Providing resources for communities and entrepreneurs to create and retain jobs in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan & Emmet Counties.

Business Counseling

Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

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The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance offers assistance depending on your expertise and background, to help you get started in business.  We offer a wide range of trainings and workshops; utilizing the most comprehensive academic and economic development resources available today from our many federal, state and local partners, including the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (Mi-SBTDC).

Whether you are a new business start-up, or Fortune 500 company seeking to expand, our experienced staff will help you with a wide variety of industry-specific issues, and challenges, then work with you on an on-going basis to identify and prepare for growth opportunities.

Among the many services we offer:

  • Business & Management Advice
  • Financial Assistance
  • Financial Analysis
  • Marketing Assistance
  • Research
  • Strategy Development & Implementation
  • Leadership & Employee Performance

To register for one of our monthly business orientation classes; trainings or workshops; or schedule a confidential, no-cost business counseling appointment with one of our staff, please contact the NLEA by email or at (231) 582-6482. (To receive counseling, you must have attended our orientation class, or have owned/operated a business previously.)

"The ongoing relationship with our NLEA business counselor has been tremendous in our understanding of available resources and the accountability to examine, with due diligence, every decision that impacts cash flow".   Sari King, Green Plate Catering
 

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

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SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a great source of free and confidential small business advice to help you build your business—from idea, to startup, to success.

SCORE is composed of more than 13,000 volunteer working and retired executives, who counsel businesses from 364 chapter offices throughout the country. They share their wisdom and lessons learned in business with aspiring entrepreneurs helping them start, grow and manage their businesses.

SCORE volunteers hail from every facet of the business community; some have worked at large corporations; while others have served in our military or worked for the local or federal government; and even more, spending years cultivating their own small businesses.

Last year, SCORE stimulated economic growth by helping almost 20,000 entrepreneurs throughout the country launch their businesses. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Association.

To learn more about SCORE and their FREE counseling services please contact the NLEA by email, or by phone at 231-582-6482; or visit the Tip of the Mitt and Traverse City SCORE Chapter websites:

  • Tip of the Mitt Score
    Serving Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego Counties
    To schedule a confidential appointment, please call 231-347-4150
     
  • Traverse City Score
    Serving the Greater Traverse City Area
    To schedule a confidential appointment, please call 888-796-4913

If at any time you would like the services of a business counselor, simply click here to find out how you can schedule a confidential appointment with a trained & certified MI-SBTDC business counselor; call the NLEA at 231-582-6482 or your local Chamber of Commerce for more information.