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 Jan. 2024)
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
RED HEN FOOD & GOODS, NISULA
In tiny Nisula, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Alison Kirksey recognized that her community had to drive 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 grocery store offering groceries, gifts, prepared food, and animal feed.
Alison’s legendary daily homemade meals use local and organic ingredients and are available to eat in or take out. She makes regular trips to Madison, Wis., for super-premium ice cream. She offers local and organic coffee and homemade hot chocolate. Red Hen Foods & Goods has become a community gathering place.
Northern Initiatives Commercial Lender Sam Lanctot “helped all along the way, willing to be present and guide me through the financing process,” Alison said. She’s adjusting to the seasonal nature of a rural Upper Peninsula business, which Lanctot says can take creativity. “Rural entrepreneurs aren’t dealt the same hand, and they have to clever to make it work,” he said.
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
FIRST CATCH, BARAGA
Paul Smith, of Baraga, Mich., runs First Catch, a commercial fishing operation and food truck. Funds from a revolving Community Loan Fund and an SBA microloan helped him purchase the Norska, a 40-foot 1950 beauty ready for trap netting. Then the boat sank.
Northern Initiatives helped Smith navigate the insurance maze and is now helping him as he’s rewriting his business plan and setting new goals, including catching 100,000 pounds of Lake Superior whitefish in a single year, a 60% increase over his usual harvest.
Smith, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, is the only one in his tribe to use trap nets. The nets keep the fish alive until they’re retrieved, swimming around the “pod,” or “house” at the end of his leads. “Picture a minnow trap the size of a house,” Smith says.
Supporting Startups
over 400
in the past 30 years!
2024
initiate
Initiate is more than just a resource— it’s a lifeline for entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and create thriving businesses. Our online portal offers tools related to Starting a business, Money, Marketing, and Management, supporting business owners at every stage.
What began as a way for our business coaches to support remote entrepreneurs in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has grown into a nationwide solution, supporting businesses far beyond Michigan. With a growing number of Subscribers, coaches and advisors now access the platform to support their clients across 42 states.
EN INGLÉS Y ESPAÑOL
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
UNDER THE STARS GLAMPING, WOLVERINE
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:
Traverse City Guitar Co.
Gene and Patty Hansen first opened Traverse City Guitar Co. “basically in a closet” and needed some money to stock the (tiny) shelves. It was shortly after Gene finished 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, stationed all over the country and abroad, and moved back to their hometown.
Bank after bank told them they wouldn’t do microloans or SBA loans or loans to startups. Happily, they were referred to Northern Initiatives who supported them with SBA microloans,, then used funds from the Michigan CDFI Coalition and the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to help them moved into a building they own, with space to create, repair, sell and buy guitars and, well, any stringed instrument. The new location, hopping even on a blizzardy Monday morning, has lesson rooms and a video studio. The store’s mobile phone plays “Smoke on the Water.”
“Geno’s the best boss,” said Sean O’Brien, store manager and guitar tech and whatever else needs to be done. “He’s understanding and forgiving, yet stern and strict when he has to be.” The customers agree. “You stand up to your word and I appreciate it,” said Joe, a customer who bought his first guitar the day after he heard “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” on the radio in 1964.
CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
EDMONDS TRUCKING, HASTINGS
Jerry Edmonds loves the freedom and the rush of trucking.
“It’s hurry-up, but organized and structured,” he said. His
family – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles – have all worked in trucking so it’s in his blood.
Almost literally.
Jerry started his own trucking company and bought his first
truck – with help from Northern Initiatives using funds from
the Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund – in the summer of
2024. In November, tragedy struck. His truck caught on fire
on a Tennessee freeway and he barely escaped with his life.
“It was the first time I started a business and I was watching
it burn.”
His first call, from the side of the road, was to the insurance
company. Then he called Northern Initiatives Commercial
Lender Venard Roberson. “Venard actually met me with his
kids on the weekend to sign papers,” Edmonds said.
2024 donors and supporters
Jessa Armstrong
Brian Baccus
Wendy Bauman
Mary Bickel
Sara Bednarek
Guido A. and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation
Amanda and Dan Blondeau
Kayla Britting
BuildUS
Melissa Collard
Dale Cook
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
Fifth Third Bank
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
Peter Graves
Audrey and Ron Grzywinski
Lee Ann Heikkila
Mary Houghton
Brian and Sarah Hudson
Huntington National Bank
Chuck Hurst
Kellie and Brian Hoffman
Norma Jazwinski
Ann and Fred Joyal
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Patrick J. Klavon
Natasha and Matt Koss
Lake Effect Associates
Jody Lindberg
Kathy and Tom Leone
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Lundin Foundation
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
Jill Miller
Minority Business Development Agency
Northern Michigan University
Northern Trust
Opportunity Finance Network
Michael Oman
Cindy Paavola
Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Pam Porter, Stepping Stone Partners, LLC
PNC Bank
Sara Proano
Quiet Current Consulting, LLC
Robert Rapoza
Roger Rinsel, Hyde Services, LLC
Michael Roy
Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Quality Systems Associates
Elissa Sangalli
Deborah Schultz
Brian Sheridan, Steward and Sheridan, PLC
Suzie Soldenski
Sustainable Communities Fund
Jodee Taylor
The Aspen Institute
Rachel Thomas
Upper Peninsula Power Company
US Small Business Administration
USDA Rural Development
Mary and Chuck Van Loan
Michelle Walk
Wege Foundation
Wells Fargo
Kayla and Dennis West
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Zilke Family
Customer Highlight:
Everbloom Montessori, Grand Rapids
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 how we would have built it if we did it from scratch,” said Kate Robinson, Director of Growth and Partnerships. School leaders looked at five other properties before finding “the perfect location.”
The $1.2 million property needs $2 million in renovations and, despite having worked for five years to find funding, school leaders were still scrambling as the property sat enticingly for sale.
Northern Initiatives stepped up and even brought along friends to help. The purchase and renovation are being funded through a partnership with West Shore Bank, Northern Initiatives, and First Children Finance.
