Empowering Hispanic business owners.
Providing opportunities to develop skills for success.
Advocating for equal growth and opportunity.

  • Collaborations
  • Initiatives

Support Our Town!

We are excited to share that we are partnering with Consumers Energy, MML Foundation and Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses to support 40 minority-owned businesses through the Consumers Energy Our Town program.
 
Starting April 30 & while supplies last, when you spend a minimum of $25 at a participating location you will receive a $25 Mastercard gift card that can be spent at any of the participating businesses. Each business will receive an equal number of gift cards for distribution; supplies are limited and are expected to sell out quickly!
Check out the list of participating businesses.
 
***
Apoye Our Town. 
 
Estamos encantados de compartir esta colaboración con Consumers Energy, MML Foundation y Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses para apoyar a 40 negocios locales a través del programa Our Town de Consumers Energy.
 
A partir del 30 de abril (y mientras no se agote el material) cuando gastes un mínimo de $25 en un negocio participante, recibirás una tarjeta de Mastercard de $25 que se puede gastar en cualquiera de los 40 negocios participantes. Las tarjetas son limitadas; no se espere para participar!
 
Comparta la lista de negocios participantes: 

Applications for this program are now closed. To learn about the program, visit https://westmihcc.org/twm-collaborations-initiatives/small-business-and-microenterprise-grant-program/

Transformando West Michigan assisted 15 businesses in completing their MLBE Registration with the City of Grand Rapids.  

Transformando West Michigan worked to ensure Latinx business owners were familiar with the micro-local business enterprise registration process so they may be eligible for projects with the City of Grand Rapids. 
 
About MLBE Registration: 
The City of Grand Rapids launched an initiative to help micro-local business enterprises access dozens of upcoming river restoration contracts. The program’s primary goals were:
 
• Ensure future restoration of the Grand River embeds racial and economic equity principles in the water and along the riverbanks
• Decrease systemic barriers and register 30 to 40 small, minority- or woman-owned firms on the City’s MLBE list
• Encourage local jobs and wealth creation
• Create opportunities for capacity building within City partner agencies Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses and West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Transformando West Michigan has worked to spread the word about this free and beneficial program for businesses within Kent County. Outreach efforts included a video training with WMHCC staff and Kent County leaders and a distribution of COVID educational material in collaboration with the Kent County Health Department and Lake Michigan Credit Union. The Kent County Back to Work Safely Program facilitated health screening processes for employers and continues to provide resources, including the distribution of personal protection equipment. 

Watch: Kent County Back to Work Safely discussion with the Hispanic Chamber

Group of WMHCC & LMCU staff distributing materials in the Burton Heights North Lot by Division & Burton

Transformando West Michigan hosted webinars and application drive-throughs to assist business owners as they worked to complete the MEDC Small Business Restart application. Through these efforts, Transformando West Michigan was able to support business owners as they navigated technology and language barriers. Applications for the program closed on August 5th.

$9.5M from the Michigan Small Business Program were allocated to The Right Place for distribution among West Michigan businesses. The Right Place invited Guillermo Cisneros, executive director of the WMHCC, and Jamiel Robinson, President & Founder of GRABB, to co-chair the committee in charge of the distribution of these funds.

At least 30 percent of the funds awarded under this program will be provided to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned eligible businesses.

We are proud to partner in this effort and appreciate the trust The Right Place has placed in the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce by inviting us to collaborate in this work.

Yesenia assists business owners with the application outside La Casa de la Cobija on Division

Transformando West Michigan has worked to spread the word about the importance of being counted in the 2020 census and, through educational workshops and material, has empowered business owners to encourage others to fill out the census. This work is important to Ana Jose, TWM program manager, because it ensures adequate funding will be provided for areas served by TWM. Ana Jose serves on the City of Grand Rapids’ Complete Count Committee.

  • 1,584 calls were made to local residents
  • 500 flyers were distributed to local businesses

Transformando West Michigan understand the pressures and challenges business owners face. Being a business owner requires resiliency. This became even more true during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to best assist, TWM began partnerships with Inclusive Empowerment Services and Network180 to address mental health concerns. 

Transformando West Michigan is proud to have been a partner of the Family Independence Initiative Kent County COVID Relief Fund.

The fund provided more than 9,300 individuals and families in West Michigan each with a one-time cash payment of $500. The fund sought to provide immediate, short-term aid to neighbors until jobs restarted, government benefits took effect, or other relief resources became available. These funds empowered individuals to choose how to best use this money to support themselves and their families. 

Transformando West Michigan was able to:

  • Share news about the fund with Hispanic owned businesses so they could inform their employees 
  • Verify if individuals qualified for the fund
  • Assist individuals with the application process and answer any related questions
  • Ensure individuals completed their application

Unity Fund | Fondo de unidad

Promoting health in our community. 
Promoviendo la salud en nuestros negocios. 

Learn about the Unity Fund // Aprenda más sobre el Fondo de Unidad

Purpose // Próposito

The Unity Fund exists to provide matching funds for small business owners & independent contractors in West Michigan that are not able to provide sick leave for employees that have tested positive for COVID-19 during October 2020 – present. 

***

El Fondo de Unidad existe para apoyar a nuestros negocios pequeños y contratistas independientes, contribuyendo al sueldo pagado a los empleados cuando han dado positivo al COVID-19 de octubre 2020 al presente. 

Need // Necesidad

Health leaders are asking that sick employees remain at home for 7-14 days if they are sick, displaying symptoms, or have been in contact with someone that has contracted COVID-19. 21.2% of individuals in Grand Rapids live below the poverty line, which makes them more likely to go to work — even when sick — in order to provide basic needs for their families.  

***

Los líderes de salud piden que los empleados enfermos permanezcan en casa durante 7-14 días si están enfermos, muestran síntomas o han estado en contacto con alguien que ha contraído COVID-19. El 21.2% de las personas en Grand Rapids viven por debajo de la línea de pobreza, lo que las hace más propensas a ir a trabajar, incluso cuando están enfermas, para satisfacer las necesidades básicas de sus familias.

COVID Trainings

As the economy continues to reopen, the Transformando West Michigan team is working to ensure business owners feel prepared & empowered to open their doors by providing COVID trainings to Latinx owned businesses. Businesses that participate receive a reopening checklist, guidebook, and signage.

To schedule a training for your business, please contact Yesenia Bernal at yesenia@westmihcc.org