I also helped reauthorize and expand the Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) program, a $1 billion government effort to use small
high-tech businesses to develop and commercialize technologies.
This page is intended to assist small businesses find resources and
help establish and run successful enterprises by compiling useful small
business web pages. Use the links below to find the information you
need.
For small business resources in Michigan the following links may be
useful:
SBA Michigan District
Office
SBA's Detroit district office supports the formation and growth of
small business throughout the State of Michigan. The office concentrates
on four primary functions, advocacy, procurement, business development
and financial assistance.
Procurement Technical
Assistance Center (PTAC) Michigan
PTAC provides government contract and export assistance to all
business types in a 14-county service area that includes the following
counties: Barry, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta,
Montcalm, Newaygo, Muskegon, Oceana, Osceola and Ottawa.
Michigan Department of Career
Development
Job training opportunities in Michigan.
Michigan Economic Development
Corporation
Information about doing business in Michigan, including statistics,
tax free zones, links to other economic development agencies.
Michigan Small Business Development
Center
Michigan's SBDC provides programs to assist small businesses in
Michigan, including the Minority Entrepreneur Business Development
Program. SBDC is a good place to start when seeking small business
counseling and advice.
Northern Initiatives
(NI)
Small business micro lender in Upper Peninsula.
Business Law
Helps small businesses find, understand, and comply with the federal,
state, and local laws and regulations that impact their operations.
The U.S. Small Business
Administration helps America's entrepreneurs form successful small
enterprises. SBA's program offices in every state offer financing,
training and advocacy for small firms. In addition, the SBA works with
thousands of lending, educational and training institutions nationwide.
The U.S.
Small Business Administration's Small Business Startup Kit
Office of
Advocacy
The voice for small business in the federal government and the source
for small business statistics. SBA's advocacy page is intended to help
with the initial research that enterpruners should engage in when
planing their small business. For more research information go to the SBA page on
research.
SBA
Training
SBA offers training through numerous venues such as: workshops,
seminars and courses -- many are free.
This page will assist firms conducting innovative research and
development projects or firms that are pursuing new technology, to find
important procurement, technical assistance and financing in research
and other high tech oriented resources.
Small Business Innovation
Research Program (SBIR)
SBIR is a highly competitive program that encourages small business
to explore their technological potential and provides an incentive to
commercialize research. By including qualified small businesses in the
nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the
United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific
research and development needs.
National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST)
NIST offers a broad base of initiatives and technical expertise to
maximize its impact on R&D and technology commercialization.
Manufacturing extension partnership (MEP) http://www.mep.nist.gov/ Assists
small manufacturers by improving productivity, strengthening
competitiveness, and increasing profits.
The Small Business Association of
Michigan (SBAM)
This association runs the Michigan High Tech
Business Development Program. The Small Business Association of
Michigan (SBAM) operates the Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC)
under the auspices of its Small Business Foundation of Michigan (SBFM).
Funded in part by a grant from the Michigan Jobs Commission, the EDC
provides training, counseling and resources to help Michigan small
business entrepreneurs create and profitably expand their
businesses.
Michigan Small Business Development
Center
The MSBDC network provides a full range of services for a variety of
small businesses that are emerging and growing throughout Michigan. They
help with counseling, training, research and advocacy.
8(a) Business Development and
Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program
While the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to socially
and economically disadvantaged firms, SDB certification strictly
pertains to benefits in Federal procurement. Companies which are 8(a)
firms automatically qualify for SDB certification.
Native eDGE
Native eDGE (economic Development Guidance and Empowerment) is an
interagency initiative of the Federal Government to facilitate
sustainable economic development within American Indian and Alaska
Native communities.
The Michigan Minority Business
Development Council (MMBDC)
MMBDC is a privately funded, non-profit, small business development
organization which works to enhance business opportunities and
educational development.
These links are designed to help women create and run their own
businesses.
Center for Empowerment and Economic
Development (CEED)
The women's initiative for Self-Employment Program began in 1987 as a
means to provide low-income women with the tools and resources they need
to begin and expand businesses. The WISE Program provides a
comprehensive package of business training, personal-development
workshops, credit counseling, startup and expansion financing, business
counseling, peer-group support and mentoring.
Grand Rapids Opportunities for
Women (GROW)
GROW offers long-term training and counseling and also provides
training in economic self-sufficiency and asset building through its
Individual Development Account program. GROW is also actively involved
in providing training for home-based day-care providers in business
management and setting up financial management systems.
Women's
Business Development Centers
Each women's business center provides assistance and/or training in
finance, management, marketing, procurement and the Internet, as well
addressing specialized topics such as home-based businesses, corporate
executive downsizing and welfare-to-work.
The Tibbetts
Awards - named after Roland Tibbetts who spearheaded the
establishment of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program -
are presented annually to small technology firms which have achieved
excellence under the SBIR program. A winner from each state is selected
every year by criteria such as the economic impact of the technological
innovation, overall business achievement, and demonstration of effective
collaborations. I have nominated an outstanding Michigan high-technology
company each year to be recognized for its contributions to the SBIR
program, for creation and innovation.
See the list of the latest
Tibbetts Award winners.
