Lenawee Economic Development Corporation

Entrepreneurial Resources

Local resources and links for entrepreneurs at all levels! Sign up to receive email updates about upcoming workshops, events and training.

The South Central Michigan Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative has additional resources in the region (Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee Counties). Check out the website: www.espotmi.org

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Entreprenurial Resources

Local Resources for Entrepreneurs

  • Entrepreneurial Resources Brochure

    Download the brochure with the entrepreneurial resources available in Lenawee County!

  • Adrian Area Chamber (and SCORE)

    Contact: Ann Hughes or SCORE Counselor, Graham Fleming 517.265.2320 gfleming33@comcast.net

    Resources: Assistance in Writing a Business Plan

    SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Graham Fleming works out of the Adrian Area Chamber's Office in downtown Adrian.

  • Adrian College - Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

    Contact: Dr. Oded Gur-Arie 517.264.3859

    Resources: Classes and support for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs, including students, and current business owners

    Adrian College is working on creating an incubator (space for start-ups) and a virtual incubator (providing consulting services). Then Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies offers a one-week training course - Entrepreneurial Boot Camp - for both business owners and those interested in becoming entrepreneurs. The goal will be to create a support group of business owners to mentor other business owners and give advice.

  • Adrian Public Library

    Contact: Carol Souchock 517.265.2265 csouchock@ci.adrian.mi.us

    Resources: Research and Support

    The Adrian Public Library offers one-on-one support to those interested in starting a business. The library has electronic databases including Reference USA available. The New Businesses module conducts searches by type for other start-up businesses, to assist in market research. A demographics database will be available in the future. The Adrian Public Library has a Business Resource Center, boardroom, meeting space and Stone's Cafe can be used for mentoring and networking opportunities.

    The Adrian Public Library recently offered one-on-one counseling sessions, in conjunction with FSEP and SBTDC. The marketing materials and counseling sessions were also available in Spanish.

  • Ann Arbor SPARK

    SPARK will be the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor Region as a desired place for business expansion and location...by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from those that are established to those working to successfully commercialize innovations.

  • Center for Empowerment and Economic Development (CEED)

    734.677.1400
    Email: info@miceed.org

    Since 1984, The Center for Empowerment & Economic Development (CEED) has assisted thousands of business owners in beginning and expanding their businesses. CEED provides entrepreneurs and business owners with the administrative, financial, and professional enrichment support services necessary for business success.

  • Community Action Agency

    Amy Clough-Baker, abaker@caajlh.org
    517-263-7861

    The Community Action Agency offers Individual Development Accounts are matched savings accounts that can be used to buy a house, start a small business or continue education after high school. Participants can save up to $1,000 that will be matched with $3,000 for home ownership and $2,000 for business or education. See the website for eligibility information.

  • Jackson Community College

    Contact: Business Department 517.796.8608 or Entrepreneurial Department, Patti Benson 517.796.8567 pbenson@jccmi.edu

    Resources: Entrepreneurial Skill-Set

    JCC's 16 week Entrepreneurial Skill-Set consists of 4 classes, offered in both hybrid and online formats:
    • Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Understand the role of entrepreneurial business in the U.S. and the impact on our local, regional, national and global economy. Understand the skills, commitment, challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship as a career choice (one day a week for 8 weeks)
    • Investigating Business Ideas - What's your passion and vision for your business? Assess your preparation and analyze if your business concept fits into the current business environment (taken with the intro class, one day a week for 8 weeks)
    • Business Plan Research and prepare a sound business plan for a entrepreneurial venture (two nights a week for 8 weeks after completing the first 2 classes)
    • Introduction to Computer Systems: Enhance computer knowledge of several software applications

  • Lenawee Intermediate School District

    Contact Alan Burg, Assistant Superintendent @ alan.burg@lisd.us

    The Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) provides adult education courses for students interested in either developing a new skill or honing an old one. Adult education courses are offered in areas such as advanced manufacturing, technology use, culinary arts and more. Learn more about the LISD’s adult education programs
    here.

    In addition to offering continuing education opportunities, the LISD offers a number of fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratories. The LISD is pleased to work with Lenawee County business and industry to make these laboratories and equipment available for employee screening, training or other activities associated with the advancement of the organization. Previously, the LISD has made its facilities available for prospective employee pre-screening exercises, allowing the hiring company to continue full operations at their primary plant.

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

    Contact: Cathie Abad 517.263.4700 cabad@wjnichols.com

    Resources: Workshops and training for starting a business, and one-on-one meetings.

    The SBTDC offers entrepreneurial workshops:
    • Fundamentals of Starting a Business
    • Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan
    • Marketing Your Small Business
    • Digital and Social Media Marketing with Ingenex
    • Fundamentals of Finance
    • Selling in the 21st Century
    • Team SBA Roundtable

  • Siena Heights University

    Contact: Patrick Palmer 517.264.7606 ppalmer@sienaheights.edu

    Resources: Graduate degree programs and Bachelor of Business Administration program

    Master of Arts in Leadership:
    Siena Heights University offers course work leading to the Master of Arts in Leadership degree that provides the student an opportunity to choose a concentration in education, health care, not-for-profit, organization or public service leadership. The focus of the 36-hour leadership program is personal development, which is owned, directed and developed by the student. Siena Heights University has a flexible, innovative approach to education, offering:
    • Evening and weekend courses
    • Blended online delivery courses
    • Credit and transfer options
    • Individualized academic advising
    • Dedicated faculty with career credentials
    • Online support

    Bachelor of Business Administration:
    A Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Siena Heights University will open many types of employment opportunities for you. With Siena Heights University's emphasis on communication and ethics, you may confidently choose to start a new career or take your work in the business field to the next level.
    Through its curriculum and advising, BBA faculty offer business majors the opportunity to become proficient, engaged citizens. This is imperative in today's business climate. Approximately 60% of the program's core courses are based in case methodology. Case study sharpens analytical ability and heightens student ability to think and reason rigorously.
    Other focuses in the BBA program include communication, creativity, and integrative thinking. We want our students to be able to express their creativity through writing, verbal, and visual means, have the skills to detect interrelationships among component parts and assess their importance in creating solutions.

    BBA majors at Siena Heights can also earn a concentration in one or more of the following areas: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Management, and Marketing

  • South Central Michigan Regional Entrepreneurial Collaborative

    Resources for entrepreneurs - at any stage - with contact information for local service providers.

  • South Central Michigan Works!

    Contact: Jack Townsley 517.266.5627 jtownsley@scmw.org
    Resources: Biz Resources Center and helping employers recruit, hire and train employees

    South Central Michigan Works has a Biz Resource Center available in the Adrian Service Center with information about writing business plans and entrepreneurial businesses. South Central Michigan Works makes referrals to other agencies, has funding available for training programs and is working on a diversification initiative program. The diversification programs assist companies on finding new markets and customers.

Local Banks: SBA Loans and Business Accounts

Additional Resources