Entrepreneurship

Soulful events center offers a new concept for food, drink, song, and dance in downtown Kalamazoo

Kimberly Guess wants to create the type of social experiences that she would like to go to in Kalamazoo. So she works with individuals and organizations to plan and organize parties, receptions, meetings, reunions, and all sorts of private gatherings at The Xperience by Luxury Escapes, a 3,200-square-foot venue downtown.

Latest in Entrepreneurship
Coffee anyone? Water Street Coffee Joint opens new location on Harrison St. in downtown Kalamazoo

Efforts to develop and redevelop properties in Kalamazoo’s Northside Neighborhood got a fresh-roasted jolt recently with the opening of the sixth location of the Water Street Coffee Joint.  

Battle Creek Branch of the NAACP gets ready for annual Freedom Fund Dinner

This year’s dinner, the first in-person gathering in two years, will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Burma Center, followed by dinner and a program at 6 p.m. Prior to the dinner, there will be a Black Business Expo. Karen Boykin Towns, Vice Chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors, will give the keynote address.

Old industrial building becomes shared business location on Kalamazoo’s east side

The former detailing shop can accommodate Patrick Hershberger's and Chad Burke's respective businesses with room for paint storage and studio space, maybe a gallery space to show his work; it also has high ceilings for multiple shelves of bikes, and areas for bike mechanics, painting, and bodywork. 

Issue Media Group relaunches Upper Peninsula publication

Issue Media Group is excited to announce the relaunch of its online, community-informed, digital publication in the Upper Peninsula. UPword will focus on innovation, talent, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and community development, while featuring U.P.-based talent.

$300,000 in Micro-Enterprise Grants is set to help 60 Kalamazoo-based businesses

The third round of grants to help small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 shutdown – announced on Aug. 18, 2022 -- will help 60 local enterprises clear hurdles like those, and many others. Each business is set to receive a $5,000 share of some $300,000 allocated in the Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grant program.

A can-do spirit is helping Can-Do Kalamazoo and its small business users to expand their horizons

Moving from Can-Do Kitchen to Can-Do Kalamazoo is more than a name change. The nonprofit organization that started 14 years ago as an incubator for food-based businesses is now focused on growing and scaling businesses of all kinds. And it is set to expand into a new location in 2023.

Coffee and alcohol, a winning combination for Battle Creek startup

A business that creates a K-POD that becomes a hot drink with alcohol has been growing in Battle Creek since it launched in 2018. Now Cask & Kettle is selling 600,000 K-PODS annually and is closing in this year on just over $1 million in annual sales.

The Lord will provide: Efforts underway to build affordable senior housing in Kalamazoo’s Northside

The $26 million housing project involves the construction of two, three-story buildings -- a 36,000-square-foot northern structure with 36 apartment units, and a 33,000-square-foot southern structure with 34 units. 

A picture-perfect profession for this Battle Creek photographer

A recent project for Christina Ne’Cole Smith involved capturing images of children dressed as African American historical figures during Black History Month in February. And the Battle Creek photographer displayed the photos on various social media platforms.

Our Sponsors

Gilmore Foundation

Our Media Partners

Battle Creek Community Foundation
Enna Foundation
BINDA Foundation
Southwest Journalism Media Collaborative
Southwest Michigan First
Milestone Senior Services
Consumers Energy

Common Ground Is Brewing

Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).

Drink Better, Read Local

Close the CTA

Don't miss out!

Everything Southwest Michigan, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.