Success Stories

Creating prosperous communities and thriving businesses

Featured Success Stories

Working on Job Quality

West Michigan
Leandra Nisbet has looked and looked, but can’t find a practical way to provide healthcare for her small business, with two full-time employees. “Until you…
Story More Stories

Tienda Mexicana El Cuñao

St. Louis, MIchigan
The workers who grow our food need food. Vanessa Muniz makes sure they get what they need – and it goes well beyond food. Her…
Story More Stories

Hiawatha Log Homes

Wetmore, Michigan
‘A TimberPro on Every 40’ Hiawatha Log Homes saves energy and customers benefit Joe Esbrook’s log home was built by his dad the year Joe…
Story More Stories

Start Garden winners team up with Northern Initiatives

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Start Garden Demo Day is legendary. The Grand Rapids-based business incubator holds an annual pitch contest, beginning with a 100-second video pitch and ending with…
Story More Stories

Wormie’s

Alto, MIchigan
Luis Chen-Aguilera turns compost at Wormie's Luis Chen-Aguilera is turning Kent County’s food and yard waste into fertile soil, with the…
Story More Stories

All Success Stories

Wormie’s
Alto, MIchigan
Luis Chen-Aguilera turns compost at Wormie's Luis Chen-Aguilera is turning Kent County’s food and yard waste into fertile soil, with the…
Story
Flowers Automotive Recyclers
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Ronald Flowers is using his business to save the planet, as well as create a family legacy. Ronald Flowers talks about…
Story
2023 Gift Guide
One of the best things about supporting small businesses is we know exactly where to shop - and now, so do you!   🧡Aaahhh🧡 Float…
Story
Millie’s Farms
Newaygo, Michigan
A loan to Millie’s Farms, a woman-owned family farm in Big Prairie Township near Newaygo, put Northern Initiatives over the $100 million mark in loans…
Story
Fox and Hen Vineyards
Grand Haven, Michigan
Wil Malski was pretty excited when he planted his first grapes in 2014. The heartbreak was equally strong when he had to rip them out…
Story
Tastefull Vegan
Wyoming, Michigan
Kalene McElveen grew up on the east side of Detroit in a food desert. “Our closest grocery store was a liquor store,” she says. There…
Story
Nisu Bakery and Cafe
Hancock, Michigan
It made perfect sense to Irma Boyd to settle in the Keweenaw. She’s Finnish and so is 35% of the rest of the population. Then…
Story
Suipi’s East End Eatery
Battle Creek, Michigan
Za Nei Thuai knows her gift is feeding people. “God gave me the talent to cook,” says the 49-year-old Burmese refugee known as Suipi (Swee-Pee).…
Story
Yummy Delights on the Lakeshore
Muskegon, Michigan
If you need another example of how business ownership builds generational wealth, there’s one happening in Muskegon. Mari Romero owns Yummy Delights by the Lakeshore,…
Story