CMS Consulting Thriving After Shutdown Consuelo Maxim-Sparrow is a problem solver. In 2016, while working as the grant manager for Muskegon County she was in a meeting to address budget constraints when she offered a solution. “I offered to go off as an independent contractor,” she said. “I did it, and off I went.” And so became … Read more
Pampered Auto Transportation Stays Up and Running Through Pandemic Pampered Auto Transportation was initially a car detailing shop that opened in 2015. As they aged, husband and wife co-owners Vanessa and Tony Davis realized that they would soon no longer be able to meet the physical demands on the detailing work. In January 2020, they transitioned … Read more
GROW Client Cindy’s Chicken Coop Serves Fried Chicken and Side of Kindness Food is Lucinda Waver’s love language. “I love serving people and helping them enjoy food,” she said. “I love being in the kitchen. I love making people happy through food.” Waver learned to cook from her mother, who passed away when Waver was … Read more
GROW Loan Helps El Globo Restaurant Survive COVID-19 Shutdown Oswaldo Cordova and his wife Evangelina Abundis opened El Globo Restaurant to fill a gap in the local market and satisfy their cravings for food from home. “We wanted to eat some real Mexican food,” Cordova said. “We couldn’t really find what we were looking for … Read more
Michelle is a massage therapist and so much more. Her repertoire includes body work, Reiki Master, spiritual healing, certified aroma therapist with plans to become a registered aroma therapist. Early in her career, she worked as an independent contractor with some of her own clients. Having done mostly in-home care and lugging everything around, Michelle … Read more
Rose Hendershot’s passion for photography led her to start her own business, Photographic Memory, in 1997. Her work has since gained recognition and awards from organizations such as the Professional Photographers of America, Michigan Triangle Professional Photographers Association, Barry County Fair, and Michigan State Fair, among others. Specializing in event and portrait photography, Hendershot strives … Read more
GROW Loan Allows Urban Apparel to Re-Open As we continue to face the aftereffects of the Coronavirus, businesses and entrepreneurs have taken a specific kind of hit. Although most of us could have never imagined we’d be in the throes of a worldwide pandemic, it has forced many of us to reevaluate our current circumstances. … Read more
Los Amigos Receives GROW Loan, Giving the Restaurant Room to Adjust to New Normal COVID-19 has impacted us all in different ways, and it continues to carry lasting effects. Some of your favorite local businesses have shouldered burdens too heavy to carry alone. At GROW, we’ve been honored to work with the Community Foundation for … Read more
Recovery Loan Story: Christina VanDam, Zeal Aerial Fitness Although no one could’ve predicted a global pandemic when 2020 began, here we are. And unfortunately, several of our favorite local businesses have taken a hit during these difficult times. With closures, loss of revenue, and uncertain reopening timeframes, entrepreneurs across the country have found themselves in … Read more
“Don’t do it alone. Find people to lean on and get advice from. The world, in general, wants to help, you just have to be willing to ask. The reality of being an independent business owner is that if you’re doing it right, you have support so you can make the best decisions.” Students Became … Read more