Our Impact
Local Impact
Region map
Northern Initiatives has customers in every county, often on every block in a community. Click on a region to see our impact where you live. (Map updated April 2026)
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
WEAVERS UNLIMITED
Stuart Weaver has worked a thousand feet above the Arctic Circle, where steel groans in the cold and mistakes are unforgiving. Compared to that, a design-and-fabrication shop in Kalamazoo might seem quiet. But nothing about Weavers Unlimited is tame.
On any given day, Weaver might be shaping a one-off fender for a classic car, building a custom motorcycle gas tank, or fabricating a keg-and-grill hybrid that steals the spotlight at Bud Light tailgates nationwide. That viral crowd-pleaser — the Traegrator — was born in his shop, complete with Weaver’s ingenious pop-top beer can opener. It’s the kind of detail that defines his work: clever, precise, and unforgettable.
The business has grown through community as much as craftsmanship. Weaver struck up a conversation with his landlord, Jeb Gast, owner of Jericho Town — a hub of makers and small businesses housed in renovated historic buildings once home to the Ford Buggy Company. Gast, himself a customer of Northern Initiatives, encouraged Weaver to explore financing.
“I’d never done a business plan,” Weaver admits. “But (Commercial Lender) Venard Roberson was patient and showed me what to fix.” That support helped Weaver prepare to bring on partners and employees — two of each, he’s planning — while building what he calls an “ecosystem” across Michigan. A key collaboration is with Detroit Metalshaping. By blending traditional technique with advanced technology, Weaver is “producing one-off custom cars with an incredibly high standard,” said Joe McKeen on a recent episode of the Automotive Artistry podcast.
One of those cars is pure legend: a Leelanau County barn find, the AMX III — one of just six prototypes ever made before AMC ditched the design. Weaver rebuilt its chassis in chromoly steel. “That car,” he laughs, “was one of the nails in American Motors Corporation’s coffin.”
As Weaver scales his business, guidance continues from mentors and Northern Initiatives Business Coach Cailin Kelly, who’s helped connect him with legal and financial expertise and navigate partnerships. From oil rigs to rare prototypes, Weaver is proving that the toughest work — and the boldest creativity — can thrive anywhere.
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
THE MATHER, ISHPEMING
As all brilliant ideas start, Bill Anderson and Liisa Petersen’s vision started in the kitchen over dinner and a glass of wine. They couldn’t stop thinking about the historic and abandoned Mather building in Ishpeming and its hidden potential.
Beyond that, they thought of their community. They saw a chance to create something lasting in a town that values authenticity and genuine connection, to draw people to a region rich with history and stories to share.
At first, there was no firm plan, just a feeling: Somebody has to save that building. Then: Why not us?
They bought The Mather in July 2022 and started renovations immediately.
At first, the project was daunting; their to-do list was never-ending. The renovations were time-consuming and expensive, and the two wanted to preserve as much of the historic building as possible.
The whole time, Liisa and Bill knew they wanted to work with Northern Initiatives, but they didn’t know how good it was going to get. Through a partnership with UPPCO, the Upper Peninsula Power Co. and the Mather’s utility provider, Northern Initiatives was able to give them 0% loans to make energy improvements.
Today, the Mather has 16 long- and short-term apartments, a main floor lounge that offers craft cocktails/mocktails, and an historic ballroom that is the perfect for weddings, receptions, and large social gatherings. The Mather Tap Room is set to open, and renovations in the basement will also include food services.
All 16 of their apartments are energy efficient, along with the kitchen, keg room, lights, and more. Bill and Liisa have also earned significant rebates on their energy efficiency.
Walking into the Mather, you are greeted with sounds of laughter and energy radiating from The Lounge. The space is warm, inviting, and built for the community. Liisa explains that some of her most cherished memories come from the moments that this space has shared with the community. Hosting events such as prom for the high school these past three years being one of the most notable. Liisa remembers working in the building with the windows open and hearing the students’ excitement as they entered the building, one student enthusiastically saying, “This isn’t the gym!” Memories, new and old, live here because of this space.
Bill and Liisa continue to work with Northern Initiatives, including guidance from Business Coach Jody Lindberg. “She has really focused on special care and attention for us,” Liisa said.
