Detroit's City Council and Duggan Launch New Initiative to Simplify Small Business Startups

Since commencing her mayoral bid, Saunteel Jenkins has stressed the urgency for Detroit's City Hall to facilitate access for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. “Currently, launching a business here involves around 77 steps, a substantial obstacle. To cultivate innovation, investment, and jobs, we must simplify the licensing and permitting frameworks,” she asserted. In response, Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit City Council have proposed an ambitious reform package targeting obsolete licensing regulations and aiming to enhance interactions between small businesses and City Hall. This initiative arises from a six-month evaluation that involved local business insights, potentially slashing startup times by up to two months. Duggan emphasized the necessity to streamline procedures while ensuring health and safety standards remain intact, paving the way for sustained economic growth.