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SCORE Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan

SCORE is a nationally recognized volunteer arm of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Starting and growing a small business can be challenging, but you don’t have to go it alone. Your SCORE mentor will be there to answer questions, connect you with resources and offer guidance throughout the life of your business. SCORE mentors are volunteers, meaning they give their time freely to help business owners like you thrive. They are committed to the success of your business – and because they are all leaders in their fields, SCORE mentors deliver expert advice.

SCORE is composed of entrepreneurs, executives and high level managers, who want to strengthen the economic core of our community by sharing their own business expertise with:

  • Individuals who want to start a business or non-profit
  • Individuals who want to grow a business or non-profit
  • Individuals struggling and need some sound business advice
  • Individuals who just have a business question or need to explore an idea

Serving Southwestern Michigan, the Kalamazoo Chapter of SCORE started in 1975 including a branch in Benton Harbor. We have over 30 mentors with over 30 different backgrounds. We provide one-on-one counseling in Kalamazoo, Portage, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, South Haven, Battle Creek, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Albion, Marshall, and Coldwater. These sessions are always at no charge. We also sponsor a series of useful workshops for the benefit of our clients at a modest charge.

Since SCORE was founded in 1964, we have educated more than 11 million established and aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, our 10,000+ expert volunteers provide business mentoring and education in more than 250 chapters in 1,500 communities nationwide, empowering local business owners, boosting regional economies and growing the larger American economy.

Prospective entrepreneurs with a mentor are five times more likely to start a business – and small business clients who receive 3+ hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased business growth.

In 2019 alone, SCORE mentors helped start 29,681 new businesses and create 97,387 new jobs. In the same year, we also helped 67% of our clients to increase their revenue. Find your own mentor to become our next success story!

Contact Information

  • SCORE Kalamazoo/Southwest Michigan
    1126 Gull Rd, Ste B
    Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Thank you so much for the help. This wouldn’t have been possible without you. Am very grateful for your help and support and all the encouragement and positive vibes. God bless you!

—Isa Clark

I appreciate all that you do to support small businesses in the region. You are knocking it out of the park!

—Sonja A. Dean, Senior Program Officer, LISC

Thank you so much for your help and direction! Thank you so much for always being here for me to help, motivate, direct, and encourage me. Underground Hu$tle would really be nonexistent if it weren’t for you!  Thank you so much for being you and everything you continue to do.

—Jäquil Short

We look forward to seeing more programing and resources from the South Haven Region Business Hub.

—Josh Musinski, Water and Wheat, Vegan Chef Crafted Creations

WE GOT APPROVED FOR OUR NEW RESTAURANT!!! I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, mentorship, expertise, and motivation. We greatly appreciate your efforts towards the growth of Fruit Street Kitchen!

—Mo’Nique Crowley, Fruit Street Kitchen

Thank you for all your help as always I can’t sing your praises enough.

—Brent Wedding, Business Banking Relationship Manager, PNC Bank

I do appreciate your help with all my heart and am not particularly sure how to express the gratitude that dwells in my heart right now. Thank you and may you be blessed always!

—Isa Clark, Clark Special Kitchen

Can’t thank you enough for being at my presentation this morning. I’m so thankful for absolutely everything you have done for me and The Donut Cart thus far. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!

—Amber Gille, Realtor, The Donut Cart

Thank you so much; I knew when I met you, you were like an angel. I appreciate you so much and I won’t let you down. Your hard work in what you are doing in the community is appreciated.

—Jamie Bigby, Entrepreneur

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing so much information. I look forward to being able to be involved in this great networking experience. I really will call on your assistance for help with this Business Plan.

—Joanna Partee, Silver Fox Assistant, LLC

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South Haven Region Business Hub - A partnership between the City of South Haven, the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce, and Lake Michigan College. Powered by the South Haven Community Foundation.