Tag Archives: local investing

ZipCap: empowering America’s most loved local businesses by transforming customer loyalty into working capital

In spite of the billboards around town by local banks claiming to support homegrown businesses, the truth is, when our small “mom and pop” stores need capital, it’s almost impossible to come by. When a local restaurant, for instance, needs capital to grow, or to make it through lean times, there are few options, in […]

Posted in Local Business, Locally Owned Business, The Saturday Six Pack, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bee Roll on wanting to grow Beezy’s and how you can help

Bee Roll opened Beezy’s, her “simple, honest” restaurant in downtown Ypsilanti, on November 8, 2008. Over the past six years, quite a bit has changed. Beezy’s has become a vital anchor in downtown Ypsilanti. Among other things, it’s a place for people to meet over great food, a safe environment for kids to study in […]

Posted in Art and Culture, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Stewart Beal on his plans to redevelop Ypsilanti’s Thompson Block with the help of small, local investors

Late last week, when AnnArbor.com reported that Stewart Beal was changing tack relative to the Thompson Block, and going after small, unaccredited investors in order to get the stalled redevelopment project moving forward, I decided to reach out to the local developer and ask a few questions. Following are his answers. MARK: As I understand […]

Posted in Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Michael Shuman… there’s a local business revolution on the horizon, and we can make it happen

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend a day with economist and author Michael Shuman. Shuman, for those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, is probably our nation’s foremost authority on the importance of cultivating, supporting and investing in local businesses. The stated purpose of his visit to Ann Arbor, which was […]

Posted in Economics, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Michigan, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Author Amy Cortese on the burgeoning “locavesting” movement, and how we can harness it in Michigan

Next Tuesday, October 30, Think Local First will be bringing author Amy Cortese to Ann Arbor to discuss her book Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit From It. Following is my interview with Amy, who, in addition to being a published author, has written for the likes of the New York […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Economics, entrepreneurism, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Retail, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

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