Comerica neighborhood unit in first loan.

DETROIT -- Comerica's community development corporation has made its first financing commitment in Detroit. extending a $500,000 line of credit to Detroit Neighborhood Housing Services.

The financing, announced last week, will provide home-improvement loans for residents of Pilgrim Village, Martin Park, and Kettering Village in Detroit and in Highland Park's Southeast Heights community.

Detroit Neighborhood Housing is a nonprofit organization that acquires and renovates vacant and abandoned buildings for sale to first-time homebuyers.

"We are finding that the biggest need is for home-improvement loans for people who don't qualify for conventional financing," said James Brown, the service's executive director.

Comerica capitalized the development corporation in October with $3 million to provide loans to companies, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations with experience in rehabilitating single- or multiple-family buildings.

It is also designed to invest in micro-business enterprises in economically distressed areas.

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