Over the last three years, BUILD awardees have been building community power and changing systems to create healthier neighborhoods. This story features the West Michigan Blueprint Project collaborative in Muskegon Heights, MI.
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The West Michigan Blueprint Project launched a community hub for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community organizations in Muskegon Heights. The hub offers workspace, business classes, financial health services, job placement support, and consultations with community health workers — all rooted in a mission to break down historical systemic barriers and increase opportunities and well-being for business owners and entrepreneurs of color. Led by local partners along with a resident advisory board whose members live and work in the Heights every day, the Blueprint Project is turning community pride into community power.
Over the past three years, the collaborative has:
- Launched the “Blueprint to Business” program, a five-part leadership development series for entrepreneurs;
- Received a nomination for Innovator of the Year from the Grand Valley State University Innovation Hub;
- Built and leveraged partnerships with more than 36 organizations and groups through the hub to connect residents with a full range of services;
- Supported 20+ Muskegon Heights entrepreneurs through education, pop-up shops, and mentorship;
- And provided on-site community health worker services, financial literacy programming, and other health initiatives for community residents.
Read about the BUILD Muskegon Heights initiative, and learn more.
“We’ve built a space where we are trying to build economic growth, and we are also starting to bring in health elements. Health — and economic health — contributes to economic stability.”
In honor of BUILD’s tenth anniversary in 2025, we interviewed the Muskegon Heights partners. Listen here to learn more about what their work together has unlocked.
