I have had the privilege this summer to be an intern at MWF for the WEI Team. With this being my first internship, I had no idea what to expect. Little did I know that my experience here would be nothing short of transformative. The team here gave me the warmest welcome and has made … Read more
Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit this August as we join the nation in celebrating National Black Business Month. Throughout this month-long observance, we pay tribute to the incredible achievements of black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, who have made a profound impact on our communities and economy. Among the approximately 124,551 black-owned businesses, an impressive 28.5% (35,547) of … Read more
Female entrepreneurs are entering the startup space in large numbers. In fact, the number of women entrepreneurs has more than doubled within the past 20 years. According to the Small Business Trends Alliance, the reasons women give for starting their own businesses are 1. Become their own boss 2. To pursue their passion 3. To … Read more
It is with mixed emotions I write my final blog as Michigan Women Forward’s Chief Lending Officer. My journey with MWF began nearly nine years ago when I joined the board as a volunteer. The journey has been one that took me from volunteer to full time employee and allowed me to play a prominent … Read more
As we strive to level the playing field for entrepreneurs at MWF, we recognize there are various factors that impede entrepreneur’s ability to access the resources required to be successful. Access to a network, capital, and time are all barriers that many entrepreneurs face but even the most successful can be halted by biases. At … Read more
Recently, we completed the spring Digital Marketing Series sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. Three virtual sessions gave forty-seven participants tools and resources to develop their online presence and digital marketing plans. Workshop topics included Mapping Your Customer Journey, Developing a Digital Strategy, and Basics of Google Ads and Video Marketing. MWF partnered with Katrina Turnbow, founder … Read more
As the Technical Assistance Business Consultant at Michigan Women Forward, I have enjoyed seeing businesses grow over the past year and a half. I truly value the impact of our work and being part of the WEI (Women Entrepreneurial Initiative) Team. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at the Let’s Get Your Business Funded W/ … Read more
The new Microloan Program: Michigan Economic Opportunity Fund has launched statewide with funding of $10 million dedicated to providing loans up to $50,000 to women and entrepreneurs of color who don’t qualify for traditional loans through banks or other financial institutions. The Michigan Economic Opportunity Fund will diversify the economy by providing equitable access to … Read more
Michigan Women Forward’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative seeks applicants who want to understand their financial performance and predict future financial success. “Let’s Get Your Financials in Order” is a program for existing businesses located in St Clair County. The program will consist of 4 weeks of in-person training with Shelly Obrzut, EA. She will cover the … Read more
“ Day Care providers it is time to get your financials in order” MWF and W.K. Kellogg Foundation are seeking early childhood education providers that want to understand their financial performance and predict future financial success. Let’s Get Your Financials In Order – Early Childhood Education(ECE) is a program for ECE providers located in Baxter, … Read more