Community Leaders Talk about $10 Million Dollar Small Business Fund

Earlier this week, Battle Creek learned of a new initiative to help people realize their dreams of starting a small business.  Appearing on WBCK to talk about some of the details of the program are Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fluery,  W.K.Kellogg Foundation Vice President for Program Strategy Joe Scantlebury,, President and CEO of United Way of Battle Creek-Kalamazoo Chris Sargent, and Lakeview Ford Lincoln owner Vince Pavone, who serves on the BCVision Steering Committee.

Some of the highlights:

• The next step is to get donations from more in the business community to raise the final third of the $10 million dollar fund.  Those donations will be matched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), 2:1.
• The program will provide low interest loans to entrepreneurs who qualify. It's not a grant program.
• The program will also provide support to give first-time business owners skills on how to run a business.
• Plans for downtown apartments are moving along according to plan, and this plan will potentially lead to more options for downtown dwellers, workers and visitors.