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By Andy Domino | MiBiz
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WEST MICHIGAN — The state of Michigan is encouraging support for technology entrepreneurs with $6 million in grants for 2012. The Michigan Strategic Fund and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. released a request for proposals in late October, asking for business plans that will aid local start-ups with funds for everything from marketing to staff training.

In June 2011, the Michigan Legislature mandated that a portion of the funds appropriated to the Michigan Strategic Fund for innovation and entrepreneurship be used for business incubators and accelerators located in Kent County, Houghton County, and several counties in the greater Detroit area. Now, the MSF and MEDC are accepting submissions from other regions.

Incubators in action

West Michigan already has several incubators, including the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center, which has been supporting life science companies since 2003. Grand Rapids has the West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative, also a life sciences incubator.

“We have a strong advantage in our mini-labs,” said WMSTI director of communications Todd Buchta. “They allow individual entrepreneurs to set up space at a low rate. Several of our companies have gone from a mini-lab, to two or three, to full office space in the incubator.”

WMSTI has two facilities in Grand Rapids, the main one on Michigan Street and a location specifically for medical device firms on Monroe Avenue. The incubator is operated by Grand Valley State University, and science students have been able to work in the life sciences industry without leaving town.

“Companies have hired students after getting to know them as interns,” Buchta said. “They’re pleased to have people familiar with the basic processes, so the staff can be freed to do other things.”

Muskegon’s MAREC

Cutting-edge technology is also a priority at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon, but as the name indicates, companies using the MAREC facilities are working on projects to reduce America’s use of fossil fuels. Office and lab space used by companies inside the incubator take up only about a third of what the Muskegon building has to offer.

“We have a research and technology development program,” said Arn Boezaart, MAREC’s director. “There’s education for teachers and students to educate about energy in general and energy technology.”

MAREC is the original occupant of the Muskegon SmartZone and relies heavily on its affiliation with GVSU. The center currently has six tenants and is in negotiations with one more. Its most recent “graduate” business, Smart Vision Lights, opened its own facility in August. Smart Vision sells LED lighting for industry, used in products like food scanners.

About 30 percent of Smart Vision’s business goes outside the U.S. Boezaart said that’s a trend that MAREC wants to encourage, as it helps small companies establish themselves in the incubator.

“We’re helping companies get a foothold in offshore markets,” he said. “We live in a very global society — it doesn’t hurt businesses to know there could be a market for them offshore.”

MAREC offers more than just help for entrepreneurs looking for office space and some business advice, Boezaart said.

“What has changed dramatically in the past few years is the need for jobs,” he said.

Providing companies with a place to set up shop is the first step in inviting them to hire employees.

“We want to make the full range of business opportunities available to entrepreneurs,” Boezaart said.

Local business in Ludington

Though the Ludington and Manistee areas aren’t big enough to have a incubator to call their own, local businesses are already making use of learning and mentoring West Shore Community College is offering them.

Julie Van Dyke, project manager of the Business Opportunity Center at WSCC, said training on business basics such as Quickbooks is exactly what companies in the region are looking for. WSCC teamed with the University of Michigan earlier this year for a feasibility study on bringing a business incubator to the area, but found the demand just wasn’t there.

“People who responded (to the study) wanted a hub to learn about resources,” Van Dyke said. “Hopefully, it will grow into an incubator.”

The Business Opportunity Center will be on the WSCC campus in Scottville, halfway between Muskegon and Traverse City. The school is in the center of the four county area (Lake, Manistee, Oceana and Mason counties) and reaches an economic area that isn’t nearly as large as its neighbor to the south, Grand Rapids.

The center is hosting a kick-off event November 17, officially introducing its services and informing attending entrepreneurs how it can help them line up capital. An “elevator pitch” competition will be held at the same time, with winners getting a chance to give their pitch to local venture capitalists BlueWater Angels and Northern Michigan Angels.