GRDC and its Grand River WorkPlace project were honored with the “Extraordinary Economic Development Award” at the 2015 Detroit Community Development Awards Banquet presented by MASCO Corporation Foundation and hosted by the Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, (LISC), Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD), and Michigan Community Resources (MCR).      Just over a year ago, GRDC opened Grand River WorkPlace at 19120 Grand River. WorkPlace went from an empty building that needed a lot of work to the first-of-its kind neighborhood co-working space outside of Downtown and Midtown. WorkPlace is a business incubator offering all the necessities that a small business needs at an affordable price. WorkPlace members have access to conference rooms, private office space, copying and printing facilities, wifi, and the close proximity to other entrepreneurs from a wide range of businesses. This shared work space not only keeps costs low, it also fosters a collaborative business spirit both within WorkPlace itself, and in the wider Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood.

WorkPlace also features a pop-up retail space which offers retailers a trial run of their business and their merchandise. These entrepreneurs are able to get a feel for which of their products are popular, what is the best way to display their merchandise, what hours might work best on which days, and, perhaps most importantly, how best to engage the surrounding community.

For entrepreneurs who might have a great product, but who need some guidance about creating a website or how to best use technology to promote a product or even legal advice, WorkPlace offers both topic specific workshops and on-going consultation services to members and non-members alike.

Accepting the award on behalf of GRDC was Grand River WorkPlace Manager Larissa Carr. Larissa has worked hard to bring community partners such at TechTown, Revolve Detroit, CEED and ProsperUs to WorkPlace to offer workshops and guidance to entrepreneurs. Larissa has also welcomed over 20 WorkPlace members who now call Grandmont Rosedale their business home. It’s an exciting time in Detroit and Grand River WorkPlace is an important part of that excitement. At the awards ceremony Larissa got to meet many of the other award winners who are also important contributors to all the great news coming out of Detroit: “It was an honor to attend this banquet along with many other people and organizations doing great work around Detroit, stated Larissa.” It’s an exciting time in Detroit, and being recognized for all our hard work, – well that’s really exciting.”

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