A local organization provides the ‘springboard’ for entrepreneurs to get started

Arlene Campbell, chief creator of opportunities for Spring GR, and Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment for SpringGR talk to WKTV Journal’s Joanne Bailey-Boorsma. (Photo by WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Ideas for a business can come from about anywhere: watching a host stress over her event or finding a more affordable option for a custom suit.

Turning those ideas into a profitable business is often the challenge for many. However, in 2015, the third generation of the DeVos family decided they wanted to do something about encouraging entrepreneurship in Grand Rapids. The result was SpringGR.

“At the time, an article had come out and Gand Rapids was listed 51 out of 52 economically for African Americans,” said Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment for SpringGR. “So it was very poor for African Americans, but then it was listed later, in 2018, as the second best city to start a business.

SpringGR is a 12-week training experience that people can apply to help develop their business, according to Arlene Campbell, chief creator of opportunities for Spring GR. It also includes a two-year mentorship program for SpringGR graduates.

“Usually when you have a program like this, you go through the program and you have your mountain top experience and then life happens,” Obande said, adding that the mentorship program gives SpringGR members the opportunity to network and connect with others in the SpringGR program. This also helps the entrepreneurs to not only building a social network, but continue to receive guidance as they develop and grow their business, he said.

With more than 450 people who have gone through the program, SpringGR has had a number of success stories.

“A lot of people have developed a part-time business, quite a few have started a full-time business and some are actually hiring people,” Campbell said.

The results can be seen in the cities of the Kentwood and Wyoming with the newest business in City of Wyoming being Guelaguetza Designs, owned by SpringGR graduate Nancy Quero.

“SpringGR made me realize that what we were doing was worth the shot,” Quero said. “It made me realize that there was a market for the products that we sell and gave me the tools to do what I am doing right now.”

This Thursday, Dec. 5, SpringGR will host its fall graduation at 6 p.m. at 818 Butterworth St. SW. Valet parking is complimentary and available for the event. Six SpringGR entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses to a group of judges.

For more about SpringGR and some of the entrepreneurs who have been a part of the program, visit the organizations website SpringGR.com.