GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Made for Michigan recently announced Gold Coast Doulas, a Grand Rapids-based full service birth and postpartum doula agency, recently earned its B Corporation certification. Gold Coast is the only B Corp doula business in the world, the 19th B Corp in West Michigan and the 24th in the state. 

“As a locally owned business, we felt it was important to communicate our values of service and sustainability to our clients,” said Kristin Revere, (co-owner) Gold Coast Doulas. “We were founded on giving back and caring for our community, so it just made sense to become a B Corp.” 

“We are thrilled to be a part of the growing B Corp movement and continue to find ways to make a positive impact in West Michigan,” Revere said. 

Certified B Corporations are for-profit companies certified by B Lab. B Lab rates companies based on their ability to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Gold Coast makes a positive impact in many ways including giving time and money generously to charities serving low income women and children, going paperless with contracts in 2017, and reducing their environmental footprint by moving into the Kingsley Building, which is a Silver LEAD certified building. Bazzani Building Company restored the Kingsley Building and was one of the first Michigan B Corps.   

Becoming B Corp Certified has played a big part in the growth of Gold Coast Doulas. We have expanded our team from four subcontracted doulas at the launch to seventeen doulas and two board certified lactation consultants. Our team reflect our values of supporting women and families without judgment.     

“Gold Coast Doulas has always taken an innovative approach to use business as a force for good, which is why we’re so excited that they are now a part of the B Corp Community,” says Alice Jasper, Good For Michigan Program Manager, “It has been an honor to work with them through the certification process. We hope other businesses will be as inspired by their dedication as we are.”   

There are more than 3,214 Certified B Corps from 71 countries and 150 industries. Other West Michigan companies designated as Certified B Corporations include Brewery Vivant, Cascade Engineering,  Atomic Object, The Gluten Free Bar, Highland Group, and Image Shoppe. For more information about B Corps and B Lab visit bcorporation.net or goodfor.org.