Michigan SBDC 2025 Annual Report
The Michigan SBDC is pleased to offer our support services to small businesses in all 83 counties of Michigan. Please join us in celebrating our clients and the impact of our team in this 2025 annual report.
2025 Impact
2025 Client Demographics
Who We Are
For fifteen consecutive years, the Michigan SBDC has exceeded stakeholder impact goals. 2025 was no exception. Despite market forces that challenged many, our organization remained innovative for Michigan’s entrepreneurs. Our “secret sauce” has always been our people: the dedicated consultants who provide expert guidance and the experience needed to turn a business plan into a reality. This year, that human expertise was amplified by our integration of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI). By embracing AI and assisting our clients with the technology, we have helped them work both faster and smarter.
The true heartbeat of the SBDC’s work is found in stories like Peter Wojcik and Anne Hiddema of Shining Sea Fish Co. in Detroit. As a veteran, Peter turned to the Michigan SBDC to help launch his vision for premium smoked fish from the Great Lakes. Through the guidance of SBDC consultant Meri Dembrow, they navigated the complexities of financial modeling and investor readiness. Today, Peter and Anne aren’t just surviving; they are a thriving example of how the right support, at the right time, creates a foundation for generational growth. Their success is our fuel, and it drives our commitment to Michigan’s small business economy.
Looking toward 2026, we are entering a season of deep insight and strategic growth. We are proud to launch the Small Business Scoreboard, an analysis of Michigan small business outcomes and trends to ensure our services remain the gold standard for client impact. As Lansing prepares for a new governor and legislative changes, the Michigan SBDC remains steadfast in telling our story, and our message is clear: the SBDC is essential for Michigan’s economy. Here’s to the next fifteen years of making Michigan the best place to start and grow a small business.
J.D. Collins
CEO | Executive Director
Michigan SBDC
Statewide Teams
Export Team
From identifying and entering new markets to loan packaging and strategic planning, our team of export specialists helps small businesses navigate the world of exporting.
Cybersecurity Team
Our cybersecurity team helps small businesses combat everyday cybersecurity threats through interactive courses, free downloadable resources and expert small business consulting.
Regional Center Teams
With 10 offices across the state, we provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with convenient access to no-cost consulting, training and support services.
Growth Team
Our Growth Team consultants consist of industry experts that service businesses interested in growing or transitioning.
Technology Team
Our Tech Team works with technology businesses throughout the state to bridge the gap between technology development and commercialization.
Introducing your Michigan SBDC 2025 State Star!
Within the Michigan SBDC network, Shannon truly shines. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, her I-69 Trade Corridor team and the network as a whole, tackling every endeavor with an enthusiastic “can-do” spirit. Shannon has a knack for breaking down complex business concepts into clear, actionable steps, empowering owners to make confident decisions and navigate the often uncertain path of entrepreneurship. Her unwavering commitment and remarkable contributions perfectly embody the spirit of a State Star. Congratulations, Shannon!
Partners Supporting the Vision
"Our collaboration with the Michigan SBDC is a cornerstone of our shared success. The partnership helps strengthen the small business ecosystem, empowering Michigan’s entrepreneurs to innovate, create jobs and build prosperous futures."Laketa Henderson, Michigan District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
Michigan has always been a state where innovators and entrepreneurs push the boundaries and achieve the impossible.
"The Michigan SBDC helps Michigan business owners grow, innovate, and create good-paying jobs. Their commitment and support for small businesses makes Michigan a better state for everyone. Let’s keep working together to support entrepreneurs, lower barriers to innovation, and cut red tape. I know we’ll get it done."Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
"The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is a proud partner of the Michigan SBDC! The state’s ‘Make It in Michigan’ economic development strategy is undergirded by a recognition of the central nature of small and medium-sized businesses. By fostering a statewide, collaborative Team Michigan approach that pushes the state toward a more business-friendly environment that fuels startups, unlocks funding, strengthens talent pipelines, sparks industry connections, boosts sales, and helps tech companies scale, we’re proving that when we work together, results don’t just add up—they multiply. No business is small to those who are making payroll, pitching the next customer and putting it all on the line! As we look at new and better ways to deliver a state economy that employs more, profits more, and fuels more entrepreneurial dreams, the MEDC remains committed to supporting our small businesses, their employees, and the local communities that they enrich in all corners of the state."Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
"The Michigan SBDC remains a cornerstone for small business success, driving economic growth and strengthening communities across the state. The GVSU and SBDC partnership, including the West Michigan Region, ensures that local entrepreneurs have the resources and support they need to flourish."Diana Lawson, Ph.D., Dean of the Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University
Contact Us
Connect with us
@michigansbdc
Call Us Toll-Free at 833.522.0025
The Michigan Small Business Development Center (Michigan SBDC) is a statewide network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Association, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Regional Hosts. The statewide host of the MI-SBDC network is the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. The Michigan SBDC is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.