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Women’s Business Center (WBC)


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.

2024 Women's Business Center of Excellence

The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council was named Women’s Business Center of Excellence by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The ceremony was held in Washington D.C. during National Small Business Week. At the event, four Resource Partners were honored from across the nation. Director of Business Education Shawntay LaNesha Dixon represented the Council and was lauded by the SBA for her work in development and with implementing business development programs.

Great Lakes WBC’s Director of Business Education Shawntay Dixon receives Women’s Business Center of Excellence award from the U.S. Small Business Administration at ceremony held in Washington D.C. to mark National Small Business Week.

Shawntay Dixon [R] receives Women’s Business Center of Excellence award from the U.S. Small Business Administration
Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman [C] at ceremony held in Washington D.C. to mark National Small Business Week. 

Shawntay Dixon and Christina Hale, SBA Assistant Administrator, Head Of Office Of Women’s Business Ownership

Online Training and Resource 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

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

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.

Business Growth Program (Wayne County Businesses)

Next Level Business Growth Program

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.

Eligibility

BGP is designed for owners and founders of businesses who meet the following criteria:

  • Have been in operation for at least two years
  • Generate a minimum of $250,000 in annual revenues
  • 2 – 10 employees
  • Possess at least one certification: WBE, MBE, or DBE

More About Business Growth Program


LaunchU

For 40 years, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, a champion for women and minority businesses, provides access to capital, certification for women-owned businesses, corporate contracting opportunities, and small business educational support. These supports create leveraged growth for small businesses.

 In 2023, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s Women’s Business Center became a Kauffman FastTrac® affiliate. Its newest initiative, Launch U, utilizes the FastTrac® curriculum, a world-renowned entrepreneurial education program, which provides early-stage entrepreneurs a structured, innovative, and principle-driven approach to starting and growing their businesses.

Kauffman FastTrac® aims to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship by providing entrepreneurs with practical learning materials delivered online and via teaching partners. In doing so, FastTrac® will encourage and equip more people to start businesses, contributing to increased startup activity nationwide. 

More About LaunchU

PrimeTime Connect!

WBE Forums, renowned for their pioneering efforts in cultivating collaboration and knowledge exchange within the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) sector, are gearing up to host dynamic events led by industry luminaries. These forums serve as vibrant hubs where entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals converge to share insights, strategies, and best practices for advancing women-led businesses. With a commitment to inclusivity, WBE Forums welcome individuals from all backgrounds and industries, fostering an environment of open dialogue and mutual learning. Whether exploring emerging trends, addressing challenges, or celebrating successes, these events promise to inspire, empower, and propel the WBE community toward new heights of excellence. All are invited to join this transformative journey of growth and innovation.

View Recorded Sessions

 

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Resource Partner

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. 

Gifts From the Heart

At the Women’s Business Center at Great Lakes WBC, we work hard to ensure that everyone who 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


Marsha Bailey Leadership Award Winner Shawntay Dixon

Shawntay Dixon Martha Bailey Award Recipient

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!

National WBC of Excellence Graduation

The Association of Women’s Business Centers works to secure economic justice and entrepreneurial opportunities for women by supporting and sustaining a national network of nearly 150 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). WBCs help women succeed in business by providing training, mentoring, business development, and financing opportunities to over 150,000 women entrepreneurs each year.

WBC Hours 

Monday-Friday | 8:00 am — 5:00 pm ET
Consultations By Appointment Only
After-hours appointments are available
Call 734-677-1400
sdixon@greatlakeswbc.org

Powered by SBA (U.S. Small Business Admindration)

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. 

Great Lakes Women’s Business Council Graduates National Women’s Business Centers of Excellence Program

Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s Women’s Business Center is honored to be recognized for graduating in the inaugural cohort with the National Women’s Business Center of Excellence program offered by the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) and sponsored by Dutch Bros.
Over the series of Five Milestone Assignments, WBCs partnered with a peer in their cohort to identify gaps and opportunities for the WBC to improve in a variety of areas; including strategic goal-setting, service delivery, continuous improvement and/or peer relationships. In order to fulfill these objectives, AWBC recognizes the value of the organization’s volunteers, leadership team and funders which is reflected in the involvement of these stakeholders in the final stages of the designation attainment.