St. Clair County entrepreneurs count on community to get businesses off the ground

Katie Kuhn and her husband Brian moved back to the Port Huron from upstate New York in 2015 with two goals: starting a business and be closer to family. Two years later, Katie's acupuncture business, Huron Point Acupuncture, is taking off, and the couple is not looking back.

"There is something magical about the Blue Water area," says Kuhn, who is from St. Clair originally. "The economy was finally coming back, and great things were starting to happen--restaurants, beaches, fun activities, even yoga was available."

A sense of hometown ease and ready access to both city and country lifestyle amenities in the Blue Water area is drawing young entrepreneurs like the Kuhns to here to start businesses. And in turn, the local economy is growing,

Thelma Castillo, president and CEO at the Blue Water Area Chamber, says the area is something of an untapped resource for new businesses. In addition to the region's outstanding natural assets, rural identity and growing urban areas, she points to the Blue Water area's strong sense of community.
"A lot of collaboration happens here--everyone is working as a team, and you see your team at the grocery store, you see them at school, at the beach, at the farmer's market," she says.

It takes a community
That community spirit is what drew Kuhn back to the region. She was finishing up graduate school in 2015, and saw a growing need in her hometown area for the complementary medicine she provides. So, when the couple moved to Port Huron, she was excited to start up her own acupuncture practice, But she needed--and received--plenty of help from a wide and varied network of support within the community.

Kuhn leaned on family members and local business owners to get started. She joined the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce as well as the Blue Water Young Professionals, both of which helped her on her journey.

"The Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in networking, and helped me become more comfortable with public speaking," she says. "Through the chamber and Young Professionals, I met other young entrepreneurs and community leaders."

Castillo says that's a a big part of the chamber's role is, to help connect business owners to the right people and resources, as well as advocating for small businesses.

"We're here to be a partner. We're really trying to make it seamless to help entrepreneurs get started in our community," she says.

New businesses typically join the chamber after some initial startup and planning has taken place, says Chamber Membership Manager Joyce Doyle. But that doesn't mean they're not keen to help out brand new entrepreneurs, too.

"It's our hundredth anniversary in the county, and we still have four original members who have been around 100 years, two of which are still owned by the same families," says Doyle. "The Blue Water area was built by entrepreneurs."

She adds many entrepreneurs in the area find working with the chamber to be a cost-effective tool to support and build their small businesses. Home-based businesses are also welcome to join and take advantage at a lower membership level.

"This community is amazing at helping each other," says Kuhn of her startup experience. "If I needed something or had questions, everyone was willing to help out or point me in the right direction."

The path to starting a new business involves a lot more than being skilled in your field or knowing there's a need for your services, she says. In her case, while she knew a lot about acupuncture, she didn't necessarily know how to run a business. She used her newly cultivated local l networks to help her learn more about how to succeed in business, and how to be a good saleswoman for herself and her practice.

"I've made a lot of mistakes but I've learned from them," she says. "At the beginning, when your phone isn't ringing and you have bills to pay, it can be terrifying. You think, 'What did I do?'You stick with it, keep working at it."

Kuhn says that if she could do anything differently she'd have gotten more connected with the Michigan Small Business Development Center  programs in the beginning stages of her business. For the Blue Water area, the SBDC staffer to get in touch with is Mike Mancini, who works from both the chamber and St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) offices. Resources available from the SBDC include startup planning, marketing support, workshops for business owners, financial management services, and even grant funding in some cases.

More help on the way
A brand-new asset for fledgling entrepreneurs in the area is Blue Water Startups, a community group and resource hub run by Port Huron business owner Matt Brooks, which Kuhn calls a great place to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs.

There are several other programs to help entrepreneurs kick-start their businesses.
The St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance offers entrepreneurship and innovation programs that tie into local, state, and national resources from the Small Business Development Center to help with Michigan business filings and forms. The EDA also hosts regular forums where startups and existing businesses can pitch expansion or new ideas to local banks for funding, receive training, and connect with larger partners and community stakeholders.

Start-up capital is available in the community, as well. The EDA is about to launch a new 'pre-seed' fund to help support startups and  Community Capital Club, or C3, considers requests for start-up investments in the region.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County is working in collaboration with the EDA and Blue Water Startups to make the most out of local partnerships.
In April, another resource for entrepreneurial and small business support is slated to open its doors in Port Huron with the Underground Innovation Center. The center will offer co-working space, small startup incubation and acceleration programs.

Kuhn says the key to succeeding in business in the Blue Water area is to be determined and reach out to the many willing hands available to help.

"Don't be afraid," advises Kuhn. "Do your due diligence and work hard, but don't let fear get in the way of your dream. Do not hesitate to ask for help. There are so many resources available."

Kim Eggleston is a Michigan-based freelance writer and editor.