Day 2

Brewing Success at the Last Mile Café

Meet Sarah and Arick, the inspiring entrepreneurs behind Grand Rapids’ Last Mile Café. With a mission to put “people and planet” before profits, they overcame funding challenges and industry skepticism to create a coffee shop that pays living wages, donates 10% of profits to local charities, and serves ethically sourced coffee.

With the support of a $50,000 microloan from Michigan Women Forward, they turned an abandoned building into a thriving, community-focused business — earning B-Corp Certification along the way.

Discover how Sarah and Arick are redefining success and empowering their community. Read their full story.

Not convinced? Come back every day to discover the stories and stats of Michigan Women Forward’s impact in our 2024 Season of Giving Advent Calendar.