WATCH: "The Idea Of Two Detroits Is Not As Powerful As One Incredibly Strong City."

Small Business Saturday is quickly approaching and the New Economy Initiative (NEI) just released a video that celebrates small businesses.

NEI commissioned poet jessica Care moore to write a poem about the impact that small businesses have in neighborhoods. Her poem is titled “The Great Idea” was performed live at the NEIdeas Award Gala earlier this month. It celebrates the hard work and diversity of our city.

“If we are going to be the comeback city then we have to empower the businesses who are already here to stay.
We refer to them simply as the been here people.”

The video was filmed, directed, and edited by Detroit Lives! and the still photography was shot by Ali Lapetina.

New Economy Initiative (NEI) announced the winners of the 2017 NEIdeas small business challenge at the NEIdeas Gala.

Twenty small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park were awarded $10,000 to help their business. Two additional businesses were awarded $100,000.