Latest news with #MelissaBoughner
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hispanic Center expands to lakeshore with nonprofit acquisition
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan is expanding on the lakeshore by acquiring the Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative. 'This is part of our strategic move to have a presence on the lakeshore and really a declaration to our community saying we have heard that there is a need there,' Melissa Boughner, the president of the Grand Rapids-based , said. The strategy includes future expansion to other lakeshore communities like Muskegon. She said will allow the center to make a greater impact by providing better access to services. 'We do offer many services. A lot of them are family support services, so everything from signing up for SNAP or health insurance, or navigating even something as simple as a DTE bill when there's a language barrier that becomes a larger task,' Boughner said. Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative serves Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg. It is known for a variety of initiatives, including organizing the Hispanic Heritage Fiesta in Grand Haven, which takes place in September. The nonprofit also provides college scholarships and leadership programs. Boughner said the center will continue those programs and try to help address the biggest issues facing the lakeshore Latino community. 'A lot of them are those wraparound family support services. It's the food insecurity, it's the housing insecurity, it's with everything in the immigration world right now, it's making sure that you are receiving the right information,' Boughner said. Boughner says the goal is to help families thrive in West Michigan. 'It's like me giving you a box of tools and saying, 'I hope you figure out how to use them.' Well, the center is going to give you the box of tools, but we're going to show you one by one how to use that tool to really move the needle in your life,' Boughner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New loans to help Latino-owned businesses off the ground
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County has approved a $1.2 million grant to help provide loans to Latino entrepreneurs. 'It's a turning point for our Latino businesses,' Melissa Boughner, the president of the , said. The Hispanic Center made the announcement at its headquarters Thursday morning. The loans aim to give new and emerging Latino business owners a helping hand to grow and thrive. 'It is incredible to receive support from Kent County at this level,' Boughner said. 'It's quite the statement to say, 'We believe in the Latino community. We know the impact they have. We can't ignore it. We want them to continue to be a prosperous part of our community.'' How local groups address needs of fast-growing Hispanic population The goal is to help entrepreneurs who don't qualify for traditional loans at the bank, whether it's because of their financial history or because of language barriers. Starting Monday, those interested can call the Hispanic Center and be screened for the loan that best fits their needs. The loans range from $1,000 to $250,000. The Hispanic Center is teaming up with two community development financial institutions, known as CDFIs, that support undeserved communities. 'It's really to get you to that next level to be bankable,' said Alexis Hill, a loan officer for Opportunity Resource Fund, a CDFI part of the program. 'So you can get that generational wealth and grow your business. A lot of these businesses can be stunted just because they can't have access to capital.' New Hispanic Chamber HQ plans aim to exemplify 'vibrancy of community' It's not just the money. Business owners can also get marketing, literacy and technical help that's in Spanish. As West Michigan's Latino population continues to grow, the Hispanic Center hopes these efforts will create more opportunities for the community to build lasting wealth and stability. 'In the midst of everything happening in our nation, this is good news for our Latino community and for us at the center,' Boughner said. More information is available on the Hispanic Center's website. While only Kent County residents are eligible for this program, Boughner said the Hispanic Center plans to launch other initiatives soon to help Latinos across West Michigan, including on the lakeshore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
