Our Partners
ATHENAPowerLink®
The ATHENA Foundation was founded in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan to encourage leadership opportunities for women. The foundation sponsors both ATHENA Award ceremonies and the ATHENAPowerLink® program throughout the country.
ATHENAPowerLink® is a national mentoring program that connects selected women business owners with a skilled advisory panel. The advisory panel, which is made up of lawyers, bankers, accountants, insurance agents and business advisors, will provide free business consultation for one year. The panel will consult to help the business owner achieve networking, capital operational and strategic goals. The program will also help enhance the business owner's leadership and management skills for future business endeavors.
Mid-Michigan ATHENAPowerLink® Seeks Applicants
for Regional ATHENAPowerLink® Program
MidMichigan AthenaPowerLink® is seeking applications for woman-owned businesses to participate in a year-long program designed to increase the growth and profitability of her business.
The ATHENAPowerLink® Program (APL) has been successfully implemented in more than twenty cities across the United States resulting in significant economic impact for the woman business owners who have participated. In Mid-Michigan, the program began in 2005 with the generous support of Chemical Bank and Trust Company and the Midland Cogeneration Venture. The program is being expanded from Midland County to include businesses in Bay and Saginaw Counties, and will enable three Mid-Michigan companies to experience the benefits of the proven system of support.
APL is a trademarked program of ATHENA International and is locally administered by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) at Delta College. The business will be selected based on its need and potential for growth. The Mid-Michigan ATHENAPowerLink® will then convene a team of experts in such fields as banking, human resources, entrepreneurship, sales, public accounting, law and others to advise the woman business owner on how she can access capital, implement best practices and reach her operational and strategic goals.
Business Application Criteria
- Businesses must be at least 51% owned and actively managed by a woman,
- Minimum of two years in operation
- Minimum of two full-time employees (including the owner)
- Annual revenues of at least
- $250,000 for retail or manufacturing businesses
- $100,000 for service businesses
- Clearly defined company objectives and goals with explicit reasons for seeking assistance from ATHENAPowerLink® in meeting those objectives and goals
"According to the Center for Women's Business Research, nearly half (48%) of all privately-held U.S. firms are 50% or more women-owned. We recognize the influence and potential of women-owned businesses and are pleased to offer APL as an opportunity for women to excel; strengthening the economic viability of their businesses and their communities."
Dorothy Huisman, Executive Director of ATHENA International
Print an application. For additional information contact Christine M. Greve by phone (989) 686-9597 or email christinegreve@delta.edu
Mid-Michigan Innovation Team (MMIT) is a network of people, projects and partners reinventing mid-Michigan's economy, working in 13 counties encompassing two million people. MMIT is anchored by Flint, Lansing, Midland, Saginaw and the Thumb. To learn more, visit MMIT.
Service Corps of Retired Executies (SCORE) is a non-profit organization sponsored by the SBA. SCORE is dedicated to the small business community through free mentoring and business counseling. www.score.org
Libraries
Thinking of starting your own business? Libraries have resources to help you discover if you have what it takes to go into business and point you in the right direction of the basic information needed to take those first steps. A large business reference collection will contain many valuable and useful resources for entrepreneurs. Library staff answer questions on a wide variety of business topics and will help you find the information you need. Printed materials/resources are available to check out; others are reference materials and must be used on site. Websites are accessible from library computers for business research. For additional information, you are encouraged to go to the library reference desk.
Delta College Library
www.delta.edu/library
Public Libraries of Saginaw
www.saginawlibrary.org
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library
www.midland-mi.org/gracedowlibrary
Bay County Library System
www.baycountylibrary.org
Biz Info Library (BIL)
www.bizinfolibrary.org
Michigan eLibrary
mel.lib.mi.us
Chambers of CommerceThe Michigan Small Business & Technology Development CenterTM has relationships with most local Chambers of Commerce. These organizations are membership-based, but you do not need to be a member to receive MI-SBTDCTM assistance. The Chambers of Commerce provide a wealth of assistance for small business. Listed below are several local chambers:
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
www.baycityarea.com
Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce
www.saginawchamber.org
Midland Area Chamber of Commerce
www.macc.org
Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce
www.frankenmuth.org
Saginaw Small Business Information Network
The Saginaw Small Business Information Network (SSBiN) provides informational and networking resources for new and existing businesses in the Saginaw, Michigan area. SSBiN seeks to streamline information access and availability for small businesses, providing solid resources for decision-making, creating a unique mix of economic development programs, and building a network of regional partners focused on growing business within the Saginaw Valley. www.ssbin.org
Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
Economic Development Corporations reach to serve as a one-stop resource for business retention, expansion, investment and relocation projects to strengthen the economic base within counties and the state.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
www.themedc.org
Bay Future Inc
www.bayfuture.com
Saginaw Future Inc www.saginawfuture.com
Midland Tomorrow
www.midlandtomorrow.org
More Partners
Bay County Growth Alliance
Website: www.co.bay.mi.us
City of Bay City
Website: www.baycitymi.org
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