Wormies
Luis Chen-Aguilera is turning Kent County’s food and yard waste into fertile soil, with the help of 166 million worms. He’s also changing hearts and minds about agriculture in the process. While Wormie’s specializes in vermicomposting, its roots are in sustainable and organic farming, with a priority on helping the planet. “Composting is basically recycling,” […]
Blue Dove Pharmacy
Dr. Jacqueline Mbwille Sakaya, owner of Blue Dove Pharmacy, faced persistent challenges with her previous landlord, including disruptive construction that affected her business. Despite the uncertainty of relocating, she embraced the opportunity for a fresh start. With support from Opportunity Resource Fund, Dr. Sakaya successfully established her pharmacy inside the new Ypsilanti Health Center — […]
Red Hen Food and Goods
In tiny Nisula, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Alison Kirksey and her neighbors were driving 45 minutes for basic groceries and supplies. With a successful food blog and a passion for cooking for others, Alison combined her loves and opened Red Hen Foods & Goods, a community gathering place that also has groceries, gifts, prepared food, […]
Northland Precision
The roots of CNC machining run deep in Traverse City — and Northland Precision is carrying that legacy forward. It all started with John Parsons, a Traverse City engineer who, in the 1940s, invented numerical control (NC), the precursor to today’s Computer Numerical Control (CNC). “He was the father of CNC machining,” says Bill Dittrich, […]
Flowers Automotive
Ronald Flowers is using his business to save the planet, as well as create a family legacy. It all started in 2014, when Flowers’ truck broke down and he took it to his neighborhood junk car dealer in Kalamazoo. Flowers was familiar with scrapping, but not the end-to-end, recycling-everything method John Rouse introduced him to. […]
First Catch
Paul Smith really likes to fish and is more than ready to make a living at it. But sometimes, the winds of fortune blow strangely. In just one year: His boat sank The wheel flew off his food trailer (while he was driving!) His backup boat needs a new engine His own truck blew its […]
Paddock Counseling
Located in a CDFI target market and deeply rooted in its mission to serve vulnerable populations, Paddock Counseling exemplifies the kind of client Venture North is committed to supporting. When local banks declined to finance their much-needed expansion, founders Trina Paddock and her daughter Brenna Edwards turned to Venture North and found a partner ready […]
The Gallery Beauty Supply
When sisters Ameela and Armani Covington were growing up, they had one thing in common – a love for all things beauty. They dreamed of one day owning a beauty supply store that catered to African Americans, but after graduating from college, they didn’t have the capital. But a small business microloan from Michigan Women […]
Everbloom Montessori
The search for a new home for Everbloom Montessori included important criteria: In the City of Grand Rapids In a child care desert On a bus line It took more than a year, but they found it. The 14.263-square-foot building on Grand Rapids’ south side has “the shape, layout and size (that would) have been […]
Bare All Clothing
Bare All is the clothing line of the PEOPLE. Javon started by running a local printshop for a nonprofit social enterprise. With the support of his wife and friends, he ventured into creating his own clothing line. Bare All is a sought-after local brand and works with a variety of corporations and nonprofits to provide […]