The New Economy Initiative recently announced the winners of the fourth annual business challenge, known as NEIdeas. Nearly 700 local business owners from Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park applied for grants to grow their business. Since 2014, NEIdeas has awarded a total of $1.9 million to 118 businesses for their ideas for growth. That number includes this year’s 22 winners, who were recognized at a special gala on November 2 in Eastern Market’s Shed 5. They represent a variety of sectors, including service, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, food, creative, medical, and more. This year, 80 percent of NEIdeas winners are minority-owned businesses and 65 percent are owned by women.

The 2017 Winners Are:

$100,000
Bel Air Luxury Cinema
Vaughan Industries

$10,000
1 Step 2 Fitness
All of My Children
Beau Bien Fine Foods
Blessed Beginnings Learning Center LLC
Bon Bon Bon
Crystal Clear Images.com, LLC
El Asador Steakhouse
ESI Hardware Store
Everyday Super Discounts
Fa Show Lawn N’ Home Care
Lush Yummies Pie Co.
Nandi’s Knowledge Café
Naturalicious
Nikki’s Ginger Tea LLC
Pages Bookshop LLC
Painexx Corp.
Taqueria El Nacimiento
The Food Exchange Restaurant
Trinosophes
Vernor Chiropractic Clinic

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2017 Newsletter.