Motu Viget Spirits’ partners have had to modify their operations in the wake of COVID-19. Even with this unexpected hurdle, Motu Viget has been able to secure placements in over 260 locations to date. Moving forward, they hope to see more underrepresented businesses appear at local restaurants and retail shelves.
The City of Friendly People was once a bustling manufacturing community. Now home to hundreds of various types of businesses, it is undergoing a positive transformation. Lifelong resident, business owner, and Mayor Kimberley D. Sims shares her optimism about the vast potential within her community.
For those with no, limited, or negative credit, having access to capital is increasingly challenging. As such, predatory loans have seen an uptick and are targeting segments of the population. Local organizations including North Kent Connect and Home Repair Services are working to assist community members improve their financial literacy and avoid predatory practices.
Having long-term ties to Muskegon is a common thread amongst the owners of three early stage businesses on the lakeshore. The Only Cannoli, Seaway Tours, and Kuntry Cookin’ are all working to further engage with their community and introduce both residents and visitors to new experiences. They are also primed and ready to capitalize on the growth and development taking place throughout the city.
Two Michigan-based entrepreneurial support organizations seek to encourage growth and increase wealth creation, specifically for women and minority-owned businesses.
Detroit-native and small business owner Zena Patillo shares her story of overcoming obstacles, building social capital, and pushing for continued growth. She shares insights on the changes she’s seen over the past 30 years, as well as opportunities for further advancement when it comes to intentional inclusion within the community.
Having personally experienced challenges finding quality employment and getting connected when he moved to Grand Rapids 10 years ago, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Guillermo Cisneros is now forging partnerships within West Michigan to help educate and empower the Latinx business community.
Local companies like Cascade Engineering, Varnum Law, and Afrik Advantage are intentional about opening dialogues and fostering change around diversity, equity, and inclusion, seeking to improve their organizations, empower their employees, and positively impact the community as a whole.
As a local emerging community development financial institution (CDFI), Rende Progress Capital is the only racial equity-focused CDFI to provide loans, investments, and business technical assistance services to excluded entrepreneurs like Asian Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, and immigrants.
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen seeks to launch in late fall 2017/early winter 2018. With great food, quality service and an up-scale dining experience, this soul-food venture seeks to create a community gathering place and impact wealth creation and minority-owned entrepreneurial endeavors.
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