Register now to Join the Celebration on May 21st 

Tickets for the 20th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala are available for purchase! Select your seats at the link below for you and your dedicated team to join us in recognition of Michigan small business success:

Same Venue, New Menu

We are thrilled to return to the Breslin Center on May 21 and commemorate the accomplishments of Michigan small businesses! But - we've been hard at work to plan some exciting changes to this year's event. If you've joined us previously, you'll notice new seating options available, a strolling dinner before the Awards Gala, and more!

We'll still be rolling out the red carpet for our small business awardees and toasting entrepreneurship across Michigan - and we look forward to celebrating with you! 

LANSING, Mich. - Small business owners and supporters from across Michigan will gather to celebrate the achievements of companies that make a positive impact and are positioned for continued growth and success, including the 2024 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. The 20th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) Awards Gala will be held on May 21st.

After receiving over 830 nominations for the 2024 awards program, over 85 Michigan small businesses will be recognized for their role in growing the state’s economy and creating jobs. 

A full list of 2024 award recipients can be found at MichiganCelebrates.org.

“As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary of MCSB, we’re reminded of the incredible resilience and innovation within Michigan's small business sector. This year's winners demonstrate the collective entrepreneurial spirit that drives our state's economy forward,” said Jennifer Deamud, MCSB Board Chair. “Congratulations to this year’s awardees. To all the winners, your dedication and leadership inspire us all, proving that success truly is best when shared.”

This year marks a milestone for Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Launched in 2005, the 2024 gala will celebrate two decades of elevating Michigan small businesses, with over 1,000 companies having been honored over the past 20 years.
  
MCSB offers several awards to honor the diverse landscape of small businesses, including the notable Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award. The 2024 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch have made a substantial economic impact, responsible for $414.3 million in total annual revenue during 2023, and projected to increase their revenue by 18% in 2024. Together they provide 1,577 full-time equivalent employees, 1,565 within the state of Michigan, and are projected to create over 339 new jobs in 2024.

The Michigan 50 Companies to Watch must be second-stage companies, defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. The companies must be privately held and headquartered in Michigan. Judges from economic and entrepreneurship development organizations across the state annually select the winners. The judges evaluate the applicants’ demonstration of intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage, and other notable factors that showcase the company's success. 

Other small business awards are presented at the gala, including the Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Awards: Great Place to Work and Strategically Focused, the Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year Award, and the Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year Award. New this year is the Women-Owned Small Business of the Year Award. 

In addition, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) presents the SmartZone Best Small Business awards and the APEX Accelerator Best Small Business awards. The Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) presents the SBDC Best Small Business awards. Best Small Business awards are selected by regional offices for demonstrating significant success in small business growth and community impact.
 
MCSB awardees, guests and small business supporters will gather on May 21st to highlight the importance of small businesses in Michigan and to acknowledge the companies that are creating jobs and growing. The 20th Annual Awards Gala will be held at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, during National Small Business Month, additionally celebrating Michigan’s role in stimulating the national and global economy.
 
Gala tickets start at $125 per person and can be purchased at MichiganCelebrates.org/Tickets.

About Michigan Celebrates Small Business
Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) is a collaboration of trusted statewide founding organizations who offer resources for small businesses. Since 2005, Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards gala has placed a spotlight on how small businesses positively impact our communities and state. The MCSB organization is focused on supporting, promoting and celebrating small businesses in Michigan.

Kinexus Group is the Managing Partner of the Awards Gala. Michigan Celebrates Small Business was founded by the Michigan Small Business Development Center, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Edward Lowe Foundation, Michigan Business Network, and the Small Business Association of Michigan.

About Kinexus Group
Kinexus Group is an organization that invests its time and resources into inspiring positive economic change one person, one business, and one community at a time. For more information, visit Kinexus.org, follow us on Twitter @KinexusGroup or “like” us on Facebook @KinexusGroup.

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