The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center  (MI-SBTDC), a statewide network providing services for emerging and growing small businesses, has grown tremendously since its affiliation with Grand Valley State University began over ten years ago.

The MI-SBTDC is part of a national network of Small Business Development Centers committed to the launch of new ventures and grow existing companies. The MI-SBTDC is a partner program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), providing technical assistance, market research and one-on-one counseling to small companies.

2010
Launched the Finance & Strategy Specialists Team through SBA Awarded Jobs Bill funding – to respond to businesses struggling with their banking relationships.  The Michigan SBTDC was the first SBDC in the country to submit proposal and deploy program on the ground

2009
The SBTDC Growth Group (G2) was formed to prepare companies for the next stage of growth.  The experienced group of professionals guides management in the evaluation and selection of strategies using a set of comprehensive business tools, which include those shown below.  G2 Specialists typically use the first three tools to form the core program.  The SBTDC Manufacturing Assistance Team (MAT) was created in response to economic stress in the manufacturing sector.  The Team offers no-cost consulting to small and medium size Michigan manufacturers which includes expertise in financial analysis, capital access and strategic planning.

Partnership with the Kauffman Foundation brings Statewide offered bootcamp training for displaced workers wishing to be entrepreneurs.

2008
The Michigan Legislature awarded the SBTDC a second round of emerging technology funding, as a result of its successful year one work.

This second $1.4 million “Emerging Technology Fund” (ETF) provides (state) cash match to (federal) SBIR (Small Business Innovate Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grants.   Projects supported must advance one of Michigan’s four competitive edge technology areas:  life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive/manufacturing and materials, homeland security and defense.  Program details can be found at: www.mietf.org

2007
2007 was an extremely active year, serving a great mix of both new entrepreneurs and existing companies.  Over 11,000 businesses were served throughout the 12 Region/83 Counties, providing one-to-one counseling and small business workshops.  An increasing number of existing businesses were served, requiring more indepth services.

The Michigan Legislature, at year end 2007, awarded Michigan SBTDC $1.4 million dollars, monies to be used to provide (state) cash match to (federal) SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grants.

In 2007, the SBTDC launched a Virtual Incubator, Accelerating Michigan Entrepreneurs (AME) in an effort to utilize technology to serve an even greater number of small business owners in their desire to grow their existing company. 

In 2007-2008 the SBTDC immersed itself in the Balanced Scorecard process, creating an effective management system for the vast amount of services being provided for small businesses. 

2006
The MI-SBTDC served 14,995 businesses through one-to-one counsel and business workshops.  Fifty-one percent of businesses served were new ventures.  Twenty-four percent of businesses served were minority owned.  The Biz Resource Centers continue to be in demand with a statewide total of 28. 

The SBTDC is proud to announce its full accreditation as a result of an extensive review at year end 2006, a review that occurs every four years by the America's Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC).  Launch of a Balanced Scorecard at year end 2006, carried through in implementation in 2007 was utilized by the Association at the National Conference in Denver Colorado as a national best practice for states. An outstanding rating was given in two specific areas of SBTDC work:  technology business assistance and statewide branding.

The MI-SBTDC competed for State of Michigan  1st Century Jobs Funding, and was awarded

$2million over 2 years, to provide comprehensive business assistance for technology based companies in Michigan, this funding allocated for 2007-2008.

2003 – 2005
In 2003, the MI-SBDC became the second state to earn accreditation as a Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC). This translates to, in addition to serving Michigans Main Street USA businesses, also playing a major role in growing Michigans Technology business base. The Americas Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) re-accredited MI-SBDCs operation in October 2002, a process mandated every three years by the SBA. As part of the accreditation process, the MI-SBDC also elected to be reviewed for and earned the SBTDC designation, a title that until then had been held solely by North Carolina.

The MI-SBTDC offers services to benefit technology-based companies, including information technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and innovators. Those companies have access to four full- and part-time technology business consultants, whose role includes serving the primary needs of technology-based businesses in the areas of intellectual property, company management structure and access to sources of capital. One of the key goals of the MI-SBTDC is to help small businesses develop and commercialize pioneering technologies.

The MI-SBTDC continues to enhance its economic impact on an annual basis. In 2004 the MI-SBTDC served 10,274 businesses and provided 56,809 hours of one-to-one counsel. There are currently 20 Biz Resource Centers strategically positioned around the state with an additional four slated to open in 2005. The partnerships continue to grow&the program continues to flourish. The MI-SBTDC is on the right track.

2001
In 2001, Grand Valley State Universitys Seidman School of Business, now College of Business, was named the new Michigan Small Development Center State Headquarters by the SBA, in response to an open bidding process to Michigans Higher Education Institutions. The move from Wayne State University marked the first time a federal program had placed its state headquarters in West Michigan.

As host of the state headquarters, the Seidman School of Business at GVSU was charged with establishing, managing and overseeing the MI-SBDC network of 12 regional offices and more than 30 satellite centers throughout Michigan, serving all 83 counties.

The immediate focus was to strengthen the regional center infrastructure, develop new partnerships and achieve designation statewide as a Small Business & Technology Development Center. In 2001, a partnership with Compaq and Microsoft allowed the MI-SBDC to develop ten Biz Resource Centers, mirrors of the three existing Business Information Centers in Michigan. These 13 centers provide newly formed entrepreneurial companies with all of the business startup information needed for a successful launch. The MI-SBDC was also successful in the formation of a strong two-year partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to support the growth of technology-based companies.

1998
The MI-SBTDC West Michigan Region collaborated with the City of Grand Rapids,  Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Center of West Michigan and the Urban League to create the Kent Area MicroBusiness Loan Service in partnership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve, service organizations and local business representatives. This model program was designed to extend financing to small businesses that do not qualify for bank loans.

1997
The MI-SBTDC West Michigan Region was honored as Outstanding MI-SBDC for the state of Michigan.

1996
Carol Lopucki was named director of the MI-SBTDC West Michigan Region, serving Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon Counties.

1991
In 1991, EXCEL (EXCELlence in Entrepreneurship), a non-profit program developed by the Office of Women Business Ownership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, in partnership with the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs, was launched to provide training and counseling for women-owned small businesses. This program operated from October of 1991 through October of 1995; Carol Lopucki was named Director. This program moved to Grand Valley State University at the end of 1995, and at that juncture Wayne State University, the  State Headquarters of the MI-SBDC approached GVSU to evolve EXCEL into a Regional MI-SBDC office, to serve Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon Counties. GVSU was honored to assume this leadership.