Supporting Startups
37%
OF OUR CUSTOMERS!
2025
initiate
349 loan and non-loan clients receiving TA and 668 Action Items Completed. An Action Item is a task assigned by an advisor or business coach. Of course, Assigned doesn't mean Completed, so we're thrilled that so many learners are following through.
Initiate, our online learning portal, now has subscribers in 46 states, plus Puerto Rico. There are more than 150 resources on Initiate; in 2025, there were 2,323 Resources Viewed. The Initiate team is adding resources in Personal Finance and AI, in both Spanish and English.
EN INGLÉS Y ESPAÑOL
Destiney Lesley owns Load a Spud in downtown Battle Creek
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
CAPITAL READINESS COHORT, BATTLE CREEK
Kelly Gunsell and Allen Nash want to share their beautiful corner of Michigan with everyone, especially people who love to celebrate. Their Under the Stars Glamping, a tent rental and special event decor company in Wolverine, took off in 2022, providing setup, styling and tear-down for luxury camping and picnic experiences. Slumber parties with in-home teepee setup are a year-round hit and Blissfest has taken on a whole new vibe.
When the couple wanted to purchase a renovated 1902 schoolhouse on 12 acres, Northern Initiatives was on board to help when banks were unwilling to finance the “startup.” The 1902 Resorts and Retreats schoolhouse now welcomes weddings, reunions, and, in the case of this spring’s ice storm, anyone needing a shower.
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
TINY TREASURES DAY CARE, GAYLORD
Consistency matters deeply to young children, and the former owners of Tiny Treasures Day Care understood that just as clearly as the 100 parents who trusted them with their kids every day. As they began planning for retirement, their biggest concern wasn’t simply stepping away from the business—it was ensuring that the children would continue to experience the same stability, routines, and familiar faces they relied on. Disrupting that sense of continuity felt unthinkable, so the owners looked for someone the children already knew and trusted.
They didn’t have to look far. Sarah Foglesong had spent years working at Tiny Treasures and had built strong relationships with both families and staff. With a degree in Family Life Education and a deep understanding of early childhood development, she was well prepared for the responsibility. At the same time, Foglesong was entering a new chapter of her own life, newly engaged and ready to put down roots in Gaylord. Stepping into ownership allowed her to do both—continue caring for children she loved and secure the future of a vital community resource.
The fully licensed day care serves up to 52 children and employs a staff of eight, making it a significant part of the local care infrastructure. An SBA Community Advantage loan from Northern Initiatives, using funds from the Michigan CDFI Coalition, made the transition possible and kept the doors open during the ownership change.
Foglesong knows the need extends far beyond her own center. Even with a modest increase in available child care slots, she notes that Otsego County still needs two to three times more capacity than currently exists—underscoring just how critical Tiny Treasures is to working families in the region.
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
MITTS 2 PITS, BATTLE CREEK
Benny Young grew up cooking. He cooked at the church where his dad was the pastor and he cooked at home for his family of five brothers. Cooking was never an issue. But business? Business was kind of an issue.
During Covid, Benny and Denise Young decided to learn how to run a business, and they knew they had to be intentional every step of the way. They started working with Sprout BC, an incubator kitchen and regional food hub in Battle Creek. There they got help with licensing, insurance, equipment, and branding and Mitts 2 Pits started hosting pop-up meals.
Their Sprout cohort lead them to their intentional next step, Northern Initiatives’ Business Plan Cohort, a wildly popular free class held four times a year.
“Denise and Benny came in to the cohort with a goal of learning everything they could so they could open a restaurant,” said Justin Andert, Business Coach. “They were sponges. The cohorts cover financial information, but also legal issues, marketing, and ways to get funding and the Youngs took it all in, then acted on it.”
The cohort ends with a pitch presentation that the Youngs knocked out of the park. They’ve since used the pitch, the business plan, and the skills they learned during the cohort to secure funding, including a loan from Northern Initiatives and startup grants tied to goals laid out during the cohort. Funds for the grants and loan came from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Then they opened a restaurant. “We hadn’t really thought about bricks and mortar,” Denise said, “but you made us realize we could. You made us feel prepared. We can do this.”
