New business network to focus on disabilities, diverse workplaces

The Dow Chemical Company and the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan have partnered to create a new network of businesses focused on creating diverse workplaces, services, and products with disabled customers in mind.

The Great Lakes Business Leadership Network, which launched last week, will cover an eight-county region, including Bay, Saginaw, and Midland counties. The network -- which also includes Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, and Isabella counties -- was launched on July 26, the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The member-based organization will encourage collaboration, sharing of best practices, as well as other efforts related to disabilities in the workplace and the community, says Kathy McCreedy, project manager.

"This is really business-led. This is business-to-business collaboration," she says.

The network will allow employees, customers, and businesses to come together to discuss information related to disabilities, the hiring of people with disabilities, and how to best meet the needs of disabled customers, she says.

With an aging population, the number of people with disabilities is on the rise, McCreedy says.

"So this will really help them understand an emerging customer base -- and they have buying power," she says.

While the organizations is new, it already has several key members, including Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Best Buy, Chemical, Bank, and Spence Brothers. To join, McCreedy says, companies have to pay an annual fee based on company size.

To find out more information, companies can go here or call 989-631-8867.

Writer: Jenny Cromie
Source: Great Lakes Business Leadership Network