Flower Power! Venture North Brings USDA RD Resources to Blossom Shop
Angie Hutchins, owner of the Blossom Shop, welcoming a recent visit from Keith Sebright of USDA RD whose crucial funding assistance enabled Hutchins’ Venture North small business loan.
Whether it’s affordable housing, job creation or a myriad of services to help people and communities, Keith Sebright is a man on a mission.
Keith and his colleagues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) have one overarching purpose: to connect their federal resources – programs, services, funding – to make good things happen in rural areas, such as the entire northern Lower and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As an eleven-year veteran of RD following four years in the U.S. Army, including deployments to places like Iraq, he is an Area Director for RD, recently assuming added responsibilities because of federal program and budget reductions. Among his responsibilities are overseeing RD housing programs that give families and individuals the opportunity to buy, build, repair, own or rent safe and affordable housing in rural communities.
“The RD staff has a history of working together to get things done,” Sebright says. “Teamwork is a rewarding part of the job.”
His work has included helping other RD program staff with oversight of an Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and a Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) which, in the case of Venture North Funding and Development, offer low-interest loans for affordable relending to help small businesses grow in northern Michigan.
“Keith and the entire RD team are extraordinary,” said Venture North President Laura Galbraith. “They go the extra mile to help us assist small businesses throughout our ten-county northwest Michigan region.”
One such business is the Blossom Shop, located at 1319 W. South Airport Road, Traverse City. With capital from Venture North provided by an IRP loan from RD, Angie Hutchins purchased the successful business from fellow flower enthusiast Lisa Drouillard who owned the business for twenty-four years.
“I discovered early on that arranging flowers brought out my creative side,” says Hutchins. “With the help of Venture North, I’m on track to live my passion.”
One goal of Hutchins is supporting value added agriculture.
“We currently buy flowers from growers in Interlochen, Omena, Buckley, Long Lake and on Old Mission Peninsula,” she says. “There currently are seventeen registered micro farms in our area that sell flowers and plants and that does not include roadside stands that often have stunning fresh flowers to sell.”
“It’s true that every flower has a story,” she continued. “It begins with seeds and seedlings and the care they receive. Whether it is summer snapdragons or spring daylilies, we live in a region that supports a staggering assortment of flowers. Our goal is to present those flowers and plants in a way that delights our clientele.”
The Blossom Shop team: Lisa Drouillard, owner Angie Hutchins, Katie Zinn and Patty Majsiack - Hutchins next to the white board listing just a sampling of the (many) popular blooms offered that week.
In the few weeks that Hutchins has owned the business, the results show that she’s on the high path of success. Her Mother’s Day sales alone were $47,000.
“We take a genuine interest in the objectives of every customer for the flowers and plants they purchase,” she said. “We have the responsibility for seeing that their needs are met every time. We welcome the opportunity to customize arrangements, regardless of size and cost to see that customers are satisfied and will count on us in the future.”
Hutchins sees several opportunities for growth and innovation.
“For those who are interested, we want to foster improved understanding and education about the special plant and flower-producing qualities of our region,” she said. “We plan to expand our reach to more and more of the value-added plant and flower growers. Telling their stories is telling ours as well.”
“We also want to market our commitment to meet all customer needs, from a single boutonniere to massive arrangements for the biggest events. We hope our friends and customers look forward to entering our shop – with a friendly, welcoming, fresh and colorful feel – and look forward to seeing what is new and different.”
“We have big news in store for this summer,” she hints.
“I live less than a block away from the Blossom Shop,” says Sebright. “It’s a joy to see the employee team at work and know that the USDA RD team had a role in their success. We look forward to their growth and, as with all small businesses, hope to support them in every way we can.”
“It’s our mission.”
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Contact: Tim Ervin - Ph: 231-794-0089 - Email: timervinassoc@gmail.com
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