West Michigan Chamber Coalition releases new minority and women-owned regional business directory

By Sharon Hanks

Forget the soft cover directory. The newly released 2010 Minority- and Women-Owned Regional Business Directory published by the West Michigan Chamber Coalition is now available online only.

The online version is more versatile than a printed booklet because start-up business can be added immediately to the directory, says Janessa Stroud, vice president of government affairs of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce. Stroud says some businesses needed to wait up to a year to be included in the formerly printed version. The latest 69-page version features 366 businesses in Muskegon, Ottawa and Kent counties in which a minority or a woman own at least 51 percent of the company.

Chamber officials are certain there are many more businesses that qualify to be in the directory because they say the U.S. Census Bureau shows more than 30 percent of the 85,000-plus companies based in West Michigan are owned by minorities or women. "We're always encouraging more participation because it's a great no-cost resource," Stroud says.

Another new feature of the online Business Directory is that the website offers a searchable database, making it easier than ever to find businesses in a specific field. Companies are listed alphabetically and by nearly 200 business categories, such as retail, advertising, construction, business services, etc.

The directory is a joint effort by the Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland chambers of commerce and the chamber representing the communities of Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.

Source: Janessa Stroud, Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, vice president of government affairs; West Michigan Chamber Coalition website

Sharon Hanks is the innovations and job news editor at Rapid Growth Media. She can be reached at [email protected].