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Stories of Impact

Economic Vitality

Lean Rocket Lab Expands Opportunities to Entrepreneurs in Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties

“As new female entrepreneurs, the LOCAL program has been a tremendous opportunity where we have gained insight into business fundamentals.”

–The Five Forks, Lean Rocket LOCAL Fellows Alumni

Jackson, MI (August 2024) - What do a doula, a dog groomer and a coach for parents have in common? These are just a few of the small businesses that make up Lean Rocket Lab LOCAL’s 2024 Fellows Bootcamp. Supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and a three-year grant from Walters Family Foundation, the Bootcamp serves new entrepreneurs in Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties.

Through a competitive application process, 10 small businesses from each county: Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale, are selected annually to participate in the 12-week, 24-hour program. The entrepreneurs receive coaching, education, and milestone grant funding that helps catapult their small business forward.

To earn the milestone grant, the entrepreneurs must set three milestone goals for their small business. As they work their way through Business Bootcamp, they can apply to the grant funding to help them overcome obstacles and barriers that are prohibiting them from hitting their milestone goals.

Lean Rocket LOCAL Fellows test out products at local pop-up events. Photo Courtesy of Lean Rocket Lab.Download a high-resolution version of this photo.

“What’s unique about the 2024 cohort is that the program was expanded to reach the underserved communities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale,” says Alex Masten, Director of LOCAL & Entrepreneurial Services, Lean Rocket Lab. “The socioeconomic demographics in these counties make it harder for small businesses to find capital or get the help that they need, so the program is incredibly beneficial to this region.”

One of the businesses in this year’s cohort is M & M Heavenly Foods, owned by Shanice Galloway. Shanice started the business as a way of coping with grief. Shanice lost both her fiancé and her brother within one year, and found herself overcome with pain and sadness. She decided to channel her energy into cooking soul food and as a result, M & M Heavenly Foods food truck was born.

“It’s so important to have a program like this for small businesses who don't know where to go, and don't have the financial resources to pay an expert to teach them business skills,” says Masten. “Our curriculum teaches them about accounting, marketing, legal, sales, all the other things that  businesses need to be able to succeed and grow.”

After the six-week Bootcamp concludes, the LOCAL program continues to provide the entrepreneurs with meetups and support for an entire year. For many entrepreneurs, it’s the difference between failure and success. “Most small businesses fail from a lack of funding, lack of expertise, or lack of support,” says Masten. “Being a LOCAL Fellow means you have access to all three.”

LOCAL launches the Fellows Program in Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. Photo courtesy of Lean Rocket Lab.Download a high-resolution version of this photo.