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The Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference.
Chris Holman speaks with Jennifer Deamud, Board Chair, Michigan Celebrates Small Business, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.
Watch Jennifer and Chris discuss her organization, recent activity and what they are experiencing in 2024, along with what she expected out of the #MPC24, - click play on the YouTube video below.
Michigan Celebrates Small Business recognizes small businesses in all industries whose growth supports Michigan’s economy. Together with our founders, we established a variety of awards to honor the many different ways that small businesses demonstrate excellence across the state.
The 2024 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala, recently took place in East Lansing at the Breslin Center of MSU.
Michigan 50 Companies to Watch
The Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recognizes 50 companies that are high potential, second-stage companies in Michigan. After submitting a nomination, the company will be notified to complete an application.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be considered for selection as one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, the enterprise must meet the following for the year ending 2023.
- Be a privately held, commercial enterprise that has not received the award in the past (not a nonprofit, not publicly traded, not a subsidiary or division of another company).
- Be past the startup stage and facing issues of growth, not survival.
- Employ 6-99 full-time equivalent W-2 employees (including the owner).
- Have between $750,000 and $50M in annual revenue or working capital from either investments or grants.
- Be headquartered in Michigan.
- Demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on:
- Employee or sales growth.
- Sustainable competitive advantage.
- Other notable successes.
Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Awards
The MCSB awardee alumni community is more than 900 companies strong and grows every year. This community represents a substantial amount of the vitality that is foundational to the Michigan economy. MCSB recognizes two previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch awardees each year that best demonstrate the continued success of their alumni community.
Great Place to Work
The Michigan 50 Great Place to Work Award recognizes a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient for increased contributions to its community and for fostering a creative, collaborative workplace culture to enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:
- Be a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient, and have not received this award.
- Be headquartered in Michigan.
- Have increased the number of full-time equivalent W-2 employees since company received the Michigan 50 award.
- Have at least $1.25 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.
- Have significantly contributed to their community: number of volunteer hours devoted to community organization/projects, financial support to families in need or nonprofits, advocate for solutions to root cause problems, etc.
- Demonstrate the intention of continued social responsibility.
- Demonstrate a track record of a creative, collaborative workplace culture.
Strategically Focused Award
The Michigan 50 Strategically Focused Award recognizes a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient that has strategically increased its sales since receiving the Michigan 50 designation to ensure continued sustainability in an ever-changing economy. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:
- Be a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient, and have not received this award.
- Be headquartered in Michigan.
- Have increased the number of full-time equivalent W-2 employees since company received the Michigan 50 award.
- Have at least $1.25 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.
- Demonstrate how they have been strategic in diversifying their products or services to stay relevant in the every changing economy.
- Be able to show sales growth in terms of revenue or sales receipt numbers.
- Demonstrate how you will stay at the higher sales levels.
Veteran Owned Small Business Award
The Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year is a business with at least a 51% ownership share held by a military veteran with a minimum of a “general discharge,” active-duty service member eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists and National Guard members. Proof of service (DD214, NGB-22, or other official proof of service must be submitted before award can be presented). To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:
- Staying power, a history as an established business
- Demonstrate stable number of employees
- Financially stable
- Provide employment opportunities for members of the military community
- Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth
- Have a positive company culture where employees are valued
- Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects
- Voluntary efforts to support veterans directly or issues affecting veterans, including veteran-owned businesses, families of Veterans within the community
Minority-Owned Small Business Award
The Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year is a Michigan business at least 51% owned and run on a daily basis by a member (or collection of members) of four ethnic or racial groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following criteria:
- Staying power, a history as an established business
- Demonstrate stable number of employees
- Financially stable
- Provide employment opportunities for members of the minority community
- Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth
- Have a positive company culture where employees are valued
- Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects
- Voluntary efforts to support minority groups directly or issues affecting minority groups, including minority-owned businesses, minority families within the community
Women-Owned Small Business Award
The Women-Owned Small Business of the Year is a Michigan business at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. Women must be involved in managing the day-to-day operations and making long-term decisions for the business. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following criteria:
- Staying power, a history as an established business;
- Demonstrate stable number of employees;
- Financially stable;
- Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth;
- Have a positive company culture where employees are valued;
- Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects; and
- Voluntary efforts to support women directly or issues affecting women, including women-owned businesses within the community.
Best Small Business Awardees
APEX Accelerators, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and SmartZones are organizations located across the state that provide support services to Michigan small businesses.
Each region of these various support organizations selects a company to be recognized as a Best Small Business Awardee for demonstrating a strong relationship with the organization as well as significant success as a company. You must be a APEX Accelerator, SBDC or SmartZone to submit a Best Small Business Awardee, and each APEX Accelerator, SBDC or SmartZone may only submit one company to be recognized.
SBDC Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated growth as a small business
- Embodiment of the American entrepreneurial spirit
- Strength of the relationship with the SBDC
APEX Accelerator Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated growth through government contracts
- Contributions to the success of the Michigan economy
- Strength of the relationship with the APEX Accelerator
SmartZone Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated growth through technology commercialization
- Success with innovation
- Strength of the relationship with the SmartZone
Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) remains on the forefront of championing small business and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in Michigan. The MCSB’s role is to serve as a catalyst for creating an entrepreneurial culture while inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. The mission of MCSB is to honor and recognize Michigan’s small business people and those champions and advocates that support them. MCSB brings together the resources of collaborative partners and supporters so that they may raise the profile of small businesses in Michigan, build a network of entrepreneurial companies, and tell the stories of successful, growing Michigan entrepreneurs.
How Michigan Celebrates Small Business Began
In 2004, several statewide leaders (now identified as Founders) met to discuss how to recognize, celebrate and cultivate Michigan’s small businesses. The organizations and their original respective leaders at that time period included:
- Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – Carol Lopucki
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) – Penny Stump
- Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) – Rob Fowler
- Small Business Advocate – Chris Holman
- Edward Lowe Foundation – Mark Lange
The leaders decided to bring together the individual small business awards program of their organizations under one robust statewide awards program, Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB). Since inception the intent has been that this program belongs to the state of Michigan, no individual entity. The Founders of MCSB recognized a need for the program to place emphasis on recognition of growth companies. After rigorous brainstorming they identified that an award would be initiated called the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, making the Edward Lowe Foundation the administrator of this component of the MCSB program, adding the foundation as an integral originator of MCSB.
Since the inception of Michigan Celebrates Small Business in 2004 the purpose, mission and vision has remained the same:
Our Purpose:
MCSB brings together the resources of collaborative partners and supporters so that they may raise the profile of small businesses in Michigan, build a network of entrepreneurial companies, and tell the stories of successful, growing Michigan entrepreneurs.
Our Vision Statement:
To make Michigan the State of Entrepreneurship.
Our Mission Statement:
Working together to celebrate Michigan small businesses and to connect and support MCSB alumni.