b'BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTNetworks Northwest has a broad sweep of unique services focused on helping businesses succeed. Ultimately, we help improve business resultssales growth, reduced costs, and higher profitability. Maybe thats why our business clients continue to work with us over many years. These clients impress us every day with their hard work and creativity as business leaders. As you read through the following client success stories, we hope you, too, are impressed.Small Business Northwest MichiganDevelopment Center Procurement TechnicalAssistance CenterGlobal TradeAllianceBusiness Development Small Business Development Center (SBDC)2020 Regional Program ImpactIn response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the SBA released additionalCARESActfundstotheMI-SBDC.$260,000was committed specifically to the Northwest region. These funds were to be used in a variety of ways including hiring contract businessconsultantstoaddcapacitytotheNetworks Northwest counseling team, developing new and appropriate training opportunities, and forging collaborative partnerships with other community organizations to expand services.Notablebusiness-focusedpartnershipsforgedduringthe COVID-19 pandemic:The Northwest MI-SBDC Regional Team collaborated with theNorthwestern Michigan College Extended Educational statewide SBDC Growth and Technology teams to serve 439 Services (EES)relaunch Business Development Certificate clients in 2020.Program, providing ongoing training opportunitiesand a micro-credential to early-stage entrepreneurs58% were considered already in business Taste the Local DifferenceMarketing and online sales 21% consisted of online clientssupport to small agricultural producers and processorsat no cost 5.8% minority-owned small businesses Addition of 3 contract business consultantsIncreasing the 1,793 full and part-time employees positively impactednumber of consulting hours available to regional business, in 2020and one additional service provider specializing indesign servicesBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / NETWORKSNORTHWEST.ORG 19'