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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Diversity’s Kitchen: Serving homemade foods inspired by grandmother’s recipes
By Kayla Sosa For Jenea Irvin, cooking is more than a job - it's a passion. As the owner of Diversity's Kitchen - a takeout food service - wife, and mother of four children, Irvin spends a lot of her…
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Meaning in Colors: Filling a gap in transitional housing
By Kayla Sosa A local woman is helping bring people out of poverty through empowerment and education. Iryonna Hogan started her nonprofit, Meaning in Colors, in 2017. She provides many opportunities for people going through tough phases of their life,…
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Local Start Up Grind chapter exists to uplift entrepreneurial communities
By Kayla Sosa In Grand Rapids, there are many entrepreneurs and organizations that support their work and needs, but there’s not always a steady connection between the two. Corey Hart, local entrepreneur, is looking to bridge that gap as the…
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Local veteran building bladesmithing business
By Kayla Sosa A student in the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab program is building up his side business in custom knife making. Shawn Moulenbelt, 52, might be part of the weekly entrepreneurship program at Grand Valley State University, but he’s…
How the European Innovation Academy enhances the GVSU entrepreneur student experience
By Kayla Sosa One of the best things Valerie Kozak said she did as a college student, is spend time studying abroad. A senior at Grand Valley State University majoring in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Kozak spent three weeks in Turin,…
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