opportunities to 83 entrepreneurs as well as micro-loans of up to $2,500 each to 39 eligible participants.

Loans have been made to businesses in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and many downstream communities as well as other cities in the Detroit metro area.

The inspiration for LaunchDETROIT began in 2012 with a presentation by Rotarian Marilyn Fitzgerald, author of “If I Had a Water Buffalo,” to a Rotary District 6400 assembly. Fitzgerald detailed his travels to countries around the world and the benefits of micro-financing for a sustainable future for those in need.

Then-District Governor Mary Kehoe and Deputy Governor Donna Schmidt of Allen Park organized a committee to explore setting up a microfinance project that gave birth to LaunchDETROIT. Rotarians took on leadership roles – President Larry Wright (of Taylor), Vice President Margaret Williamson and Treasurer Liz Smith.

“Early on, we quickly realized that business education was key to the success of our entrepreneurs,” said Williamson, current president, who credited Rotarian Aaron Maike, then president of Baker College in Allen Park, for helping to design the program’s first business classes.

As news of LaunchDETROIT spread through local media and Rotarian International Magazine, similar patterns emerged, including LaunchMyCity in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In 2018, the program’s efforts paid off with the receipt of a two-year global grant from Rotary International (RI) with Detroit Rotary as the host club in partnership with the Taylor and Trenton Rotary clubs, and international partner – the Toronto District 7070 Sunrise Club.

Williamson noted that the award was significant because it was the first RI microfinance grant in the United States. Level One Bank has become a Community Banking Partner while Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business and International Strategic Management (ISM) has partnered to provide additional business training resources tailored to better meet the business needs of participating contractors.

With the global grant, entrepreneurs were divided into small groups of five to seven people and mentors were assigned to meet with them regularly and recommend additional resources.

As many small businesses closed or pivoted with the onset of the pandemic, LaunchDETROIT continued to accept applications from entrepreneurs and interviewed people virtually to join the program.

“We also reached out to graduates of our program through Zoom group meetings to find out how the entrepreneurs and their businesses were doing,” Williamson added. “Much to our delight, we listened to them give each other helpful tips and referrals to generate more business.”

Partnerships have also expanded across states. More than five years ago, Indiana University (IU) Kelley School of Business approached LaunchDETROIT, offering to send students to help program entrepreneurs with marketing and financing needs in the part of the school’s alternative break program. This spring, IU students and advisors arrived for a week-long visit with five companies created by LaunchDETROIT entrepreneurs, who welcomed student ideas and recommendations.

Currently, a new group of entrepreneurs are undergoing individualized training sessions with ISM and will soon meet regularly with volunteer mentors from Rotary. “We continue to accept online applications and expect to conduct the next round of interviews in late summer,” Williamson said. “Our experience shows that the energy and passion each person brings to this program helps them succeed in their business.”

For Williamson and his committee, the program pays off in other ways. She said, “Our entrepreneurs have learned that Rotary’s motto ‘Service Before Self’ is not an empty commitment, and they want to help give back to the community by becoming Rotarians themselves.

For more information, visit www.LaunchDETROIT.org.