Neighborhood Grocery has officially launched its equity crowdfunding campaign to open its first community-owned grocery store in Detroit.
Today is the day! Neighborhood Grocery has officially launched its crowdfunding efforts to acquire it’s first space on the eastside of Detroit. Prior to the launch, the company received over 600 financial commitments from Michigan residents. This concept is designed to address health and wealth issues in the places where people live in the poorest big city in America. More than that, this effort is designed to reintroduce village-minded activities in urban communities across America, using Detroit as one of the standard.
My book Make The Hood Great Again is a community development manifesto for communities like the Islandview/Greater Villages corridor, where our targeted space is located, that houses several neighborhoods that differ socially, and economically. Different personalities driven by race, age, gender, economic status, religion, and other attributes all occupy this small space which could (and has) created tensions, disagreements, and outright disfunction. I believe projects like Neighborhood Grocery could be the catalyst to eliminating much of those problems while creating a platform for grassroots civic development.
In my last post about how I believe equity crowdfunding is the key to community development, I mention the importance of community participation in efforts like Neighborhood Grocery. As the leader of this particular cause, I am doubling down on that belief. The financial investment to fulfill this project cannot be understated in any way. The company needs $1.2 million to acquire the space, its licenses and rights to operate, renovations, and working capital. That’s a tall order. But most importantly, I will need the people in the community to participate in the marketing, organizing, operations, and community outreach efforts to fulfill the mission of community development.
Investments can be made directly to the company at our new website.
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See y’all on the other side of history,
Rafa
