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The Women’s Business Center (WBC) is hosted by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council in Livonia, Michigan. Since 1994, the center has served as a U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women’s Business Center. We have built a reputation as being the experts in the community when it comes to business growth and sustainability programming for women.
WBC offers a strategic set of programs for women, assisting them in growing their business to the next level. Offering programs under the categories of financing, business development, management, strategy, leadership, networking, and market opportunities. Women’s Business Center’s core services include counseling (individual and group), group mentoring, and training (live and web-based) through its customized workshops, execWE® event, and the Michigan Women’s Marketplace.
Services to Individuals with Disabilities and Language Barriers
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language barriers will be made on a case-by-case basis. Requests must be in advance and directed to the Director of Business Education, sdixon@greatlakeswbc.org.
The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council was named Women’s Business Center of Excellence by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The ceremony was held in Washington D.C. during National Small Business Week. At the event, four Resource Partners were honored from across the nation. Director of Business Education Shawntay LaNesha Dixon represented the Council and was lauded by the SBA for her work in development and with implementing business development programs.
Great Lakes WBC’s Director of Business Education Shawntay Dixon receives Women’s Business Center of Excellence award from the U.S. Small Business Administration at ceremony held in Washington D.C. to mark National Small Business Week.
Shawntay Dixon [R] receives Women’s Business Center of Excellence award from the U.S. Small Business Administration
Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman [C] at ceremony held in Washington D.C. to mark National Small Business Week.
Shawntay Dixon and Christina Hale, SBA Assistant Administrator, Head Of Office Of Women’s Business Ownership
The Michigan Women’s Marketplace (MWM) is the portal of the women’s business center. The MWM Online Training and Resource Center provides webinars (live and on-demand), links to business resources, the Michigan Women-Owned Business Directory, a calendar of events, and WElead profiles of women making an impact. MWM has relationships with over 75 business resource partners that specialize in supporting women business owners.
The services of Michigan Women’s Marketplace are provided free of charge.
execWE provides existing women business owners with executive business and leadership training for second-stage growth. The event’s mission is to empower women executives and business leaders to step away from working in the business to working on the business.
The Business Growth Program (BGP) is a 10-week program offered by the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council to assist Wayne County-based businesses in leveraging their certification through education and business growth strategies.
Through this program, the small business owner will receive hands-on consulting to address key business challenges and determine strategies for business growth. Individuals will go through an educational process to prepare for viable opportunities. Through engagement, individuals will strengthen their business presentation skills, and engage with corporate members.
BGP is designed for owners and founders of businesses who meet the following criteria:
More About Business Growth Program
For 40 years, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, a champion for women and minority businesses, provides access to capital, certification for women-owned businesses, corporate contracting opportunities, and small business educational support. These supports create leveraged growth for small businesses.
In 2023, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s Women’s Business Center became a Kauffman FastTrac® affiliate. Its newest initiative, Launch U, utilizes the FastTrac® curriculum, a world-renowned entrepreneurial education program, which provides early-stage entrepreneurs a structured, innovative, and principle-driven approach to starting and growing their businesses.
Kauffman FastTrac® aims to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship by providing entrepreneurs with practical learning materials delivered online and via teaching partners. In doing so, FastTrac® will encourage and equip more people to start businesses, contributing to increased startup activity nationwide.
WBE Forums, renowned for their pioneering efforts in cultivating collaboration and knowledge exchange within the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) sector, are gearing up to host dynamic events led by industry luminaries. These forums serve as vibrant hubs where entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals converge to share insights, strategies, and best practices for advancing women-led businesses. With a commitment to inclusivity, WBE Forums welcome individuals from all backgrounds and industries, fostering an environment of open dialogue and mutual learning. Whether exploring emerging trends, addressing challenges, or celebrating successes, these events promise to inspire, empower, and propel the WBE community toward new heights of excellence. All are invited to join this transformative journey of growth and innovation.
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Shawntay Dixon, Women’s Business Center Program Manager of Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (WBC) has been named 2021 Marsha Bailey Leadership Award Winner. As anyone at Great Lakes WBC can attest she puts her heart and soul into promoting and helping women-owned businesses. Congratulations Shawntay!
The Association of Women’s Business Centers works to secure economic justice and entrepreneurial opportunities for women by supporting and sustaining a national network of nearly 150 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). WBCs help women succeed in business by providing training, mentoring, business development, and financing opportunities to over 150,000 women entrepreneurs each year.
WBC Hours
Monday-Friday | 8:00 am — 5:00 pm ET
Consultations By Appointment Only
After-hours appointments are available
Call 734-677-1400
sdixon@greatlakeswbc.org
The Michigan Women’s Marketplace (MWM) is the portal of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s SBA Women’s Business Center, which provides one-to-one counseling, training, and access to business resources.
Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s Women’s Business Center is honored to be recognized for graduating in the inaugural cohort with the National Women’s Business Center of Excellence program offered by the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) and sponsored by Dutch Bros.
Over the series of Five Milestone Assignments, WBCs partnered with a peer in their cohort to identify gaps and opportunities for the WBC to improve in a variety of areas; including strategic goal-setting, service delivery, continuous improvement and/or peer relationships. In order to fulfill these objectives, AWBC recognizes the value of the organization’s volunteers, leadership team and funders which is reflected in the involvement of these stakeholders in the final stages of the designation attainment.
