• Program will provide technical assistance, flexible business support and access to capital for early-stage Detroit-based contractors
  • Investment expands on existing Gilbert Family Foundation initiatives that seek to strengthen Detroit’s contractor ecosystem, like the Motor City Contractor Fund.
  • Ignite is a collaboration between The Ownership Initiative (TOIC), LifeLine Global Consulting (LGC), and Michigan Women Forward (MWF), with funding provided by Gilbert Family Foundation.

DETROIT (JULY 15, 2025) — Gilbert Family Foundation today announced the launch of Ignite Detroit Contractors, a new business development initiative to support early-stage construction contractors in Detroit as they stabilize and scale their businesses to prepare for larger opportunities. Funded through a $1.2 million investment from Gilbert Family Foundation, Ignite targets Detroit-based contractors that are stuck in the startup phase due to financial, operational and systemic challenges.

Ignite aims to address common barriers to growth through industry-specific technical assistance and coaching; connections to experienced peers and project opportunities; a full calendar of educational sessions, workshops, and events; and introductions to both traditional lending and microlending institutions.

Following the success of two cohorts of the Motor City Contractor Fund, which provides resources for experienced Detroit contractors, the launch of Ignite is another way Gilbert Family Foundation will support inclusive entrepreneurship and help increase job opportunities across the city.

“The Ignite program is tailored to help early-stage contractors grow their vital businesses with confidence,” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director, Gilbert Family Foundation. “As Detroit’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors continue to grow, the need for skilled, small-scale contractors has never been greater. These contractors will create the spaces where the next generation of Detroiters shop, work, play and live. We are helping build the city’s future today.”

Participants can enroll in Ignite on a rolling basis and complete the program at their own pace over six to 12 months. To be eligible, applicants must be based in Detroit, have operated as a registered business for at least one year, have completed two or more projects in the last nine months, must demonstrate proficiency in a skilled trade, and must have minimum annual earnings of $65,000.

A Collaborative Partnership Centered on Community

Ignite brings together a collective of partners with a shared dedication to unlocking economic opportunity for Detroit residents. Michigan Women Forward will serve as the program fiduciary and first lending partner, providing capital access and participant support.

“Detroit’s future depends on creating real, lasting pathways to economic opportunity, and that starts by investing in the people who are ready to build it,” said Carolyn Cassin, President and CEO of Michigan Women Forward. “Ignite will help hundreds of Detroit-based contractors move from surviving to scaling – growing their businesses, hiring locally, and creating long-term personal and generational wealth. We’re proud to join this effort to ensure more Detroiters have the support and funds they need to succeed.”

LifeLine Global Consulting will serve as the program administrator, leading curriculum development, technical assistance delivery and marketing for the program.

“We are thrilled to launch the Ignite Detroit Contractors program to equip local contractors with the tools, resources, and networks they need to scale sustainably,” said Dr. Nicole Parker, CEO of LifeLine Global Consulting. “Detroit’s contractors are the backbone of our city’s economic future, and this program is designed to remove barriers, build capacity, and accelerate their growth so they can continue transforming neighborhoods while building generational wealth.”

Finally, The Ownership Initiative, which also co-created the Motor City Contractor Fund with Gilbert Family Foundation, designed the Ignite program and will provide strategic support and evaluation.

“Many talented Detroit contractors are stuck in the startup phase,” said Krysta Pate, Founder & CEO of The Ownership Initiative. “Ignite builds a community of learning and connection –offering connectivity to lending opportunities and a structured, four-level curriculum that helps contractors grow their businesses and take on a larger share of work in Detroit today.”

To learn more or apply to the program, visit www.ignitedetroitcontractors.org.

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About Gilbert Family Foundation

The Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation founded by Jennifer and Dan Gilbert to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and build economic opportunity and equity in the city of Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation supports groundbreaking, cutting-edge research in hopes of eradicating NF1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. Additionally, the Foundation supports the economic stability and mobility of residents in Detroit by investing in wealth-building opportunities and breaking down systemic barriers.

For more information on the Gilbert Family Foundation, please visit gilbertfamilyfoundation.org.

About Michigan Women Forward
Michigan Women Forward is a community development financial institution dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for women and entrepreneurs of color. Through access to capital, business resources, and leadership programs, MWF works to build a stronger, more equitable economy across Michigan. Learn more at miwf.org.

LifeLine Global Consulting (LGC) is a business planning and strategy firm committed to empowering entrepreneurs, small businesses, and economic development organizations. Driven by a mission to accelerate personal and professional growth, LGC connects individuals to critical resources, designs actionable growth strategies, and equips businesses for capital readiness. As a core partner in the Ignite program, LGC will lead the development and delivery of a contractor-focused curriculum, oversee the program’s technology infrastructure, build a compelling brand and outreach strategy, and deliver a dynamic educational experience tailored to the needs of Detroit’s early-stage contractors.

The Ownership Initiative (TOIC)


The Ownership Initiative is a nationally recognized, Black-owned impact advisory firm headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that advises on housing and small business strategies to create opportunities for underserved populations and economically challenged communities. The firm uses its immersive, community-led advisory approach to strategically aid in developing and launching Ignite as a sustainable offering for early-stage Detroit-based contractors.