msuENet

Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition

dave — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:18 +0000

The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity. The competition will fuel innovation-based business growth by uncovering the best and brightest new business concepts from local and global entrepreneurs, exposing those opportunities to potential investment capital and fostering their growth within Michigan. The competition targets mid-to-late seed-stage businesses with potential to generate an immediate impact on Michigan’s economy, as well as student concepts with longer-term business viability. With more than $1 million in cash winnings, plus in-kind awards of services and staffing, the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition is the world’s largest business plan competition. The deadline for submitting a one page description of a business idea is September 27, 2012.

More information at acceleratemichigan.org »

msuENet Certificate Program is Global

dave — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:17:48 +0000

msuENet is proud to welcome the students of King Khalid University to its certificate program. Besides providing a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, this relationship allows students from both universities to collaborate and pursue opportunities that have potential on both sides of the globe.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:06:06 +0000

No state offers more to creative, energetic entrepreneurs and dedicated businesspeople: great universities training the next generation of business leaders, a workforce recognized around the globe for its skills and work ethic and a business climate among the nation’s top ten. Add to this the great quality of life we enjoy and Michigan is a great place to live and play, raise a family and build a business.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) touches, assists and helps grow thousands of Michigan businesses each year. Whether it’s a new venture, an expansion, a relocation, or even a concern with another agency of state government, the MEDC can help. We supply customized economic development services to help companies and communities – both large and small – find success in a very competitive global economy.

As a public corporation created through an interlocal agreement between state and local governments, the MEDC is a liaison with local communities and agencies across the state. It is guided by a board comprised of members who represent a cross section of the state economy, business owners and executives, local economic developers and college presidents. A corporation, not a bureaucracy, our policies and procedures meet the needs of the private sector. The MEDC brings together supply and demand and matches up resources and services with the needs of our business customers.

Location

MEDC
300 N. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48913

Directions

Contact the MEDC

Other MEDC Web Sites

Travel Michigan, a division of the MEDC, is the State of Michigan’s official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state’s tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services.

TheMEDC.org, is the MEDC’s corporate Web site and contains a full list of products and business services, press releases, staff details and also a comprehensive reference section.

Prima Civitas Foundation

dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:01:20 +0000

The Prima Civitas Foundation (PCF) is a non-profit economic and community development collaborative that serves the State of Michigan as it re-invents its economic base in the 21^st century. Created in 2006 by Michigan State University, PCF exists to create, facilitate, and bridge the network that is necessary for local, regional, and state growth in today’s knowledge-based economy. Partnering with four year universities, community colleges, intermediate school districts, local economic development groups, workforce development agencies, and other local and regional partners who are investing in Michigan’s future, PCF seeks to bring about foundational change to the culture of Michigan’s economy, while at the same time stimulate activity for job creation and retention. Using its vast network at the local level, PCF leverages significant opportunities through relationships with state and national leaders to bring new and innovative approaches to Michigan’s economic revitalization.

What are we doing to help Michigan?

Training dislocated workers for long term, sustainable jobs
Economic Diversification efforts for small and medium sized companies
Assisting entrepreneurs with our Moving Ideas to Market program
Facilitating strategy development for Municipalities
Retaining talent with Intern in Michigan
- For Employers
- For Students
Regional collaboration with the MMIT

Mission and Vision of the Prima Civitas Foundation

PCF’s Mission Statement:

To enhance Michigan, Prima Civitas emphasizes sustainable entrepreneurship, job growth wealth creation, higher quality of life, equitable educational opportunities and a strong community identity, commitment, and momentum.

PCF’s Vision Statement:

The vision of PCF is to be a key prosperity agency for the state of Michigan and its residents — to promote business and market Michigan as a center of entrepreneurship and innovation. By promoting collaborative partnerships between government, education and business, PCF hopes to attract new businesses and talent, and to ensure that Michigan workers have the training and skills necessary to thrive and help revive Michigan’s economy. Prima Civitas = Prosperity for the State of Michigan.

MI-SBTDC

dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:43:34 +0000

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) 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-SBTDC positively impacts the economy by strengthening existing companies, creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, and assisting companies in defining their path to success.

The State Headquarters, located at Grand Valley State University, supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Leap, Inc.

dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:39:42 +0000

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap) Bringing together the best and brightest to create success for your company

Leap was founded in 2007 with one goal: to create a business resource that would give companies across industry sectors and sizes an easy way to tap into all the economic development resources the Greater Lansing area has to offer.

To accomplish this Leap has pulled together an exceptional network of Greater Lansing area business leaders—a diverse group that includes CEOs of major corporations, presidents of colleges and universities, owners of small businesses, leaders of non-profit organizations and elected officials. They’re a committed, experienced resource that knows the ins-and-outs of doing business on a global scale—and in our community. Together we’ll do all we can to show you the difference a Greater Lansing location can make for your organization.

Here are just a few of the many services Leap can offer:

Cost-of-doing-business comparisons
Tax analyses
Incentive analyses and assistance
Site selection
Quality-of-life evaluations
Training assistance
Infrastructure studies
Start-up or project funding
Technology transfer
Peer-to-peer networking
Financing and business resource planning

Ready to learn more? Give us a call at (517) 702-3387 or e-mail us at info@leapinc.biz. We look forward to working with you!

