Non-profit organization Black Leaders Detroit is known for its mission to provide access to capital for Black entrepreneurs. Now the group is extending those services to developers in the city. The program is a response to residents’ complaints of seeing development in the downtown area, but not in the neighborhoods.  

Dwan Dandridge is the CEO of Black Leaders Detroit. He says the goal is to make sure Detroiters who have stayed in the city for generations can benefit from the city’s resurgence.  

“We are aware that there have been and there are others that desire to be developers, that want to take on the challenge of making sure that development is happening in the neighborhoods. So, we’re just looking to empower them, right? Because the capital is missing in that space.” 

The program offers zero-interest loans of up to $150,000 to rehabilitate a single family homes or up to four-unit multifamily property. The loan is only open to developers looking to invest in Detroit neighborhoods.   

Dandridge says there are restrictions put in place to help protect neighborhoods from speculators looking to take advantage of the program.  

“One of the requirements is that you either completed the project and brought it to a finish, to finish at least one and meaning that property is renovated. It’s either you sold it or you’re renting it out currently, and if you have not completed at least one project, you’ve gone through Building Community Values program that’s put on by Chase Cantrell.” 

Dandridge says one of the ways the organization raises support for the program is through donations. The group is looking for people who wish to donate one dollar a week to support the program. Dandridge says he hopes to reach 1 million people to make that commitment.   

For more information visit blackleadersdetroit.org. Applications for the loans open on April 1.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

Henry Ford Museum celebrates Black History Month

The Henry Ford is celebrating Black History Month with the theme “A Century of Black History Commemoration.” The museum has a series of events including a guided tour called “Three Cheers for Black History” which shares the untold stories of Black innovators. Visitors can also see the Equality exhibit, which tells the story of the first African Americans to compete in the national spelling bee.

There will also be a Black entrepreneurs vendor market that is free to the public, as well as multiple author talks on books on Harriet Tubman and the Civil War. Visit thf.org for all special events and programming.  

The Hustle returns

The Detroit Historical Society is launching its second round of The Hustle, a community engagement and exhibition program. The program was designed to spotlight Black entrepreneurs through photography, oral interviews, exhibits and more.

The society is looking for nominations from the community on who to spotlight next. Visit detroithistorical.org/hustle to nominate a business or business owner. Nominations will close on April 26.  

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Michigan’s economy is in flux.

Tariffs have pushed up the cost of some goods. Unemployment has ticked up slightly. Hiring practices are shifting as artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT become more prevalent in workplaces.

Those changes raise big questions for the state’s more than 900,000 small businesses — and the workers who depend on them. How are owners adapting to rising costs and new technologies? What does this moment feel like on the ground? And what should people be doing now to stay resilient?

To explore those questions, Mark Lee, founder of The Lee Group, sat down with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent. Lee hosts several talk shows and writes about business and the economy for Crain’s Detroit, with a focus on how national trends play out locally.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

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