Featured photo: Kimberly Coulter is the owner of Keys from Kim LLC and Dekim Property Preservation and Maintenance Corporation. Coulter also has a business in real estate. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Coulter.
Written By Jameca Patrick-Singleton
Kimberly Coulter started her career in education as a school teacher and principal. After finding that her career left little time for her family, she decided to become her own boss and step into the world of entrepreneurship. With that revolution, her businesses Keys from Kim LLC and Dekim Property Preservation and Maintenance Corporation were born. Coulter also has a business in real estate.
The core focus of Coulter’s businesses is building wealth and sustaining wealth. She specializes in everything from real estate to life insurance.
“I help people to purchase their assets and also to protect their assets,” Coulter stated. “It’s so many times people lose their assets.”
As an owner of several small businesses, Coulter began her search for resources early in the process, to strengthen her business by making connections and securing resources. That search led her to the Business Bridge. Business Bridge is a connective resource for small businesses in the Flint community offered through the Flint Genesee Group.
“As a minority entrepreneur in Genesee County you can absolutely be successful,” said Coulter. “There is a supportive system here to help us to succeed. The training through the Business Bridge has been phenomenal and has helped teach me how to gain more visibility for my business.”
Thelma Isabelle agrees wholeheartedly with Coulter. Isabelle started a business online called Honewa Scrubs Apparel in December 2021, selling uniforms, stethoscopes and other medical gear for healthcare workers. In August 2022, she opened a brick-and-mortar site. Like Coulter, Isabelle found the Business Bridge when researching ways to help her business to grow in a healthy manner.
“It’s important to position yourself in a way to be seen and heard,” said Isabelle.
Isabelle stated that participating in the Business Bridge and in the courses that are offered has helped her to gain information about grants, government contracting and more. She said that she has also received certification as a small female-owned business and for the Sams.gov (a federal grant finding system).
“This community program has given me a whole slew of resources, and I’ve met people who I’ve connected with,” said Isabelle. “The best part is that it is all free.”
The Flint & Genesee Business Bridge is an initiative from the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance that aims to help strengthen and support BIPOC-owned small businesses through a variety of resources. This includes a digital directory, which you can access at DevelopFlintandGenesee.org/Business-Bridge.
Kimberly Coulter can be reached at 810-447-4102. Thelma Isabelle can be reached at www.honewamedicalapparel.com or at 3430 S. Linden Rd.
For more information on the Business Bridge contact Sandra Etherly-Johnson at 810-600-1404.
