Winter is coming and, with it, local food businesses are bracing for impact. As we cozy up and stay safe at home, our beloved restaurants and shops are navigating the need to pivot, yet again. “There's an upcoming season of hustling hard, reinventing, celebrating small joys, and unfortunately, suffering some substantial losses,” says Lauren Bloom of Blom Meadworks. 

With court rulings impacting safety protocols for small businesses and changing reports on how Michigan businesses are expected to operate, it's fair to say, 2020 has been a year full of change and confusion.

Here is what we know for sure: starting November 18th, Michigan will Pause to Save Lives. 

Photos sponsored by Corriveau Photography

Our Grand Rapids area feature is Martha’s Vineyard and its child companies. This unique collection of businesses takes up a block in the Heritage Hill neighborhood and is a healthy mix of made-in-Michigan products, house-made edibles, and goods from around the world.
Second generation leader, Ilana Chamelly, sat down with Local First to share their story.

Independents Week: June 27 to July 4

Locally-owned, independent businesses are the backbone of our community. And they need us more than ever right now. Help us celebrate them during Independents Week!

Thank you for joining the Membership Team for Part II of our marketing webinar series! Kathleen Roark and Katherine Jandernoa were joined by the following panelists to discuss why marketing matters and how to approach it during a pandemic:

Thank you for joining the Membership Team for Local First’s marketing webinar! Kathleen Roark and Katherine Jandernoa were joined by the following panelists to discuss why marketing matters and how to approach it during a pandemic:

If you haven't seen gr_support_local yet, it's time to give it a whirl. It's an easy-to-view list of local businesses and what they're offering during the Shelter in Place order. We LOVE it and wanted to get to know the person who got it up and running.

Atlanta – La Agencia Federal para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa (SBA) por sus siglas en inglés, ofrece préstamos federales de bajo interés para capital de trabajo a las pequeñas empresas de Michigan que sufren un daño económico sustancial como resultado de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19), anunció hoy la administradora de SBA, Jovita Carranza. SBA actuó bajo su propia autoridad, según lo dispuesto por la Ley de Asignaciones Suplementarias para la Preparación y Respuesta ante el Coronavirus que fue firmada recientemente por el Presidente, para declarar un desastre a raíz de una solicitud recibida de la Gobernadora Gretchen Whitmer el 17 de marzo de 2020.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Michigan small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 17, 2020.

As we know, local businesses not only make our communities unique, they are also the backbone of our economic stability. Many of our small, independent businesses are going to suffer while we do our best to stay safe and healthy. But they are also masters of innovation and have already started responding to the needs this crisis has created.