Business Support Network Programs

The Business Support Network is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey — whether you’re launching, scaling, or growing your business. 

Through NEI’s grantees, you’ll gain access to a wide range of programs and services, many of which are free and accessible. 

The organizations in our network specialize in areas like business strategy, human resources, capital deployment, legal support, operations, technology, finance, marketing, development, and more.  

View each organization’s programs below and visit their websites to learn more. 


ACCESS

Programs

  • Ignite/Explore
  • 1:1 Coaching
  • BD Program (Business Development)
  • Networking
  • Micro Loan
  • Capital Ready Program

Accounting Aid Society

Programs

  • Initial Consultation
  • Tax Preparation
  • Sales Tax Support
  • One-on-One
  • Excellence Series
  • THRIVE

Arab American Women’s Business Council

Programs

  • NEI Resource Connection Project
  • Mentorship
  • Workforce Development
  • Scholarships
  • Small Business Development
  • Workshops – IG Live

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, human resources, connecting, and development.


BasBlue

Programs

  • Zero-to-One Entrepreneurial Fellowship
  • Founders + Fund(Her)s

Black Leaders Detroit

Programs

  • No-Interest Loan Program

This organization assists with capital deployment.


Build Institute

Programs

  • Entrepreneurial Education (classes, workshops)
  • BUILD Community Conversations/Roundtables
  • BUILD Alumni Externship
  • BUILD Bench (1:1 coaching)
  • Capital (Detroit Soup, KIVA, BUILD Alumni Fund) Grants and Loans
  • Co-Working, Meeting and Event Space

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, human resources, development, connecting, and capital deployment.


Central Detroit Christian CDC

Programs

  • Business planning classes
  • Small Group Financial Management
  • Resource Fairs
  • 1:1 Coaching
  • Referrals
  • Managing space

This organization assists with finance, legal, general strategy, human resources, connecting, and capital deployment.


Centrepolis Accelerator – Lawrence Technological University

Programs

  • Micro Makers Evolution Lab
  • Intake Referrals
  • Design for Manufacturability
  • Tech Thursdays

Design Core Detroit

Programs

  • Detroit Design Network
  • Business Education Programming
  • Drinks X Design
  • Detroit Month of Design
  • Detroit City of Design
  • City of Design Challenges
  • Mobility (GEM Partner)

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, general strategy, and connecting.


Design Economic Growth Corporation

Programs

  • BuyDetroit Virtual Shopping Network
  • BuyDetroit Procurement Portal
  • Marketplace Live 2
  • Passport To Procurement 2
  • Program Extension to Highland Park and Hamtramck
  • Procurement Workshops

Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation

Programs

  • Fantazma Market & Cafe
  • Side Hustle to CEO
  • 1:1 Coaching
  • Community Outreach

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, human resources, and connecting.


Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Programs

  • Queer Equity Impact Fund
  • Queer Impact Fund Cohort
  • COLOURS Gala Business Pitch Competition
  • COLOURS Spring Summit Procurement Readiness On-Demand
  • COLOURS Fall Summit: Back to Basics Event

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, general strategy, connecting, and capital deployment.


E. Warren Development Corp.

Programs

  • E. Warren is a Vibe: The E. Warren Story
  • Clean & Green: Corridor Maintenance Program
  • Developer Assistance Program (DAP)
  • E. Warren Incubation & Technical Assistance
  • Thriving Communities
  • Streetscape Assistance

Eastern Market

Programs

  • Detroit Kitchen Connect Classes
  • DKC Users
  • Accelerator Tenants

This organization assists with finance, legal, operations & technology, general strategy, connecting, human resources, development, and capital deployment.


Endeavor Detroit

Programs

  • Core Offerings
  • Early Support Services (National Selection Program / formally ScaleUp)
  • Events

This organization assists with general strategy and  connecting.


Fair Food Network

Programs

  • 1:1 Technical Assistance
  • Cohort Technical Assistance: Food Business Trainings
  • MI Good Food Fund Capital Lending
  • MI Good Food Fund Grants (Seed Awards, Technical Assistance)
  • MI Good Food Fund Technical Assistance + Capital Pipeline

This organization assists with finance.


