Michigan economy: Business incubation and new ventures

May 23, 2011
Contact:
  • umichnews@umich.edu

ANN ARBOR—The Michigan Business Incubator Association will feature keynote speakers from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. at its May 25 conference, “Michigan’s Changing Economy: The Role of Business Incubation and New Venture Creation,” at the East Lansing Marriott at University Place.

“The conference will bring together existing small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore the business-incubation process and what it can offer, to connect with other business owners and service providers, and to learn about business incubation in relation to federal and state initiatives that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation,” said Lawrence Molnar, president of the Michigan Business Incubator Association and associate director of the University of Michigan’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy.

Keynote speakers include:

  • Thomas Guevara, deputy assistant secretary for regional affairs at the Economic Development Administration, who directs and supervises the Performance and National Programs Division and all six EDA Regional Offices.
  • Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., who is responsible for executing Gov. Snyder’s economic development strategy.
  • Judith Canales, administrator for rural business and cooperative programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who oversees projects that promote a dynamic business environment in rural America by working in partnership with the private sector, public bodies and community-based organizations. Conference sessions will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 25 and will open with a reception 6-7:30 p.m. the night before, May 24, at Lansing’s City Center Building.Registration: Call (734) 998-6214, email michigan.incubation@gmail.com or visit https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGtUMHk2emVaUFB2UDVacWZ4bk9vYWc6MQ

The Michigan Business Incubator Association, currently hosted at U-M’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy, was established in 1985. It fosters entrepreneurship, new ventures and job creation by promoting and supporting the establishment of business incubators.