FEBRUARY 2025 | PROGRESS & GROWTH
Building a Strong Foundation for a Sustainable Social Enterprise
Good Soil Café is taking intentional, structured steps to ensure a solid and healthy foundation as we bring this mission-driven café to life. Our goal is to create a sustainable business model that provides meaningful employment, career pathways, and community engagement opportunities for people who were formerly incarcerated. Below is an overview of our progress and the critical milestones ahead.

Design & Construction Timeline
● Green Light from Stewart Beal: We have received approval to move forward with the Design Phase, working directly with Todd Ballou at Focus Design.
● Design Phase Timeline: The design process is expected to take 45 days before moving into construction.
● Construction Timeline: Once construction begins, it is estimated to take 60 days from start to delivery of the café.
● Lease & Rent Projections:
    ○ Stewart Beal provided insights into commercial rent rates in Ypsilanti:
        ■ A property across the street (9509-9549 Ecorse, 4,600 sq. ft.) rents for $14 per sq. ft. triple net, including taxes and insurance.
        ■ 317 Ecorse is priced at $10 per sq. ft., excluding utilities.
    ○ Based on these numbers, the estimated rent for the front building (1,540 sq. ft.) will be approximately $1,540/month using an average rate of $12 per sq. ft. triple net.
    ○ Lease Terms: 5 years.
    ○ Stewart’s Goal: Stewart emphasized that his focus is not on making a profit but ensuring that the financials work sustainably for the nonprofit partnership.
    ○ Crowdfunding Support: Stewart has also expressed a willingness to contribute $10,000 to $20,000 toward a larger crowdfunding campaign to help fund project costs.

Financial Planning & Business Model
● Business Plan Submitted: The Social Enterprise Business Plan has been sent to Stewart Beal for review.
● Draft Monthly Burn Rate Projection: Initial financial projections have been created to estimate monthly operating expenses and ensure long-term sustainability.
● Conducted fixed vs. variable cost analysis to establish a solid financial foundation.
● In process of exploring grant opportunities, fundraising strategies including donors and crowdfunding to support design needs, equipment costs, and operations.

Strategic Partnerships & Community Collaboration
Key relationships are forming to support the success of Good Soil Café. This month:
    ● Zingerman’s Partnership: Ongoing discussions with Ari Weinzweig have opened doors to training opportunities, business insights, and long-term collaboration.
    ● We The People Opportunity Farm: The guiding principles of the farm—cultivating growth, nurturing dignity, and restoring potential—are directly influencing how the café will operate and support its employees.
    ● Social Enterprise Subcommittee: The project was presented to the advisory board, emphasizing that Good Soil Café is being built with intention, structure, and clear phases of development. Their feedback is shaping the next steps.
    ● Building Out Strategic Partnerships: Emails and meetings have been set up with key strategic partners to align goals and create long-term collaborations, including PCAP (Prison Creative Arts Project), A Brighter Way, SPARK East and MISBDC.
    ● Focus Groups & Community Engagement: A framework for focus groups is being developed to gather insights and ensure the café meets the needs of the community and the people it will serve.
    ● Oaklawn Hawthorne Neighborhood Meeting: We will be speaking at the Oaklawn Hawthorne neighborhood meeting on March 11th to introduce the project and engage with local stakeholders.

Operational Planning & Project Management
To keep all project needs organized and on track:
    
    ● Key Roles & Responsibilities Defined: Leadership, operations, and community engagement responsibilities have been outlined to ensure clarity and accountability.
    ● Basecamp has been set up to centralize project management, host documentation, create timelines, and track progress efficiently.

Brand Development & Digital Presence
To establish a strong presence, we have been working on:

    ● Logo Creation: The branding process is underway, with multiple logo concepts developed to reflect the mission and identity of Good Soil Café.
    ● Website Development: The foundation for the website is being built to serve as a hub for information, engagement, and future online fundraising efforts.
    ● Social Media Setup: Accounts are being created to build community engagement and share updates on the progress of Good Soil Café.

Visioning the Space
Beyond the business model, we’ve also brought the physical vision of the café to life:

    ● Envisioned what the space will look, feel, and sound like, ensuring it fosters a welcoming and empowering environment.
    ● Began design and layout discussions to optimize functionality for both employees and customers.
    ● Held collaborative brainstorming sessions to determine branding, artwork, and signage that reflect the mission and values of Good Soil Café.
    ● Writing an inspiring and strategically sound VISION for Good Soil Café that shares the story of the impact the café will have on the community and the people it will serve.

Next Steps: Breaking New Ground
As we move forward, the focus will be on translating vision into action:

    ● Finalize the Social Enterprise Business Plan, outlining impact goals and financial sustainability.
    ● Develop a workforce development roadmap, detailing training programs and career pathways.
    ● Engage local businesses and community members to solidify partnerships and fundraising opportunities.
    ● Kickstart renovations and space design, ensuring that Good Soil Café is built with both function and purpose in mind.