At the heart of this movement stands the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation (GRCCT), a collaborative partnership established in 2015 with a mission to cultivate a flourishing city for all people. Today, GRCCT is creating new paths to opportunity by empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and relationships they need to build what matters most to them.
A Vision for Transformation, Rooted in Partnership
GRCCT is rooted in the idea that lasting community change requires a collective effort across sectors, as opposed to isolated initiatives.
“My brother Justin — our founder — was looking at different models that were used to heal and transform cities when he was working on his doctorate, kind of traveling around the world and asking those questions,” explains Nathan Beene, Chief Operating Officer for GRCCT. “What he found was that the organizations doing the most impactful work were these collaboratives, these cross-sector partnerships.”
That insight led to a coalition of seven organizations from both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Under the collective umbrella of GRCCT, these organizations work together to support people in discovering and applying their potential — building an environment where individuals can grow, contribute and thrive.
GRCCT’s approach focuses on four core pillars:
- Enterprise – Supporting entrepreneurship and business ownership as tools for empowerment and wealth-building.
- Career Development – Equipping individuals with the skills and experiences needed to access meaningful work.
- Social Innovation – Encouraging creative solutions to social challenges that center on community voices.
- Leveraged Investment – Aligning financial, social and intellectual capital to make the most impactful change possible.
But what really makes GRCCT stand out is the way the organization is applying these principles on the ground with a framework that propels intentional, coordinated action.
The Birth of the 4C Framework
In their early work with entrepreneurs, the GRCCT team unlocked a key insight: every successful entrepreneur needs support in four areas. This observation, drawn from the group’s own journey and conversations with community members, became the foundation for what is now called the 4C Framework.
During a dedicated strategic planning day, the team formalized what they’d long intuited: to succeed, entrepreneurs need access to:
- Connectors – People who can open doors, make introductions and build relationships.
- Customers – Real paying customers to validate, grow and sustain their business model.
- Capital – Financial resources that match the stage and scale of their vision.
- Coaches – Advisors who offer guidance, accountability and honest feedback.
From this came a fifth, equally vital component: a portfolio manager. This individual acts as the hub of an entrepreneur’s advisory team, making sure all the parts move in sync. They schedule meetings, track progress, manage accountability and ensure that the entrepreneur isn’t navigating the journey alone or piecing together disconnected advice.
As Beene explains, “The portfolio manager is the integrator. They bring the team together, keep it focused and help build momentum. Without someone in that role, things can fall through the cracks.”
Putting the Model into Practice With Thrive + Prosper
In May 2025, GRCCT showcased the 4C Framework at an event co-hosted with Opportunity Ventures, a venture capital initiative of Thrive + Prosper. Around 40 entrepreneurs and 30 advisors attended, and the agenda was straightforward but powerful.
First, attendees were introduced to the 4C Framework and the expectations of each role. Entrepreneurs learned how to articulate what support they needed. Advisors gained clarity on how their unique skills could fit into a team-based approach. Then came networking, informal conversations and a survey to capture deeper insights like preferences, interests, strengths and needs.
The post-event process is where the magic began. Using the data they gathered, GRCCT has been working through the Grand Rapids Entrepreneurial Collaborative to match entrepreneurs with advisors in a way that’s both intentional and personalized.
“You’re not just matching people randomly,” Beene says, describing it as building a team where the right person shows up to support the entrepreneur at exactly the right time.
Reframing the Entrepreneurial Mindset
The impact of this model is already being felt in tangible ways. Beene shared the story of a food entrepreneur who needed specific equipment for her vegan ice cream shop. Those needs were met within days, thanks to the relationships cultivated through the Opportunity Ventures event. The speed and coordination of that support would not have been possible in a typical fragmented business environment.
“We’ve spent years trying to get organizations to collaborate,” Nathan says. “The 4C Framework finally gives us a structure to do it. Everyone has a defined role, and the entrepreneur doesn’t have to start from scratch with every new person.”
In fact, one of the most powerful outcomes of the 4C Framework has been its ability to change the mindset of local Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs). Instead of competing for funding or visibility, ESOs are now collaborating in service of individual entrepreneurs. By focusing on the entrepreneur’s journey instead of institutional metrics, the ecosystem becomes more efficient and effective.
Beene’s passion for this new paradigm is palpable. He describes what they are really building is trust that lets people focus on growing their vision instead of navigating barriers alone. When people feel backed, they move faster, further.
Another key benefit is the reduction in what Beene calls “narrative fatigue” — the frustrating experience entrepreneurs face when they have to re-explain their story and goals to every new support provider. The portfolio manager role helps eliminate that burden on the entrepreneur by creating a single point of coordination.
Scaling the Vision with Collective Support
When asked what motivates GRCCT most, Beene doesn’t hesitate. “It’s the potential we see in the people. If we can unlock that potential — if we can give them the right tools, at the right time, with the right people — there’s no limit to what they can build.”
Looking ahead, he envisions a city where entrepreneurial support is deeply integrated into the fabric of the community. A city where every entrepreneur has a team that sees their potential, understands their vision and helps them move it forward — no matter where they began.
“We’re just getting started,” he says. “We’ve seen the impact on a few entrepreneurs. Now imagine what happens when we scale that. Imagine 100, 200 entrepreneurs being supported like this. That’s how cities change.”
