'Industry Club' to offer immersive retail experience for Detroit youth, accelerator space for women and entrepreneurs of color

DETROIT, June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This September, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) will open its first Industry Club, offering an unparalleled immersive summer and after-school experience for young people interested in pursuing a career in retail or fashion merchandising. The Industry Club will be co-located with the Détroit is the New Black (DITNB) store at 1430 Woodward Ave, and employ up to 200 Detroit youth each year, ages 14 and up.

"True equality can only be achieved through economic and social mobility and the Industry Club is designed to do just that. Metro Detroit youth will gain the economic, cultural and social capital needed to become college, career and start up ready," said Shawn H. Wilson, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan. "BGCSM is grateful that Bedrock, Ponyride and DITNB have committed to leveraging their resources to build a blueprint that can be replicated across any industry for our youth."

Since Détroit is the New Black opened its flagship store in 2016, the signature clothing brand has offered retail floor space to other Detroit-based small businesses. That accelerator concept will continue through the Industry Club project, with Ponyride offering both brick-and-mortar, and e-commerce support to local women and entrepreneurs of color. Five rotating concepts will stock their goods alongside DITNB within the sales space in the heart of Detroit's historic Woodward Shopping District, and offer online sales through detroitisthenewblack.com.

"The Industry Club is a dream manifested for Détroit is the New Black and such a perfect example of community partners coming together to support the future of the city," said Roslyn Karamoko, founder of Détroit is the New Black. "I'm so pleased to welcome these partners into the space, which will allow us to expand our programming and mission to uplift entrepreneurs and minorities in business." 

Bedrock's contribution

Bedrock, downtown Detroit's largest real estate company, will provide the 2,400 square-foot Industry Club retail space rent free, along with a $25,000 pre-development grant. Bedrock will also work with the Industry Club partners to build a long-term skilled volunteer support program for the small businesses participating in the Ponyride accelerator.

Since the onset of COVID-19, Bedrock has deployed millions in capital to small businesses downtown through three months of rent abatement and offering variable rent structure through the end of the year. As downtown businesses begin to reopen, Industry Club will be an important next step in Bedrock's small business support strategy, targeted toward women and entrepreneurs of color.

"It has always been our belief that a sustainable, vibrant retail district is a place where strong local brands thrive beside big national names. That strategy needs to expand to elevate minority-owned businesses and help strengthen pathways for their growth and contribution to Detroit's ongoing momentum. The Industry Club will be an important step in that direction," said Matt Cullen, Bedrock CEO. "We are excited to work with the Boys & Girls Club, Détroit is the New Black and Ponyride to help create a pipeline for tomorrow's retail leaders at the Industry Club while empowering Bedrock's team members to become directly involved in building Detroit's start up community."

Industry Club members will gain experience in careers representing every aspect of the retail business development cycle, including stocking merchandise, ordering wholesale and fulfilling online orders, all while earning a wage. Outcomes include 21^st Century skills, industry certifications, industry access/mentorship/network and paid job placement.

Ponyride's fourth location

Ponyride, a Corktown-based maker space that recently announced a robust strategic partnership with BCGSM, will offer its alumni to also sell their goods on detroitisthenewblack.com. The Industry Club will serve as Ponyride's fourth location. BGCSM is the first Boys & Girls Clubs location in the nation to provide co-working and makers spaces for entrepreneurs through this partnership.

"This partnership and overall collaboration provide Ponyride with a unique opportunity to not only incubate but expand small business growth in the city through access to resources, retail space and capital," said Phil Cooley, co-founder of Ponyride. "This is a powerful move to invest in the hard-working entrepreneurs of Detroit, and we're excited to be at the table help ensure these opportunities are provided."

The Industry Club initiative aligns with BGCSM's efforts to address poverty through economic mobility and continue to have a positive community impact and advancement for youth and their families A second Industry Club is scheduled to be announced later this year.

BGCSM's Industry Club also launched its limited edition "Industry Club" t-shirts sold only through detroitisthenewblack.com. Available while supplies last.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan  
Founded in 1926, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) has over 94 year of experience serving youth ages 6-18 by providing a safe, fun place that inspires, while offering high quality programs that provide real-world learning from caring adult mentors. Serving nearly 15,000 youth annually within eight Clubs throughout southeastern Michigan, BGCSM works every day to provide a world-class experience, empowering youth to become change agents through economic mobility. To learn more about BGCSM visit www.bgcsm.org and follow us on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

About Détroit Is The New Black
Détroit Is The New Black is a brand at the crossroads of culture, fashion & community that takes pride in the city of Detroit and the people who go out and make it their own every day. Inspired by the city, DITNB aims to give its customers an experience within its physical retail space. The store - and the brand - is more than just an apparel provider, despite the commercial retail district its located in.

About Ponyride
Since 2011, Ponyride continues to cultivate a diverse community that fosters opportunities for socially conscious artists, entrepreneurs, innovators and light manufacturers, and is committed to creating supportive environments where businesses can experiment, develop, and mature—which in turn helps to make Detroit a unique place to live, work, and thrive.

About Bedrock
Detroit-based Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in acquiring, developing, leasing, financing and managing commercial and residential buildings. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties, including new construction of ground up developments in downtown Detroit and Cleveland totaling more than 18 million square feet.
Bedrock's real estate portfolio consists of 210 office tenants and 125 retailers and restaurants in Detroit's technology-centric downtown, the majority of which are new to the market. Key office tenants include Coyote Logistics, IBM, Microsoft, Quicken Loans, LinkedIn, StockX, Universal McCann, UBS, Ally Bank's national headquarters and Fifth Third Bank's regional headquarters. Key retail tenants include H&M, Plum Market, The Lip Bar, 6 Salon, Lululemon, Shake Shack and countless others.

Bedrock is currently developing four transformational projects including the Hudson's Site, Monroe Blocks, Book Tower renovation and One Campus Martius expansion. Bedrock is also undergoing construction of City Modern, a community development in Detroit's Brush Park neighborhood. Partnering with Detroit-based Shinola, Bedrock developed the world's first Shinola Hotel on Woodward Avenue, which opened in early 2019.

Bedrock is dedicated to creating jobs for Detroiters and investing in job training. Over the last year, the company has invested in both the Randolph & Breithaupt Career and Technical Centers to build a pipeline of talent for Detroit's growing economy.
Creating unique experiences through real estate is Bedrock's mission. To make this a reality, Bedrock and its affiliates continuously invest in significant public art installations and placemaking initiatives throughout the city.

For more information on Bedrock's business model, visit the For More Than Profit book. For more information on Bedrock's projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Twitter and Facebook.
Click here to view a complete timeline of Bedrock and the Rock Family of Companies' engagement within the Detroit community.

SOURCE Bedrock