The Weaver's Nest | Application Preview
The Weaver's Nest seeks government funding to support its operations aimed at reducing isolation among differently abled individuals. Funds will cover retail shop rent, payroll for part-time weavers, and necessary weaving supplies.
The business plan emphasizes the first year as critical for building a clientele, focusing on employing differently abled adults who can only work limited hours. These artisans will receive above minimum wage for their work. The organization plans to generate additional revenue through weaving parties and selling rugs and supplies, expecting around $9,000 from these activities annually. Marketing efforts will include local advertising, social media outreach, and community events to attract both paying and non-paying clients.
The Weaver's Nest stands out due to its commitment to fostering inclusivity through its innovative approach, which involves both differently abled and neurotypical individuals in the weaving process. With a strong advocacy for accessibility, underscored by the president’s experience at the University of Notre Dame, the organization aims to create an equitable community.
While their main competition is Ability Weavers in Lowell, Michigan, the Nest's local focus, above-minimum wage policy for their weavers, and unique community-interactive model position them favorably in the marketplace. Importantly, there are currently no local shops offering weaving supplies, allowing The Weaver's Nest to fill a significant gap in the community.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 802996428
Location: Niles, MI, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
These funds will be used for rent of a retail shop (estimated between $500 and $1,000 per month. In addition, payroll expenses for the first year are anticipated to be around $7,000. Weaving supplies, including materials used in the rugs and tools and storage will use the remaining funds.
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Business Plan
The first year after launching our facility will be key to developing clientele. This includes our weavers, who will be paid above minimum wage for up to six hours per week. These are differently abled adults who may not be able to hold full-time jobs and who are isolated from the general community. In addition to our non-paying clientele, we will be hosting weaving parties, for which people will pay for lessons and weaving time. We anticipate that will bring in around $9,000 per year. We will also be selling rugs and weaving supplies to the general public. In order to bring in our clientele (paying and nonpaying), we will advertise on local news, Facebook and other social media, as well as hosting an open house, sending out donation requests, and working with other autism-related businesses to spread the word of our facility. The Weaver's Nest, a dedicated 501(c)3 organization, is an exemplary candidate for funding to support our innovative program aimed at reducing isolation among differently abled individuals. The Nest’s unique approach of employing differently abled and having as volunteers neurotypical (generally autistic) individuals to weave rugs in a public storefront setting fosters an inclusive environment where community members from diverse backgrounds come together. What sets The Weaver's Nest apart is not only our commitment to reducing isolation among differently abled adults, but also our strong advocacy for accessibility and inclusivity, as demonstrated by the president's background in championing accessibility at the Univ. of Notre Dame. The passion of every person involved in this program is palpable; we are driven by the shared goal of building a truly neurodivergent and neurotypical community, where all are welcomed and treated equitably.
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Self Identified Competition
The only competitor we know of is Ability Weavers of Lowell, Michigan. This is a weaving facility hiring differently abled adults and selling weaving supplies, much as we will be doing. Lowell, Michigan is two hours away. There are no local weaving supply shops, either. The closest is over an hour away in northern Indiana. While autism resources exist, we believe we will be the first in this area to hire differently abled adults to weave and to involve neurotypical adults as volunteers and fellow weavers. The Weaver's Nest is different in that we will pay our autistic weavers an above-minimum wage to weave and sell their rugs. We will be "out in the open" where all kinds of people are invited in to weave, buy rugs or supplies, and eventually interact with our employees.
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Contact Applicant
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