WHAT: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Detroit, celebrates the graduation of more than 60 small-business owners who have completed a rigorous education, coaching and business support module and are ready to deepen their contributions to Southeast Michigan's economy. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative aims to help create jobs and economic growth by providing small-business owners in the area with practical business education, business support services and access to capital.
SPEAKERS:
- Jack Aronson, founder, Garden Fresh Gourmet and Clean Planet Foods
- L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive
- Chancellor Timothy Meyer, Oakland Community College
- President James Jacobs, Macomb Community College
- Camille Walker Banks, Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Detroit at Wayne State University
- James Michelson Jr., President, SMZ Advertising (10,000 Small Businesses graduate)
- Renée T. Walker, President, RENEE WALKER & ASSOCIATES (10,000 Small Businesses graduate)
WHEN: 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 4, 2016
WHERE: Oakland Community College, Royal Oak Campus, The Lila R. Jones-Johnson Theatre, 739 S. Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48067
MORE INFO: Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Small Businesses in Detroit and Southeast Michigan in November 2013, and committed $20 million for small-business loans, business education and grants for supporting community partners. The business owners who graduate May 4 participated in more than 100 hours of curriculum delivered across 11 sessions by a consortium of higher education institutions, made up of Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College and Wayne State University, studying a business and management curriculum designed by Babson College. The curriculum covered accounting, human resources, negotiation and marketing, among other topics. The program also included one-on-one business advising and accounting workshops. Capital partners are Invest Detroit and the Detroit Development Fund.
National program findings show that, within six and 18 months of completing the program, alumni of the 10,000 Small Businesses program generally grow their revenue and create jobs faster than U.S. small businesses. According to the latest study, in Southeast Michigan, 73.5 percent of participants realized increased revenues six months after graduating from the program, and 51.9 percent added net new jobs six months after graduating from the program. To date, more than 200 small-business owners in Southeast Michigan have graduated from the program.
10,000 Small Businesses is funded by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation. The program is guided by an advisory council co-chaired by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, Warren Buffett, and Dr. Michael Porter of Harvard Business School.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Detroit is currently accepting applications for its eighth cohort, launching in August 2016. Visit 10ksbdetroit.com for more information.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: There will be an opportunity to interview all speakers as well as business leaders from the region who have participated in the 10,000 Small Businesses program regarding business growth, job creation and more.
CONTACT: Kristin Palm | (313) 483-1326