Venture North Funding & Development

09/17/2026

Thank you so much, again, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, for hosting this event and allowing us to meet some of the great entrepreneurs in the area. We hope everyone came away with some good tools to promote these wonderful small businesses and keep in touch as they grow!

09/03/2026

There's still room and it's still FREE!

A little "back to school" for business owners looking to learn about/polish up their marketing efforts! Join small business owner and marketing guru Kristina Schnepf on Wednesday, September 16th so you can spend the "off-season" getting better equipped for 2027!

📣 With the US-31 Project on the horizon staying visible matters. 📣

Join us September 16 for Demystifying Marketing, a free workshop presented in partnership with Venture North Funding & Development. Learn how to strengthen your marketing strategy, connect with customers, and make it easier for people to find and support your business.

🎟️ RSVP required! Save your spot today: https://business.manisteechamber.com/events/details/demystifying-marketing-workshop-2026-2755

08/20/2026

Plenty of space available for this FREE workshop designed specifically with small business owners in mind. Save your spot today!

In partnership with Venture North Funding & Development, we’re hosting Demystifying Marketing on September 16, a free, hands-on workshop designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs create a simple, affordable marketing plan that works for their business.

Learn practical ways to connect with customers, stay visible, and make marketing feel more manageable.

📅 September 16 | 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
📍 WSCC - Downtown Education Center
400 River St., Manistee, MI
🎟️ FREE to attend, but RSVP is required!

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://business.manisteechamber.com/events/details/demystifying-marketing-workshop-2026-2755

08/04/2026

We're excited to share this story from 9&10 News highlighting Venture North's partnership with the Frey Foundation!

Thanks to the Foundation's generous support, we'll be expanding our no-cost business consulting services to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Emmet and Charlevoix counties, helping more people access the resources they need to start, strengthen, and grow their businesses.

A big thank you to 9&10 News and reporter Kyle Garrison for helping share the news and spotlight the importance of supporting small businesses across Northern Michigan.

Read the full story here: https://www.9and10news.com/2026/08/03/venture-north-to-increase-business-consulting-in-emmet-and-charlevoix-counties/

We look forward to serving even more entrepreneurs and strengthening our region's small business community together!

The Frey Foundation recently awarded a grant to Venture North Funding and Development to expand its business support services in Emmet and Charlevoix counties. This investment will provide regional entrepreneurs with increased access to affordable financing and expert consulting.

07/30/2026

More communities. More entrepreneurs. More opportunities to grow.

Thanks to a generous two-year, $110,000 grant from the Walters Family Foundation, Venture North is expanding no-cost business assistance into Cheboygan, Crawford, and Otsego counties while continuing to serve entrepreneurs in Antrim, Kalkaska, Missaukee, and Wexford counties.

Every small business deserves access to guidance, affordable financing, and a partner who believes in their success, regardless of where they're located.

This investment means more northern Michigan entrepreneurs will have someone to call when they're ready to start, grow, or strengthen their business.

We're grateful to the Walters Family Foundation for helping make that possible.

Learn more:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62602b170e91866e463a8fdb/t/6a6b67395be1e2291e3b4364/1785423673871/Walters-Family-Foundation-Grant-2026-NR.pdf

07/30/2026

Wonderful news for everyone!

07/24/2026

When organizations come together with a shared purpose, communities grow stronger.

We're honored to receive support from the Frey Foundation, helping Venture North expand affordable lending and no-cost business assistance for entrepreneurs in Emmet and Charlevoix counties.

This investment is about more than funding: it's about creating opportunities, strengthening local economies, and working alongside outstanding regional partners to help small businesses realize their dreams.

Together, we're investing in people, businesses and the future of northern Michigan.

Learn more:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62602b170e91866e463a8fdb/t/6a62dcbd2257813ffb03bc1d/1784863934271/Frey+Foundation+Grant+-+2026+-+news+release.pdf

07/22/2026

Great news for Emmet County small businesses!

Thanks to a generous grant from the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, Venture North will expand outreach efforts to connect more entrepreneurs with affordable financing and no-cost business support.

Sometimes the biggest challenge isn't finding help — it's knowing where to start. This funding will help us reach more business owners, share available resources, and ensure entrepreneurs throughout Emmet County know they're not alone.

If you're starting, growing, or strengthening your business, we'd love to connect.

Our website: www.venturenorthfunding.org
News Release:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62602b170e91866e463a8fdb/t/6a5fe2b305ef4d0a4304b94f/1784668852507/Petoskey-Harbor-Springs-Foundation-VN-Grant-2026.pdf

07/22/2026

Kudos to the wonderful Nikki Devitt! As folks who have benefited from knowing and partnering with her and others at the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, we're not surprised at this recognition, but thoroughly happy to see it!