Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses

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Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses

Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses (GRABB) is an Economic and Business Development organization.

GRABB works to foster an economy that creates prosperity and supports the revitalization of predominantly Black neighborhoods. GRABB works to expand opportunities for Black businesses in the Metro Grand Rapids area by assisting them with acquiring four form of capital (Human, Social, Intellectual and Financial) and creating awareness for Black businesses. GRABB is empowering the Black business community that is leading to meaningful and beneficial economic growth and sustainability.

12/09/2025

Join us on Friday, December 12 from 6:30 PM–9:00 PM for the 2025 GRABB Awards & Gala — an evening dedicated to celebrating visionaries, innovators, and champions of economic progress in our community.

We are proud to present our Annual GRABB Gala & Awards Reception, a one-of-a-kind event recognizing those who are driving forward economic equity and supporting the revitalization of the Black community through entrepreneurship and leadership.

This year, we are honored to highlight Joanna Riley as our 2025 Marcus Garvey Legacy Honoree. This award recognizes a leader who exemplifies Staying Power—an entrepreneurial trailblazer advancing Black businesses and uplifting our community for over a decade.

Congratulations to all the Award Finalists!

✨ Come celebrate excellence.
✨ Come support economic equity.
✨ Come be part of the movement.

We’d love to see you there!

Link: https://grabblocal.com/event/2025-grabb-awards-gala/

11/29/2025

Pull up & shop with us this Small Business Saturday!

Join the Black Business Crawl and show love to incredible Black-owned businesses across Grand Rapids.

Spend $25+ and post using for a chance to win a swag bag filled with Black-owned goodies! 🎁

Let’s circulate the dollar, discover new favorites & support our community together.

Sat, Nov 29 | 10AM–8PM | Greater GR

Hosted by Della Soul Records with support from Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses 🛍️

11/28/2025

This Black Friday, let’s circulate our dollars with intention.
Choose to support Black-owned businesses—online, in-store, and in your own community. 🖤
When we invest in each other, we all rise.

🛍️ Shop Black. Buy Local. Build Legacy.
Tag a Black-owned business below ⬇️ so others can support too!

11/25/2025

✨ GR Black Business Crawl — This Saturday! ✨
Join us for a self-guided tour of incredible Black-owned businesses across Grand Rapids! Shop local, discover new brands, enjoy pop-up vendors, and help strengthen our Black economy—all while having fun and winning prizes!

🗓 Saturday, November 29
⏰ 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Grand Rapids, MI
🎁 Win Prizes: Post your photos + purchases using

🛍 Featured Stops & Pop-Ups Include:
• Basic Bee Boutique — Clothing + permanent jewelry
• Della Soul Records — Accessories, candles, hand-painted earrings
• R3 Station — Wellness, massage, and Nothing Easy Clothing
• Triple J’s — Custom shirts, handbags, jewelry, art
• Gladys Grille — Delicious food to fuel your crawl
• West Michigan Jewels of Africa — Apparel, gifts, natural hairstylist
• Grammotones — Studio, shopping, music-themed fashion + desserts
• Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Services — Services + vendor pop-ups

Come out, explore the city, support local entrepreneurs, and celebrate the brilliance of Black-owned businesses all day long!

🖤 Sponsored by Della Soul Records & GRABB (Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses)

Let’s crawl, shop, and uplift our community together! 🛍✨

11/20/2025

📣 HAPPENING TONIGHT! There’s still time to register!

Join us for our November GRABB & GO workshop:
✨ “From Chaos to Control: The Simple HR System Every Founder Needs”

Whether you're a new founder or running a growing business, having a simple HR system in place can save you time, money, and stress. This workshop will help you:
✔️ Build structure in your business
✔️ Improve team communication
✔️ Stay compliant and organized
✔️ Create systems that support growth

🎤 Featuring: Mark Tucker, Founder of Altitude Partners
💻 Location: Online – Join Virtually
🗓 Date: TODAY – November 20th
⏰ Time: 6pm–7:30pm
💰 Cost: Free to join
👉 Register now: https://grabblocal.com/event/november25-grabb-go/

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your business operations with practical tools and expert insight.

11/19/2025

Meet Mark Tucker Founder of Altitude Partners & our presenter for November’s GRABB & Go From Chaos to Control: “The Simple HR System Every Founder Needs”

Mark helps founders build simple, effective systems that drive real growth. He has developed HR and operational infrastructure from the ground up—supporting organizations from early-stage to multi-million-dollar operations—which allows him to meet businesses exactly where they are.

📑Running a business is exciting—until the HR side becomes overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Join us virtually this Thursday for our GRABB & GO as we break down the simple, effective HR system every founder needs to stay organized, compliant, and empowered to grow. 💻🛜

Whether you’re hiring your first team member or trying to streamline the people-side of your business, this session will help you:
✅ Build structure and reduce chaos
✅ Protect your business with the right HR processes
✅ Save time, stress, and energy
✅ Create systems that support growth—not burnout

📅 November 20th
⏰ 6:00pm–7:30pm
💻 Online – Free to Join! 🔗 Link provided upon registration.

Your business can’t grow without strong systems—let’s build them together.

