Quarterly Newsletter | December 2025

December 20, 2025

Detroit Future City Newsletter | December 2025

What’s Inside:

Celebrating 10 Years of Detroit Future City
DFC selected for Michigan’s Community Growth Academy Program
New Report on Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region
DFC Honors Long Time Directors Upon Retirement from Board

Celebrating 10 Years of Detroit Future City

This Fall marks a decade since Detroit Future City first opened its doors to serve Detroiters.

From its corporation filing on September 9, 2015, to receiving tax-exempt status that November, DFC quickly positioned itself to become a trusted steward of Detroit’s long-term future.

On January 6, 2016, the organization welcomed its first President and CEO, Anika Goss, setting the course for an era of thoughtful, community-centered leadership.

Over the past ten years, DFC has realized many significant accomplishments, including:

Publishing dozens of influential reports that have shaped policy and practice in land use, sustainability, housing, and economic development.
Delivering technical assistance and other support to transform many acres of vacant neighborhood parcels into green, productive, and deeply valued community spaces.
Convening countless planning discussions, workshops, and collaborative projects focused on open space, housing affordability, economic inclusion, and economic equity—ensuring Detroiters’ voices drive the city’s future.

DFC commemorated this milestone at its Forum Pre-Event Reception on September 24, 2025. It is also recognizing its anniversary with a special anniversary logo and periodic social media posts that recall its past successes.

Thank you to the many volunteers, staff, donors, and other supporters who made this work possible – and successful – over the past decade. We look forward to the decade ahead.

DFC Selected for Community Growth Academy

DFC is proud to announce that it has been chosen to join the inaugural cohort of the Community Growth Academy — an 18-month initiative from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).

Through this program, DFC will receive tailored technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, state support, and access to competitive grant funding — along with the placement of a full-time fellow to help lead local projects.

As part of the program, DFC will focus on a 3-square-mile section of Detroit’s near East Side — the area historically known as Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. This is part of DFC’s broader Thriving, Resilient Communities initiative, which aims to bring reparative investment to neighborhoods disrupted decades ago by construction of the I‑375 freeway.

With this new support, DFC is positioned to strengthen its ongoing work around equitable community development — helping to reimagine land use, restore neighborhood vitality, and build economic resilience where it matters most.

Stay tuned for updates on the community-based projects and planning work that result from this exciting opportunity.

Click here for more on the Community Growth Academy

New Report on Growth-Stage Businesses

On November 11, 2025, Detroit Future City — in partnership with New Economy Initiative (NEI) — published a new report titled “Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region: Insights and Solutions to Fuel Economic Impact.

The report draws on focus groups and interviews with 22 business owners conducted in Summer 2025 to examine challenges and opportunities for firms beyond the startup phase — typically with 10–100 employees and revenues over $250,000.

While these growth-stage firms are already contributing to Detroit’s economy, the research highlights persistent support-gaps in five critical areas: access to capital, business support networks, technology adoption, talent/hiring, and regulatory policy.

To help strengthen regional economic impact, the report recommends: expanding flexible financing such as grant or revenue-based financing; creating a centralized directory and streamlined portal for business support services; offering technology-upgrade grants; expanding workforce development and management training; and simplifying government procurement and permitting systems.

“Growth-stage businesses anchor neighborhoods, expand career pathways, and circulate wealth locally,” said DFC President and CEO Anika Goss — underscoring the importance of aligning capital, talent, and policy to unlock the next generation of Detroit’s job creators and innovators.

To ensure the findings were widely disseminated and to spark community discussion, DFC hosted a public webinar on December 10, 2025, at 1 p.m.

Click here to read the report

DFC Honors Long Time Board Directors

This December, DFC extends its deepest gratitude to four dedicated members of the DFC Board who are retiring after many years of steadfast service: Tiffany Douglas, Dave Blaszkiewicz, Rev. James Curenton, and Rebecca Willis.

Since shortly after DFC’s founding, their leadership and guidance have helped shape the organization’s mission — offering insight, resources, accountability, and a bridge between community needs and strategic action.

Throughout their tenure, Tiffany, Dave, Rev. Curenton, and Rebecca contributed to DFC’s efforts to build equitable land-use plans, support community-driven economic development, and steward policy and investments toward Detroit’s neighborhoods.

Their commitment helped ensure DFC remained grounded in community priorities while advancing long-term planning, sustainability, and equitable growth across Detroit.

As DFC says farewell to these four board members, it honors their many contributions, time commitment to the organization, and their individual legacies of dedication to Detroit’s future. A special recognition took place for these board directors at DFC’s annual Board-Staff dinner this month. Pictured above are DFC President and CEO Anika Goss, Board Directors Tiffany Douglas and Rebecca Willis, and DFC Board Chair Wendy Jackson, at the recognition ceremony.

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