Our Grantees

The purpose of this section of the NEI website is to share with you the tremendous stories and impact of NEI grantees to date. For a full list of grantees to date, please click here. However, we encourage you to look through the detailed information below about each of the specific grants.

Entrepreneurial Eco-System

  • Argonaut Project
    In January 2009, the College for Creative Studies (CCS) received a grant of $3 million to provide additional financing to leverage the Argonaut Project.
  • Bizdom U
    In June 2008, Bizdom U received a grant of $950,000 over two years for support to double the enrollment in an entrepreneur training program. Bizdom U was founded in April 2006 by Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans. Bizdom U’s mission is to...
  • Blackstone LaunchPad
    In partnership with the New Economy Initiative (NEI) for Southeast Michigan, the University of Miami, Wayne State University and Walsh College, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation established “Blackstone LaunchPad,” a program with the potential to...
  • Business Accelerator Network
    The  New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan (www.neweconomyinitiative.org ), an innovative philanthropic effort to accelerate the transition of metro Detroit to an innovation-based economy, today announces a $3 million grant over three...
  • Creative Corridor Incentive Fund
    In December 2008, the Detroit Economic Growth Association received a grant of $2.5 million over two years to create the Creative Corridor Incentive Fund to attract and retain creative businesses to Detroit’s Creative Corridor.
  • Detroit Business Innovation Development Fund
    In July 2009, ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit received a grant of $1,250,000 from NEI to create the Detroit Business Innovation Development Fund. This Fund is providing equity and equity-like financing for early-stage growth enterprises located in the...
  • Invest Detroit - First Step Loan Fund
    The New Economy Initiative (NEI) awarded a $5 million grant to support Invest Detroit’s First Step Loan Fund.
  • Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    The Regents of the University of Michigan, on behalf of the 15-member public university consortia, received a grant of $1.5 million to support investments of the Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
  • Michigan Life Science Research and Innovation Center
    In December 2008, the Ann Arbor SPARK Foundation received a grant of $750,000 for support to launch a life sciences incubator in western Wayne County. This grant resulted in what is now known as the Michigan Life Science Research and Innovation...
  • NEI Entrepreneur Fellowship
    In 2009, an NEI grant of $65,000 to the Kauffman Foundation supported the inclusion of a Michigan-based fellow in Kauffman’s Entrepreneur Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
  • Statewide Entrepreneurship Support System
    The Michigan Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs Program (MORE) was awarded a grant of $356,250 in 2009, to support phase one of the creation of the Statewide Entrepreneurship Support System (SESS), a comprehensive catalogue and delivery...
  • Sugar Hill Arts District
    In January 2009, the University Cultural Center Association (UCCA) received a grant of $2.5 million over two years to leverage $34 million in funds from governmental and private sources for the revitalization of the Sugar Hill Arts District.
  • TechTown
    In July 2009, the Wayne State University Research and Technology Park, commonly known as TechTown, received a grant of $4.975 million over three years to implement a comprehensive entrepreneur training and support program in partnership with the...
  • The Creative Cities Summit
    In October 2008, NEI made a grant of $5,000 to support Creative Cities Summit, held in Detroit. The Summit included provocative speakers such as Richard Florida and Majora Carter. Information about the Summit is available by Clicking HERE This was...
  • The Henry Ford - Maker Faire
    Maker Faire was started in San Mateo, California in 2006 where it currently draws nearly 70,000 visitors and over 700 makers for its annual gathering.  In 2010, Maker Faire is expanding to two new venues – Detroit and New York City.  Maker...
  • Urban Entrepreneur Partnership Detroit
    In July 2009, Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, Inc received a grant of $3,000,000 (over three years) to assist targeted southeast Michigan suppliers to transition their core businesses from automotive to selected growth industries.

Capitalizing on Existing Resources

  • Alternative and Renewable Energy Economic Development Initiative
    In November 2009, the Detroit Economic Growth Association received a grant of $200,000 over two years for support to facilitate an Alternative and Renewable Energy Economic Development Initiative for Detroit with DTE Energy. DTE Energy and DEGA...
  • Assessment of Michigan’s Supply Chain Assets
    In November 2009, Michigan State University received a grant of $202,500 for support to assess southeast Michigan’s supply chain assets in partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber and Wayne State University.
  • Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation - Global Detroit Study
    Immigration is vital to growing the regional economy and can further NEI’s goals to increase innovation and entrepreneurship, grow talent, and transform the culture in Michigan. 
  • Great Lakes Economic Initiative
    In April 2009, the Brookings Institution received a grant of $300,000 over 18 months to support the Great Lakes Economic Initiative.
  • Michigan Security Network
    Michigan Security Network (MiSN) received its second grant from NEI in January 2010.
  • Michigan’s Advanced Energy Economy Initiative
    In February 2009, a grant of $250,000 was awarded to the Council of Michigan Foundations to support Michigan’s Advanced Economy Initiative.
  • Repositioning Auto Communities Initiative
    A grant of $25,000 was awarded to the Brookings Institution in January 2010 to support an initiative that repositions the future of the nation’s auto communities through the development of a framing paper, a one day summit in April 2010 and the...

Building and Employing Workforce

  • Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation
    In May 2010, a grant of $404,950 was awarded to the Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation to serve as an intermediary for regional transportation, distribution and logistics leadership to build a workforce development hub for that sector. Specifically...
  • Health/Life/Bio science research strategy
    In November 2009, Business Leaders for Michigan received a grant of $42,500 to support a process to engage the primary life science leaders and stakeholders and to build a health/life/bio science strategy and initiative. The effort has three...
  • Intern in Michigan Program
    In December 2008, the Detroit Regional Chamber received a grant of $1,964,284 over three years to support the development and implementation of a statewide system to place 25,000 students in Michigan-based internships. The first phase of this multi...
  • Macomb Community College
    In May 2010, a grant of $428,000 was awarded to Macomb Community College to develop leadership and strategy for the growth of the regional workforce in the defense/homeland security sector.   MCC is one of four intermediary organization...
  • Macomb County Defense - Sector Research
    In January 2010, Macomb Community College received a $35,110 grant to research opportunities to grow defense industry-related businesses in Macomb County.
  • MDC Inc.
    In May 2010, NEI awarded a grant of $230,000 over two years to the MDC Inc. to support the implementation of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) program at Oakland Community College and Washtenaw Community College. This investment is funding the first two...
  • Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
    Michigan Manufacturing Technology CenterIn May 2010, a grant of $526,200 over two years was awarded to the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) to serve as an intermediary to convene leaders, develop strategy and build services for the...
  • NextEnergy
    From its inception, NEI leadership has had a keen interest in leveraging the great breadth of activities within the alternative energy field as a source for new jobs in the region.  In May 2010, a grant of $499,530 was awarded over two years to...

Evaluation and Culture Change

  • Detroit Regional News Hub
    In June 2008, Business Leaders for Michigan(formerly Detroit Renaissance) received a grant of $400,000 for support to launch the Detroit Regional News Hub , a regional media relations organization.

What is the New Economy Initiative?

Executive Director David O. Egner provides a brief overview of NEI's efforts to foster entrepreneurialism and employment in southeast Michigan.

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