‘Everyone feels welcome’
‘Everyone feels welcome’ at GRNoir Wine & Jazz diverse downtown Grand Rapids venue By Skyla Jewell-Hammie, MLive GRAND RAPIDS, MI - In the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, is…
West Michigan Ally
Providing a Full Scope of Learning to Organizations Statewide For three and a half years, Northern Initiatives has had a powerful ally in West Michigan. Leandra Nisbet, owner of…
First Fast Trac Business Cohort
John Capers has a product people want. Over the last several years, the Tennessee-born owner of Pops Family Kitchen has used family recipes in perfecting award-winning barbeque and soul food…
2022 Strategic Plan
Northern Initiatives envisions a thriving economy comprised of small place-based businesses. The organization believes that communities with higher proportions of local ownership are healthier and more resilient. Read It…
MMTC Merging with Traverse City Office
The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center-Upper Peninsula center, which has been affiliated with Northern Initiatives for more than 30 years, will merge with the Traverse City MMTC Regional office this summer.…
Board Member Testifies to Congress
Tom Vear, Northern Initiatives Board member, small business owner (The Delft Bistro and Doncker's in Marquette) and a Northern Initiatives loan recipient, testified at the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture,…
Spring Customers in the News
The future is female, one-year celebrations, celebrating small business, NI's new office, and more The future is female Gina Jacquart Thorsen made history as the first female CEO of Jacquart…
Our 2021 Annual Report
Our 2021 Annual Report If the country didn’t realize the importance of Community Development Financial Institutions before the pandemic, they certainly are aware now. CDFIs helped more small businesses…
Northern Initiatives Helps Snackwerks Grow and Hire
Northern Initiatives Helps Snackwerks Grow and Hire BATTLE CREEK, MICH. - The sweet smells of cinnamon and apples waft through a northside Battle Creek neighborhood where a former grocery…
Entrepreneur Education
Battle Creek Entrepreneur Education programs launch in West Michigan Northern Initiatives continues its mission of supporting Battle Creek businesses with new programs designed specifically for early stage entrepreneurs. A Business…