Global Detroit

Programs

  • 1:1 Connection and Engagement
  • Deep Dive Referral for Financial Capital
  • Deep Dive Referral for Technical Assistance

This organization assists with legal, general strategy, and connecting.


Grace in Action Collectives

Programs

  • Southwest Detroit Cooperative Network Development
  • Brightly Cleaning Co-op Incubation

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, human resources, and connecting.


Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation

Programs

  • Grand River WorkPlace
  • Northwest Detroit Farmers’ Market
  • Small Business Saturday
  • Grandmont Rosedale Block Party
  • 1-on-1 Business Support
  • Corridor Canvassing
  • Mixed-Use Development Planning
  • Commercial Building Investment, Management, and Maintenance

Great Lakes Women’s Business Council

Programs

  • CEED Lending
  • WBE Certification
  • WBC Advising
  • WBC Training
  • MentorWE Program
  • Business Growth Program

Jefferson East, Inc.

Programs

  • Small Business Support
  • Community Tech Workers
  • Digital Divide Cohort
  • Jefferson Chalmers Shop Small
  • Business Canvassing
  • Resource Fairs
  • Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
  • BIZ Organizing
  • Clean Jefferson
  • Safe Jefferson
  • Laptop Distribution

Live6 Alliance

Programs

  • SPACE (pop-ups and retail at 7434 W. McNichols
  • EDUCATION
  • PLACEMAKING through corridor events and initiatives
  • CLEAN AND SAFE
  • DISTRICT (Identity/Branding/Marketing)
  • TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Michigan Black Business Alliance

Programs

  • Capital Connect
  • Biz Wiz
  • Walk-In Wednesday

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, human resources, development, and connecting.


Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Programs

  • Starting Your Business Basics
  • Technical Assistance Training
  • Entrepreneurial Skills Training
  • Access to Capital Workshops
  • Networking Engagements

Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC)

Programs

  • Workshops
  • 1:1s

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, general strategy, and connecting.


Michigan Women Forward

Programs

  • WomanUp & Pitch
  • 1:1 Loan Technical Assistance
  • Building the Digital Divide
  • General Technical Assistance Workshops
  • Early Childhood Education Program
  • Microloan Program

Midtown Detroit, Inc.

Programs

  • Small Business Support


Osborn Neighborhood Alliance

Programs

  • Cohort Training
  • Cohort Supplementary Support
  • Topical General/Association Monthly Meet-up
  • OBA Community Business Pop-up Activations

ProsperUs Detroit

Programs

  • Business 101
  • Entrepreneur Training Program
  • Financial Coaching
  • Business Services
  • Business Coaching
  • Contractor Programming (Pilot)
  • Food Programming
  • Microlending

SCORE Southeast Michigan

Programs

  • Mentoring
  • Business Workshops

Southwest Detroit Business Association

Programs

  • Small Business Advocacy Center
  • Mexicantown Mainstreet
  • Business Improvement District
  • Façade Improvement Program
  • Center of Music & Performing Arts Southwest (COMPÁS)
  • Whippet Wipeout Campaign
  • Patton Park Community Outreach – Green Stormwater Infrastructure
  • Second Floor Residential Grant Program
  • La Joya Gardens Development Project
  • LISC Southwest Detroit Industrial Project

TechTown Detroit

Programs

  • 313 Strong
  • Retail Boot Camp
  • Pop-up Incubation
  • Training Series 
  • TechTown Strategy Sessions
  • Ask an Expert

Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project – University of Michigan

Programs

  • Semester Course Matching with Students
  • Accounting Workshops & 1:1 Coaching
  • 1:1 Consulting & Referrals
  • Video and Toolkit Creation
  • Holiday Market Hosting
  • Internship (Pending Faculty Funding)

Zaman International

Programs

  • BOOST Entrepreneurship Program Phase 1
  • BOOST Entrepreneurship Program Phase 2
  • BOOST Entrepreneurship Program Graduate Business Support

This organization assists with finance, legal, marketing, operations & technology, general strategy, development, and connecting.