No Limit Fitness Offers Family, Friends and Fitness
No Limit Fitness Offers Family, Friends and Fitness When Chris Woods’ father died of a heart attack at age 48, Woods resolved to make a change in his life. “The direction of what I was doing had to change. I had to get healthy, look into myself and understand who I was,” Woods said. “…and … Read more
Zeal Aerial Fitness gives Grand Rapids a Place to Fly
Zeal Aerial Fitness gives Grand Rapids a Place to Fly In 2018, Christina VanDam started Zeal Aerial Fitness to give people a place to fly in Grand Rapids. The unique fitness studio houses all of the aerial arts –aerial hoop, aerial silks and pole– under one roof and welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to … Read more
Los Amigos Mexican Grill: A Cultural Education through Food
Los Amigos Mexican Grill: A Cultural Education through Food Ana Olson describes owning a business as “creating the world around you.” As the owner of Los Amigos Mexican Bar and Grill, Olson’s world is rich with the flavors and culture of Mexico and a reverence for life in America through the eyes of an immigrant. … Read more
Turning the Dial on Justice: South East Market
Turning the Dial on Justice: South East Market Alita Kelly is forging a new path in business, one that is hyper mission-centric and demonstrates the powerful impact small businesses can have on their communities. Kelly, along with her business partner Khara DeWit, opened South East Market in January. The market is tucked into the corner … Read more
Cimone Casson Gets in Front of the Green Rush
Cimone Casson Gets in Front of the Green Rush Cimone Casson is a leading player in one of the most quickly growing industries in the state of Michigan: marijuana. Casson is the founder and owner of Cannas Capital, an insurance agency specializing in the cannabis industry and the craft beer industry. This isn’t her first … Read more
Basic Bee Boutique Serves Up Style for a Young Urban Demographic
Basic Bee Boutique Serves Up Style for a Young Urban Demographic For Renise Warners, her business is an extension of herself. “All of the pieces of my brand represent me,” she said. “It’s my vision– everything reflects a part of me.” Warners is the owner of Basic Bee Boutique, where she sells a curated collection … Read more
From Food Truck to Brick and Mortar: Bobby Q
Robert Gillum knows his way around the kitchen — he’s worked in food service since he was 13 years old. “I tried to do other jobs,” he laughed. “But I always came back to cooking.” He developed a special love for barbeque and spent years entering competitions, perfecting his technique and flavors. As Gillum came … Read more
Boom Town Market
According to Dana Precious’s son, her downtown Muskegon grocery store is, “like industrial Muskegon had a love child with funky L.A.” The “little hometown grocery store” carries local produce, organic products, craft beer and wine, food to go, fresh meat, deli, and toiletries and hosts special events like wine and beer tastings. Precious is a … Read more
Manning’s Hometown BBQ
Manning’s Hometown BBQ is more than mouthwatering food that customers rave about; for owner Derek Manning, it’s a legacy. “I want to leave something for my kids,” the father of three expressed. “That’s important to me.” Manning’s mother passed away when he was just 4-years-old. He is inspired by memories of his father working hard … Read more
“Bling Queen” Ozetta Aaron Keeps a Family Tradition Alive
“Bling Queen” Ozetta Aaron Keeps a Family Tradition Alive For Ozetta Aaron, her business is a family affair. A fourth-generation seamstress, Aaron inherited Bessie’s Alterations from her mother, who started the business in 1985. “Sewing has always been in my family,” Aaron expressed. “I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I love seeing people happy … Read more
CMS Consulting Thriving After Shutdown
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 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
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
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 Doetsch, New Yew Healing
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, Photographic Memory
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 Reopen
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
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
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
Kelly Kermode, Pottery Lane
“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
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