A local organization known for assisting small Black-owned businesses is venturing into a new arena: home rehab.

Why it matters: Black Leaders Detroit (BLD) has provided grants and zero-interest loans worth more than $6 million to entrepreneurs since 2020.

• 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.

Welcome back to our new regular feature on city government and politics.

✅ Mayor Mary Sheffield is continuing to fill out her leadership roster by hiring Winnie Liao as COO. Liao previously led an effort to overhaul customer services and improve wait times for the Michigan Secretary of State.

• Making $290,000 and managing 17 departments, Liao will analyze how city services interact with residents.
• She'll look to make processes easier and more reliable, including licensing and permitting — long cited as headaches for businesses and property owners.

Between the lines: The city also confirmed that several leaders under former Mayor Mike Duggan will continue in their roles, including longtime buildings department director David Bell, sewer department director Gary Brown and municipal airport director Jason Watt.

• Some management hasn't been finalized yet, like the new heads of the Detroit Health Department and Office of Immigrant Affairs and Economic Inclusion.

👀 What we're watching: We've waited for responses to questions City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero asked the Detroit Police Department last month about how it interacts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

• The council member got a response, we learned this week, but it's confidential.
• Santiago-Romero is seeking to get the memo publicized via a council vote, per BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett.

Read more chatter

🏀 Pistons Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren were suspended seven and two games, respectively, for fighting Monday against Charlotte. (Free Press)

⚖️ U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin announced that a federal grand jury declined to indict her and other Democrats over a video they appeared in urging service members to reject unlawful orders. (Axios)

Quote du jour

"Modern border infrastructure strengthens shared economic security. The path forward isn't deconstructing established trade corridors; it's actually building bridges."

🗓️ Celebrate Lunar New Year this weekend, including at Valade Park with a festive parade, lion and dragon dances, music performances and crafts.

• Noon-6pm Saturday. Free!

🍿 "True Romance," the 1993 cult classic set in Detroit, is playing at 8pm Saturday at the Senate Theater.

• Tickets: $6.

☕ Create an exfoliating scrub made with coffee in a paint-and-sip style workshop at In Harmony Cafe.

• 4-6pm Saturday. $18.

🕺 Ready to dance but unwilling to compromise on your bedtime? Orchid Theatre in Ferndale is hosting an "In Bed by 10" club night with throwback music.

• 6-10pm Saturday. Free to enter.

More ideas for your weekend

Friends of the Rouge is seeking volunteers to help survey local wetlands for toads and frogs.

Why it matters: The annual study gets the community involved in collecting data about the health of Rouge River wetlands.

• The presence of frogs and toads indicates wetland health.

State of play: Volunteers are required to register for a Feb. 21 training session at the Livonia Civic Center Library to learn the calls of local frogs and toads.

• From March through July, volunteers will visit an assigned area within the River Rouge watershed several times a month to document their findings.

Go deeper: Five tips to help frogs and toads in your yard