Helping small businesses grow.

Resources

WMU Business Connection

WMU’s Business Connection is a University office dedicated to strategically match Western Michigan University’s resources to the needs of the local business community. By working together with the numerous resources available on campus, the office serves as a “one-stop shop” for companies that want to engage with the University.

We’re here for business. Whether you are seeking a research partner or want to enlist the help of student groups in developing business plans, the WMU Business Connection can find the resource to help move your business forward. Let us know how we can help you

  • Market your business
  • Develop your concept into a business plan
  • Establish research partnerships with our expert faculty in business, engineering, education, health and human services or other areas.

WMU Business Connection is located in Schneider Hall, home to WMU’s Haworth College of Business. Our location offers access to faculty experts, employment services, the Small Business Development Center, the Business Technology and Research Park, research partners, student project groups, interns, and more, including the Fetzer Center, a professional, full-service conference, meeting and event facility adjacent to the Haworth College of Business.

Contact Information

  • WMU Business Connection
    1903 W Michigan Ave
    Kalamazoo, MI 49008
  • Lisa Garcia
  • Director, WMU Business Connection
  • (269) 387-0950
  • lisa.garcia@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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