Ford Debuts Advancing Community Business Program At Michigan Central

June 10, 2022 10:51 am

Work at Ford’s Michigan Central project continues following a major renovation of the old, historic train station, and is nearing its final stages as the automaker invests $350 million into its future 1.2 million-square-foot innovation and mobility campus, which will ultimately host 5,000 employees and consist of three buildings. FoMoCo recently named urban planner Joshua Sirefman as the new CEO of its Michigan Central Station subsidiary as it uses 3D printing technology to replicate old styling elements, launched a fast track job program at the site, and announced that it will team up with Google there to develop future autonomous vehicle technology. Now, Ford has also debuted an Advancing Community Business program at the Michigan Central site, too.

The new Advancing Community Business program is designed to assist small business owners by providing them with a host of valuable resources including customized training in digital skills and web development, capital education, and direct access to new grants and business loans. Participants will also receive one-on-one coaching with proven business mentors to identify and accelerate their top business priorities.

Michigan Central is teaming up with Build Institute and ProsperUs for this new program, both of which bring extensive experience in assisting Detroit entrepreneurs and small business owners with education, mentorship, technical assistance, and capital resources to the table.

Participants are able to choose which offerings they wish to participate in based on their own availability and interests, whether that be digital/web training, capital education, business mentoring and coaching, and capital grants and loans. Businesses that are physically located within the Michigan Central neighborhood focus area are eligible to participate in what is yet another effort by Ford to revitalize an area that’s long resembled a shell of its former, bustling self.

We’ll have more on Michigan Central Station soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.