Seed Award Spotlight: Stage One

This series features recipients from the most recent round of Seed Awards, sharing their paths to entrepreneurship, the values that guide their work, and the ways their businesses contribute to stronger, more resilient communities. Each profile offers insight into the leadership, creativity, and commitment required to build and sustain food businesses that serve both local markets and the broader public good.

In the most recent award cycle, Michigan Good Food Fund distributed nearly $300,000 in seed grants to 18 Michigan-based food and farm businesses. These investments extend beyond capital support, recognizing the essential role these enterprises play in strengthening Michigan’s food system, advancing equity, and supporting long-term economic growth.

Among them is Stage One, a community-centered venue anchored by an on-site incubator kitchen that supports startup food businesses, caterers, and culinary entrepreneurs alongside a 100+ seat performance and rental space. Born from a partnership with Sycamore Creek Church’s Eastwood campus and arts- and performance-based community organizations, Stage One was created as a flexible hub for events, gatherings, and creative programming that serve local residents, entrepreneurs, and neighborhood groups. Rooted in collaboration and driven by opportunity, Stage One demonstrates how shared infrastructure can lower barriers, support small business growth, and strengthen the local economy while fostering cultural expression and community connection.

Shared by: Tom Arthur, Stage One at Sycamore Creek Eastwood Incubator Kitchen, Lansing, Michigan

What does being selected as a Seed Award winner mean to you personally, and how does it reflect on the journey of your business so far?

We opened an incubator kitchen to help entrepreneurs start food businesses. We knew the need existed but didn’t know just how big the need was until after we started advertising. This grant will help us expand to buy the equipment to be able double the businesses in our kitchen to four total. It’s great to see this vision for using the kitchen in this old church building find a new life supporting businesses and entrepreneurs.

In what ways will the Seed Award funding support your immediate and long-term business goals?

We will be able to buy more equipment to expand the number of business in our incubator kitchen. This will help us move toward financial sustainability for the entire project at Stage One.

Can you share your vision for the positive changes this award will enable you to make in your business and the broader community?

You can give someone a fish and feed them for a day. You can teach them to fish and feed them for a lifetime. Or you can open up an incubator kitchen and feed an entire community.

What led you to start your business? What motivates you to do what you do?

When Sycamore Creek adopted Asbury [United Methodist Church] they were really struggling just to keep the doors open. When we saw that they had a commercially licensed kitchen, we realized we could share this with entrepreneurs who wanted to start businesses. Our basic motivation is to meet people, learn what the need, and share our stuff for the well being and thriving of the entire community.

If you’d like to stay up to date with Stage One check out their website for more information and a calendar of events and happenings.