The economy’s sudden downturn has left future entrepreneurs in counties statewide eager to take their business ventures elsewhere.

Isabella County is no exception to the trend, with 15 percent fewer business startups registered with the county clerk’s office over the last few years.

Freshly fermented beer sweats down into little brown bottles.
Some overflows, streaming onto the floor as blackberry ale is packaged for resale.
Foam fills the head of the bottlenecks as six men sit drinking in a circle, slapping purple labels onto each.