GRAND RAPIDS – In concert with the nearly 1,000 Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) across the nation, the Michigan SBDC will celebrate SBDC Day Wednesday, March 20, 2024. SBDC Day is a national, collective proclamation of the impact America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) have on the success of our nation’s dreamers, innovators and doers – America’s small businesses.

Last year the Michigan SBDC served a total of 8,285 small business clients with no-cost expert business consulting, training and market research, resulting in over $221M in capital formation, 506 new business starts, 1,755 jobs created and 29,554 jobs supported.

“We’re honored to play a significant role in the small business ecosystem, and we are humbled to walk alongside our clients in their small business journeys,” said Michigan SBDC CEO | Executive Director, J.D. Collins. “Our consultants take great pride in their work as ‘connectors’ in the economic development community, and their strong relationships with our clients make all the difference.”

In celebration of SBDC Day, the Michigan SBDC will host a free one-hour live webinar called “Ask the Experts – SBDC Consultants” from 11 a.m. – noon on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The event is free, but registration is required.  A panel of Michigan SBDC consultants will address as many small business operation questions as possible during an interactive Q&A session. Questions can be submitted in advance by attendees during the registration process or throughout the webinar.

The webinar will be moderated by Mid Michigan Regional Director Tony Fox at Mid Michigan College.

Panelists will include:

  • Senior Business Consultant Harry Blecker, I-69 Trade Corridor Region at Kettering University;
  • Business Growth Consultant David Beeson, Grand Valley State University;
  • Business Technology Consultant Nancy Gilby, Grand Valley State University.

For more information about the “Ask the Experts” webinar series or to become a sponsor, contact Ed Garner at [email protected].

In addition, the Southwest Region will host an open house from 4 – 6 p.m. at its new location in Western Michigan University’s Walwood Hall, 741 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Refreshments will be served and parking is free. Register to attend.

Finally, a social media campaign will be conducted by host institutions of the Michigan SBDC’s 10 Regional offices. Follow the conversation by following the hashtag #SBDCDay.