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The Women’s Business Center (WBC) is hosted by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council in Livonia, Michigan. Since 1994, the center has served as a U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women’s Business Center. We have built a reputation as being the experts in the community when it comes to business growth and sustainability programming for women.
WBC offers a strategic set of programs for women, assisting them in growing their business to the next level. Offering programs under the categories of financing, business development, management, strategy, leadership, networking, and market opportunities. Women’s Business Center’s core services include counseling (individual and group), group mentoring, and training (live and web-based) through its customized workshops, execWE® event, and the Michigan Women’s Marketplace.
Services to Individuals with Disabilities and Language Barriers
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language barriers will be made on a case-by-case basis. Requests must be in advance and should be directed to the Director of Business Education, sdixon@greatlakeswbc.org.
Lawrence Jackson received the Monica Echeverri Casarez Neighborhood Hero Award at the ProsperUs Detroit 10-Year Celebration. This inaugural award acknowledges the contributions to the ProsperUS Detroit communities by honoring entrepreneurs, supporters, and small business advocates. The award was named in honor of Monica Echeverri Casarez, a former trainer, and advocate of ProsperUS Detroit, who was a casualty of the early COVID-19 pandemic. Lawrence is the Business Counselor for the Business Growth Program at Great Lakes WBC. Congratulations, Lawrence. Well deserved!!
Shawntay Dixon, Women’s Business Center Program Manager of Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (WBC) has been named 2021 Marsha Bailey Leadership Award Winner. As anyone at Great Lakes WBC can attest she puts her heart and soul into promoting and helping women-owned businesses. Congratulations Shawntay!
The SBA honored Shawntay Dixon and the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council as the Women’s Business Center of Excellence at the 16th Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala on July 28, 2020. “It is an honor to receive this award from the Michigan District. This fruitful partnership has allowed us to see hundreds of women-owned businesses flourish because of the innovative programming we provide. We look forward to continuing to meet the needs of our women, especially in these uncertain times.” Shawntay Dixon, Program Manager, Women’s Business Center.
The Michigan Women’s Marketplace (MWM) is the portal of the women’s business center. The MWM Online Training and Resource Center provides webinars (live and on-demand), links to business resources, the Michigan Women-Owned Business Directory, a calendar of events, and WElead profiles of women making an impact. MWM has relationships with over 75 business resource partners that specialize in supporting women business owners.
The services of Michigan Women’s Marketplace are provided free of charge.
execWE provides existing women business owners with executive business and leadership training for second-stage growth. The event’s mission is to empower women executives and business leaders to step away from working in the business to working on the business.
MentorWE, a group mentoring initiative, which pairs women business owners in an industry/sector-specific cohort guided by an established woman business owner(s) in the same field. A corporate member sponsor is also involved in preparing the woman for successful procurement opportunities in the field.
The Business Growth Program (BGP) is a 10-week program offered by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council to assist Wayne County-based businesses in leveraging their certification through education and business growth strategies.
Through this program, the small business owner will receive hands-on consulting to address key business challenges and determine strategies for business growth. Individuals will go through an educational process to prepare for viable opportunities. Through engagement, individuals will strengthen their business presentation skills, and engage with corporate members.
BGP is designed for owners/founders of businesses who meet the following criteria:
More About Business Growth Program
At the Women’s Business Center at Great Lakes WBC, we work hard to ensure that everyone that reaches out has an opportunity to become better at their businesses. We provide resources that help save businesses, help people to pivot, and provide the help needed to continue in growth and hope. As part of a national campaign through the Association of Women’s Business Centers, our WBC is asking you to give Gifts From the Heart to help more women business owners who reach out to our WBC to succeed! Will you join us in the giving? $5 from each of you means we could reach our goal of $15,000. We can do this together!
Give Gifts From the Heart HERE
Great Lakes Women’s Business Center (WBC) is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the Great Lakes WBC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made when requested.
WBC Hours
Monday-Friday | 8:00 am — 5:00 pm ET
Consultations By Appointment Only
After-hours appointments are available
Call 734-677-1400
Email sdixon@greatlakeswbc.org
The Michigan Women’s Marketplace (MWM) is the portal of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s SBA Women’s Business Center, which provides one-to-one counseling, training, and access to business resources.
