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Small Business News from the South Haven Regional Business Hub:
- Startup Series Recap
- Client News
- Meet Our Mentors
- Events in the Area
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Today is Your Last Chance to Apply for the Growth Series!
Grow your business with the Small Business Growth Series. Free to attend. Qualify for up to $8000 in funding!
| | | Free to business owners in Van Buren, Cass, or Berrien County. | | |
Startup Series Serves Nearly 50 Clients
The South Haven Regional Business Hub's Startup and Development Series proved to be a dynamic and essential resource for the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through valuable startup business topic. sessions and expert guidance, the series fostered significant engagement from a diverse group of individuals and businesses seeking growth and development.
Attendance:
25 unique participants. 47 total participants with guests and walkins
- Business Basics (5)
- Business Model Canvas (5)
- Bookkeeping (12)
- Marketing with Google (14)
- Value Proposition (8)
- Culture and HR (3)
Industries Represented:
- Tourism/Hospitality/Recreation: 4
- Transportation/Logistics: 1
- Construction/Home Services: 3
- Food & Beverage: 5
- Marketing/Creative Services: 3
- Wellness/Health: 2
- Education/Non-Profit: 1
- Coaching/Consulting: 2
The dedication of local experts like GB Richmond, Michele Mollard, Steve Cummings, Michele Coy, Jacob Christensen, Cheri Bales, and Trevor Brooks has been crucial, providing invaluable guidance across business journeys. Their willingness to share their knowledge and experience has provided invaluable guidance to participants at various stages of their business journeys.
Thank you to all our expert presenters and to all the small businesses who joined us over the series! Watch for the 2026 Startup Series or get in touch with us now to get small business help for free.
| | Startup Series Service Grants Awarded | |
Congratulations
Quickbook Winners!
Five area small business owners were awarded a one year license to QuickBooks and individual support from our Startup Session bookkeeping presenters Michele Coy, Michele Coy Enterprises, and Jacob Christensen, Great Lakes Bookkeeping.
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Max Gleiss—Max Transportation & Car Service Provides reliable and professional private transportation services, focusing on comfort and punctuality.
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Amy Getman—Fieldsview Farm A family-owned farm offering fresh produce, flowers, and farm experiences, emphasizing sustainable agriculture and community connection.
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Brian & Janet Tufnell—Munchie Man A food truck serving a variety of delicious and creative “munchies,” often with a focus on comfort food and unique flavor combinations.
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Kimberly Jiang—Wholesome Plant Pantry offers a curated selection of wholesome, plant-based pantry staples and goods, catering to those seeking healthy and sustainable food options.
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Lea Cobarrubias—Norma’s Haven, LLC Residential Assisted Living Facility: Provides a caring and supportive residential environment for seniors, offering personalized assisted living services.
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Congratulations Google Profile Winners!
Services Provided By:
Cheri Bales, Hannah/Gold Communications
Two area small business owners were awarded a free Google Business Profile Setup and Verification after attending Marketing 101 with Cheri Bales of Hannah/Gold Communications.
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Brian & Janet Tufnell—Munchie Man. A food truck serving a variety of delicious and creative “munchies,” often with a focus on comfort food and unique flavor combinations.
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Rachel Ferrell—Lawrence Community Care. Lawrence Community Care: Uses a “direct-pay for care” model to bring affordable healthcare to the community, offering services such as TeleHealth and house calls.
| 100% of survey respondents would recommend the Startup Series to someone else | | | | |
Startup Services Award
Congratulations to Fieldsview Farm on the $1,500 award for small business services!
Amy Getman—Fieldsview Farm
A family-owned farm offering fresh produce, flowers, and farm experiences, emphasizing sustainable agriculture and community connection is the recipient of the service award for completing the Startup Series. Fund will be used for small business services to help grow the business.
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Twist and Stout Mobile Bar Experience Leads Pillow Drive for Area Kids
Amy and the Twist & Stout Mobile Bar Experience team, made its first drop off of pillows collected for Gods Hands 4 Kids to distribute to foster children in need! The team collected and donated 49 pillows and Squishmallows. THANK YOU! And please keep the generosity flowing!
| | | | Congratulations Norma's Haven | | |
Norma’s Haven Benton Harbor, announced the successful completion of the Resident Admission and Management Training with Care Provider Solutions!
