With the Michigan economic climate ripe for entrepreneurship, the need for services in starting a business, tracking down funding, building a business plan and researching the market has been on the upward trend. Because small businesses are challenged with a variety of problems related to their size and are often plagued with undercapitalization and limited business resources, the Grand Rapids Public Library developed the Small Business Resource Center.
Developed in 2008, the free-with-a-library-card service was funded by the Titche Family Fund at the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation. "It arose from a need in the community," articulates Adult Services Librarian Sophia Ward Brewer. "We were receiving a large number of requests at the information desk."
The Small Business Resource Center offers printed resources, online mega-databases and on-site classes on how to start, maintain and grow your own budding entrepreneurial idea. In fact, a librarian will walk you through the entire process.
"It's a plethora of resources," explains Sophia. And it's apparently in high-demand, with over an estimated 2,100 people visiting the center in their last fiscal year.
"I've been coming to the Grand Rapids Public Library for a little over a year now utilizing the Small Business Resource Center to build a beverage company," say Tim Bracey, an entrepreneur starting his own energy drink beverage company. "The service [the staff] has provided has been invaluable. They've been extremely helpful in directing me to resources to help me write business letters, to do research and find grant money."
Grab your library card and check out the Small Business Resource Center. It's invaluable to our budding entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Want to be a do-gooder? Sure you do! Check out these links related to the Grand Rapids Public Library:
• Call the library at 616-988-5400 with your inquiries
Source: Kristen Krueger-Corrado, Grand Rapids Public Library; Sophia Ward Brewer, Grand Rapids Public Library
Writer: Jennifer Wilson, Do Good Editor
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