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Michigan Small Business Development Center

The Michigan Small Business Development Center offers expert assistance at no cost to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business. Through personalized, one-on-one business consulting, we help small business owners with planning and growth strategies.

The SBDC enhances Michigan’s economic wellbeing by providing consulting, training and market research for new ventures, existing small businesses and advanced technology companies.

No-cost and low-cost training sessions offer the opportunity to learn more about running and growing your business.

Expanded Support Services During COVID-19

Small businesses in all 83 counties in Michigan will benefit from expanded support services offered through the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC), thanks to CARES Act Funding.

The Michigan SBDC, a statewide nonprofit organization providing free business consulting, training and market research, has expanded its service offering to reflect the needs of small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New services include:

  • 46 additional business consultants to meet the increase in demand for one-on-one consulting support.
  • New partnerships with service providers (website development, marketing, accounting, etc.) who can help businesses weather the effects of COVID-19 and thrive in the future.

The expanded services offered through the Michigan SBDC are available through March 2021 and are complemented by the SBDC’s well-established team of business consultants, offering free, one-on-one support to small businesses in all 83 counties.

The following business support services and guidance are available from the SBDC:

Business Plan Development—Your business plan serves as an important roadmap for developing your business. Our consultants are available to meet with you and review your plan to ensure it’s realistic and complete.

Market Research—Market research will help you understand where your audiences—and industry competitors—are so you can effectively market your business online and offline.

Raising Capital—SBDC specialists are a helpful resource for understanding the range of loans, grants and financing options available to you. Their extensive experience in accounting and banking can benefit you in many ways.

Business Workshops—Our no-cost and low-cost training sessions offer the opportunity to learn more about running and growing your business. From securing financing to writing a business or marketing plan to using social media effectively, numerous workshops are offered across the state.

Technology Commercialization—We help entrepreneurs bridge the gap between technology development and commercialization. Our Tech Team consists of consultants with a proven track record, focusing on three key areas: access to capital, access to resources, and strategic planning and execution. If you’re a technology company, we’d love to connect you with the resources you need.

Financial Management—Our Financial Management Analysis program is a one-on-one, confidential counseling process designed to strengthen your financial literacy and improve your ability to access capital.

Export Strategy—If you’re targeting an increase in export sales for your business, our SBDC Export Specialist Team includes experienced counselors with Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and Small Business Administration (SBA) international business certifications.

Strategic Planning—Our business consultants can help you design growth strategies and make solid business decisions to realize your goals. Our strategic planning services will help you optimize business performance and put you on the road to success.

Contact Information

  • Michigan Small Business Development Center
    WMU Haworth College of Business
    3110 Schneider Hall, 3rd Floor
    Kalamazoo, MI 49008
  • Tamara Davis
  • Regional Director
  • (269) 387-6004
  • tamara.j.davis@wmich.edu

Sponsored by the City of South Haven, South Haven Chamber of Commerce, and Lake Michigan College.

Congratulations to Gregory Shelton of Grand Unique Laundry for receiving his first loan through Northern Initiatives. With help from his SCORE mentor, Cheri Bales, Gregory did a fantastic job on developing his business plan and showing real entrepreneurial spirit. We wish you much success, and look forward to your upward movement. You are a wonderful role model.

—Gregory Shelton of Grand Unique Laundry

I appreciate your ears for listening, your eyes that see my vision and your heart that makes you who you are.  I thank you for your time. You are making a difference.

—Shawntel Lindsey, Director, The Artbor Community Connections Center

The WMed Innovation Center is a perfect environment for innovation to grow and become a successful commercial enterprise.

—Client

WMU Business Connection logo

Whether you are seeking a research partner or want to enlist the help of student groups in developing business plans, or just looking for ways to engage with WMU, the Business Connection office can find the resource to help move your business forward.

—Mentor

A loan (from Local Initiatives Support Corporation) helped expand our cafe to triple our seating, add a kids space, increase much needed staff work areas, and make other improvements to the space.

—Krystal

MEL logo

The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) is the State of Michigan’s digital library. It has excellent resources available to Michigan residents at no cost.

—Owner

Western Michigan University’s Starting Gate helped me take an idea and transform it into a much more attainable reality. Whether providing talks with investors and business owners or accountability, the ultimate goal is helping your business succeed.

—Peter Shutt

Kalamazoo County Land Bank logo

The Kalamazoo Land Bank did robust community engagement around the vision and gave us something to work with that was solidly desired by people in the neighborhood. Having a vision meant we had to protect it. That’s something I thank the Land Bank for. It was difficult. It didn’t make anything faster or easier, but we got a better project in the end as a result of it.

—Matt Hollander

Buy Local logo

Buy Local Greater Kalamazoo is a hard working grassroots group focused on the greater Kalamazoo community and its small businesses. Their events and networking opportunities are the best!

—Cheri Bales

SBDC logo

Michigan SBDC is a great company providing top notch service to local businesses all over Michigan. The consultants are professional and the student workers contribute with excellent work!

—Martin Herman Sorensen

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