As TechTown closes out 2021, the world doesn’t look quite the way we hoped it would. The virus continues to wreak havoc, and as a result, the business services and support provided by TechTown are needed more than ever. I’m very proud to say that TechTown showed up in a big way this year for entrepreneurs in Detroit.

We served 1,731 businesses from March 2020 through March 2021, and we didn’t stop there. Of those businesses owners, over half identified as she/her/hers, and 68% were Black or African American, showing that we are taking major strides to be representative of Detroit. On top of that, 100% of our 313 STRONG clients kept their doors open through these trying times. Check out last year's impact report if you haven't already, and keep an eye out for an updated report in the New Year.

Through federal grants, foundation, and corporate support, alongside donations from individuals like you, TechTown is in the best financial shape we’ve experienced in years. Our hard work and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion earned us recognition as a finalist for Crain’s Detroit’s Best-Managed Nonprofit. We also earned top honors from Charity Navigator and the American Business Awards.

I invite you take a quick trip down memory lane, and stay tuned in 2022 for TechTown’s strategic plan as we continue to create community wealth and break cycles of intergenerational poverty. And don’t forget to visit TechTown’s new online Marketplace to support local businesses this coming year as you “shop, eat and do in Detroit.”

Happy New Year! Ned Staebler and your TechTown family