Flint-area entrepreneurs, small business owners can now plug into new support hub

FLINT, MI — A new program in Genesee County aims to be the ultimate small business resource.

Led by the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, the new Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub provides resources and support at no cost to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Genesee County.

The Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub is one of 27 hubs established, or in the process of launching, through the state’s Small Business Support Hub program, according to a news release. It’s made possible through a nearly $2.4-million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“Whether you’re writing a business plan or seeking capital, there’s a lot that goes into starting and growing a business – and it can be challenging without the right network, resources, or understanding of processes,” said Karena Hamlet, director of Business Services at the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group. “That’s where the Flint & Genesee Small Business Support Hub comes in.”

The hub will include providing data-informed business counseling, capital access coaching, personalized personal finance mentorship, and connections to resources to grow a business.

According to Hamlet, it all starts with the intake form, available at DevelopFlintandGenesee.org/hub.

After an entrepreneur or small business owner completes the form, the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance will schedule a meeting to learn more about the business and determine next steps and make referrals to the appropriate hub partners and many other service providers that make up the region’s entrepreneurial network.

“We provide coaching and technical assistance, but one of our greatest strengths is the role we play as connector,” Hamlet said. “We can help local entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate the wide variety of resources available to them and make the connections they need to thrive.”

The hub partners will come together on a monthly basis and offer open office hours at the Flint & Genesee Small Business Hub’s headquarters, located in the Flint & Genesee Group office in downtown Flint.

Entrepreneurs may also take advantage of the hub’s recently launched affiliate locations, which offer walk-in hours every Monday and by appointment.

These locations include:

• Berston Field House: 3300 Saginaw St., Flint, hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• City of Swartz Creek Paul D. Buche Municipal Building, Civic Drive, Swartz Creek, hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fenton & Linden Regional Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. Adelaide St., Fenton, hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Additionally, the small business community is invited to attend the hub’s trainings, which will kick off this summer with the Rules of Lending on June 11.

The hub will also host events including the Immerse Entrepreneurial Summit on Sept. 26 and Flint & Genesee Business Bridge Expo on Oct. 24; details for each will be provided this fall.

Businesses that’d like to connect with the hub can get started at DevelopFlintandGenesee.org/hub.