The Gilbert Family Foundation is investing over $4 million to strengthen Black-owned businesses in Detroit through grants to Black Leaders Detroit (BLD) and the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA).

Announced during National Black Business Month, the Foundation revealed in a news release on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, that it is investing in a broad range of programs, expanding access to capital, technical assistance, and business coaching.

“Detroit’s continued growth hinges on a strong small business community throughout the city,” said Darnell Adams, the Gilbert Foundation’s vice president of Detroit community initiatives. “These investments will ensure Detroit developers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses have the resources and opportunities needed to shape the future of our city and state.”

BLD will receive a $2.1 million grant to expand its no-interest lending programs, including The Building Fund, which offers up to $150,000 to Black real estate developers for residential projects in the city. Loans will be distributed in phases tied to construction, with a three-month deferral after closing.

The grant will also support the expansion of the group’s business loans, capacity-building initiatives, and emergency loan program.

“By providing no-interest loans to developers of African descent, we’re not just financing projects — we’re building generational wealth, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring that Detroit’s growth includes people who have always called it home,” BLD Chief Operating Officer Sharea Ayers said in a statement.

MBBA will receive $2 million to scale Black-owned businesses through programs like the Global Growth Accelerator for second-stage business expansion, Capital Connect for financing access, and BizWiz, which provides one-on-one coaching and technical assistance.

Charity Dean, MBBA’s president and CEO, said the “generous grant” represents confidence in the “ingenuity and resilience” of Black entrepreneurs ready to amplify their impact.

“From the very beginning, Gilbert Family Foundation has been a pillar of support for the Michigan Black Business Alliance, walking with us as we’ve built programs and removed barriers for Black businesses across the state,” Dean said in a statement. “This investment will be the spark that helps business owners — especially our second-stage entrepreneurs — turn their dreams into sustainable, thriving realities.”

In addition to supporting Black-owned businesses, the Gilbert Family Foundation also invests in Detroit’s future workforce by connecting graduates with internships, mentors, and career opportunities.

As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Foundation helped launch Detroit’s Apple Developer Academy — a free, 10-month program created in partnership with Apple and Michigan State University in 2021. The academy recently graduated over 125 students, equipping them with real-world skills in Swift coding, AI, UX design, marketing, and project management.

“As Detroit continues to emerge as a national hub for technology, the Apple Developer Academy is creating pathways for Detroiters of all backgrounds to gain the skills, confidence, and connections they need to launch successful careers in the tech industry,” Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Gilbert Family Foundation, told the Michigan Chronicle. “We are proud to support this important program, which is the only one of its kind in the U.S.”