A Conversation with John O’Brien, GRDC’s Founding Executive Director

In 1989 John O’Brien was the first and only employee of Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation. John’s basement office at Mercy College was just big enough to hold a desk with a telephone, and a chair. As John remembers, “it did have a window well, and it was free.” From that basement office, GRDC began its…

Meet a New Market Vendor: Evan Neubacher of Central Detroit Christian Community Development

It is Evan Neubacher’s first year at the Northwest Detroit Farmers’ Market. Although it’s still the beginning of the market season, Evan already has loyal customers. At just the third market of the season, Evan chatted with a returning customer and even remembered that his customer’s wife was out of town visiting their grandchildren. Of…

June Neighborhood Safety Meeting Focuses on Summer Safety

We all have a stake in the safety of our community. So, on Thursday, June 27 community members from Grandmont Rosedale and beyond gathered for a Neighborhood Safety Meeting at the North Rosedale Park Community House to discuss just that – neighborhood safety. The meeting was hosted by GRDC’s Crime Prevention Task Force, a group…

Welcome Ariya’s Apparel and Accessories to the Grand River WorkPlace Pop-up Spot!

Sometimes, despite a lot of preparation, education and practice, one still needs a little encouragement to do something daring. Making the step from a mobile business to a brick and mortar location, even if it’s only for a few months, was a step Akeya Muhammad was reluctant to make. Luckily for her, GRDC’s Economic Development…

Charlotte Wright: One of the Forces Behind GRDC’s Continuing Success

For close to four years, GRDC board of director Charlotte Wright has brought expertise, dedication, and perhaps most of all, her impressive work ethic to help make Grandmont Rosedale the wonderful neighborhood it is, and GRDC one of Detroit’s oldest and most effective Community Developments Corporations. Charlotte was asked to serve on the GRDC board…

TechTown’s SWOT City Portfolio Manager Micah Loucks Holds Open Office Hours at the Grand River WorkPlace

TechTown’s SWOT City is a “customized support program for brick and mortar small businesses in Detroit neighborhoods…[SWOT City] provides one-on-one assistance to help launch, stabilize and grow local businesses and strengthen neighborhood commercial district.” This support is one of the many services the Grand River WorkPlace offers, and Micah Loucks is a SWOT City representative…