Uproot Market and Eatery, Battle Creek’s first community-owned food co-op, is set to open this fall, aiming to provide fresh, local, and affordable food to underserved neighborhoods while fostering community ownership and food equity.
Global Detroit’s Global Entrepreneur in Residence program helps immigrant tech founders secure visas, build startups, and create jobs, fueling innovation and economic growth across Michigan’s expanding tech sector.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce $2.5 million. That money went to four organizations inlcuding El Concilio in Kalamazoo. It is now providing access to economic development resources in Spanish for businesses like Tacos El Jefe.
In the summer of 2021, the Rev. Doreen Gardner began making her large batches of brittle in the commercial kitchen space at the small business incubator Can-Do Kalamazoo. Papa’s Brittle went on to win the national NAACP’s Black Entrepreneur Award, which came with a $25,000 award and mentorship from an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank. Now they operate from a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen on Stadium Drive.
After immigrating from Germany, Max von Wels co-founded a biotech startup in Michigan. With Global Detroit’s help, he secured a visa and a future in tech.
At The Aroma Labs, custom scents become bottled memories. What began in a Kalamazoo kitchen is now a scent-sational business spreading across the Midwest.
Nicole Triplett, of Black Wall Street Kalamazoo, and Nicole Parker, of Sisters in Business, helped launch a West Michigan coalition that just earned state funding to expand support for Black-owned businesses.
In Battle Creek, Stacey Kornegay turns meals into medicine with her Standing Spoon personal chef service, crafting flavorful, health-focused dishes tailored to her clients' needs. What began as a DoorDash detour has grown into a mission to make nutritious, healing food both accessible and enjoyable.
Second Wave has been fortunate to be able to publish the works of an experienced team of local writers over the past 15 years.
At a time when local journalism is as important as it has ever been, Southwest Michigan's Second Wave turns 15. Founding Managing Editor Kathy Jennings shares reflections on the journey.
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