The SDBA proudly accepted the $800,000 Federal Community Economic Development Grant in November, 2022, the first CED grant received in Michigan. This grant, a testament to our commitment to community development, will facilitate the creation of 32 high-quality jobs for Detroit workers while expanding two local minority-owned businesses:

Dunamis Charge www.DunamisCharge.com

• A Detroit-based manufacturer of electronic vehicle charging stations.
• Capital infusion will aid in training and hiring a qualified labor force from low-income communities.

Buchanan Transport www.BuchananIndustries.com

• A Detroit excavation and hauling company.
• Funding will allow hiring of additional personnel and purchasing new equipment.

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI), a Detroit-based non-profit social service organization, has partnered with SDBA providing workforce development assistance to Dunamis Charge and Buchanan Transport ensuring sustainable growth and skill enhancement for the newly created jobs.

SDBA’s Small Business Advocacy Center (SBAC) has been a beacon for small business startup and expansion, as well as workforce development for marginalized individuals striving for self-sufficiency. CED’s infusion of capital into Dunamis Charge, Buchanan Transport and UNI alongside the ongoing efforts of the SBAC, will contribute to the sustainable growth of Southwest Detroit. We extend our gratitude to our partners and stakeholders for their invaluable support in realizing this impactful initiative. Together, we continue to build a thriving and inclusive community.

Dunamis Charge

Dunamis Charge is owned by Natalie King. It is the first African American woman owned EV Charger Manufacturer in the country. Dunamis Charge’s commitment is to create a strong green collar workforce using talent from diverse communities to build charging stations that will be a part of a global EV Infrastructure.

Dunamis Charge is an affiliated company of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC, which was founded in 2012 and is MBE certified OE manufacturer of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). Dunamis Charge specializes in providing intelligent, reliable, and user-friendly Electric Vehicle Chargers and Energy Management Services that exceed the needs of individual, commercial and utility customers to manage and optimize charging at home, workplace or public space.

Feedback from employees:
“Working for Dunamis Charge has been amazing. It allowed me to obtain new skills, learn more about electronics vehicles (the future),and helped balance my financial situation” – Mia

“I’ve been able to learn skills and have a great work-life balance” – Danayia

“The staff cares for their employees” – Haley

“It’s a great company and it’s beneficial for the community. The vision they have is very futuristic and will definitely be very successful.” – Danayia

“I obtained training on the correct way to assemble electric charging station and testing mother boards” – Crystal

“My job search was bad prior to working for Dunamis. I couldn’t land a job. It has been great working here and has impacted my life in a great way. I work with some great people” – Larz

“Working for Dunamis Charge has taught me the importance of teamwork. I (Laura Chavez, SDBA, and Kimanti Boothe, Dunamis Charge) have learned to work in a unit based environment.” – A’Mari

The top things that people like most about working at Dunamis Charge:

• Work Culture
• Very Caring Staff
• Hours
• Safe Place to Work
• Pay
• Flexibility
• Minority Owned
• Room for Growth
• Clean Environment
• Learn New Skills
• Equality
• Respectful Environment

VIDEOS

WHITE HOUSE INTRODUCTION
Natalie King, Founder and CEO of Dunamis Charge speaks and introduces President Biden at the White House.
View Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJv190T5dYI)

IDEAGEN GLOBAL GOALS/G2I2 SUMMIT
The Global Goals/G2i2 Summit is a forum for executive-level leaders to discuss the impacts of The Global Goals on their business and provide solutions to one or more of the Global Goals.
View Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E71e2A0iC4w)

NATALIE KING ADDRESSES UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL SUB-COMMITTEE
Natalie King, Founder and CEO of Dunamis Charge introduces herself to the sub-committee in Washington, D.C.
View Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv7aNyn7bUw)

Buchanan Industries

Site Preparation

Excavation

Grading & Leveling

Hauling

Disaster Relief

Contractor

Buchanan Transport is a Detroit-based African American owned excavation and hauling company. Experienced project managers, drivers, estimators and job site employees have diverse backgrounds, bringing years of knowledge and experience to every project.

“The CED Grant has been a very valuable resource for our company. Thanks to the CED Grant, we have invested in additional equipment to expand our capabilities and broaden our range of services. The grant also gave us the opportunity to move to a new, larger facility to accommodate the increased workforce and equipment. We attribute our rapid growth and success to the CED Grant, and we are forever grateful to the Southwest Detroit Business Association for providing us with this incredible opportunity.” – Rich Buchanan (Buchanan Transport)