Brian Larkin is the new director of the National Land Bank Network (NLBN) at the Center for Community Progress in Flint. He will help create and implement a formalized, national platform for NLBN members to connect and share knowledge, and develop innovative programs and policy reforms. Reporting to the president and CEO, he will also collaborate with stakeholders to address common challenges facing land banks. The Center for Community Progress works to foster strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties are transformed into neighborhood assets. Larkin was previously chief of staff for Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley.

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Genesee County Commissioner Mark Young on Jan. 6 was selected chairman of the county Board of Commissioners for 2021. Young (5^th Dist.) then announced the chairs for the following committees:

• Finance – Commissioner Gary Peppin (9^th Dist.)
• Governmental Operations – Commissioner Bryant W. Nolden (1^st Dist.)
• Human Services – Commissioner Charles H. Winfrey (2^nd Dist.)
• Public Works – Commissioner Domonique Clemons (4^th Dist.)
• Community & Econ. Development – Commissioner Debra Newman (8^th Dist.)
• Clemons was also elected as the board vice-chair for 2021

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Flint SOUP Gives Boost to Community Businesses, Entrepreneurs

In 2020, a dozen different entrepreneurs and small business owners received funding and technical support services after participating Flint SOUP’s pitch competitions, held over the course of last year.

“We started Flint SOUP in 2012 after finding that there are three main barriers to launching a flourishing business,” said Adrian Montague, executive director of Flint SOUP, which raises seed funding for start-ups in Flint and Genesee County. “That includes lack of capital, lack of resources or network and not knowing where to start. So we started the soup model (which exists in other regions and states) and tweaked it to serve our residents best.”

To do that, the organization hosts at least four community dinners a year, where participants present their business ideas before an audience of community members. The attendees, who make a nominal donation of $5 or more to attend, then cast their vote for their favorite business idea. Those dollars go into a pot of funding that the winner takes home.

“These events really bring people together,” Montague said. “It’s not a panel of judges who are deciding who wins. It’s literally the community—they’re looking at the needs in their own corridors and saying, ‘I see value in this and want to support it.’”

Depending on their level of development, businesses who won first, second or third place during their competitions received seed funding ranging anywhere between $500 and $2,500. In addition to the funding provided through admission fees, these micro-grants were made possible with the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, in addition to the Flint & Genesee Chamber, Michigan Small Business Development Center (CARES ACT), Flint SOUP and other area partners.

“We were excited for the opportunity to help provide seed funding to some of these local entrepreneurs,” said Tracy Joseph, business financing manager at the Flint & Genesee Chamber. “It’s a great way to build our entrepreneurial ecosystem, while helping individual business get started or take their operations to the next level.”

Entrepreneurs that received funding and support services through the 2020 pitch competitions included:

• Andy Williams — Associated Cleaning Services
• Aujanee Young — Lodestar
• Brittni Weatherspoon — Synergy x Spice
• Chad Church – GreenerHouse (ECO CAST presenter)
• Jaylen Bradley — IceySolez
• Kayla Laird — Mobars
• LaDonna Wyatt — Brook’s Tea
• Sha’Nayta McClain — Soft Touch Cleaning
• Shane Proulx — Flint City Handball Club
• Theresa Lucas — Life Without Limits Social Enrichment Alliance
• Timirr Horton — Chayah
• Trevor Relerford — Brick By Brick Entertainment

Additionally, the organization also provided various wrap-around services to alumni of previous Flint SOUP events, including:

• Anthony Artis — The Artis Collection
• LaTashia Perry — Kids Like Mine
• Louella Jamerson — Breath OF Life Smoke Inhalation Kit

Interested in getting involved? Follow Flint SOUP on Facebook to stay informed about future events. Area professionals might also consider participating in the organization’s Startup Bank, in which business owners and experts donate their time to provide mentorship and guidance about everything from prototyping to legal matters.

For more information about these opportunities, contact Adrian at .

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