When the pandemic hit, the entire SBAM team switched gears to support the Michigan small business community. In the past 10 months we have strived to be a reliable, steady resource during times of uncertainty. Thank you for your membership, and for trusting us to be that voice.

We took a look at some of the most-read resources from 2020 and it’s clear that resources related to small business survival (i.e. loans, grants, HR and legal compliance) were what members needed most, including:

• COVID-19 Response & Preparedness Template: If you are not among the nearly 8,000 small business owners that downloaded this, do so now! This document is crucial to helping your business understand the compliance protocols. The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity/MiOSHA will ask to see yours should there be an inspection.
• Small Business Owner’s Guide to Remote Work: This guide outlines best practices for remote work, and includes helpful hints on everything from communication to technology.

In non-COVID related news, SBAM’s Small Biz PAC candidate endorsements were widely studied – and the results showed. Of our 77 endorsements, 73 won their races.

What else did our members want to know more about?

• SBAM’s administration of $3,000,000 in weatherization grants
• SBAM’s comprehensive listing of Michigan sources for all types of PPE

Our advocacy team worked in overdrive this year, reading and researching each Executive Order and Epidemic Order issued. SBAM created a COVID-19 Task Force and created several calls-to-action to help amplify the small business owner voice on issues like Paycheck Protection Program loans and forgiveness, as well as the ability to understand how to stay open safely. We communicated this through The Small Business Briefing, a live broadcast that began daily in March and now airs twice a week.

Here’s a summary of some of SBAM’s efforts on your behalf:

The SBAM team is committed to continuing our support and keeping the success of Michigan small businesses our top priority. We will be with you every step of the way in 2021, covering the latest in vaccine distribution, the new Presidential administration, recently announced Paycheck Protection Program loans and other funding opportunities, and of course the ever-changing small business landscape here in Michigan.

For the latest news, be sure to watch The Small Business Briefing, with hosts Rob Fowler and Brian Calley, every Monday and Thursday at 3pm EST.

Happy New Year!

The Small Business Association of Michigan