Saginaw Small Business Information Network Roadmap: Counseling & Education Sources

Successful entrepreneurs rely on information from reliable resources to start and operate their businesses. The SSBIN provides links to resource partners who offer training and educational opportunities for small businesses on a wide variety of topics. Business consultants are also available through our partners to help individual businesses address specific needs in starting, owning, and operating a successful business. We encourage you to contact our partners for more information on services available.

Listing of Current Training Opportunities

For a current list of training and education opportunities in the Saginaw area, please see the MI Small Business & Technology Development Center web sit, under Calendar of Training at: http://www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/region5/ (select Training then click on the link for Calendar)
(outside of the Saginaw area, check your regional MI-SBTDC center at http://www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/)

Training Programs:

Monthly entrepreneur orientation seminars at the Hoyt Public Library
The 4th Thursday of the month except July and December. The sessions are offered from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Hoyt Main Library, 505 Janes Ave, Saginaw, MI. Learn about community resources and the basics on business ownership from a local expert. For more information contact the Hoyt Main Library Reference Department at (989) 755-0904

Starting a Home-based or Small Business: The ten-week program teaches the essentials of successfully starting and operating a business. The class is taught by professionals working in the areas covered. The program runs three times per year and is held Wednesday evenings at the Hoyt Public Library. Cost is $100. Scholarships need-based partial are available.

Business Education & Counseling Providers

Saginaw County Minority Business Development Center – SCMBDC

Saginaw County Minority Business Development Center is a non-profit locally funded organization. The Center is a satellite office of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center located at Delta College . SCMBDC provides a wide array of free counseling services and business plan assistance to any ethnic minority person who is a resident of Saginaw County. Educational and training programs are open to all persons within the county.

Free Services Include:

Start-up business counseling
Assistance with writing business plans
Connecting individuals with local and state agencies
Untangling the legal maze
Marketing
Financial options

Contact Information:
301 E. Genesee, Suite 202, Saginaw, MI 48607
(989)755-7630
email: tenwolde@diamondcs.net

Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC)

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center is regionally located at Delta College. The center provides comprehensive assistance to small business owners and people interested in starting a successful business. Counselors provide free one-on-one counseling by appointment. The Regional center also provides free and low-cost training on many issues related to business. A complete list of affiliated training and educational opportunities can be found at http://www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/region5/. For more information call (989) 686-9597. (for other MI-SBTDC Regional Centers: http://www.gvsu.edu/misbtdc/)

Michigan State University Extension – MSUE

MSU Extension provides the following educational classes:

NxLevel™ - Tilling the Soil of Opportunity is a 10-session class for people that interested in starting or expanding an agriculturally-related business.
Better Kid Care is a statewide partnership between MSU Extension and Family Independence Agency of Michigan to provide free childcare training to those who are caring for children or who have an interest in working in childcare. Phase 2 promotes a community development approach that recruits potential providers from low-income neighborhoods and offers training and support to become licensed providers.
Fast Trac ™ Developing Your Family Childcare Business is a business-development program that teaches family childcare providers good business skills, how to connect to available resources in the community and to develop professionally. This program, created by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, also provides participants the training to market and sustain their business.

For more information, go to www.msue.msu.edu/saginaw, or call (989)-758-2500.

Public Libraries of Saginaw – PLOS

The Public Libraries of Saginaw provide an extensive collection of reference and circulating business resources. The library has free public computers with Internet access at all branches. The main branch at Hoyt Library hosts start-up business seminars and classes throughout the year.

For more information please contact the Public Libraries, Reference Department at (989) 755-0904, or visit their web site at: www.saginawlibrary.org.

Saginaw Futures Inc. - SFI

Established in 1992, Saginaw Future Inc. (SFI) services are designed to aid existing businesses and those locating in Saginaw County .

Financial and Incentive Packaging : SFI can assist your company in limiting the cost of new investment by identifying and pursuing financing and incentive packages.
Site Location Assistance: SFI can help assess your requirements and identify appropriate sites in Saginaw County .
Market Area Expansion: SFI can help you understand and take advantage of government contracting opportunities and exporting.
Industrial Site Development: SFI helps prepare industrial development sites, from a Brownfield conversion to providing infrastructure to a Greenfield site.
Business Advocate Community Liaison: SFI can help resolve issues that limit the growth or location of a firm. We serve as your business advocate.
And much, much more!

For more information, visit their web site at www.saginawfuture.com, call (989) 754-8222 or e-mail info@saginawfuture.com