Our neighborhoods approach focuses our lending tools, relationships, and expertise on targeted neighborhood locations that will catalyze and inspire further growth in surrounding areas. We work with residents to identify priorities and developers who are community-minded. Partnering with the City of Detroit, neighborhood leaders and associations, among others, we are working to bring proven tools into ten targeted neighborhoods through the Strategic Neighborhood Fund.

Increasing the population of Detroit by attracting and retaining residents means fewer vacant buildings, safer neighborhoods, and a stronger local economy. We prioritize mixed-use projects that provide affordable housing so that residents at all income levels have a place to call home.

Supporting businesses over a range of sectors helps to create a wide range of opportunities for Detroit residents at all stages of their education or career paths. Local businesses can provide jobs to residents without cars, cut down on commute times for busy parents, promote walkable neighborhoods, and improve the local economy. Our programs work together to support local entrepreneurs who are creating new jobs or retaining existing jobs within the city.

Equitable access is a thread that runs through all of our programs and goals. Our vision is a Detroit for everyone with multi-ethnic and mixed-income neighborhoods where all residents feel safe and welcome and have access to resources and opportunities. Through our real estate work we ensure that we maintain percentages of affordable units in multi-family housing, and we work to identify and support developers of color. In our small business and venture investment work, we actively seek out entrepreneurs that are persons of color, immigrants, female, or Detroit residents.