“What can we do to support women-owned small businesses?”
Kim Bode is the Women’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship program director, as well as owner and CEO of Grand Rapids-based 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications. She explains how the program is built to meet the specific needs of women business owners.
“We do a needs assessment on what it is, specifically that their challenges are, and then we build programming to meet that.”
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women own over 900,000 Michigan small businesses but face significant funding disparities, often receiving loans 50% smaller than men. The program helps women navigate those disparities.
“How great it was spending time with these other women business-owners.”
Alli McDonough is the owner of Grand Rapids-based Fido & Stitch and a participant in last year’s inaugural cohort. She appreciated being partnered with a personalized mentor.
“They ask, ‘What are your goals? Where do you want to be with your business? What things do you need to work on? What things could you benefit from from a mentor in order to get there?’ And they pair you with someone that either has been there or is in that industry.”
The program is free, and applications are currently being accepted through mid-September for the second cohort. More information can be found here.
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