DETROIT, Mich., April 11, 2022 – If you drive down Woodward Avenue from the riverfront through mid-town Detroit today and recall what it looked like 10 years ago, the changes are visible and noteworthy.
While not as observable, LaunchDETROIT, the Rotary-powered program established 10 years ago to help entrepreneurs in under-resourced areas of Detroit, also made significant strides.
According to Margaret Williamson, chair of LaunchDETROIT, the program has provided business education, mentoring and networking opportunities to 83 entrepreneurs as well as micro-loans of up to $2,500 each to 39 qualifying participants.
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 her travels to countries around the globe and the benefits of micro-financing sustainable futures for impoverished people.
Then District Governor Mary Kehoe and Assistant Governor Donna Schmidt organized a committee to explore establishing a microfinance project that birthed LaunchDETROIT. Taking on leadership roles were Rotarians – Chair Larry Wright, Vice Chair Margaret Williamson and Treasurer Liz Smith.
“From the very beginning, we quickly realized that business education was key to the success of our entrepreneurs,” said Williamson, current chair, who credited Rotarian Aaron Maike, then president of Baker College of Allen Park, in helping with the design of the program’s first business classes.
As word about LaunchDETROIT spread through local news outlets and The Rotarian International Magazine, similar models emerged including LaunchMyCity in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In 2018, the program’s efforts paid off with receipt of a two-year global grant from Rotary International (RI) with Detroit Rotary as the host club in partnership with Taylor and Trenton Rotary Clubs, and international partner — the Toronto Sunrise Club of District 7070.
Williamson noted the award was significant, because it was the first RI microfinance grant in the United States. Level One Bank stepped up as a community banking partner while Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business and International Strategic Management (ISM) partnered to provide additional business education resources customized to better serve participating entrepreneur’s business needs.
With the global grant, entrepreneurs were divided into small groups of five to seven people and assigned mentors to meet with them on a regular basis and recommend additional resources.
As many small businesses either closed or pivoted with the onset of the pandemic, LaunchDETROIT continued to accept entrepreneur applications and interviewed individuals virtually to join the program.
“We connected with graduates of our program as well through group Zoom meetings to find out how entrepreneurs and their businesses were doing,” added Williamson. “To our delight, we listened as they gave each other tips and helpful referrals to generate more business.”
Partnerships have extended across state lines as well. More than five years ago, the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University (IU) contacted LaunchDETROIT, offering to send students to help the program’s entrepreneurs with marketing and finance needs as part of the school’s alternative break program. This spring, IU students and advisors arrived for a week-long visit with five businesses established by LaunchDETROIT entrepreneurs, who welcomed the students’ insights and recommendations.
Currently, a new group of entrepreneurs is currently going through individualized education sessions with ISM and will soon meet together on a regular basis with Rotary volunteer mentors. “We continue to accept online applications and will plan to conduct the next round of interviews in late summer,” said Williamson. “Our experience shows that the energy and passion each person brings to this program helps set them up to be successful in their business.”
For Williamson and her committee, the program is paying off in other ways. She said, “Our entrepreneurs have learned that Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self” is not an empty commitment, and they want to be part of giving back to the community by becoming Rotarians themselves.”
