Black Leaders Detroit expands into home rehab

• Now, CEO Dwan Dandridge also aims to respond to housing needs — more ready-to-move-in single-family housing, and more access to capital for Black residential real estate developers.

State of play: BLD launched its Building Fund last year, offering zero-interest loans up to $150,000 to developers renovating single-family homes, or small complexes up to four units.

• As a former general contractor, Dandridge saw investors from other states and countries buying up real estate in Detroit.
• He wants to make sure "Detroiters that have been here for generations have opportunity to benefit from what's happened with the real estate market … People that we like to say 'kept the lights on,' right?"

Zoom in: BLD partnered with Building Community Value, a local nonprofit that teaches people how to develop buildings and revitalize their neighborhoods.

• So far the loans have gone to 15 projects, and one on the east side has been completed.
• The next applications go live in April.

Between the lines: BLD is still funding small businesses and nonprofits, too, including commencing its fourth year of Black History Month grants.

• Each weekday of the month, a different Detroit-based nonprofit led by someone of African descent gets a surprise grant of $5,000, for a total of $100,000.

• So far, recipients have included Dream of Detroit, Moguls in the Making and J.O.B. Lactation.

What's next: With spring comes BLD's annual cycling event. Dandridge has ridden from Detroit to Mackinac Island in the past, but is keeping the rides in town this year.

• The Ride For Unity event series May 14-17 will tour local business corridors like Livernois Avenue.
• In the fall, Dandridge aims to launch a support program for young, aspiring developers that would send them through the Building Community Value program and loan them $50,000 to buy into a real estate project.