This training has strengthened the team’s ability to provide seamless admissions, personalized care plans, and top-quality resident management—ensuring that every resident at Norma’s Haven receives the best possible care in a warm, supportive environment.
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Woman Up & Pitch Winners
Two Hub clients were selected to compete in the Michigan Women Forward Woman Up and Pitch event in March. Both of them were selected as winners in their categories! Send us YOUR good news!
| | Celebrating Our Successes! | | | | See what we accomplished in 2024 by reading our Progress Report. This year, we became a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, helped more than 60 businesses, contributed to 96 small business jobs, and provided educational content to more than 120 South Haven region small business owners. | | The South Haven Regional Business Hub's mentors provide valuable guidance across key business functions. Their combined expertise encompasses business strategy, sales and customer engagement, operational efficiency, financial planning and funding, and digital marketing. They also offer insights in market analysis, product development, supply chain management, and leadership. | | To learn more about our expert mentors discover the specific expertise of each mentor, visit the mentors page HERE. | Photo: Mentors Angela Schultz, Debi Howe, and Robert Jank with clients. | | |
Own It – Harness Your Creativity
May 6, 2025, from 6-8 p.m.
Join us for an empowering evening at Lazy Ballerina as we host Own It, a creative event designed to help you tap into your entrepreneurial spirit. Megan Gopp from The Adventure Agency will guide you through the process of creating a vision board, showing you how to channel your creativity to develop and refine your business ideas. Whether you're just starting out or looking to pivot your existing business, this event will provide the tools and inspiration you need to harness your creative potential.
Come ready to explore your passions, connect with like-minded individuals, and leave with a visual plan for bringing your business vision to life.
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The South Haven Area Young Professionals hosts its monthly networking event at The Lodge on May 8 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at The Lodge, South Haven.
It's the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow young professionals in our area, share ideas, and foster meaningful relationships. Whether you're new to the scene or a seasoned pro, everyone is welcome! Mix, Mingle, and Make Meaningful Connections
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Own It: Get Funding
May 20, 5-6 p.m.
223 S Front Street Dowagaic, MI 49047
Are you ready to start a new business or expand an established one, but you don’t know what is the best funding product for you? Commercial loan? Line of credit? SBA loan? We have the experts from 1st Source Bank ready to walk you through the pros and cons of the variety of funding products out there. And, they will review ways to keep your finances safe and fight fraud.
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NextGen YBP West Michigan FB Live
May 29, 6:30 p.m.
Start Small, Dream Big is our new Facebook Live web series spotlighting real stories from local entrepreneurs who turned their ideas into thriving businesses. And we’re starting strong.
Pull up, ask questions - and if you’ve been putting off that business idea, or maybe you’ve just launched and are feeling lost or overwhelmed about how to take it to the next level, get inspired to #StartSmallDreamBig.
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Keep the Good News Coming!
We want to hear about your successes!
To get your business news listed here, send your information to Cheri Bales by clicking the orange button.
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Support the South Haven Regional Business Hub's Work with Small Businesses. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering small businesses in Southwest Michigan to launch, expand, and thrive. More than 40 local experts volunteer, providing entrepreneurs with free education, mentoring, and resources.
We've already supported more than 120 businesses in the Cass, Berrien, and Van Buren County regions. The Hub aims to make the South Haven region a prime location for entrepreneurs by combining community knowledge, connections, and resources to create initiatives and partnerships, supporting local entrepreneurs.
Support South Haven's small businesses. Invest in the Regional Business Hub's proven success. Scan or click to donate
| | | The South Haven Regional Business Hub works with small businesses throughout the region with support from the City of South Haven, Emerge Innovation Hub, Lake Michigan College - South Haven, Market One, MEDC, Michigan Manufacturing Alliance, Michigan State University Agriculture Extension, SBDC Michigan, South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce, South Haven/Van Buren County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southwest Michigan First, Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance. | | Share this news by clicking one of the social links below and using the hashtag #smallbizsupport | | Connect with us on social or web. | | | | |
