FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2023, Sterling Heights, MI – Velocity, the Macomb County SmartZone, was selected by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) to offer the new Resource Navigator program driven by Start Up Space. The new platform will provide small businesses, business service providers, and startups in Macomb County a place to find resources needed to start, launch, and grow a business.
“EIC focuses on data-driven insights and solutions drawn from the voices of small businesses and we are honored to welcome Macomb County and Velocity to our national network ,” said David Ponraj, founder and CEO of Economic Impact Catalyst. “Velocity shares our belief that entrepreneurship holds the power to solve some of the most critical problems faced by communities and we look forward to supporting their growth.”
MEDC’s goals for this initiative include:
- Build a statewide network of business support resources, with content handpicked by ecosystem experts.
- Provide partnering hubs with a community-building platform to support general programming and projects.
- Continue to form a strong network of connections among business support ecosystems.
Resource Navigator maps the business ecosystem to offer individuals access to information and services that meet their specific needs–funding, marketing, legal, strategy, coaching, education, events, and much more. Partners and established businesses can also create a profile for their company, positioning their listing as a trusted source for individuals seeking guidance.
“We want to make navigating resources very accessible, transparent, and open,” added April Boyle, Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Interim Director of Velocity. “Entrepreneurship isn’t a private club, so we want everyone to have equitable and equal access to resources. In turn, we hope this accelerates each business’ growth.”
Velocity’s expanded partnership with MEDC will provide Macomb County’s small businesses with the tools they need to grow.
“MEDC aims to support Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping small businesses launch, stabilize and grow,” said Amy Rencher, SVP of Small Business for MEDC. “The success of Resource Navigator programs is vital to the state’s overall entrepreneurial ecosystem. We applaud their efforts and wish them continued success.”
Learn more about Velocity’s Resource Navigator: