By Kayla Sosa Note: This interview was conducted in February 2020, before the shutdown caused by the global pandemic, COVID-19. Ariana Waller is a Grand Rapids-based entrepreneur, multi-business owner and tech innovator. She attended Tuskegee University and is originally…
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GVSU students ‘lend a hand’ to entrepreneurs in need
By Kayla Sosa Empowering students, honing in on skills and boosting small businesses is all part of the work done through Lend GR at Grand Valley State University. The program piloted over a year ago, with a focus on providing…
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First GVSU student entrepreneur accelerator program finishes strong despite setbacks
(Featured Photo Courtesy of 77 Idea Lab Youtube Page) By Kayla Sosa Students who want to solve a problem in their community or society through a product or service have a new opportunity through the 77 Idea Lab at Grand…
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GV alum, business owner spreads positivity through snail mail
By Kayla Sosa Shannon Cohen is known around West Michigan for her positive attitude and inspiring leadership by the work she’s done through her book, podcast and public speaking engagements. With the recent societal shift due to coronavirus, Cohen has…
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Entrepreneurs, community members lend skills, resources to create masks
[Pictured above is: Zawadi Leya, Zizi Matanda and Lisa Knight.] By Kayla Sosa West Michigan business owners, skilled workers and community members are coming together to volunteer to help Public Thread create PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) masks for healthcare professionals…
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Local Business Resources during COVID-19
Because there’s a lot of information out there, we compiled some of the most available funding resources for West Michigan small businesses. Note: This list will continue to update as we see more resources and as applications close. All of…
Sisters in Business: Building community by supporting women of color
By Kayla Sosa In an effort to support each other and the entrepreneurial community, four sisters came together in 2017 to form the organization, Sisters in Business. Nicole Parker, Alisa Parker, Tiffany Parker and Teleshia Parker are four biological sisters,…
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PODCAST: How Local Entrepreneurs Are Responding to a Global Pandemic
By Kayla Sosa Listen to the full podcast this story is accompanied by below: https://soundcloud.com/user-533504696/what-the-hustle-podcast-ep-1-gvsu-small-businesses-and-covid19 With the virus COVID-19 causing a global pandemic, colleges around the country have closed and moved online, including Grand Valley State University. In the…
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GR Noir invites customers to ‘exhale’ and unwind with wine, jazz
By Kayla Sosa A Grand Rapids couple are in the process of bringing a wine and jazz bar to the city. Coming from a background in education, Nadia and Shatawn Brigham want to offer something to the community that’s accessible…
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5 tips from GVSU alum, business owner Jermale Eddie
By Kayla Sosa Jermale Eddie is a GVSU graduate and owner of Malamiah Juice Bar in downtown Grand Rapids. The family business began in 2012 with Eddie’s interest in juicing and then his wife, Anissa Eddie’s, idea to start…
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