Resource Library

Walk-in “Startup Hub” in downtown Flint that screens ideas, performs market research, designs prototypes, builds pitch decks, and matches founders with student consultants—removing early-stage hurdles so entrepreneurs can move from concept to company.

Offers hands-on technical assistance plus flexible loans and recoverable grants to farm- and food-related startups and growing firms; has deployed $6 million+ to “good-food” entrepreneurs while providing coaching on finance, operations, and market access.

Seven-story innovation center/coworking hub with on-site advisors, private offices, maker and media studios, workshops, and an events calendar that connects founders with mentors, investors, and peer networks under one roof.

Shared-use commercial kitchen in the Flint Farmers’ Market renting fully equipped space by the hour, guiding members through ServSafe, licensing, recipe scaling, and cost analysis, and hosting “FoodStarters” accelerator cohorts.

Community dinners where founders pitch for a no-strings micro-grant (door proceeds), plus ongoing meet-ups that deliver peer coaching, resource “cheat sheets,” and topical workshops for very early-stage entrepreneurs.

Free or low-cost workforce-development programs—resume labs, interview coaching, digital-skills classes—and candidate pipelines that help small employers recruit trained staff while founders learn foundational HR and retail operations.

SBA-backed term loans bundled with waived bank fees, overdraft-relief, and free Operation HOPE financial-education courses for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned startups through growth and expansion phases.

 A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization that holds monthly meetings on patents, prototyping, licensing, and marketing; provides low-cost peer review, vetted service-provider lists, and scam-avoidance guidance so product developers can commercialize efficiently.

Bilingual (Spanish/English) tech hub offering digital-literacy and coding classes, leadership academies, interpretation/translation services, networking events, and meeting space—supporting Latinx and multicultural founders at every stage.

Statewide network delivering confidential, no-cost one-on-one consulting, custom market-research reports, cybersecurity and export guidance, plus live and on-demand training for every life-cycle stage of a Michigan business.

Downtown makerspace that pairs affordable memberships with hands-on training and open access to 3-D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, wood/metal shops, electronics lab, and jewelry studio—ideal for rapid prototyping and short-run production without buying equipment.

Free co-working and meeting space (up to 24 people), Wi-Fi, whiteboards, projector, reference library, one-on-one business-planning help, regular networking events, and no-cost development workshops for both students and community founders.

Runs campus-wide pitch competition Zillion Solutions, Summer Entrepreneurship Institute for teens, faculty innovation grants, scholarships, and an interdisciplinary speaker series—building entrepreneurial skills and connecting participants with seed funding.

SBA-funded, no-cost counseling on business plans, financials, certifications, and government contracting; hosts Boots-to-Business training and webinars for service members, veterans, Guard/Reserve, and military families across Michigan & Indiana.

Municipal team that assists with site selection, retention/expansion strategy, and direct connections to local, state, and federal incentives—including brownfield TIF, small-business relief funds, and a searchable directory of technical-assistance providers

Regional EDO that guides companies through Michigan incentive programs (MBDP, Jobs Ready MI, brownfield TIF, etc.), offers property and workforce data, hosts entrepreneur workshops, and manages small-business grant programs like Moving Flint Forward.

Statewide NIST-MEP partner delivering on-site consulting and classes in lean, Six Sigma, Industry 4.0 tech adoption, cybersecurity, leadership, and cost management—helping manufacturers boost sales, cut costs, and adopt advanced technologies.

Hosts FAB Lab for digital fabrication, offers customized workforce training and applied R&D projects, and runs a micro-loan program (up to $1 k) for student/alumni startups—supporting product development and talent pipelines for local industry

No-cost one-on-one counseling, bid-match alerts, SAM.gov registration help, and workshops that prepare firms to find, win, and perform on federal, state, and local government contracts—covering seven counties including Genesee.

10-week virtual “boot-camp” for healthcare, med-tech & digital-health startups; provides Lean Startup curriculum, 1-on-1 coaching from industry clinicians & investors, market-discovery support, and a public Demo Day to connect founders with capital.

No-cost talent-development partner for six-county employers: customized recruitment, prescreening, on-the-job & incumbent-worker training grants, apprenticeships, layoff-aversion, onboarding savings, and guidance on federal tax-credit programs (e.g., WOTC, Heroes Act).

Through its Career & Technical Education unit and the Genesee Career Institute, GISD delivers industry-aligned training in high-demand fields, arranges work-based learning, internships, and registered apprenticeships with local employers, and hosts low- or no-cost professional-development workshops—all helping businesses build a skilled talent pipeline and upskill current staff.

Locally based CDFI-credit-union that finances growth through lines of credit, equipment financing, short-/long-term term loans, owner-occupied real-estate & construction loans, SBA products, and business credit cards

National CDFI that channels grants, low-cost loans, and equity investments into small businesses and community projects in under-invested areas; also delivers technical and management assistance through local offices and special relief funds.

Flint CDFI offering Microloans up to $50k for startups and BizTHRIVE loans $50k–$250k for firms 2+ years old, plus BizBOX® planning/technical-assistance cohorts and SBA micro-loan products—tailored capital for underserved entrepreneurs.

Flint-based consultancy and resource network that fills capacity and knowledge gaps for nonprofits & neighborhood-scale businesses—offering strategic planning, board & staff development, 501(c)(3) formation support, grant-writing, mentorship, and entrepreneurship-ecosystem events.

Free, year-round entrepreneurship track for youth 14-18 that combines a 7-week summer boot camp with a 34-week after-school series. Students learn market research, budgeting, and business-plan writing; receive mentoring, job-shadowing, and soft-skills coaching; then pitch their ventures in a “Teen Tank” showcase, earning stipends and seed capital—helping build the region’s next generation of startup founders