A $25,000 grant from the Boundless Futures Foundation will be used by Venture North Funding and Development to help female entrepreneurs grow their businesses in northwest Michigan.

The grant supports the core programs of Venture North that provide low-cost loans and no-cost consulting to help small businesses in its 10-county northern Michigan region, with a focus on helping business owners where those services are not readily available.

“What a wonderful compliment for the many women who are successful entrepreneurs as Venture North clients,” said Laura Galbraith, President of Venture North. “We are proud to have provided over $4 million in low-cost loans to 84 women entrepreneurs for total investments of over $13 million, creating or retaining over 400 jobs in our ten-county region. This grant will help us do even more.”

“We chose Venture North to be a Her Village grantee because several of the organization’s programs align with our mission to support female founders,” said Soon Hagerty, co-founder of the Boundless Futures Foundation with husband McKeel Hagerty. “It’s strong commitment to providing low-cost loans and no-cost consulting to small business owners is pivotal to supporting female business owners who do not have equal access to funding mentorship resources. Many of the businesses Venture North works with were started by female founders, who we are committed to supporting and uplifting. They are a great partner in our efforts to level the playing field for many incredibly talented female business owners.”

Galbraith says that a key to encourage more female entrepreneurs to use Venture North’s services is to tell stories about the many who are succeeding.

Soon and McKeel Hagerty, founders of the Boundless Futures Foundation; Karla Eisner, John and Lori Kroger of Northern Elderberry with their new pressing machine; their popular ‘Amped Up’ elderberry syrup, perfect for cold/flu season.

One such entrepreneur is Lori Kroger, founder of Northern Elderberry, who, along with daughter Karla Eisner, has stepped up production of their line of Elderberry Syrup products from seven bottles per week at a Farmer’s Market to…wait for it…being sold on Amazon, as well as at several area retailers.

Like many Venture North clients, the Kroger’s story is one of challenge, innovation, relentless hard work, and the old-fashioned love of family.

Lori’s family traditions and her background as a registered nurse led her down a path to experiment with elderberries as an herbal/medicinal supplement.

She first learned the value of home-grown remedies from her grandmother who made “sick soup” and cough medicine from herbs and botanicals. Years later, when Lori became ill, elderberry syrup was an “in-home” recipe that did wonders in aiding her recovery.

“After hearing how it helped me, some friends asked me if they could buy some,” Lori recalls. That question started her journey, first to cross regulatory thresholds and then, cautiously selling seven bottles then 14 at a farmers’ market, then carefully branching out to specialty retailers, doing everything the old-fashioned way – by hand with family.

“We believe in our tagline,” says Kroger. “People can be empowered with the wholesome essence of our earth’s natural, plant-based, herbal products. We craft every bottle of elderberry syrup with great care – it’s a product and a commitment to a tradition of good health.”

Kroger explains that they now offer three blends of their syrup: one with ginger, cinnamon and clove; one that is enhanced by the addition of echinacea; and one formula that is sugar free. Sold as a dietary supplement, the syrups can be used in endless ways to enrich beverages and foods.

“People are looking for natural remedies, products that are gluten-free and supplements that can boost wellness,” says Kroger.

Venture North first began helping Kroger with the marketing expertise of Venture North consultant Kristina Schnepf who has a considerable corporate marketing background and even owns a small business: Peace, Love and Little Donuts in Traverse City.

“Kristina helped us with Google ads. Amazon saw the ad and contacted me,” said Kroger. “At first, I thought it was a scam but then discovered it was actually Amazon! We now even have an Amazon “mentor” to help us.”

Anticipating spiking demand, the Kroger’s returned to Venture North for a $4,000 loan to purchase a pressing machine with far greater capacity so they could step up production. On November 16, the family put their new press to work. “It was a wonderful time saver,” said Lori. Our production time went from eight or nine hours to five and a half hours. Thank goodness for the affordable loan from Venture North!”

Even as they speculate about a potential need for a bottling machine, so too are they cautious about cost while being enthusiastic about the future.

“Northern Elderberry didn’t originate in a boardroom,” says Kroger. “It grew from a legacy of love and natural wellness. I’m continuing a tradition with my daughter and she can now pass that on to our grandchildren. We are profoundly passionate about sharing the rich legacy of elderberries with the world.”

“The Kroger story is inspiring,” said Galbraith. “Thanks to the generosity of the Boundless Futures Foundation, we will have many more stories to share about the successes of female entrepreneurs in northwest Michigan.”

NORTHERN ELDERBERRY

www.northernelderberry.com

Elderberry Syrups/Dietary Supplements

P: 231-360-6830

E. lori@northernelderberry.com

Where to Purchase:

Freshcoast Market, 7270 Long Lake Rd. Traverse City

Oryana, 260 E. 10th Street, Traverse City

Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Circle, Traverse City

Higher Self Book Store, 313 E. Front, Traverse City

HNM Wellness, 502a E. Front, Traverse City

Peninsula Market, 14111 Center, Traverse City