The South Haven Regional Business Hub is the result of caring professionals with successful business careers coming together to foster a new strategy that seeks to capitalize on promising small business formation rates after a decade of stagnation; that seeks to play a role in local economic development strategies designed to foster year around economic growth activity; and to assure the strategy reaches, in particular, the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to provide the tools for them to build wealth.
Mission
- Our Mission: To drive regional economic prosperity by growing and sustaining successful small businesses through innovative education and critical connections to capital, mentorship, and community for entrepreneurs across Southwest Michigan.
- Our Vision: We envision Southwest Michigan as a thriving, connected entrepreneurial region where innovation is fostered and business owners have the community and resources they need to grow and prosper.
- Our Values: Collaboration, Impact, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Agility, Purpose, and Respect.
- Who we serve: Our target audience includes aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the startup and early growth stages.
- Tagline: Empowering Entrepreneurs, Elevating Southwest Michigan.
- Our Guiding Principles: Combining collective knowledge, connections, and resources of the community, creating initiatives, and partnerships for all our local entrepreneurs.
What We Do
- Personalized Mentorship: Guiding small business owners to success.
- Essential Resources: Tools and templates to help businesses grow.
- Networking Opportunities: Connecting like-minded individuals and potential partners.
- Targeted Programs: Startup and Growth initiatives to address specific business stages.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which allows us to provide FREE programming like this:
Our Programming
Workshop Series for Startups/Early Startups
Turn your idea into reality. The South Haven Regional Business Hub offers a free 6-month Startup and Development Series. Get the tools, knowledge, and connections you need to succeed. Local and regional partners referred more than 17 people to the workshops.
Growth Series for Businesses Looking to Scale
Along with one-on-one individual mentoring during the 20 weeks of our Growth Series participants will attend in-person workshops focusing on additional processes for consistency and growth not identified through the Growth Wheel.
Strong Leader Series
The Strong Leader Series™ is a three-part professional development experience designed to help leaders at every level increase their influence, think strategically, and bring out the best in others.
Small Business Successes
Clients successes with South Haven Regional Business Hub programming include:
- A farmer in rural Bangor is on the path to become USDA Certified.
- A mattress retailer is relocating to South Haven.
- An HVAC contractor from Bangor is launching soon.
- A couple from Wisconsin are opening a bed & breakfast and winery in South Haven.
- A young entrepreneur is in the process of raising funds for a South Haven hostel.
- An accounting firm has launched in South Haven and is serving multiple clients.
- A mentor has been assigned to a couple who have begun a recycling plant and are looking to grow and hire 8 new employees.
- A South Haven business owner is preparing to scale his development business in multiple locations while working with a mentor.
Partners
