Female-owned hardwood lumber company
Public Lumber & Millwork is a Detroit-based minority and female-owned hardwood lumber supplier and millwork manufacturer of high-end lumber, including the white oak and mahogany used in boat building. Out of over 500 applicants, she was one of the two small Detroit area businesses who received grants from NEIdeas. The NEIdeas Challenge competition was created by Detroit's New Economic Initiative to help small businesses grow and add to Detroit's economy.
Small business owners who have the best idea on how to grow their businesses are rewarded with grants through the program. This includes grants of $10,000 each for 30 businesses who gross under $750,000 a year, and grants of $100,000 each to two businesses that gross between $750,000 and
$5 million annually.
Sarafa plans to use her grant funds to expand the capacity of their millwork manufacturing in order to keep up with the city's growing increase in construction and renovation work. The company can also purchase a new box truck to make more deliveries and hire and train new employees.
