NEI Worktable Celebrated 10th Anniversary of Strengthening Southeast Michigan's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

DETROIT — Entrepreneurs, business support organizations, community leaders, funders and partners gathered at The Madison in Detroit on Oct. 1 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Worktable, a collaborative created by the New Economy Initiative (NEI). The event recognized a decade of collaboration that has helped build a stronger, more connected entrepreneurial ecosystem, transforming how entrepreneurs and small businesses access support in Southeast Michigan.

Launched in 2016 by NEI, a special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Worktable was created to bring together groups and organizations serving local entrepreneurs to better coordinate resources, strengthen partnerships and improve access to business support services. Since then, it has grown into a collaborative network of more than 180 nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, lenders, government agencies, universities and corporate partners committed to helping entrepreneurs succeed.

Over the past decade, the Worktable supported more than 46,700 local small businesses and entrepreneurs, while NEI awarded more than $152 million in over 800 grants across Southeast Michigan. In 2024 alone, the Worktable reached more than 8,200 businesses through technical assistance, lending and collaborative initiatives.

"Ten years ago, the Worktable was created with a simple idea that organizations could accomplish more by working together than working alone," said Wafa Dinaro, executive director of the New Economy Initiative. "Today, local entrepreneurs are better connected to vital resources and supportive services that help them start, grow and scale their businesses. As we celebrate this milestone, we are focused on building an even stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem for the next generation of entrepreneurs."

Practical resources and collaborative initiatives developed by the Worktable include: the Capital Readiness Checklist and Capital Health Roadmap, which provide guidance on how to secure financing; NEInsights, a shared data platform that helps organizations better understand and respond to the needs of small businesses; and the Micro Retail Toolkit, which provides strategies and resources to strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors. The collaborative also advanced procurement and supply chain initiatives, economic development toolkits and capital access programs.

In 2025, NEI introduced MI Small Business Helper, an online platform that features insights and recommendations from the Worktable and has attracted more than 28,000 users and generated more than 794,000 interactions, with grants, access to capital, training and a startup guidance among its most frequently accessed resources.

To help identify emerging challenges and develop practical solutions that can be shared across the network, the collaborative introduced Action Groups that convene partners around shared priorities and opportunities. Current Action Groups focus on language justice and accessibility, artificial intelligence resources for small businesses, strengthening marketing fundamentals, supporting organizations serving Latinx entrepreneurs in Southwest Detroit, and improving access to capital through the monthly Small Business Success Summit.

"The real impact of the Worktable is measured by what participating organizations have built together," said Fred Paul II, associate director of the New Economy Initiative. "From capital readiness tools and shared data platforms to Action Groups and new partnerships, the resources that have been created to help local business support organizations and the entrepreneurs they serve every day. That practical collaboration is what continues to strengthen Southeast Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem."

As the Worktable begins its second decade, it will continue convening organizations, developing innovative resources and identifying new opportunities to advance entrepreneurship across Southeast Michigan.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Gilbert Family Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Kresge Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation were recognized during the event for their longstanding commitment to strengthening Southeast Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting the growth and impact of NEI Worktable.

To learn more about NEI Worktable and access available resources by visiting the New Economy Initiative website at https://neweconomyinitiative.org/nei-worktable/.

About the New Economy Initiative
The New Economy Initiative (NEI) is a special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan focused on building a community of entrepreneurship that benefits all residents and strengthens the regional economy. NEI invests in business support organizations, mission-based lenders, trusted community connectors and policy initiatives to expand access to capital, technical assistance and coordinated services for small businesses and entrepreneurs across southeast Michigan.