“If we hadn’t gotten help from [Northern Initiatives], we’d be in trouble,” Benny said. “If we hadn’t opened when we did, we’d be in trouble.”
The space they found is not only within walking distance of their home and their kids’ schools, but the rent is truly affordable, which is why they had to pounce when they did. “The landlord had been through the Northern Initiatives cohort too, and gave us first dibs,” Denise smiled.
The catering business they started during the pandemic is still the mainstay of the business and the storefront is leading to even more catering, Denise said. That meant using more of the skills learned in the cohort, this time to calculate their bottom dollar, what it costs to be open for one day. “I had not been able to do that before the Northern Initiatives cohort. I was doing catering without charging that.”
Another big lesson learned from the cohort was pricing, Denise said. “We use a food pricing calculator suggested by Justin, but our prices are still low because all our food is scratch made.”
You read that right. ALL the food is made from scratch. Sometimes Benny’s days last from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. as he simmers stocks and bakes batches of macaroni and cheese. “Nothing goes to waste, and everything’s delicious,” he said.
2025 donors and supporters
Sara Bednarek
Mary Bickel
Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation
Amanda and Dan Blondeau
BuildUS
Burton Industries, Inc.
Colleen and Scott Duflo
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Community Reinvestment Fund
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services
Tyler Doornbos
Melissa Evans
Fifth Third Bank
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Terri Govern
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
Peter Graves
Audrey and Ron Grzywinski
Lee Ann Heikkila
Steven Hilfinger
Hispanic Center of West Michigan
Mary Houghton
Huntington National Bank
Chuck Hurst
Independent Bank
Norma Jazwinski
Ann and Fred Joyal
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Kalamazoo Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Natasha and Matt Koss
Josh Leffingwell
Manistee Community Foundation
Kathy Mason and Sheldon Riner
Mary and Wesley Maurer Jr.
James and Lucy McCraven
Janie McNabb and Chris Wendel
Michigan CDFI Fund
Michigan Certified Development Corporation
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Michigan Strategic Fund
Minority Business Development Agency
Northern Michigan University
Northern Trust
Opportunity Finance Network
Michael Oman
Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Pam Porter, Stepping Stone Partners, LLC
PNC Bank
Range Bank
Robert Rapoza
Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Elissa Sangalli
Brian Sheridan, Steward and Sheridan, PLC
Kristianne Spaulding
Sustainable Communities Fund
Jodee Taylor
The Aspen Institute
Upper Peninsula Power Company
US Small Business Administration
USDA Rural Development
Mary and Chuck Van Loan
Wege Foundation
Kayla and Dennis West
West Shore Bank
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT: SAUNDERS POINT BREWING, GLADSTONE
Jake Mills knows how to brew beer. He brewed at home for a decade, then worked at the legendary Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba. But his own town, Gladstone, wasn’t getting to enjoy any of his beer, so he launched a downtown brewpub so he could share with his community. He also wanted to support his hometown, which was launching downtown revitalization efforts.
Saunders Point Brewing is in the previous Rialto Theatre with all its wonderful décor. The stage and ornate features are right where you’d expect them, and they’re proving very useful. Musicians, dancers and even athletes perform at Saunders Point Brewing (away games for the Gladstone Braves football team are shown on the big screen).
Jake, who works full time as an electrician at a paper mill, assembled a beer-loving team and created five full-time jobs. He got a loan from First Bank to pay for improvements to the brewery, but he wasn’t aware of Northern Initiatives at the start of the startup and he took out a couple fast-cash loans. Once he came on board with NI, securing an SBA CA loan, the other loans were paid off and he was able to start buying equipment to fill that beautiful theater, specifically canning equipment. With Gladstone’s downtown revitalization in full swing, more customers wanted to walk around with their Saunders Point beer and Jake was more than happy to have them out in the world.
Saunders Point Brewing has also become a bit of a gathering spot – for all ages. There’s always root beer on tap, yoga for all levels, crafting workshops, Pasty and Pint Night, and all sorts of other celebrations as warranted. He’s also keen on “transforming the taproom” into an event space, where everyone can “Tap Into Gladstone.”
