TRAVERSE CITY — Venture North Funding and Development said it has provided $1,778,572 in loans across Northern Michigan in 2025, supporting business growth and job creation in counties including Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim, Kalkaska and Manistee.
According to the organization’s 2025 Annual Report released on March 3, the nonprofit lender made 20 loans in 2025 and leveraged an additional $4,369,729 from other financing institutions.
Those loans were connected to 162.5 jobs created and 87.5 jobs retained.
Venture North is a nonprofit, certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Traverse City. Its primary mission is to support economic growth and community development.
The organization concentrates at least 60% of its capital and resources in low-income communities, areas of economic distress, and on businesses owned by underrepresented or minority populations.
Since 2011, Venture North reported issuing 212 loans totaling $13,3742,252 and leveraging $33,465,526 in additional financing. The organization attributed those investments to 719 jobs created and 726 jobs retained.
In 2025, loan clients were located in Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Antrim, Manistee and Kalkaska counties.
Jobs created and retained by individual businesses ranged from zero to 130 positions.
Beyond lending, Venture North hosted “Get Growing!” workshops in communities across the region, including Cadillac, Traverse City, Glen Arbor, Charlevoix and Manistee.
In Traverse City, workshops included sessions on alternative financing, getting financed and a daycare bootcamp focused on infant and toddler startup and expansion. Cadillac workshops included access to capital, fraud protection and defining growth, held in partnership with Fifth Third Bank and the Cadillac Chamber of Commerce. Additional sessions were offered in Glen Arbor, Charlevoix and Manistee in collaboration with local chambers and financial institutions.
The organization also expanded financial and accounting assistance services, including QuickBooks training, financial review and cost analysis and cash flow management support.
Following the March 28, 2025, ice storms and disaster declaration, Venture North awarded $80,000 in emergency mini-grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 to 61 small businesses in Emmet and Charlevoix counties.
The report noted 45 grants were awarded in Emmet County and 16 in Charlevoix County. Funding partners included the Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. Regional chambers and economic development partners also assisted in outreach and coordination efforts.
The annual report also highlighted business stories from across the northern Lower Peninsula, including a Cadillac-based furniture business and developments in Manistee and Charlevoix.
Supporting partners named in the report included Rotary Charities of Traverse City, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Manistee County Community Foundation and Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.