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Northern Initiatives and Our Customers are On the Move

Community foundations, nonprofit lenders blending strengths

Through our partnership with Issue Media, this story is in several publications around the state. Community foundations have found a satisfying way to invest in…

Nisu Bakery serving up a slice of Finnish culture

Great story in the Mining Gazette about Nisu Bakery and Cafe in Hancock. Irma Boyd’s Cardamom Pulla Braid won first place…

BC’s Café Rica and GR’s Natural Maya inspired by native culture, supported by Northern Initiatives

This story is part of a series in Second Wave SW Michigan that uplifts equitable small businesses and its ecosystem in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Grand…

Northern Initiatives, Start Garden awarded $3 million

Grant will help underserved entrepreneurs throughout Michigan Northern Initiatives, a nonprofit lender, and Start Garden, a business incubator, have been awarded $3 million from the…

First woman-owned non-dairy frozen dessert shop in the state opens in Wyoming Park

Kalene McElveen is doing more than bringing delicious desserts to Wyoming Park. She's helping revitalize a neighborhood with her Tastefull Vegan frozen dessert shop. According…

Kalamazoo’s RJ’s Printing legacy grows with new chapter and new owner

Imagine being perfectly suited to take over a well-established, highly respected small business but you must first get over two big hurdles: arrange financing worth…

Four Leaf Brewing rolls out the ‘Full Barrel’

Amy Shindorf and the crew at Four Leaf Brewing know how to do things in style. Check out the coverage of their Tap Trailer Beer…

State budget includes $19M for CDFIs

Mark Sanchez of Crain's Grand Rapids Business covered the state budget allocation for Michigan CDFIs in this story. Lawmakers allocated the funding in a budget…