That's why about 100 current and potential business owners gathered at the Riverfront Banquet Center. They're sharing success strategies as part of the Chamber's annual Jumpstart event.
"My goal is to start a hospice home to care for the elderly. A lot of people need care for their loved ones," aspiring business owner Christina Lawson said.
"My whole point of being here is to help new entrepreneurs understand what they're getting into and what challenges they could have in the future," Preston Means from Accu-Shape Die Cutting Inc. said.
Andrew Hanoush operates Hutchinson's Food and Drug on Flint's North Side. He's attended several Jumpstarts and believes they've helped keep him in business. "You start with a small idea, you talk to a few people and it turns into something big. Things that you don't even think of, other people bring to your attention."
One challenge that all of these entrepreneurs have in common is finding money. That's why the chamber brought out over 20 agencies to provide assistance.
"Access to capital is very difficult. Any time we can help small business prosper and get a leg up is what we want to do," Herman said.
Many people came to Jumpstart looking to grow their business or to maybe to start a new one, while others came looking for a reason to keep their business within Genesee County.
"We don't want to leave Michigan. We love the area," said Marcus Sharp from Fine Print Finders. "If we can get some great, reputable investors that want to back our business model, we'll be more than willing to stay here."
The Genesee Regional Chamber says that keeping business in Mid-Michigan means keeping jobs here, too. The chamber reports that in 2010, 1,600 new jobs were created in Genesee County.
