Entrepreneurship

Ninety small businesses will land $5,000 in second Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants program

DeMargeo White was one of 100 who received a Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grant last year and it helped his business move from a part-time gig to a full-time enterprise. This year another 90 businesses will have the opportunity for the same type of cash infusion for their work.

Latest in Entrepreneurship
Creating a space in Kalamazoo where all runners feel comfortable running in public

A big part of the motivation behind Run This Town is the need to make all runners in Kalamazoo feel comfortable running in public, organizers say.

New Story Community Books seeks its local niche with start in BC Cargo retail collective and pop ups

As origin stories go, the Battersons have a real one to tell. Within days of opening the doors of New Story Community Books the state of Michigan shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is how they have stayed in business.

Village plan to achieve equity and prosperity builds on work in Battle Creek over the past decade

The Village reemergence plan in Battle Creek will focus on systems change, breaking down historic barriers, and creating access and opportunity. 

Battle Creek Food Reimagined: New initiative designed to remove barriers so food companies can grow

Battle Creek Food Reimagined is a new attempt at revitalizing food entrepreneurship and innovation in Battle Creek.

Zoo City Farm and Food takes root: Food sovereignty group works to expand its network in Kalamazoo

Imagine a food system in which the people who produce, distribute, and consume food also control the mechanisms and policies of food production and distribution. It's called food sovereignty and Zoo City Farm and Food Network is working to bring it to Kalamazoo.

Jerry Campbell’s name is on news clippings and in the memories of generations of Kalamazoo-area folk

Jerry Campbell captured images of life in and around Kalamazoo for more than 50 years as a staff photographer for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Here are a few things we remember. 

Kalamazoo Farmers Market switches location long enough to complete a $4.2 Million facelift

When the Farmers Market in Kalamazoo opens May 1 it will include the usual array of crafts, flowers, and non-food items with about 130 vendors, up from about 80 last year. There will be a soft opening April 24 with a limited number of vendors.

Being small enough to pivot has helped this Kalamazoo bistro survive the COVID-19 slowdown

A shift from sit-down dining to takeout in family portions and curbside pick-up, plus the support of Kalamazoo diners from across the city, have helped Comensol's keep the lights on.

Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund will help businesses get funds they need to start or grow

Funding will help the neighborhood get creative in purchasing buildings and spaces and pairing business economics and co-op models that will help people and People of Color to start and run good businesses, says Pastor Chris McCoy, as he imagines new development in Washington Heights.

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