Accomplishments in 2017 include

The One Stop Shop Business Center is measured by key economic impact metrics, and includes capital formation, jobs created, sales increases and new starts. In addition, the One Stop Shop Business Center is also measured in the performance/attendance of Tech 248 meetups, Walk-In Start Up Thursdays, business conducted in One Stop Shop Business Center and the launch of newly created programs.

In 2017, total capital formation received on behalf of Oakland County clients was $10,144,046.00. The One Stop Shop Business Center was responsible for 157 job increases, sales increases of $24,902,799.00 and 10 new business starts.

In 2017, the One Stop Shop Business Center held 43 workshops with 468 attendees. Walk-In Start Up Thursday hosted 167 aspiring entrepreneurs at our Waterford location and on the first Thursday of the month at the Novi city hall.

• New for 2017 the OSSBC started a “by appointment” counseling service on the first Tuesday of the month at the Southfield Michigan Works! LTU Enterprise Center location.
• Tech 248 held 10 events and hosted 1140 attendees.
• The Tech248 network grew to 1080 members representing over 500 different companies.
• In addition, the One Stop Shop Business Center hosted 529 visitors and had $17,770 in sales.

In 2017 the addition of consulting resources, tools and processes allowed the OSSBC to add commercialization support services to assist entrepreneurs in bringing new products and services to market.

In 2017, the One Stop Shop Business Center Launched a new Leadership Development program “The Business of Leadership” for small business owners. The program was developed in cooperation with Oakland County’s HR department and is customized to the challenges that small business leaders face. The ten week program covers situational leadership, leader communication, managing conflict, problem solving and more.

In concert with their Oakland Entrepreneurial Alliance partners, the OSSBC launched 1 Million Cups. 1 Million Cups takes place once a month. The 1MC program offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs. Presenters prepare a six-minute educational presentation and engage in 20 minutes of feedback and questioning after they present.

Entrepreneurs gain insight into possible ways they can improve their businesses, gather real-time feedback, connect with a community that cares about their progress, and walk away feeling like they have advanced their business. The program takes place on the second Wednesday of the month from 9:00 to 10:00 in the Oakland County Conference Center.

Also in 2017 the OSSBC partnered with Oakland University on their launch of “Ideas 2 Business”. i2B teams an entrepreneur with a graduate student and two undergrad students. The six week program assists companies in evaluating the critical next steps in their progress toward commercialization or growth.

The OSSBC once again partnered with CEED on their Pitch-N-Pontiac contest. The annual contest awards three Pontiac based companies with cash prizes. Five finalists are selected to from a group of applicants. The five finalists “pitch” their business to a panel of judges before a live audience. OSSBC works with CEED to prepare the finalists for their pitch and then works with the businesses to assist them after the contest.  

In 2017 the One Stop Shop Business Center ran the second annual Small Business Saturday Contest. The contest is designed to boost shopping at Oakland County’s retail shops. Cash prizes are awarded to Oakland County small business owners for registering with the contest and to shoppers who shop in Oakland County on Small Business Saturday. In 2017 the Oakland County Small Business Saturday Contest resulted in over 1,100 purchases at small businesses in 62 Oakland County communities. With an economic impact of over $67,000.00. New to the program in 2017, the OSSBC partnered with the Downtown  Birmingham Shopping District who gave away thousands of dollars in additional prizes to shoppers entering the contest.