Motor City Brewing Works
Founded in 1994, Motor City Brewing works is the oldest Detroit brewery still standing. Located in Midtown, they create beer made by the hands of Detroiters with a quality taste known now far and wide. It is now the oldest operating brewery in Detroit for hand-crafted beers. Their location is made of salvaged equipment and […]
Detroit Farm and Garden
Detroit Farm and Garden understands how small business works at a community level. Founders Jeff Klein and Andy Ray (who are also co-owners of Classic – Landscape Architecture + Construction) recognized a need for a retail business that supported local farmers and gardeners as well as homeowners and contractors working within Detroit’s landscape. Opened in […]
Dabney & Co.
Daniel May has been organizing community celebrations in Kalamazoo for years, including a Juneteenth bar crawl that made a big impression. “There was a lack of space for People of Color to feel safe and comfortable,” he realized. So he created that space. Dabney & Co., a downtown Kalamazoo cocktail lounge, pays homage to the […]
Millie’s Farms
A loan to Millie’s Farms, a woman-owned family farm in Big Prairie Township near Newaygo, put Northern Initiatives over the $100 million mark in loans made since its founding 30 years ago. The milestone was lost on the cows. “They all get names because they’re like family to us,” said Amelia “Millie” Richardson, who works […]
Nisu Bakery and Café
It made perfect sense to Irma Boyd to settle on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. She’s Finnish and so is 35% of the rest of the population. When she realized no one in the area was serving authentic Finnish food – and that there was a dearth of cozy sit-down spots in downtown Hancock –she got to […]
The Bengal Auto Sales LLC
The owners of Bengal Auto Sales, Gias Uddin Talukder and Romana Chowdhury, started their used vehicle dealership together in 2010. Gias is originally from Bangladesh and moved to the United States in 1998, and worked in pharmacy for ten years before starting Bengal Auto Sales. In 2019, the business was facing financial struggles and Gias […]
Last Mile Cafe
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 […]
Deborah Hager
It is ELGA Credit Union’s mission to help its members improve their financial well-being. Deborah Hager is one of many members that benefited from ELGA’s expertise and assistance. Debbie was determined to rebuild her credit, but was unsure of where to start. ELGA was able to issue her a credit card along with some financial […]
Morningside Café
Rising from Ashes to Community Triumph In Detroit’s Morningside neighborhood, Morningside Café stands as a testament to local pride and entrepreneurship. Jeffrey Lewis II, a community member, utilized a Motor City Match grant in collaboration with TechTown Detroit to shape his vision, transforming the café into a symbol of community pride. On January 4, 2023, […]
BrOn’s Confections
After years of dedication to Human Resources and Talent Development, alongside a culinary education in NYC, J Dutton decided to pursue his dream of turning his hobby into a thriving business in July 2020. J decided to take his passion for confections to the next level. Establishing BrOn’s Confections as a home-based venture in 2012, […]