New Community Transformation Fund

NCTF was established through a partnership with The Right Place, a Grand Rapids-based economic development organization. The fund does not publish a standalone investment committee roster, but named affiliates include Robert B. Kaminski, CEO of Mercantile Bank, and Tina Freese Decker, CEO of Corewell Health, who represent key institutional limited partners likely influencing deal origination and governance.

It invests in early-stage and mid-market succession companies owned or operated by business leaders of color. While the fund frames itself as a venture capital vehicle, the inclusion of succession-stage companies — typically lower-growth, cash-flow-based transactions — suggests a hybrid approach that blends traditional VC with private equity buyout or transition financing within the West Michigan region.

All public statements and partner testimonials confine the investment geography to West Michigan, with specific mentions of Grand Rapids and surrounding Kent County. There is no indication of an out-of-region mandate, positioning NCTF as a single-metro-area investment strategy.

The fund describes its origins as being made possible through a partnership with The Right Place, the primary economic development nonprofit for the Grand Rapids region. The Right Place conceived the fund structure, and NCTF operates as an affiliated investment vehicle, relying on the organization's networks for deal flow and civic credibility.

NCTF does not limit itself to a narrow sector thesis. Its materials reference investing in companies in 'various industries specific to your region,' which implies a generalist approach informed by the existing West Michigan economy: advanced manufacturing, healthcare services, and regional logistics. No specific technology vertical is prioritized.