11/14/2025

What an incredible night for entrepreneurship, passion, and purpose! Thank you to everyone who packed the room and brought the energy as seven amazing entrepreneurs took the stage to share their vision for growth and impact.

The Grand Prize Winner is Ryan Johnson — RTS Trash Services

Delivering reliable waste management solutions and community-centered service. Congratulations, Ryan — keep blazing the trail!

Dollar & a Hustle (Crowd Favorite) Winner Christina Witherspoon-Dean —

DJW Tax & Financial Services Your story, drive, and dedication to helping families and businesses secure their financial future inspired all of us.

A huge shout-out to ALL of the incredible entrepreneurs who pitched tonight — your courage, creativity, and commitment to excellence made this event unforgettable. You are the reason Fuel on Fire exists.

Thank you to our Judges
Your insight, expertise, and support help move businesses forward.

Thank you to our Sponsors Lake Michigan Credit Union, Mercantile Bank and The Midwest Tech Project. Your investment helps fuel opportunity, scale dreams, and build generational wealth.

This is only the beginning. The spark has been lit — now let’s continue to build, invest, and grow together. 💪🏾

11/13/2025

GRABB & GO: From Chaos to Control – “The Simple HR System Every Founder Needs”

Running a business is challenging enough — managing people shouldn’t add to the chaos. Join us for our next GRABB & GO session, From Chaos to Control: The Simple HR System Every Founder Needs, and learn how to build structure and confidence into your HR processes.

Featuring:
Mark Tucker, Founder of Altitude Partners, will share practical strategies and systems that help small business owners and entrepreneurs streamline their HR operations, strengthen compliance, and create a thriving company culture.

Event Details:
📅 Date: November 20th
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
💻 Location: Online – Join Virtually!
💰 Cost: Free to Join, RSVP: https://grabblocal.com/event/november25-grabb-go/

Whether you’re a startup founder or a growing small business, this session will equip you with simple, actionable tools to bring clarity and control to your HR approach.

GRABB & Go’s are general meetings and workshops for Black entrepreneurs and business owners to provide them with current information and knowledge. These meetings cover a range of topics from entrepreneurial leaders about growing and sustaining their businesses. Through these meeting series, entrepreneurs will receive information on best practices, resources and strategies in everything from legal, finances, product development, sales, marketing, capital raising. These workshops provide additional opportunities to learn and share what you know with your peers.

11/12/2025

🔥 Today is the Day! 🔥

We’re fired up for the Fuel on Fire Pitch Competition, GRABB’s first-ever pitch event — igniting innovation and celebrating the next stage of Black-owned businesses!

Join us today, November 12th, from 5–8 PM at Mercantile Bank (310 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI) for an evening of inspiration, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

We’re excited to hear from our amazing pitchers, connect with attendees, and witness bold ideas come to life!

A huge thank-you to our sponsors — Mercantile Bank , LMCU , and MidwestTech Project — and to everyone who applied and supported this vision. Your energy makes it all possible!

Let’s fuel ambition, ignite growth, and empower Black-owned success. 💡🔥

11/11/2025

Today, we salute all who have served with courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to freedom.

We pay special tribute to the Black veterans of World War I and World War II—men and women who fought bravely abroad for a nation that often denied them equality at home. Their strength, resilience, and belief in a better future paved the way for generations to come.

As we honor their legacy, we’re reminded that the fight for justice, equity, and opportunity continues. It’s our responsibility to carry forward the courage they embodied—not only in words, but through action and purpose in today’s society.

Thank you to all who served. Your bravery inspires the ongoing fight for freedom for all. 🕊️✨

11/11/2025

⛽️Join us This Wednesday, November 12th as local Black-owned businesses pitch their ideas and compete for funding and resources to take their ventures to the next level. 🚀

🔥 We’re LIVE from Mercantile Bank for the Fuel on Fire Pitch Competition! 🔥⛽️

Come support the pitchers, gain valuable insight for next year’s competition, and connect with entrepreneurs, community leaders, and innovators. 💼✨

📍 Mercantile Bank
310 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI
🕔 5PM–8PM

All are welcome — investors, supporters, and dreamers alike. Let’s fuel the future together! 🔥

11/07/2025

🔥 Meet the 2025 Fuel on Fire Pitchers! 🔥

Seven entrepreneurs. One stage. One mission — to spark growth, opportunity, and community wealth. 💥

🎤 This Year’s Pitchers:
Tonja Moyer – Black Queen Bee Honey
Christina Witherspoon-Dean – DJW Tax and Financial Services
Dr. Andrea Blue – Blue Star Kids Academy
Alita Kelly – Jade Rabbit
Stephanie Dolly – Dollys Delights
Valarie James – Inner Fitness Counseling
Ryan Johnson – RTS Trash Service

📅 Date/Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 — Event 5:00 PM | Pitches 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Mercantile Bank, 310 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

🔥 Sponsored by LMCU (Lake Michigan Credit Union), Mercantile Bank, and The Midwest Tech Project

Audience members help choose the Dollar and a Hustle Award, so your presence matters — come ready to cheer, vote, and celebrate Black entrepreneurship in action!

👉🏾 RSVP now: https://grabblocal.com/event/fuel-on-the-fire2025/

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Grand Rapids, MI
49507

Website

http://www.grabblocal.com/

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