 
Objective
/ Department
Components
/ Business
Counseling
/ Business
Training
Business
Research
/ Advocacy
/ Business
Awards
Objective
The Chamber's
Business Store is a business assistance center that provides
existing firms and entrepreneurs with professional assistance
in developing business ventures in greater Battle Creek. The
Chamber's Business Store effectively combines the resources
of various professional and volunteer organizations enabling
it to offer a variety of services at no or a very nominal
charge. The activities of the Michigan Small Business and
Technology Development Center (SBTDC) and the Small Business
Administration (SBA) are all coordinated through the Business
Store. The Chamber is a satellite SBDC within the statewide
network of these organizations. This brings to us many excellent
professional resources, such as marketing and demographic
information, and specialized training and informational materials.
Other local organizations and professionals including universities
and colleges, loan counselors, CPAs, attorneys and marketing
specialists act as important Business Store resources.
Business
Counseling
The Chamber's
Business Store provides professional help and referrals in
areas including business plan development, financial projections,
marketing, licensing requirements, and site selection to people
interested in starting their own business. Additionally, assistance
with reversing cash flow problems, developing sound accounting
practices, producing marketing materials, and packaging loan
proposals is available to those already in business.
Business
Training
The Business
Store provides specialized services in entrepreneurial and
small business training. This training is designed for individuals
or groups who are not currently in business, business start-ups
and existing businesses.
 |
Nuts
and Bolts of Starting a Business:
Classes are held twice monthly at the chamber
offices at Commerce Pointe. This course answers many questions
about starting a business and writing a business plan. |
|
Tuesday
Training for Business
Courses are held the second Tuesday of each
month at the Western Michigan University Kendall Center
in downtown Battle Creek. Topics vary but are always related
to operating a business. |
Business
Research
Secondary
business research can be requested by any Battle Creek Area
Chamber of Commerce member.
Also visit
our extensive list of on-line
resources
available on the web.
Advocacy
By strengthening
local businesses, the activities of the Business Store assist
the chamber in meeting its goal of providing advocacy for
local businesses.
Business
Awards
The Business
Store is the primary sponsor of the prestigious ATHENA™ celebration
each October and the Business Awards celebration held each
May. Both these events highlight local business people and
business owners. They assist the Chamber is its goal of advocating
for local businesses by highlighting these businesses and
their contributions to the community and local economy.
We encourage all interested
area business owners or potential business owners to take
advantage of the many services offered by the Business Store.
For more information, or to register for our courses, please
contact the chamber at 269.962.4076 or Dennis Durham of the
Business Store directly at 269. 962.8996.
For more
information about Business Development at the Chamber, please
write to business
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