When Sarah and Arick Davis opened Last Mile Cafe in Grand Rapids in December 2022, they had a unique vision. They wanted to run a company that reflected their values — putting “people and planet” before profits. Their goal was to pay a living wage to their employees, give 10% of their profits to local charities and serve only ethically-sourced coffee to their customers. But traditional lenders weren’t particularly enthusiastic about their business idea. Plus, neither Sarah nor Arick had acquired the credit or capital to qualify for traditional lending sources. In order to make their dream a reality, they’d have to consider some alternative funding sources.
One of those was Michigan Women Forward, a statewide CDFI lender. Michigan Women Forward recognized that Sarah and Arick planned to invest in a building that had become dormant. They were looking to enliven a key area of Grand Rapids that hadn’t seen as much investment. And they had the potential to trigger some vitality and community in their corner of this great city. The organization helped Sarah and Arick throughout the loan process, guiding them in what paperwork was needed and helping them fill it out. Upon approval, they received a $50,000 loan that helped them invest in an all-important coffee roaster for their business.
“That has been HUGE for allowing us to have more control over our product,” Sarah says. It’s meant fresher coffee, an interactive space where customers can watch them roast coffee on-site, and it’s helped to lower the cost of their goods. “Michigan Women Forward really was integral to taking us to the next step in our business plan,” Sarah says.
Business has been strong, which Sarah attributes to the very thing that many told them would make their business impossible – a high-quality product and uncompromised dedication to their values. This commitment even earned them a coveted B-Corp Certification, which is awarded to businesses that meet high standards related to living wages, charitable giving, supply chain practices, and community engagement.
Get more information about Sarah and Arick’s CDFI-seeded enterprise. Visit the Last Mile Cafe in Grand Rapids.