Entrepreneurship

Coverage of those starting up businesses and community resources to help them thrive.

Ann Arbor SPARK board chair Kelly Sexton speaks at SPARK's annual meeting.

Ann Arbor SPARK annual meeting emphasizes power of local collaboration in challenging times

Ann Arbor SPARK's 2026 annual meeting emphasized the Ann Arbor area's innovation ecosystem as a bulwark against tumultuous times, while also recognizing top local entrepreneurial achievers.

Latest in Entrepreneurship
On-Demand Coaching helps Ypsi’s government and small businesses build a winning team

A Michigan Municipal League program helps Ypsi and other municipalities connect small businesses and entrepreneurs with existing capital and technical assistance. 

The Ypsilanti Growers Cooperative offered home and hobby gardeners a cooperative table where they could sell their produce at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market in 2012 and 2013.
Want to sell your homegrown produce at the Ypsi Farmers Market? You can through this program.

Ypsilanti-based gardening nonprofit Growing Hope wants community members to help shape the future of a program that allows home and hobby gardeners to share a cooperative farmers market booth.

Nashia and Brandon Frye preparing smoothies at No Label Juice.
Ypsi-based Small Business Support Hub offers many free services for entrepreneurs

The free Small Business Support Hub program at SPARK East offers weekly in-person consulting sessions, networking opportunities, and other resources tailored to entrepreneurs' needs.

Bloodroot Herb Shop owner Alex Crofoot.
Ypsi herb shop launches monthly community clinic to help fill health care gaps

Bloodroot Herb Shop founder Alex Crofoot says the clinic builds on a longstanding vision to integrate free care into her shop’s broader model. 

A promotional graphic announcing Ann Arbor SPARK's membership in the Global Institute on Innovation Districts.
Ann Arbor SPARK joins global network of innovation districts

Ann Arbor SPARK has joined The Global Institute on Innovation Districts Global Network, allowing it to collaborate with over 50 innovation districts in 14 countries.

A car on the test track at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township.
American Center for Mobility marks 10 years of evolution and innovation in Ypsi Township

What began as a test track for autonomous vehicles has grown to support tech startups working in electrification, cybersecurity, and advanced mobility systems.

Eric Kinsler-Holloway of EK's Cheesecakes and Brandon Frye of No Label Juice, both "graduates" of the Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen, with Growing Hope Executive Director Julius Buzzard.
Nonprofit incubator kitchen helps food businesses get off the ground in Ypsi

Inside a shared commercial kitchen in Ypsilanti, recipes become businesses, side hustles turn into full-time work, and local food entrepreneurs gain community.

Concept art for a mural at B-Cubed Bakery in Ypsilanti Township.
Residents plan mural for Ypsi Township bakery

Residents of Ypsilanti Township's Gault Village neighborhood plan to show love for locally-owned B-Cubed Bakery by painting a mural on the bakery building.

Recast Leaders aim to revitalize local economies

Ypsilanti and six other Michigan communities are working on building their local economies in the Recast Leaders program. Here's a look at how the program works.

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