Detroit mayoral candidates will take the floor in a forum on the evening of Wednesday, July 9, tackling their promises to the small business community.
The forum comes one day after Detroit City Council approved regulatory changes to ease the burdens of obtaining a business license in the city. The forum focused on “powering Detroit’s future through small business” is organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Michigan Black Business Alliance, and will be available in an online stream.
The forum will begin at 6 p.m. on July 9. Anyone interested in watching the livestreamed event can register here.
Candidates expected to join include: Former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, DaNetta Simpson, Councilman Fred Durhal III, businessman Jonathan Barlow, Joel Haashiim, Todd Perkins and City Council President Mary Sheffield. Other candidates running for mayor include Triumph Church Pastor Solomon Kinloch and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig.
Candidates will delve into a series of topics surrounding the city’s small business climate and how they expect to support business owners. Other topics they expect to tackle include ways to improve access to business funding, supporting commercial activity outside of downtown, particularly in underserved neighborhoods, and whether they will commit to providing small businesses contracting opportunities with the city, according to a news release.
Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit mayoral candidates to tackle future of small business in forum
Reporting by Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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