It's becoming a national mantra that small business drives local economic development, and in that spirit, the
U.S. Small Business Administration has created a small business outreach tour that will travel all over the state in August and September--including stops in the local area.
The SBA Small Business Outreach Tour is co-hosted by the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center. It begins in Mt. Pleasant Aug. 10 and ends in Detroit Sept. 30. It will stop in Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor on Aug. 25.
The goal of the tour is to connect small business owners with help and resources to keep afloat, reshape, develop or start their businesses.
"The tour is a coalition of small business resources working in collaboration to provide information and assistance that directly impacts small businesses and their opportunity for business expansion," says Gerald Moore, district director for SBA's Michigan office. "Each day's program is intended to highlight the resources available through the federal, state, and local agencies, as well as business organizations. The concept of bringing resource providers to local communities of small business owners is a dynamic way to foster economic development in Michigan."
The topics, from experts and small business owners, will include exporting, financing, government contracting, social media, human capital, financial management, and success stories.
In Kalamazoo the event will be from 8 a.m. till noon at the 2100 Schneider Hall, Haworth College of Business on the campus of Western Michigan University. The stop in Benton Harbor from 2 p.m. till 5: 30 p.m. will be in Room 1304 at Western Michigan University Southwest, 2785 E. Napier Ave.
Other tour stops are as follows: Mt. Pleasant, Aug. 10; Saginaw, Aug. 11; Flint, August 11; Marquette, Aug. 16; St. Ignace, Aug. 17; Gaylord, Aug. 18; Traverse City, Aug. 19; Grand Rapids, Aug. 24; Ann Arbor, Aug. 30; Clinton Township, Sept. 13; Waterford, Sept. 19; Lansing, Sept. 27; and Detroit, Sept. 30.
The sessions are free, but seating is limited.
Registration is online.
Writer: Issue Media Group
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