Specialty food company to serve as social enterprise, employing homeless and at-risk Detroit women through local nonprofit Alternatives for Girls
Detroit small business awarded Motor City Match (MCM) Round 13 $50,000 cash grant
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) has helped 131 Detroit brick-and-mortar businesses open since MCM program began; several others expected to open by year’s end
Company among several Black and female co-owned businesses receiving support from MCM, City of Detroit, DEGC
DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Andrew Lucco, Director of MCM, joined Pamela Rodgers and Rachelle Nash to celebrate the grand opening of their commercial kitchen in Detroit’s Rivertown District today. The pair are co-owners of Eats All Good, a plant-based specialty food company and social enterprise, that manufactures and distributes vegan snack bars. “Pamela and Rachelle are examples of everything that's good about Detroit's small business entrepreneurs," said Mayor Duggan. "Not only will Eats All Good provide an important service, it will change lives through its partnership with Alternatives for Girls. We are honored Pamela and Rachelle chose Detroit to open their business and proud that Motor City Match has been able to help them realize their dream." With a passion to grow social consciousness, Rodgers and Nash incorporate social responsibility into every aspect of Eats All Good – from sustainable packaging to employing women in need through its partnership with local nonprofit Alternatives for Girls (AFG). Eats All Good works with AFG to train women in its programs for employment opportunities in its production and distribution facility. The co-owners said in addition to helping people eat well, Eats All Good will have a positive impact on women in need. “We believe that good food and good deeds go hand-in-hand,” said Nash. “Our delicious vegan snacks are handmade to empower the women of Detroit by providing them with meaningful employment. We’ve already seen how this can help transition women into becoming strong, contributing members of society.” Located at 2910 E. Jefferson, the facility consists of two buildings – an office space that was once owned by business mogul Joseph Campau and a separate commercial kitchen, which serves as the manufacturing headquarters for the company’s wholefood, plant-based bars. As their business grows, Rodgers and Nash plan to hire 20 fulltime employees through AFG. Founded in 1985, AFG began as a volunteer-run program to support Detroit girls and young women experiencing homelessness, sex exploitation and were otherwise at risk. Today, it is a multi-service agency in southwest Detroit, providing a broad continuum of services ranging from shelter to supported housing, street-based outreach, life skills, and prevention services for homeless and high-risk girls, young women and their families. AFG is currently expanding its services to support those they serve in their journeys to obtain job skills and sustainable careers. Rodgers and Nash say they are proud to employ these women and are constantly inspired by their strength and fortitude. “We are so grateful for Pamela’s and Rachelle’s choice to partner with Alternatives for Girls,” said Amy Good, Chief Executive Officer of AFG. “The compassion they have shown the young women in our program is immeasurable. Their commitment to building our community through embracing Alternative for Girls’ mission is clearly demonstrated throughout every aspect of their partnership with our staff and with those we serve. Through their business, they continue to provide women in our programs with powerful opportunities for a full and bright future.” A MCM Round 13 $50,000 cash grant awardee, Eats All Good used its funds from MCM to renovate its kitchen – a former textile manufacturing facility – and purchase equipment to produce and package the healthy snack bars. Rodgers and Nash are in the process of expanding their product line to include gelato and various baked goods. Founded in 2015, Eats All Good is in negotiations with several grocers and other distribution sites, including Eastern Market and the new, nearby Meijer Rivertown Market, to sell its products. “Eats All Good is a testament to what Detroit-based companies and organizations can achieve when they make the community a priority,” said Lucco. “Through the help of MCM, Pamela and Rachelle have followed their dreams to create healthy and sustainable products while creating jobs for at-risk women in Detroit. In turn, their business is flourishing.” Eats All Good is one of 131 open brick-and-mortar businesses that have received support from MCM. It is located near several other MCM-supported businesses, including The Wise Decision, Grind Grind, Trap Yoga and Dymond Designs Beauty School. More than 80 percent of all MCM businesses are minority-owned, 71 percent are female-owned and 64 percent are owned by Detroit residents. The program continues to have a significant positive impact on Detroit’s small business community, including:
Around 1,000 jobs have been created as a result of open MCM businesses
$9.5M has been awarded in cash grants through MCM and Motor City Re-Store, which has leveraged $45.6M of additional investment into Detroit’s neighborhoods
Nearly 300 additional home-based and mobile businesses have started or expanded with the help of Motor City Match
More MCM brick and mortar businesses are expected to open in 2021 “Motor City Match continues to have a tremendous impact on Detroit,” said Kevin Johnson, President and CEO, DEGC. “More Detroiters are on a path to economic mobility, have been given a chance to pursue their passions, and have access to goods and services in their neighborhoods because of this program. Today, we are creating an even stronger Motor City Match program to support Detroit’s small business community – the heartbeat of our City.” For more information, visit www.EatsAllGood.com. About Motor City Match Motor City Match is a partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of financial institutions, corporations and agencies. DEGC leads Detroit’s business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives. It is dedicated to inclusion, equity and access to economic opportunity. Follow DEGC and MCM on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. www.degc.org, www.motorcitymatch.com
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