$2M awarded to 11 businesses in Battle Creek through the Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund
Elena Durnbaugh
Jaziel Pugh, 26, has worked hard to create a business out of his passion for art.
He's been creating art publically in Battle Creek for the past six years. He's done murals downtown and at the Binder Park Zoo. He's also participated in the Color the Creek Festival and currently has his own art exhibit at Kellogg Community College.
Now, thanks to funding from the Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund, he's getting ready to launch the Urban Arts Incubator, a space to provide access to art in Battle Creek by offering consultations, assistance and commissions for artistic projects.
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"It's a game-changer," he said. "This grant right here is somebody opening the door... and it's inspiring."
Pugh's Urban Arts Incubator is one of 11 Battle Creek businesses to receive funding through the Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund. The $2 million program, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was established last year through Battle Creek Unlimited and New Level Sports Ministries.
The fund prioritizes low-to-middle income Black, Hispanic, and Burmese individuals, who have traditionally had limited access to capital.
"A local economy needs participation from all members of the community," said Joe Sobieralski, president and CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited. "Folks from the BIPOC community have historically been excluded from opportunities, so that's why we actually created the parameters to try to address some of those inequities that have occurred over decades."
The Washington Heights neighborhood was selected because it is adjacent to downtown Battle Creek, the focal point of much recent redevelopment, and at 67% of the population, Washington Heights has the largest concentration of Black residents in Battle Creek.
“Historically, communities of color have been shut out of business loans and financing,” said Pastor Chris McCoy of New Level Sports Ministries in a press release. “This program is an important step in bringing opportunity to Black, Hispanic and Burmese entrepreneurs. It will help level the playing field for business owners and improve the Washington Heights community.”
Nearly 40 people applied to be a part of the initial cohort.
"We were kind of overwhelmed when it first started," Sobieralski said. "That's probably led to why it's taken so long, though, because we wanted to make sure we got it right."
Prior to receiving funding, applicants went through several months of business classes. The free courses, offered by the Michigan Small Business Development Center, helped participants strengthen their business plans and cash flow projections, positioning their business for sustainable growth.
Applicants were eligible for grants of up to $300,000 for real estate-only improvements. Business applicants were eligible for low-interest loans of up to $150,000, with the possibility of forgiveness, for viable startups and existing businesses. A single applicant could be funded in both areas, but total grants did not exceed $350,000.
The funding that Pugh received will be enough to get his business off the ground and build up his brand, which is an opportunity he didn't necessarily expect to get.
"Just to have the space and the equipment. To have a business—" he said. "As a young, African American male, I don't know a lot of people who have had the opportunities that I've been in. So I'm very grateful."
Devon Wilson, who owns Sunlight Gardens in Washington Heights, also received funding from the program. Wilson launched his urban farm in 2020 and has been working to increase access to locally grown food since then.
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"That's our first mission," Wilson said. "This is definitely going to help us do that mission – scale up our business, hire some more staff."
The money will also be used to upgrade the infrastructure on the farm, which will allow Sunlight Gardens to keep up with the demand for local produce at local restaurants and early childhood care centers. Eventually, Wilson said Sunlight Gardens would like to be able to supply food to local schools.
For Wilson, increasing local access to food in Battle Creek is about more than providing fresh produce.
"It's really taking our power back," Wilson said. "I truly believe that getting a handle on the food system, or relationship with food, what we eat, what we're putting in our body and how we're spending our money on food is directly connected with the power that we have to live healthy and happy lives."
He sees his business as a springboard for building up the community.
"We've got to start with the foundation, and I believe that good, water and shelter are essential to life, and food is where we're starting right now," he said.
This month, Sunlight Gardens also is launching a partnership with the non-profit organization R.I.S.E to distribute 300 care boxes at the Washington Heights United Methodist Church. The boxes, which will contain personal care items in addition to fresh produce, will be distributed on the third Thursday of every month.
Wilson said investments like the Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund are important because they empower people in the community.
"The most effective thing is identifying people that have that passion, they have the capability to actually follow through with their plan, and just give them that chance, give them that funding," he said. "I would really like to see more of that... Let's get them a solid plan and let's get them that coaching and help, but also, let's put some funding and resources directly into their vision."
Investing in local people will accelerate improvements in Battle Creek, Wilson said.
"We need people who are passionate about the city and want to make it a better place," he said. "A lot of time kids that grew up here, they're like 'My goal is to leave Battle Creek.' So I think if we really accelerate some of these projects that are going on right now, it's going to have a great, long-lasting effect."
The list full list of 2022 Washington Heights Entrepreneurial Fund Recipients includes:
- Brilliant Minds Family Counseling – Keith Matthews, Brook-Lyn Glass
- Sherrill Cotton Funeral & Cremation – Sherrill Cotton
- Hexx Design Co – Hexxon Villa, Juliet Villa, David Niniz, Javier Fortoso Jr.
- The Link – Tonesha Heath
- New Level Church – Gregory Dotson
- Simply Sensational Berries – Markeeta Haddley, Craig Owens
- Sunlight Gardens – Devon Wilson
- Tommy & Co – Marcus Willis
- Urban Arts Incubator – Taylor McCoy, Jaziel Pugh, Iroham Ekeledo, Carolyn Washington, Marcus Ervin
- VIATAG – Jeffrey Cotton
- West End Kitchen – Sidney Ekeledo, Malika Flenoral, Treione Barlo
Contact reporter Elena Durnbaugh at (517) 231-9501 or edurnbaugh@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ElenaDurnbaugh.