| 10681 - Need Help Starting a Small Business in the Lansing, Michigan Metropolitan Area? | 20/12/2005 - 15:43:09 |
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Directory of Organizations Providing Assistance to Small Businesses and People Interested in Starting Small Businesses in the Lansing, Michigan Metropolitan Area
For additional ideas, see Business Development Funding.
The Business and Technology Center at The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management (Michigan State University) provides information on starting a business, venture capital, and technology licensing. For more information, contact Brad Shaw at (517) 355-2186. Ask for extension number four. URL Address: http://www.bus.msu.edu/venture/btc.html.
The City of Lansing's Economic Development Corp., a quasi-governmental agency, provides counseling, helps draft business and financial plans, assists with site locations, makes referrals for employment and training services, and can serve as a business advocate with other city agencies. Operates a small business loan program that can loan up to $50,000 for businesses located on Washington Square, between the 100 N. block & the 500 S. block. Also, operates a façade improvement grant program for the same area, with grants up to $5,000. For manufacturers and non-profits with a financing need of $750,000 or more, the Lansing EDC can offer tax-exempt financing options as well. For more information, contact Manager Patricia Cook, Economic Development Corporation, 309 N Washington, Ste 16, Lansing, MI 48933, or call 483-4140.
The Enterprise Group of Jackson offers assistance to small business owners in areas of government procurement and export help. It is one of 12 nonprofit Michigan Technical Assistance Centers in the state and does not charge for consultations. Provides specialized help for becoming a vendor with the state and federal governments. For more information, contact Director Pennie Southwell, 133 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, 49201, at (517) 788-4680.
The International Business Center at Michigan State University offers training and counseling programs for small businesses seeking to market goods in other countries. For more information, contact 353-4336.
Ingham County Economic Development Corporation helps businesses find sites and buildings and helps finance business expansions. It maintains a data base of non-retail businesses in the county. Staffers from the Ingham County Department of Development also help coordinate public assistance for construction and expansion. Additional services: referrals for employment and training; help for new and expanding companies finding workers; data on local communities; census information and aerial photos of th county; and referrals to other economic development organizations. Contact: Director Edward Grobe, 121 E. Maple, Mason 48854. Or call (517) 676-7210.
Ingham Intermediate School District Business Resource Group provides human resource and training needs, including pre-employment assessment, customized training to prepare new and current employees, and out placement services to assist employees in transition. On-site customized training available. The center, operated by a 22-member staff working in career planning and placement, is funded by the Michigan Job Commission, Michigan Works and employer contributions. For more information, contact Director Bob Thelen, at 244-1310.
The Lansing Community Micro-Enterprise Fund helps people start or expand small businesses in distressed communities by providing business training, small loans, networking opportunities and one-on-one mentoring. Publications include: Brochure | Loan Flier For more information, contact Denise Peek, Executive Director, Lansing Community Microenterprise Fund, 520 W. Ionia, Lansing, MI 48933; call (517) 485-4446; fax: (517) 485-4761; e-mail: lancomme@tir.com..
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce URL address: http://www.lansingchamber.org/. The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with SBDC, LCC, SCORE, MI-SBDC recently opened the Biz Resource Center or "BRC". It is designed as a one stop shop for anyone seeking information on opening a business in the Lansing metropolitan area. Provides information on starting a business, writing business plans, local demographics, start up funding, etc. via computer as well as via a small book collection. For more information contact Lena Jones, Director of Small Business, at (517) 487-6340 ext 42. You can also stop by at Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, 300 E Michigan Ave, Suite 300, Lansing, MI 48933. Appointments prefered, but not necessary. URL: Lansing Chamber of Commerce Small Business Guide.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation URL address: http://medc.michigan.org/.
Minority Tri-County Business Association, 115 W. Allegan, serves as a clearinghouse for services available for minority business owners. It arranges mentoring, referrals and training sessions in conjunction with other area agencies. For more information, contact Deborah Robertson at 367-2269.
Old Town Commercial Association helps coordinate a community downtown preservation project and operates a loan pool, which funds certain improvements in Old Town. For more information, contact 485-4283 or send an e-mail to oldtown@oldtownmainstreet.org.
SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, links veteran business people with startup business owners seeking free advice. A joint service of the Small Business Administration and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, it is located in the chamber office. Counseling sessions are free, and can take place at the chamber offices or at one's business. For more information, contact 487-6340.
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers a variety of loan guarantee programs for collateral-shy small businesses. The programs include SBA 504 Program with long-term, fixed-rate financing for public-private partnerships; a 7(a) Guaranty Program made by private lenders guaranteed up to 80 percent by the SBA; a Micro Loan Program for short-term loans of up to $25,000 for new purchases; and the Low Documentation Loan program designed to speed loan approvals on requests under $100,000. For more information, call the SBA offices in Detroit at (313) 226-6075.
The Small Business Administration also offers a Minority Pre-Qualification Loan Program for minority-owned businesses traditionally hard-pressed to secure credit. The program uses selected nonprofit organizations to screen and counsel applicants and present streamlined credit applications for loans up to $250,000. For more information, contact The Michigan Minority Business Development Council at (313) 873-3200.
Small Business Association of Michigan, 222 N. Washington Square, Lansing. Provides advocacy for small business operators in the state and national capitals. For its members, the group offers health and life insurance, discounts on courier services and a merchant credit card program, among other services. Questions about starting and maintaining a small business can be made directly to the 'Answer Man,' a weekly telephone call-in program operated by the association. Dee Smith, director of the regional Small Business Development Center at LCC, operates phone lines on Wednesdays between 8:30a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Contact: 482-8788, or 1-800-362-5461. He can also be reached at the SBAM Home Page : http://www.sbam.org. The Answer Man Online will respond to individual questions and post answers to those of general interest. Anyone who submits a question will enter a weekly drawing to win a free copy of The Start Up Guide-A One-Year Plan for Entrepreneurs by David H. Bangs, Jr. The association also sponsors a continuing, three-part series of classes on starting one's own business at Lansing Community College. Classes are held mornings on alternate weeks. There is a minimal charge. For details and times, contact SBAM marketing director Doug Carr at 1-800-362-5461 or 517-482-8788.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce publishes The Small Business Resource Catalog, a collection of published reports and business and employee development programs. The catalog is free and available by calling (888) 872-2724.
The U.S. Business Advisor,an electronic link for current data assisting small businesses, is available through the U.S. Small Business Administration at http://www.business.gov. (Last checked 02/21/03)
The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission provides business and market planning assistance to start-up businesses. Makes available demographic information, such as radius studies, maps, aerial photos, environmental information, traffic counts, wage information, population projections and industrial site information. The commission also publishes a directory each October called The Region on the Move. It lists regional agencies and departments that provide expertise in training financing and government assistance. For more information, contact the commission's web site at http://www.tri-co.org or call the Director, Jon W. Coleman, at 393-0342.
Similar information appears from time to time in the Lansing State Journal, Business Monday Extra supplement.
Original Location: http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/smallbus.htm |
Jon Harrison