MI-SBTDC Training

dave — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:04:46 +0000

Who Should Attend?

CEOs of businesses with at least three years of financial history who

want to have a better understanding of how to use their financial statements to

make better business decisions.

Program Details

● Identifying problems using your balance sheet and income statement

● Providing ways to increase your company’s cash flow

● Using breakeven analysis to improve decision-making

● Planning the working capital to support your growth
● Keeping the banker on your side

Client Quotes

“I recommend the Fiscal Fitness for business owners who believe that they don’t have the time to go to a class. The class is an important part of the paradigm shift in the minds of small business owners. It was easy to understand and is a great way to produce productivity in an already existing company by just changing some of the fundamental ways in which you do business.”

Rina N. Risper
The New Citizens Press

“Last week I attended a seminar called Fiscal Fitness for the Growing Business that was held by our local SBTDC. In a word…Wow! I have been to numerous seminars that tell you what you should do to improve your business but very rarely have I attended one that actually gave you the tools and told you how to go about it. This seminar is a must for all small business owners.”

Kathie Fuce-Hobohm

SPACE, Inc.

When and Time:
November 18, 2010

8:00AM-8:30AM: Breakfast & Networking

8:30AM-12:00PM: Main Program

Where:
MI-SBTDC Region 8 Office

Washington Court Place

309 N. Washington Sq.

Lansing, MI 48933

Fee and Registration:
$25.00 – Includes workbook and continental breakfast.
Scholarships are available to Fifth Third Bank clients,

contact Adrienne Jenkins at 517-483-1921.

Registration is required
Online at Our Website

Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.

December ICE Meetup!

dave — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:44:04 +0000

Trends and Opportunities in Business Innovation

On Tuesday, November 9, 2010, the Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs (ICE) is hosting their monthly meeting from 6pm to 8pm at the HYPERLINK Heritage Café (basement) in the Union Building on the campus of MSU in East Lansing. Public parking is available in Campus Ramp #6 next to the Olin Health Center, accessible from both Grand River Ave and East Circle Dr.

At the November meeting, guest speaker Becky Jo Farrington, Environmental Education Manager for Michigan Energy Options, will speak on “Trends and Opportunities in Business Innovation.” Specifically, she will provide an overview of MEO and their programs, and discuss approaches used by small energy nonprofits to address new technologies in the field of renewable energy, including energy efficiency measures. Farrington will also address how to secure funding, partnerships and programs.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendants should bring business cards and start-up and concept ideas. RSVPs are welcome and appreciated. Please send RSVPs to ICE@landpolicy.msu.edu.

At the October meeting, several Greater Lansing-area professionals were on hand to share ideas and learn about Entrepreneurship in the Arts. J.D. Small, Owner of J.D. Small Studios and a mid-Michigan area photographer and entrepreneur, spoke about how he started his business and his life-long passion for photography. He emphasized the need for marketing the arts: “you are what you are selling.” Specifically, Small stressed the importance of being adaptable and flexible in the changing world of the arts, especially in the photography arena; how critical it is for artists to be innovative; and that in times of economic crisis, there is a great need for creativity and expressive work of “creatives.” Finally, he offered advice to younger, aspiring artists and entrepreneurs: “It is possible to have a deliberate full-time livelihood, a possibility that takes hard work and dedication.” Check out the October ICE Meeting Summary for more information from this meeting.

Summaries from past meetings and more information about the Club are available at Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs. Be sure to check out ICE on Facebook and Twitter. For questions, contact Dr. Barb Fails at fails@landpolicy.msu.edu or 517.432.8800 Ext. 122.

The purpose of the monthly club is to provide a new forum for professionals of the Greater Lansing Area to share and explore ideas in a positive and supportive environment, create or strengthen existing networks for collaboration and find resources to bring ideas to life. ICE is a collaborative effort of the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute and YSG Lansing.

Great Lakes Entrepreneurial Quest (GLEQ)

dave — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:27:35 +0000

Have a great idea for a business? GLEQ’s New Business Idea path is sponsoring a business plan competition. Awards are $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 respectively, but more importantly participants are paired with a memtor to help them refine their business plan. Registration will open for the Fall 2012 Business Plan Competition on August 27, 2012. Entrepreneurs must register by, Monday, October 15, to be matched with a business coach and to have the chance to win awards. Participants will prepare five-page Executive Summaries that must be submitted for judging by Monday, December 17.

Learn more and apply →

This is a great opportunity to find initial funding for your idea!

Welcome! New Members of Our ‘Dream Team’

dave — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:05:09 +0000

We’re are thrilled to welcome Jeffrey Smith and Don Waskiewicz, members of our network, to their new responsibilities. Jeff and Don have joined our advisory board and will be interacting with students across all three courses, but will especially be mentoring students in the third course of the certificate program. Both Jeff and Don have an extensive track record in helping students launch their businesses, and have been passionate advocates for entrepreneurs throughout the Michigan community.

Don Waskiewicz
Owner, Deep Blue Insights,
LLC,Information Technology and Services Consultant

Jeff Smith
Co-Director New Economy Division
Leap Incorporated

The certificate program is extremely honored to have their involvement