You all know that we’ve been bringing to life a specially dedicated rental space in Hometown Bicycles’ back room – a Hometown Business Incubator, where fledgling business owners can turn their visions into reality. This space is designed to give entrepreneurs a resource-rich home base to launch their businesses, build a following, and get a taste of leasing without overwhelming costs or lengthy commitments.
But we’re not the only ones championing entrepreneurship in our new space!
Lake Trust Credit Union, a company so devoted to supporting local economic development that it formed a Community Reinvestment Team (wow!!!), has enthusiastically stepped into the role of Incubator Title Sponsor. In this role, they will not only generously subsidize the first month’s rent for our first 12 Incubator entrepreneurs*, but will also share a wealth of resources and insights at our entrepreneurship events and programs. Thank you, Lake Trust, for your commitment to local innovation and enterprise!
Get to know the Lake Trust Team that is helping to make our Incubator dreams possible (left to right in Lake Trust shirts): Nicole Dietrich, DeAndre Lipscomb, Rebecca O’Connell, Justin Haun, and (not pictured) Katie Callicutt.
SPONSOR INTERVIEW: Giving entrepreneurs wings!
Tell us why Lake Trust made the decision to be our main sponsor.
We try to help our members in all aspects of their financial life. We’re also very dedicated to our Michigan communities and the small businesses that help foster economic development in those communities. Our Community Reinvestment Team was inspired by the commitment that Hometown Bicycles shares with us to support local entrepreneurs. By sponsoring the business incubator space, we saw that we could help our member, Hometown Bicycles, expand this commitment to the community. And we saw that this was an opportunity for us to support other businesses in Brighton, too.
What are some ways you’d like to partner to create a successful and positive experience for entrepreneurs and new business startups?
Over the last few years, we’ve added more solutions to help entrepreneurs find success. We now offer micro business loans, which is a great option for new businesses who need funding under $50,000 to get started. We also have a new line of Treasury Services that business owners can use to manage their account. But the most important thing we want business owners to know is that we’re here for them through every step of their journey. We love being able to work with our members to help them reach their goals and find success.
What makes Lake Trust unique? How do you differ from other credit unions and banks?
Our business services set us apart from other financial institutions. The decision-making on our business loans happens locally right here in Brighton. We don’t send our business loan applications out-of-state or rely on an automated system to make a funding decision. Our team takes the time to get to know our business members and to learn more about our members’ story, goals, and funding needs.
In what ways do Hometown and Lake Trust share commitment to the community?
Lake Trust and Hometown Bicycles are both Brighton-based organizations who understand the importance of supporting the success of local businesses. Both of our teams share a passion for giving back, volunteering, and offering fantastic service. We, like Hometown Bicycles, live and breathe for the opportunity to provide great service and assist people whenever we can. In fact, we collaborated with Hometown Bicycles last summer for a community service project. Our team volunteered to build 42 bicycles for kids in need and the folks at Hometown helped us with this initiative by offering their expertise.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
You can learn more about our business services on our website. Keep an eye on our blog and social media pages to see how we’re supporting our communities in Michigan.
* Contact Dawn at office@myhometownbicycles.com for details about the Hometown Business Incubator and Lake Trust Credit Union’s amazing Sponsor subsidy.
Baylerian’s Bagels, Bikes & Brew:
Sponsored by Pro-Motion Physical TherapySunday, August 11 from 9 AM-1 PM
Join Team Hometown Bicycles’ Title Sponsor, Vinnie Baylerian, for a morning chock full of fun. Kick things off at Pro-Motion Physical Therapy with coffee and bagels, head out on a guided bike ride, and wind down with a beverage after at Brewery Becker.
This will be a 20-mile mixed road and gravel ride that includes some 2-track cross-country skiing paths in Huron Meadows. There will be two groups for the ride: An A group for faster riders and B group for everyone else! Team Hometown’s Jack Riddle will lead the A group and Vinnie Baylerian will lead the B group.
“There will be less time on ‘main’ roads and more time experiencing a little fun character,” states Jack. Sounds pretty awesome, folks!
