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MARQUETTE -- Step UP Your Business -- a program to assist entrepreneurs with the launch, growth or maintenance of small businesses in eight Upper Peninsula counties -- has launched, according to a press release from the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
The Step UP Your Business program, which is administered by Michigan SBDC, will serve Marquette, Iron, Baraga, Alger, Ontonagon, Dickinson, Schoolcraft and Delta counties this year.
The program, which is offered at no cost to participants, is funded through a $100,000 Portable Assistance Grant that was awarded to the SBDC by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is a three-year grant, with funding renewed annually.
"The grant was initially offered … to provide business consultation to more rural areas," said Hanna Burmeister, marketing manager at the SBDC.
For this grant, the SBDC looked at the specific needs of U.P. businesses and community members. The economic impact of the Empire Mine closure upon the eight counties targeted by the program was a major consideration when planning the program.
"Areas affected by the mine closure would benefit (from the program)," Burmeister said. "We know the mine closure impacted those who worked at the mine. (It) also impacted businesses already established … affected by lack of expendable income (in their communities)."
The SBDC expects the grant to serve 75 clients and provide 1,000 hours of business consulting by the end of its first year, according to materials provided by Burmeister. The SBDC also expects to create 10 new businesses, increase sales by $1 million, create and/or maintain 40 jobs, and generates $75,000 in capital formation.
The design of the program, which offers six online courses, is specifically tailored to the needs of individuals in rural areas who may not be able to regularly attend classes held at a specific time and date. Program participants are also assigned a business consultant who works with the participant one-on-one as they move through the program.
The program's structure allows individuals to work at their "own pace and own location," Burmeister said.
The six online courses offered include: Starting a Business; Writing a Business Plan; Fundamentals of Small Business Marketing; Understanding Your Financial Position; Cyber Security Awareness for Small Businesses; and Grow Your Business with Government Contracting.
"A few (courses) are targeted towards those not yet in business, some are targeted at those already in business," Burmeister said.
In-person orientation sessions to the program will be offered at:
≤ 1-2 p.m. today, at the Michigan Works! Service Center in Escanaba.
≤ 1-2 p.m. Thursday at the Upper Peninsula Region Michigan Works! Service Center in Marquette.
≤ Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Rock River Lanes in Ishpeming.
Laura Marohnic, regional director of the U.P. SBDC, and Nicole Young, portable assistance business consultant for the U.P. SBDC, will lead the orientation sessions.
While the orientation sessions are offered for students to meet others and learn more about the program first-hand, students are not required to attend the orientation to register for the courses, Burmeister said.
There is no enrollment deadline for the ongoing program, meaning students may register for and start classes at any time. Courses do not have specific end dates or time limits, so students may complete the course material at their own pace.
The free program is now open for registration online at www.SBDCMichigan.org/StepUP.
Cecilia Brown can be contacted at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is cbrown@miningjournal.net.