EMU Today

YPSILANTI — The U.S. Small Business Administration named Southeast Michigan Small Business Development Center hosted by Eastern Michigan University Small Business of the Year for the State of Michigan.

 “It’s an honor to have been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the best Small Business Development Center in the state this year,” said Wendy Thomas, regional director of Southeast Michigan SBDC hosted by Eastern Michigan University. “Our team shares a common goal with all Michigan SBDCs: to make Michigan the best place to start or grow a business.”

Eastern Michigan University is the host of the southeast Michigan region office of the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC). Affiliated with EMU College of Business and funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBDC has 11 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices statewide, providing counsel, training and research services to the Michigan small business community.

The MI-SBDC enhances Michigan's economic well-being by providing counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures, existing small businesses and innovative technology companies. With offices statewide, the MI-SBDC positively impacts the economy by strengthening existing companies, creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, and helping companies define their path to success.

Thirty-two small businesses that worked with the SBDC took the stage for awards ranging from “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” to “Best Small Businesses”, among others. The SBDC for Southeast Michigan won the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) award for SBDC of the year for the state.

“It was great to see the entrepreneurs with whom we’ve partnered celebrate and get recognized for all the hard work and passion that goes into their businesses,” said J.D. Collins, state director of Michigan SBDC. “The SBDC’s mission is to help small businesses succeed, and the evening proved that’s exactly the impact we’re having.” 

For more information about Southeast Michigan Small Business Development Center hosted by Eastern Michigan University visit the website.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 15,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.