Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (Great Lakes WBC) is a nonprofit champion for women and minority business owners. We provide access to capital, corporate procurement opportunities, certification for women-owned business enterprises, and small business educational support. We represent more than 1,400 Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified women’s business enterprises generating approximately $8.6 billion in annual revenue and employing 48,000 U.S. workers as well as 90+ corporate partners in a diverse range of industry sectors. We provided $8 million in loans to small business owners who created 1,800 jobs. Through the Michigan Women’s Marketplace and in-person sessions, we have trained more than 15,000 business owners and entrepreneurs.
Our Members
Our membership comprises various small and large businesses, including more than 1,400 certified women-owned businesses, corporate partners, government agencies, healthcare, and public institutions.
Our Initiatives
Certification – in partnership with Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), we provide nationally recognized women’s business enterprise (WBE) certification for women-owned businesses registered in Michigan and Indiana. We are a regional partner organization of WBENC, the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States, and is a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.
Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Services – offers new Women Business Enterprises (WBE) orientations, WBE Forums, events, and services to leverage business growth and opportunities to build relationships and connect women-owned businesses with other WBEs and Corporates to increase capacity.
CEED Lending – provides access to capital for business owners to ensure success and assist in building strong businesses. Business Loans are available in the following counties within Southeast Michigan: Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
Women’s Business Center – delivers one-on-one business counseling, mentoring, training, and is partially funded by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), and all programs are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Michigan Women’s Marketplace (miwomen.com) – is an online business community that provides web-based training, access to resources, an events calendar, and a Women’s Business Directory.
Great Lakes WBC Membership – provides access, connections, and engagement opportunities. Benefits include discounted events pricing, WEupdates electronic briefings, recognition for corporations, nonprofit, government entities, public institutions, and women-owned businesses.
