Open City Ferndale Kicks Off At Rustbelt Market Tonight

Tonight at 6 p.m. at Rust Belt Market, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce hosts the official launch of Open City Ferndale. The program, created as a partnership between the city and Detroit’s Build Institute, brings successful small business owners together with owners just starting out. The Rust Belt event will offer networking opportunities, a speakers’ panel and a resource fair.

Open City events like the one this evening bring experienced panelists together with anyone from the community who wants to learn about how to start and grow a new business. In Detroit, the program hosts Open City every month as part of Build Detroit’s overarching efforts to teach skills necessary to aspiring entrepreneurs. Founded in 2012 by April Jones Boyle, Build Institute offers classes, events and other resources aimed at helping new local businesses take root. Since 2012, Build has provided assistance to over a thousand new entrepreneurs. One Build graduate, Sister Pie, is a popular Indian Village bakery. In 2014, Sister Pie won Hatch Detroit’s annual competition for new businesses and $50 thousand that helped them open a brick-and-mortar location.

Oakland County and the city of Ferndale are among the event’s sponsors. Open City Ferndale is free, with no advance registration required.