The program recognizes independently owned and operated businesses that have been headquartered in Detroit and open to the public for at least 30 years and have contributed to the city's culture through their products, services, or community presence.

Grant funding may be used for eligible expenses such as repairs, equipment, technology, and professional services, while participating businesses may also gain access to educational, marketing, and promotional support.

For businesses that have survived economic downturns, changing neighborhoods, rising costs and decades of competition, this is an opportunity worth investigating before the application period closes. Business owners can review eligibility requirements and application information through the Detroit Legacy Business Project on the City of Detroit's website.

Free Training Can Help Small Businesses Understand Government Contracting

Government agencies purchase billions of dollars in products and services from private companies, but becoming a government contractor involves much more than finding a bid and submitting a price. Business owners need to understand registrations, purchasing agencies, solicitation requirements, marketing and how government buyers identify potential vendors.

A free Government Contracting 101 webinar is scheduled for October 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Time. The online training, hosted by the Mason Small Business Development Center and listed through the U.S. Small Business Administration, is designed to introduce businesses to government customers, small-business set-asides, government marketing and capability statements.

This type of training may be particularly useful for companies in construction, janitorial services, transportation, technology, professional services, consulting, manufacturing and other industries that could potentially sell to government agencies. Business owners interested in entering this market can find additional information through the Government Contracting 101 event listing.

Women-Owned Businesses Can Learn About Federal Certification

Women who own small businesses and want to pursue federal contracting opportunities should understand that owning a woman-owned company does not automatically make the business certified under federal contracting programs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration administers the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program, or WOSB, which helps eligible women-owned companies compete for certain federal contracts. An online SBA training session is scheduled for October 8, 2026, and is designed to explain the program and certification process.

Certification does not guarantee that a company will receive a government contract. Businesses still have to identify appropriate opportunities, market their capabilities and submit competitive proposals. However, understanding certification requirements can help a qualifying company determine whether the program should become part of its government-contracting strategy. Women business owners can review upcoming sessions and program information through the U.S. Small Business Administration's WOSB resources.

Small Businesses Can Explore SBA Financing Options

Grants receive a lot of attention, but they are not the only way businesses finance growth. For an established company with revenue and a solid expansion plan, financing may provide access to capital for equipment, real estate, working capital, inventory or other eligible business needs.

A free online program covering SBA loan programs and financing of up to $5 million is scheduled for October 8, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The program is designed to help business owners better understand financing options available through SBA-related lending programs.

Business owners should remember that SBA-backed loans are not grants. Borrowed money generally must be repaid, and lenders consider eligibility, creditworthiness, business finances and the ability to repay the debt. Before taking on financing, owners should understand the terms and determine whether additional debt makes financial sense for their companies. Information about SBA financing programs is available through the U.S. Small Business Administration's loan programs.

Workers 55 and Older May Qualify for Paid Job Training

Entrepreneurship is not the right path for everyone. For some people, the immediate goal is finding a way back into the workforce after a layoff, career interruption or extended period of unemployment.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program, commonly known as SCSEP, provides employment and training assistance to eligible unemployed adults age 55 and older with low incomes. AARP Foundation is one of the organizations that operates the program in participating areas with support from the U.S. Department of Labor.

SCSEP participants can gain paid community-service work experience with nonprofit organizations and public agencies while developing skills that may help them transition into regular employment. Depending on the program and location, participants may also receive assistance with job searches, computer skills, vocational training and employment preparation.

The program can be particularly important for someone who has spent decades in the workforce and suddenly finds themselves trying to compete in a job market that looks very different from the one they entered years ago. Age, income and employment requirements apply, and availability varies by location. Readers can learn more through the AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program.

Aspiring Entrepreneurs Can Get Free Help Starting a Business

Having an idea is one thing. Turning that idea into a properly structured business is another.

A free online webinar titled Start a Business: Legal & Administrative Steps is scheduled for October 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Time. The training is designed to address some of the decisions entrepreneurs need to make before or during the early stages of starting a company, including choosing a business structure, registering a company, understanding taxes, managing finances and developing the foundation of a business plan.

These decisions are easy to overlook when a new entrepreneur is focused on a logo, website, product or social-media presence. However, the legal and financial foundation of a company can affect everything from taxes and banking to contracts and future growth. Aspiring business owners can learn more and register through the Start a Business: Legal & Administrative Steps event.

Business Owners Can Learn How to Strengthen Their Business Pitch

A business owner may know exactly what the company does but still struggle to explain it clearly to someone else. That can become a problem when speaking with potential customers, lenders, corporate partners, investors or government buyers.

A free online webinar titled Preparing Your Pitch — Best Practices in Developing Your Business Briefing is scheduled for October 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Time. The program is designed for businesses at different stages, from startups to established companies, and focuses on situations in which an owner may need to present the company clearly and professionally.

A strong business presentation is not only for companies seeking investors. It can be useful when introducing a business to a corporate buyer, pursuing a partnership, responding to a new opportunity or explaining why a customer should choose one company over another. Business owners interested in improving how they present their companies can find additional information through the Preparing Your Pitch event listing.

Sometimes the Opportunity Is Already There

There is a difference between waiting for an opportunity and knowing where to look for one. A business owner may discover a contracting program they never knew existed. Someone who has been laid off may find a workforce program that helps them rebuild. An entrepreneur with a good idea may discover free training that prevents an expensive mistake, while a long-standing neighborhood business may qualify for financial assistance simply because someone made sure the owner heard about it before the deadline.

Before applying for any program, readers should go directly to the organization offering the opportunity, review the eligibility requirements and confirm deadlines. Government programs should be verified through official government websites, and no one should assume that a grant, certification, loan, or contract is guaranteed simply because an application has been submitted.

Most importantly, if an opportunity does not fit you, it may fit someone you know. Pass the information along. Sometimes the difference between missing an opportunity and moving forward is simply knowing that the opportunity exists.

Community Economic Pathways will continue reporting on grants, contracts, workforce programs, business resources and training opportunities that can help people discover what is available and determine their next move.

From business grants and free training to paid opportunities for older adults, apprenticeships and programs that can help organizations grow, here are seven opportunities worth putting on your radar this week.

By Community Economic Pathways Business Desk
September 29, 2026

SEPTEMBER 2026 — Every week, opportunities are announced that could help someone start a business, grow a company, learn a new skill or find a path back into the workforce. The problem is that many people never hear about them until the deadline has passed. A grant may be available for a neighborhood business, a government agency may be looking for new vendors, or a free training program may be offered to people who simply do not know where to look.

Community Economic Pathways is taking a closer look at opportunities that are currently available or coming up soon. This week's list includes business funding, government contracting education, resources for women-owned businesses, small-business financing, assistance for older workers and free entrepreneurial training.

Detroit Legacy Businesses Can Apply for Grants Up to $50,000

Long-standing Detroit businesses have an opportunity to receive financial support through the City of Detroit's Detroit Legacy Business Project, which is accepting applications for its Round 4 grant program through October 5, 2026.

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