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April News and Events!

2025 Growth Series is Coming!

Apply to Attend and You May Qualify for up to $8,000 in Small Business Services Awards

Scale YOUR Business in 2025 with The Growth Series for Small Business Owners

• Designed for busy business owners.
• Laser-focused, FREE resources to build rock-solid growth strategies.
• Qualify for up to $8k in Vendor Services Awards

The South Haven Regional Business Hub’s Growth Series is designed for organizations between 3-5 years old who want to grow. Over the five months of the Growth Series (workshops and mentor meetings), you will have the opportunity to build your business strategy, create your vision, determine your competitive advantage, and align all aspects of your business for growth.

The process starts with technology called the Growth Wheel that identifies gaps and sets up a customized milestone-based plan for the organization to follow. Along with one-on-one individual mentoring, participants will attend in-person workshops focusing on additional processes for consistency and growth not identified through the Growth Wheel.

Qualifications for Participants:

• Minimum 3 years in business.
• $100,000 in sales.
• At least one full time employee.
• Own a business in Van Buren, Berrien, or Cass County.
• Participants must sign an agreement that they are dedicated to the program and will attend sessions and meet with their mentors on a regular basis as needed to meet the 30-, 60-, and 90-day plan status.

After attending the Growth Series, you will gain more knowledge about the following:

• Understand your customers—pinpoint what your customer wants and how to adapt to their needs. 
• Business solutions in starting small—test your solution by starting small and adjusting as needed.
• Getting, keeping, and growing customers—build relationships through messaging and marketing.
• Revenue, pricing, and distribution—figure out your logistics and how you'll make money.
• Legal and accounting—understand the systems and structures you'll need to support your business.
• Finance modeling—determine your costs and whether your business model is financially viable.
• Funding and raising capital—know your options for finding the funds you need to grow sustainably.
• Growth plan and goal-setting—gain momentum and leave with a strategy for achieving your goals.
• Celebrate at The PITCH—Reflect on your journey and celebrate your success. Your future starts now.

To be considered for the Growth Series program, please complete the Initial Interest Form on the website (first), then you'll be asked to complete the Application and the Concept Paper and submit it via the website, or download it and send it as an email attachment to Debi Howe by May 1, 2025.

All South Haven Regional Business Hub programs or co-sponsored events are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Arrangements for persons with disabilities are made when requested in advance.

Celebrating 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.

Rescheduled Session is March 27!

Reminder: Register For The Final Session April 3!

…and Win Small Business Support Services

Attend Startup Series Sessions

One Small Business Startup Series participant will win $1,500 for approved small business services (accounting, marketing, legal, website design, social media, video, etc.). Each event attended earns one entry, increasing your chances to win so sign up for and attend all the remaining sessions.

Client News

Winners of the QuickBooks license and support

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.

Congratulations to the winners:

1. Max Gleiss, Max Transportation & Car Service
2. Amy Getman, Fieldsview Farm
3. Janet Tufnell, Munchie Man
4. Kimberly Jiang, Wholesome Plant Pantry
5. Lea Cobarrubias, Norma's Haven, LLC - Residential Assisted Living Facility

Be sure to click to visit their websites.

These small business owners attended our Small Business Startup Series Sessions to be eligible to win this great award and help from our experts.

Still to come…

One Small Business Startup Series participant will still be awarded $1,500 for

approved small business services (accounting, marketing, legal, website design,

social media, video, etc.). The $1,500 winner will be announced after the April 3 "Creating a Dynamic Culture to Attract and Retain Top Talent" to be held Thursday, April 3, 6-8 p.m. at Lake Michigan College. Sign up and join us.

Area News & Events

Emerge Innovation Hub is excited to introduce a new loan opportunity to support small businesses. Learn more about how to apply and get the funding you need to grow. We are the Hub of West Michigan for Innovation. All are welcomed into this inclusive culture that stimulates creativity and fosters collaborations. We provide business support and the resources you need to succeed.

Don’t miss out! Be sure to mark your calendars for April 16th from 10 AM - 11:30 AM at Cornerstone Alliance. This event is free to attend, but space is limited. Register to attend.

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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