Founded in 2011, Hatch Detroit was created to give others the opportunity to have a role in the redevelopment of Detroit. The Contest was built on an idea called “Crowd Entrepreneurship,” where residents have a role in voting for the type of retail they want in their community and determining the winner of the Hatch Contest. Since 2011, four winners have been announced, and twelve Hatch Alumni businesses have opened up storefronts.
Now in its fifth year, Hatch Detroit has expanded its retail role into six neighborhoods in Detroit as part of the Detroit Lion’s Living for the City Initiative. Hatch Detroit will be partnering with local Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) to determine an area of focus that works within the community’s masterplan for its retail strip. Examples include improvements in signage, interior lighting, window displays and outdoor beautification projects all geared to improving retail.