The Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project moves to the Ross School, but has always been a collaborative effort involving faculty from Ford, Ross and other schools as well as students from across campus. This includes those from the College of Engineering, Stamps School of Art & Design, Law School and School of Information.

“Unfortunately, almost by definition, early stage startups have no revenue and little money to pay attorneys for much needed legal services. Because the clinic is free of charge, I never have to turn away a client for inability to pay.”

~ Tifani Sadek, co-director of Michigan Law’s Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic

“I’m seeing people stepping up and starting these businesses that have an urban focus or that are designed in some way to improve the quality of life in cities. But on the other hand I think it is just a really challenging undertaking.”

~ David Tarver

“We have a team of interdisciplinary students responding in various ways: law students researching legal questions related to Small Business Administration lending, public policy students creating easy to understand guides, and design students designing templates for businesses moving to online sales.”
~ Justin Erickson, program manager for the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project.

To understand Detroit’s transformation over the past decade, some say you need to visit the city in person to witness the vast changes. That message and enthusiasm for how young leaders can have a long-term impact on the city came through loud and clear at the Detroit Impact Conference.

President Mark Schlissel appointed 21 faculty members and administrators to the Detroit Center for Innovation Curriculum Development Committee. The committee of 17 regular and four ex-officio members began meeting weekly recently to formulate curricula that are interdisciplinary and focused on the emerging needs of the Detroit regional economy.

Partnering with a small business owner to boost her coffee shop business, building a makerspace for students and the Brightmoor community, and working with Eastside city residents to create authentic tours are just a few projects the University of Michigan is collaborating on to boost entrepreneurial impact in Detroit.

“The economic success of our state is tied to the success of Detroit. It’s our largest city and it plays an important role in Michigan’s economic well-being. This new Detroit Center for Innovation will benefit not just Detroit, and the region – but also the entire state of Michigan.”

~ University of Michigan Regent Chair Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor

It was his work with Detroit Sip and becoming a regular face at block club meetings, that resulted in Bill Lovejoy winning a Spirit of Detroit award from the Detroit City Council in 2018. This award remains one of his proudest achievements to date. “Anything I do in Detroit I do with local residents, and without them I do nothing.”