Meet the original steering committee members who helped LeAnne Moss in the creation of GROW. There are many familiar names from West Michigan, and many of these individuals are still supportive of GROW today.

The first steering committee meeting is held. LeAnne approached several leaders in the community to discuss the creation of an organization to serve women in low-income households and assist them in creating economic independence through business ownership.

LeAnne wrote a grant request to Dyer Ives Foundation to initially fund the organization

The first MYOB (Minding Your Own Business) class graduates. MYOB was a 16-week long program where participants met each week to work on different aspects of their business plan and development. This included classroom training, homework and other assessments.

It was in 1995 that GROW became a Certified Women’s Business Center through the Small Business Administration Office of Women Business Ownership.

Rita Vanderven joined GROW in June 2000 as Executive Director. She would lead the organization through 2008.

In 2004 GROW Celebrated the organizations 15^th Anniversary with and audio CD, titled “Voices of GROW.” Check back soon so you can listen to a few of these great stories.

Grow welcomed Patricia Duthler as Executive Director from 2008 until 2010.

In 2010, the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs was incorporated into GROW programs to serve second-stage women business owners.

GROW received an anonymous grant that paved the way to becoming an SBA intermediary Microlender. The organizations first 5 loans are made with this grant.

In September 2010 GROW welcomed Bonnie Nawara as CEO of the organization.

July 2011, GROW hired our first microloan manager to expand the lending program.

In 2012, GROW became an intermediary Micro Lender under the SBA (Small Business Administration).

In August 2013, the GROW Microloan program tripled it’s lending capacity from $200k to $600k, allowing us to provide even more funding to local businesses.

September 2013 – GROW adjusted the MYOB program to provide classes in smaller “clusters”. The new Small Business Growth and Planning Series was formed.

In 2015, the (AWE) Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs was rebranded as the Established Division of GROW.  Women business owners who have reached a certain point in their careers have needs that are very different from those who are just starting out. That’s why we created the Established Division of GROW. It is a membership by invitation only group, intended for those who are looking for opportunities to learn, network, and share with other successful women.

Spring 2017, GROW launched the EmpowerHER program for second-stage businesses. This is a cohort-based, year-long training program for women entrepreneurs who have been in business for at least a year and are looking for assistance with stabilizing and/or growing their companies.

In October 2017, GROW received the Certified Designated Financial Institute (CDFI) award, expanding lending levels. Read the news release here.

In November 2017, GROW was Recognized as a Rising Star, as part of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit with Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

In May 2018, GROW was named SBA Michigan Women’s Business Center of Excellence.

In July 2018, GROW expanded our programming & added full-time staff in Muskegon, inside the GVSU Innovation Hub.

In April 2019, GROW Received the Non-Profit Champion Award from West Michigan Hispanic Chamber.

In September 2019, our staff traveled to Detroit for CORP! Magazine’s Salute to Diversity.

Throughout 2019 we celebrated the 30 years of helping women, and men, to start and build their own businesses. We do so through continued support in training classes, business counseling, mentorship, connecting them to resources and of course our expanding loan programs.