A total of 881 small businesses became members of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) in March, according to a report released today by the association. Total SBAM membership reached 14,258, a 22 percent increase over March of 2011.
Growth occurred across all membership categories:
• 412 members came from the Michigan Association of Timbermen and the Holly Area Chamber of Commerce – SBAM’s newest Strategic Partners. These two organizations join 32 other local chambers and business associations that have partnered with SBAM.
• 389 of these businesses joined SBAM’s free Online Community membership, which offers access to some of our most valuable member benefits, including FedEx and OfficeMax discounts and exclusive small business news.
• 95 of these businesses joined for an SBAM-exclusive member-only benefit.
Also in March, SBAM continued its work on “economic gardening” by partnering with Crain’s Detroit Business for an economic gardening workshop in Grand Rapids. One hundred small business owners and other interested parties participated and listened to an expert panel discuss the status of economic gardening in Michigan. Attendees also heard directly from entrepreneurs engaged in a Michigan Economic Development Corporation pilot program.
In addition, SBAM released the eighth annual edition of its Entrepreneurship Score Card, which showed a dramatic uptick in Michigan’s entrepreneurial climate, and SBAM also launched an new partnership with Intern in Michigan to provide members with access to college students seeking real world work experience with Michigan small businesses.
(photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/samcatchesides/)