Detroit Non-Profits Partner with Local Agency to Support Small Business Growth

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For the past five years, two Detroit-based non-profit organizations have been in close partnership with Ann Arbor-based web design agency build/create studios to support growth and long-lasting positive change throughout southeast Michigan.

The first of these projects was with the New Economy Initiative (NEI), a non-profit focused on building an inclusive regional network of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses. In 2014, NEI contacted build/create about building a website for their public-facing small business grants program called NEIdeas.

build/create designed a website that helped members of the public apply for the grant program. The new website made it possible for NEI to evaluate applications and select winners, while also building a community of over twelve hundred businesses across Detroit.

Next, build/create worked with NEI to develop the BizGrid, a print and digital asset that serves providers and small businesses throughout the Detroit area. In the years since it launched, BizGrid has become a unique content hub that has allowed NEI to list useful resources and build a vibrant economic community.

Following these projects, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the organization which houses NEI, contacted build/create about creating a new website for their programs. The Community Foundation was seeking an effective way to portray the complicated intricacies of their organization in an accessible and navigable format.

build/create worked with the Community Foundation to restructure their website in a way that was more action-oriented. As a result, the Community Foundation was able to connect with their two main audiences on both the fundraising and grant-oriented sides of their organization in more effective ways.

Speaking about the project, Ashley Collins of the Community Foundation said:

"build/create built our website with a very strong content focus, so that we could share stories and information more easily. This year, we implemented a more content-driven marketing strategy with stories and news articles that encourage others to join us in creating permanent, positive change in the region. The website has helped drive the results we are aiming for."

Speaking about future plans, Matt Lewis of NEI says:

"Our projects with build/create have helped us engage directly with more than 2,400 businesses. We are now using our newsletter, our website events page, and tailored email communications to expose those businesses to even more resources."

build/create studios is a web agency specializing in design, development, and digital marketing. Their motto, "design with purpose," is exemplified by their strategic approach to all areas of a business's web presence, including branding, custom development, SEO, and inbound marketing.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan creates permanent, positive change in southeast Michigan through thoughtful philanthropy. With generous support from thousands of donors, the Community Foundation is building permanent endowment for the region and helping individuals, families and businesses fulfill their charitable goals.

The New Economy Initiative, a special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, is a philanthropy-led entrepreneurial development strategy working to build an inclusive network of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses in southeast Michigan.

SOURCE Build/Create Studios