Detroit, Michigan – With the arrival of ChurchSpace, a technology company using underused church spaces to promote economic development and offer other income sources, Detroit is welcoming creativity and community involvement. For the city, this public-private cooperation is a significant step in merging technology with community service.
Operating on a premise similar to Airbnb, ChurchSpace gives churches a platform to rent out its underutilized areas, including event rooms and full-service kitchens, to small enterprises and service providers. This program not only allows churches to earn more money but also assists local business owners in need of reasonable, flexible premises.
Originally from Texas, ChurchSpace has selected Detroit as its national headquarters, considering the city’s dynamic culture and encouraging environment for development. The decision to relocate operations to Detroit coincides with the company’s preparation to launch a pilot program meant to energize church campuses throughout the city for many purposes, including entrepreneurship and logistics.
“We are thrilled that ChurchSpace sees Detroit as the perfect place for their innovative business to be supported and grow,” said Mayor Mike Duggan in a news release. “Our churches have long been a critical backbone of our neighborhoods—feeding families, mentoring youth, and caring for those in need—and through ChurchSpace’s innovative work, they will be able to generate more resources to do their work.”
Mirroring the success of similar initiatives in Texas, where churches have experienced significant financial gains, the pilot program seeks to enroll up to 15 churches in Detroit. Historically, the funds have been returned into community programs and local ministries, so increasing the good influence on the area.
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Emmanuel Brown and Day Edwards, who both grew up in pastoral families and have a lot of startup experience, created ChurchSpace as a communal lifeline. Brown and Edwards, who have obtained more than $1 million in venture finance and alliances with leading technology companies including AWS and Google, saw Detroit as a rich area for creativity and community building.
“Detroit is the ideal home for innovative startups like ChurchSpace,” said Brown. “With its rich faith community, strong civic leadership, and growing tech ecosystem, the city is poised to lead the nation in rethinking how sacred space can power economic mobility in neighborhoods.”
ChurchSpace is projected to generate a significant amount of jobs in Detroit over the next three to five years, from technical and operational positions inside the company to more general prospects in event and delivery management. This expansion is expected to further boost Detroit’s economy by generating new employment and assisting the city’s continuous rehabilitation initiatives.
“ChurchSpace represents the kind of innovation that aligns perfectly with Detroit’s values—creative, community-rooted, and committed to economic opportunity,” said Justin Onwenu, Director of Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunity for the City of Detroit. “This partnership uplifts forward-looking and civic minded technology to unlock new pathways for economic growth in our neighborhoods.”
ChurchSpace is proof of Detroit’s dedication to economic resiliency and community cooperation as it keeps inventing and adopting new technology. The next informational event on May 30th will provide churches in the area a chance to find out more about the program and its advantages.