Chris Holman welcomes back JD Collins Michigan SBDC CEO | State Director, Grand Rapids, MI.

Watch J.D. and Chris discuss small business and the upcoming Michigan Celebrates Small Business Gala celebration set for Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in this YouTube video shared below:

JD Collins Michigan SBDC CEO | State Director, Grand Rapids, MI.

Chris: 

Please tell me about the Michigan SBDC and its role in Michigan’s small business ecosystem?

JD:

• Expert, no-cost business consulting services for entrepreneurs looking to start, grow or sell their businesses

• The Michigan SBDC is here to support small businesses every step of their way on their entrepreneurial journeys

• Clients range from solopreneurs to second-stage companies to technology companies 

• Ten Regions, Growth Team, Tech Team

• Services include:

• Accessing capital

• Business education & training

• Business plan development

• Cybersecurity

• Export assistance

• Financial analysis

• Growth & strategic planning

• Market research

• One-on-one consulting

• Tech commercialization

• In 2022, served more than 8,500 clients, 34% were minority-owned and 50% women-owned; 517 new businesses supported and 2,200 jobs created

• Funded by / made possible with the support of our partners

• Small Business Administration

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation

• Statewide - Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business

• Regional hosts

• Visit michigansbdc.org; follow us on social media

Chris:

Please tell me about the Michigan SBDC’s partnership with Michigan Celebrates Small Business, and tell me a little bit about the event?

J.D.:

• One of the founding organizations 19 years ago

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation

• Small Business Association of Michigan

• Edward Lowe Foundation

• Michigan Small Business Development Center

• Michigan Business Network

• Small Business Administration - Michigan District

• Annual Gala Tuesday, May 2 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing

• State’s largest awards program for small business

• Designed to give nominees and awardees from across the state access to services that support their effort to increase economic progress within their communities

• Award categories

• Michigan 50 Companies to Watch and Distinguished Alumni Awards

• Small Business Person of the Year

• Veteran Owned Business

• Minority Owned Business

• Best Small Businesses

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