Michigan SBDC In the News
Please see below for a list of recent media and press mentions of the MI-SBDC


Have you visited Michigan’s sweet “Best Small Business” for 2023?
March 17, 2023 | by Laura Hardy
There’s something special about being a supporter of a local business. Not only do you get the satisfaction of knowing you’re potentially helping a family in your own community, if you’re like me you might make friends out of them as you continue to frequent their business. You build a relationship that makes our community special, while also keeping money in our Michigan economy.


Bay City’s Barney’s Bakehouse Bakery named among Michigan’s ‘Best Small Businesses’
March 17, 2023 | by Heather Jordan
BAY CITY, MI — The Michigan Small Business Development Center has named Bay City’s Barney’s BakeHouse Bakery among Michigan’s “Best Small Businesses.”


Smaller banks, startups focus on diversification in wake of bank collapses
March 17, 2023 | by Nike Manes
Customers line up outside Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., on March 13, after the collapse of the bank prompted federal regulators to make moves to contain the fallout in the U.S. banking system.



DBusiness Daily Update: Best Michigan Small Businesses to be Honored at May 2 Gala
March 16, 2023 | by Tim Keenan and RJ King
Eleven Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) clients will receive Best Small Business awards at the 19th Annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala May 2, at the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.


Small Business Impact & Issues in Michigan
March 14, 2023 | by MI Business Matters
Wendy Block – Senior VP of Business Advocacy & Member Engagement at the Michigan Chamber, is joined by J.D. Collins – CEO & Director of the Michigan Small Business Development Center and Lorri Rishar – Owner & CEO of Edge Partnerships. They explore the massive impact small businesses play in our communities and economy, touch on the biggest trends/changes and challenges/opportunities facing small businesses now, and share some of the resources can help small businesses face these challenges!



Pitch competition to help jumpstart West Michigan food and beverage startups
March 13, 2023 | by Abby Poirier
A group of state and West Michigan partners are teaming up to hold a pitch competition for food and beverage businesses looking for support to start or scale their operations.



Michigan Microbusiness Coalition Launches to Support Startups and Small Ventures
March 7, 2023 | by R.J. King
The New Economy Initiative (NEI) and Michigan Municipal League (MML) Foundation today announced the formation of the Michigan Microbusiness Coalition.



Change-Ups: Business Services
February 3, 2023 | by Business Journal Staff
The Michigan Small Business Development Center promoted Beth Roszatycki to chief client services officer.


Ongoing wave of entrepreneurship continues to grow in Michigan
January 30, 2023 | by Gina Joseph
Mario Kiezi remembers as a boy when Oakland Mall in Troy was like New York City, especially during the holidays and special events, and it’s that spirited and jovial environment that he plans to redevelop as its new owner.


Iaso Therapeutics Announces First Close in $1.25M Equity Series Seed Preferred Financing
January 26, 2023 | by Shantel
Iaso Therapeutics, a Michigan State University startup developing novel technologies for next-generation vaccines, recently closed the first tranche of the company’s $1.25M Series Seed Preferred round of financing.


Downtown Manistee could see boutique hotel in 2024.
January 25, 2023 | by Kyle Kotecki
Hotel creators plan to bring ‘back a piece of history’


Refill U.P. helps residents kick the plastic habit.
January 5, 2023 | by Rosemary Parker
The world is awash in plastic waste, and a new business in the Upper Peninsula is tackling that pervasive environmental problem one day, one person, one shower or one load of laundry at a time.


Kildee secures federal funds for 15 mid-Michigan community projects and Flint registry
December 23, 2022 | Press Release
Bipartisan Government Funding Bill Will Create Jobs, Help Grow Mid-Michigan’s Economy.


Checklist for owners looking to maintain their customer base
December 22, 2022 | by George Fotis
As a prior owner of a national uniform business with a huge customer base, the end of the year was always a very busy time for our sales and marketing team.


