‘That was really big for us,’ How United Way’s mini-grants support small businesses

Walking around downtown Kalamazoo, you’re never short on breweries to try, but there’s one "tasting room" you might have overlooked, Samson’s Barbershop. 

“For us, the barbershop is kind of like a tasting room for a brewery,” says Adam Muncy, CEO and co-owner of Samson’s Hair Care. 

The “beer” for Muncy’s Barbershop is pomade. 

His partner, Jake Hamlet, already an established barber in the area, was making the hair product on his own using a modified rice cooker when he asked Muncy to partner with him in 2019 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic gave them the opportunity to sell their product internationally more easily. 

Nationally, their big break came after attending their first trade show in 2023. “That really changed our whole trajectory as a company. Overnight, we probably grew 40 percent,” Muncy says. 

Kristen AguirreA collection of Samson's hair care products.This meant more distribution and more product. They needed to expand to bigger equipment. 

“We’ve been on a journey of outgrowing our spaces every six months,” Muncy says.

This is where the United Way of South Central Michigan's Kalamazoo Micro Enterprise Grant comes into play. It’s a $5,000 mini-grant to eligible small businesses in Kalamazoo.

“The grant is meant to provide relief to businesses that might be experiencing a financial need for really any regular, ordinary business purchases,” says Natalie O’Hagan, Senior Director of Strategy and Culture at United Way of South Central Michigan.

Initially, the United Way was not doing small business work at all until the pandemic happened. In March 2020, the local city government pulled partners together to say, ‘what can we do,’ in the meantime. Small businesses needed quick capital for immediate relief. An emergency relief grant was created.

“We thought, 'Why don’t we stay in this space?'” supporting small businesses, O’Hagan says.

This opportunity evolved into the mini-grants that are available now, every spring and fall. This season’s application deadline closes at the end of May and will be open again in October for four weeks. Since it was established, the United Way has given grants to 600 businesses. 

Since launching the Kalamazoo Micro Enterprise Grant program in 2020, UWSCMI has provided 600 businesses with micro-grants. 480 of those businesses were located within the city limits of Kalamazoo, and 120 of the businesses were located outside of the city of Kalamazoo and within Kalamazoo County.
 

More help for local businesses

The United Way of South Central Michigan's Tornado Relief Grant for Small Businesses application is open now through June 20. The Tornado Relief Grant provides $10,000 grants to small businesses in Kalamazoo County that were directly impacted by the May 7, 2024, tornado. 

This program is a partnership between Kalamazoo County and the United Way of South Central Michigan, with funding provided by Kalamazoo County through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
 
More information can be found here.

Funding for these grants is being provided by the City of Kalamazoo Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.

“When we look at communities that have not received the same level of access as others, we typically see disproportionate numbers in our BIPOC, so black, indigenous, people of color communities, women-owned businesses, specifically for small businesses, this is the case,” O’Hagan says. “This grant is positioned to support those populations, specifically. Anyone can apply.”

Who is eligible? Businesses that have been in operation for at least one year in the City of Kalamazoo. Businesses located within Shared Prosperity Kalamazoo neighborhoods of Eastside, Edison, and Northside are highly encouraged to apply, as are businesses that: 
 Last year, one of those applicants was Muncy and Hamlet. 

“It was exciting for us in that they really let us say, 'Hey, this is how we’re going to use the funds in a way we would get maximum return on it,'” Muncy says. 

After the application is submitted to United Way, staff reviews it for eligibility criteria, financial need, and looks at how the business aligns with United Way's values. Then, the staff creates recommendations for the 50 grants available for each round. That list then goes to a Cabinet of small business owners, who have final approval.

“We know we have to target investments to communities that are disproportionally represented,” O’Hagan says. 

Muncy enjoyed the rigorous application process. “This forces you to get really creative if you can say, 'Hey, what can $5,000 do for me.'”

For Samson’s, the grant funds were used to upgrade equipment.

“Being able to put the money towards something, so you’ll be able to grow from there, is huge, and for us, being able to invest it in equipment is big because that gets used every day.”

That investment is building loyal customers who describe Samson's products by leaving reviews like: "It's only been a few days of use, however, this is by far the best product I have used. I bought the pomade and the shampoo/conditioner, and all have been great for my hair." And "Great, strong product that maintains hold for my thick hair throughout the day - was surprised at its performance in rain and those hot, humid summer days. Definitely recommend this product."

Other customers have found Samson’s Foster the Hair Gel Pomade, a gel pomade that rinses out with water. As part of Samson’s Foster the Hair tradition, 3% of revenues will go to children in the foster care system.

Kristen AguirreAdam Muncy and Jake Hamlet are partners in Samson’s Barbershop, a recipient of a grant through the Kalamazoo Micro Enterprise Grant program.
On average, the United Way gives out about 100 mini-grants every year. “Equitable investments are central to our mission as an organization,” O’Hagan says. 

Those investments are essential to Kalamazoo’s business development. “What we are looking for with this grant is to not only fund them and meet a financial need, but we’re also hoping they’re able to access additional funds,” O’Hagan says.

With their new equipment, Samson’s is now launching in Europe after expanding into Canada last August. 

“That was really big for us,” Muncy says. 

For more information on applying for the Kalamazoo Micro Enterprise grant, please visit here. 

This story is part of Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development, a topic readers told us they wanted to know more about when surveyed. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. Visit swmichjournalism.com to learn more.