Detroit salon owner newest Motor City Match award winner
A Detroit business owner is making a big difference in many people's lives and received a big check on Thursday after winning a Motor City Match award.
Marlene Brooks is a cosmologist and salon owner. Some would say she's already successful but now Dymond Designs Beauty Studio in Detroit is getting a boost.
The salon just received an honor that she says will allow her to take her business to a higher level: a cash award of $65,000 from Motor City Match.
Brooks and the other recipients were on hand as when Motor City Match announced $500,000 in cash grants to 11 new small businesses and one building owner
"I screamed when I got the initial phone call I literally put the phone down and screamed. You hear about this stuff happening but now it's happening to me," Brooks said.
She says she will take the award money and work to train others. Brooks and her business partner, Raymond Weatherspoon, are working with a team to turn a space into Dymond Designs Beauty School
"People who I know who want to go to school it allows me to teach them and train them as well as get licensed," she said.
Brooks is no stranger to the Motor City Match program. In fact, the business is also a Motor City Match design and space awardee. Brooks says not only will the money help her establish this beauty school it will also help her help others
"We can be able to move forward in bringing jobs to the city and working with workforce development," Brooks said.
As she continues to build her beauty empire she encourages others to learn more about the Motor City Match program
"Take advantage of every opportunity because I took advantage of everything and now I'm getting ready to open," Brooks said. "I just want to thank the city of Detroit, mayor Duggan and those that played a part in this growth process. I'm so excited."