Entrepreneurship is at the heart of doing business in the U.P., and a new Hancock center is open to support even more local entrepreneurs.
It's a collaboration between MTEC Smart Zone, Finlandia University, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and it's called the
Entrepreneur Support Center.
Basically, it's going to make office space, equipment, training, and start-up resources available for Keweenaw entrepreneurs and small businesses, who can use the resources there to help their bright ideas take off.
"This center is unique in that it provides entrepreneurs with a short-term office as well as professional guidance to launch the business they are starting," says MTEC SmartZone Program Director Jonathan Leinonen of the new center.
Among the other services offered are entrepreneurial training for small product and service businesses, including business planning and research, finance, marketing and product development.
Both the MTEC Smart Zone and Finlandia are interested in incubating local businesses, and the center brings all those resources together, backed by a grant from the MEDC. The grant paid for equipment and the outfitting of a training center with broadband internet, videoconferencing, computer workstations, business software, printers, copier, phones, and meeting rooms.
There even are some start-up businesses ready to move in to the center, which have been working previously with the METC Smart Zone and Finlandia. Leinonen and Bonnie Holland, who is the director of Finlandia's Jutila Center for Global Design and Business, both have their offices right in the center as well.
The university and Smart Zone also have partnerships with local businesses and industry leaders, who will act as consultants for start-ups in the beginning stages, and then help them take it to the next level as well.
"With assistance from business mentors, most entrepreneurs will be able to complete the start-up steps then locate into one of the local business incubators to continue growing," says Leinonen.
The programs target individuals or teams with solid ideas for a business or those who are in the early stages of start-up. The center is designed to help them for six to nine months, with the goal of having a running business at the end of their program. There is a $100 introductory fee to begin using the Entrepreneur Support Center, and participants must meet business goals throughout the process to continue receiving support. Applications and more details are online.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jonathan Leinonen, MTEC Smart Zone
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