Step Up Your BusinessPortable Assistance Program

Michigan Small Business

Development Center

372Number of jobs lost with the

closing of the Empire Mine.

$216 millionAmount of money pulled out of the economy with the loss of jobs.

Have your business sales been affected by these jobs leaving our economy?

Impacts

• Families have relocated to find

equivalent work - $30/hour

• Those that stayed may never find

equivalent work

Opportunity

• 15% of the displaced workers said

they would be interested in training to

start a business

• More space in the market for small

business success

The Michigan SBDC

Funded through a cooperative

agreement with the

• U.S. Small Business Administration

(SBA)

• Michigan Economic Development

Corporation (MEDC)

• Matching funds from Local Network

partners in each region.

Michigan SBDC Services

• No cost 1:1 business consulting

• Business education

• Information-based planning through

(secondary) market research

• Technology commercialization

Portability Grant

• Grant written specifically to help the

region get back on its feet after the

mine closure

• 1 of only 27 grants awarded by SBA

throughout the U.S.

• Renewable for 3 years if goals are

met

Goals of the Portability Grant

• Assist 100 small businesses

• Marquette, Iron, Baraga, Alger, Ontonagon, Dickinson, Schoolcraft and Delta counties

• 1000 hours of one-on-one consulting

• In person and/or via technology

– GoToMeeting

– Skype

– Webinars

Portability Assistance

Consulting

• Create 10 new businesses

• Grow sales for small business by

$1million/year

• Add 10 jobs/year to the regional

economy

Step Up Your Business

Program

• Short online video clips and

supporting material to educate and

train business owners to get to the

next level

• Work with a team of consultants who

will support your efforts and guide

you through the steps

Learn at Your Own Pace

• Short online video clips and

supporting material to educate and

train businesses to get to the next

level

8 Recorded Segments

3 – 5 Minute Bytes

Provide Business Analysis

• Where the company is financially and

strategically

• Where the company has opportunity

to grow and the financial needs for

expansion

• Strategy and next steps for their

company to pursue the best

opportunities

Understand Financial Position

• Accurately track and project cash

flow

• Establish and understand break-even

• Benchmark financials to industry

averages to identify areas of

improvement

• Utilize financial tools to improve

business management practices.

Tools Available through SBDC

• Profit Cents - industry financial

analysis

• Ultimate Business Planner

• LivePlan

• Industry market intelligence from the

research department at the State

Lead Center of the Michigan SBDC

Increase Sales

• Increase sales through a sustainable,

targeted marketing strategy

– Develop your brand

– Define your customers

– Develop marketing strategy and goals

Marketing Tactics

• Decide on marketing tactics

– Digital Marketing

– Radio

– Newspapers

– Trade magazines

– Public relations

Websites

• Improve Website & SEO

– Understanding webstores• Online sales on website

• Amazon

• EBay

• Etsy

– Basic regulations, taxation, and other state laws of ecommerce

– Online payment processing options and how-to

Social Media

• Understand social media marketing

– Utilizing FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn,

YouTube

– Personalize your business

• put a face to your name

• build relationships for the next generation of

customers

– Create a sustainable, targeted strategy

to increase sales

Public Relations

• Create a PR strategy

– Free publicity

– Consistent messaging

– Dos and don’ts

Government Contracting

• Identify potential in government

contracting

– Training on getting set up for

government contracting in the systems

– Getting the business certified as women

owned, veteran owned, or Hubzone

– Understanding matchmaking events and

how to get started

Cyber Security

• Understand cyber security implementation for the small business

– Self-assessment for current security

– Why cyber security is important to small business

– Training to implement a cyber security plan• Protect your business from

– Hacking

– Malware

– Viruses

What Portable Assistance

Doesn’t Do

• We don’t give you fish, we teach you to fish - we don’t do the work for you, but give you the tools and education to do the job

• No money or grants are available through the program, but where you are qualified for loans or grants, we can help you through the application process

• What can we help you accomplish

with your business?

• Is this program something that could

assist your business in reaching the

next level?

Are You Ready to Step Up?

Register for Portability

Assistance:

www.SBDCMichigan.org/StepUP

Upcoming Intro Sessions

July 259am

Ontonagon County Courthouse

725 Greenland Rd

Ontonagon

12pm

Windsor Center

612 W Adams St.

Iron River

4pm

CWRK Collective

209 ½ E Hughitt Street

Iron Mountain