Pro-Motion Physical Therapy is located at 205 W. Grand River.
New! For our hard core gravel riders, join Jack for a bonus/optional 30-mile pre-ride at 7 AM. Meet at Pro-Motion!
Express your interest HERE!
Gravel Ride + Monkey Loob Mixer with Lyndsay Stiles!
Wednesday, August 14th from 6-9 PM
Join us for a 13-mile Gravel Ride around and through Island Lake and back to the shop! We will then have a Monkey Loob Mixer — demonstration, Q&A about this amazing product, and time to socialize with Lyndsay Stiles, competitive mountain biker and inventor and owner of Monkey Loob, with fellow cyclists.
The ride will take off from our Hometown lot at 6 PM. Gravel, ,mountain bikes or fat bikes are all good — road bikes, maybe not so much for this ride! Helmets required.
Don’t have a bike? Ask about our rental program! We have a fleet of rentals in various sizes.
BYOBeverages for the after-ride festivities!
Let us know you’re coming HERE!
Women’s Entrepreneurship: FREE Fitness Forum!
Thursday, August 22 from 6-8 PM
Our fabulously informative Women’s Entrepreneurship Series continues, this time with a focus on FITNESS.
For new fitness professionals and business owners in the fitness industry (as well as those considering this career path), come spend the evening with inspirational women who will share their business journeys via a panel discussion. Be sure to bring your questions!
There will be food, there will be fun, and there will be fellowship with like-minded women!
Topics to be covered:
- Where should I teach?
- What should I expect in terms of startup cost?
- What is my target client base, and how do I find them?
- How do I increase attendance?
- What are the best ways to market myself?
- When do I throw in the towel and when should I persevere?
- Competitors — friends or foes?
- And much more!
SIGN UP HERE!
Last week, we introduced you to our first panelist, Fitness Coach and Personal Trainer, Jenny Schild with Body Within. Jenny holds a personal training certification from American Council on Exercise (ACE) and YogaFit certifications. Her specialty is getting people started!
Pictured left: Jenny Schild
Pictured below: Leslie Barrett
This week, meet our next panelist, Hometown’s very own Events Coordinator, Leslie Barrett! Many of you have seen Leslie teaching her Zumba classes at the shop — and that’s because she’s also an entrepreneur who operates Zumba with Leslie Barrett.
As a licensed Zumba instructor, Leslie teaches at multiple locations in the Brighton area. She got her start 7 years ago as an introverted and somewhat timid student in the back of another instructor’s class. As she gained confidence and discovered how life-changing Zumba is, she found herself in the instructor training and began teaching independently of a studio/gym, renting various spots and venturing into corporate wellness programs.
“I love the freedom of being an entrepreneur and being my own boss. I can tailor my business to reflect my own values — integrity, compassion, encouragement — and help others find their own love for fitness through Zumba,” shares Leslie.
Stay tuned to hear who our next panelist is, in next week’s newsletter!
In Team Hometown News…
Doug Lapp is such a good sport — what better Hometownie to share the love of mountain biking with a group of newbies?
Doug volunteered his time to collaborate with Island Lake on Wednesday, August 7th for Intro to Mountain Biking, part of the park’s summer recreation programming. Great job, Doug!
FITNESS CLASSES AT HOMETOWN BICYCLES
Cardio Drumming | Wednesdays 6 PM and Saturdays 9:45 AM$5 drop-in / $5 equipment rental – With Martha Soraruf |Click to learn more
Power 30 | Wednesdays 7 PM
$5 drop in – With Martha Soraruf | Click to learn more
Zumba | Mondays 6 PM and Thursdays 9:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $60” punch card – With Leslie Barrett | Click to learn more
Zumba GOLD | Fridays 9:30 AM and Sundays 10:30 AM
$8 drop in or “10 classes for $50” punch card – With Tresa O’Rourke | Click to learn more
Sati Yoga | Tuesdays 6:30 PM beginning August 13
$7 drop in – With Dawn Gaden, RYT | Click to learn more
