Business Resource Center Kalamazoo Bank Consortium for Innovation This organized group of 11 bank presidents provides expertise and mentoring support to companies and and gives bank leadership an option for supporting business concepts which are not traditionally fundable. Kalamazoo SmartZone Michigan SmartZones are collaborations between universities, industry, research organizations, government, and other community institutions intended to stimulate the growth of technology-based businesses and jobs by aiding in the creation of recognized clusters of new and emerging businesses, those primarily focused on commercializing ideas, patents, and other opportunities surrounding corporate, university or private research institute efforts. Michigan Economic Development Corporation The Michigan Economic Development Corporation offers business assistance for Michigan companies or companies considering a location in the state. Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center regional office, affiliated with the L. Lee Stryker Center at Kalamazoo College is one of 12 offices statewide, providing services and support to the Michigan small business community in the areas of counsel, training, and research. Michigan Technical Education Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College The Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) in the Groves of Kalamazoo Valley Community College was established as an economic development initiative to work in partnership with local and state economic development agencies in assisting businesses maintain and/or grow their businesses. Southwest Michigan First Sites & Locations Database A listing of facilities available throughout the Kalamazoo Region, including land, industrial and office sites. Southwest Michigan Innovation Center The Innovation Center is a 58,000-square-foot incubator/accelerator designed to provide wet-lab space, access to venture funding and business services to emerging companies in biosciences and high technology. Construction for the new facility, located at the Western Michigan University Business Technology Research Park in Kalamazoo, a state-designated SmartZone, was completed in the spring of 2003. Southwest Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center The Center provides a free service to help businesses understand and win federal and state contracts. The center helps business find existing government leads using a bid match service. Venture Funds One of the most crucial assets to any start-up company is access to venture capital. This also tends to be the most difficult asset to attain. Southwest Michigan First understands the importance of venture capital and have made it easier for companies in the Kalamazoo Region to gain access to the Region's active venture funds. Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park The Park is a high-tech business development located in the Kalamazoo SmartZone. It shares WMU's Parkview Campus with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS). The park's location means partner firms in the life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology will have regular opportunities to interact with the faculty, research staff and students of one of the nation's top public universities.

Office Location: 241 East Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Mailing Address: PO Box 50827, Kalamazoo, MI 49005-0827 (P) 269.553.9588 (F) 269.553.6897 © Southwest Michigan First Privacy Statement    Terms of Use