New Washtenaw County program offers $5,000 grants, business growth programs for microbusinesses
December 21, 2022 | by Brooke Marshall
In January, a new Washtenaw County program will allow microbusiness owners to apply for a $5,000 grant and a spot in one of five business growth programs.


Comfort foods so the average guy off the street could enjoy
December 12, 2022
Kalamazoo County’s first all-vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free restaurant opens in Portage.


Eagle Mine and MTU Partner for EV Battery Recycling Innovation and Climate Sustainability
December 5, 2022
CHAMPION, MI – On November 16, the Biden Administration announced a $74 million funding package to advance domestic battery recycling and reuse that will strengthen the nation’s battery supply chain.


‘Shark Tank’ to Feature Traverse City-based Lighting Company Action Glow
November 17, 2022
The founders of Action Glow, a Traverse City-based marketer and manufacturer of aftermarket, low profile, and lightweight lighting systems for the action sports enthusiast, will appear on ABC-TV’s reality show “Shark Tank” Friday at 8 p.m.


Marketing Business Network Channel: Automated ordering systems are both good and bad news for fast-food workers
November 4, 2022
Robo-ordering has come to a Checkers drive-through in Kalamazoo. The restaurant on Drake Road in Kalamazoo recently installed a voice-activated drive-through ordering system.


Traverse City Record: SBDC clients earn grants
October 12, 2022
GRAND RAPIDS — Michigan Small Business Development Center TechTeam clients GEKOT Inc., Mouvit and Nimbus earned a total of $185,000 in grants from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform.


Nerdwallet: 5 Ways Small Business Can Offset High Gas Prices
September 23, 2022
Financial forecasting and energy efficiency improvements can help small businesses save money, regardless of how gas prices change.


MiBiz: Pandemic creates ‘sense of urgency’ for succession planning
September 11, 2022
Amid its many strains on companies, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have prompted more owners to think about the future and eventually pass a family business down to the next generation.



Traverse City Record Eagle: Webinar on rising tensions slated
August 24, 2022
The Michigan Small Business Development Center will hold a webinar on the rising tensions between businesses and customers Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to noon.



DBusiness: Webinar to Address Rising Tensions Between Entrepreneurs and Customers
August 24, 2022
Small business owners and the general public are invited to a one-hour, no-cost MI-SBDC webinar at 11 a.m. Aug. 25 to discuss rising tensions between entrepreneurs and customers.


Leaders, Organizations & Stakeholders Applaud Peters for Leading Historic Law to Stabilize USPS and Promote Long-Term Sustainable Service
July 8, 2022
DETROIT, MI – Officials representing key organizations and stakeholders in Michigan and across the country are applauding U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, for leading historic, bipartisan reforms to set the United States Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country.


Entrepreneurship growth slows amid economic challenges
June 24, 2022
After a year that saw unprecedented growth in new small businesses in the state, that growth is being hampered by a series of economic anomalies this year.


Nerdwallet: How to Tell if Free Business Software Will Cost You
June 10, 2022
“There’s an advantage in paying upfront and trying to find the right solution that can meet the business’s needs where they’re at, but also where they’re expecting to go,” says Joni Krolczyk, senior business consultant at the Michigan Small Business Development Center.


MI Tech News: 32 SBDC Clients And SBDC Southeast Region Earn Recognition
May 17, 2022
Thirty-two small businesses that worked with the SBDC took the stage for awards ranging from “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” to “Best Small Businesses” and more.


Gov. Whitmer Announces New Data Showing Record Small Business Growth
May 16, 2022
“The entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in Michigan,” said J.D. Collins, CEO of Michigan Small Business Development Center, a statewide resource for small businesses.


SooLeader: Billington takes on new role to help local business reach potential
April 18, 2022
“SBDC’s mission is to help small businesses succeed, and Joshua’s new role is pivotal in ensuring that we deliver on that,” said SBDC State Director J.D. Collins