Last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared September 20th to 26th to be Michigan Small Business Week. In Michigan, small businesses comprise over 98% of all businesses, and employ roughly half of the state's workers. In Westland, the small business model is alive and kicking as the city celebrated a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at Homestead Kitchen on Tuesday, September 22.

The owner of Westland's newest baked goods shop, Catrina Staats, says she got her start in the baking business at home. A mother of six, Staats says she began baking and selling cakes out of her home, operat...