Pure Michigan Business Connect

Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), a public-private initiative developed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), connects Michigan companies with opportunities to help them grow and expand. By participating in the program, companies can find procurement resources to expand their supply chain, find new business opportunities, access a new business-to-business network and receive business assistance at little to no cost like legal, accounting, and other services.

Pure Michigan Business Connect – B2B Network

The PMBC business-to-business (B2B) network links Michigan companies with collaborators and private sector procurement opportunities. Companies such as DTE Energy and Consumers Energy have made major commitments to increase their procurement spending. Other companies are signing on with similar commitments. In addition, MEDC is working to recruit out-of-state businesses to explore supply chain opportunities with Michigan businesses. The system will enable posting of procurement opportunities, collaboration needs, and unique offers available to Michigan business accounts. As the B2B network grows, it will allow registered small businesses to use the system to support purchasing needs as well. Companies in the system can be both buyers and sellers in a truly dynamic online B2B marketplace.

The B2B portal is free to all Michigan businesses. Learn more about the program and register for the B2B system at www.puremichiganb2b.com.

Pure Michigan Business Connect – Services

• Go to the PMBC-B2B website at www.puremichiganb2b.com.
• Log-in or create your account. This will enable you to locate the services selection as well as allow future procurement opportunities to find your business.
• Go to the “My Account” tab.
• Click on the “Services” selection on the left side of the web page. 
• Complete the few additional questions at the header of the services intake section, select what service(s) your company is requesting, and submit. 
• The SBTDC and MEDC will contact you to discuss your business needs and match you with the appropriate resources.
   

Pure Michigan Business Connect – Procurement

• Direct component or service sourcing
• Indirect component or service sourcing 
• RFP Invitations
• Exporting Opportunities 
• R&D Partnerships 
• Innovative Collaborations
   

Pure Michigan Business Connect Corporate Partners

• Consumers Energy is one of the nation's largest combination utilities, providing electric and natural gas service to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents, in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumer’s Energy has committed to increasing procurement in Michigan by $500 million over a five year period.
• DTE Energy is an integrated gas and energy company providing gas and electric utility services to millions of Michigan homes and businesses. DTE Energy has committed to increasing procurement in Michigan by $250 million over a five year period.
• Ford Motor Company in conjunction with 31 of its tier-1 partner companies hosted a Connection Point supplier summit resulting in 680 unique meetings with 317 Michigan suppliers.
• Chrysler will support Pure Michigan Business Connect by hosting its own supplier summit and continue its substantial growth in purchases from Michigan based companies. 
• Schuler, a Schuler AG subsidiary focused on metal stamping equipment and hydroforming, is increasing its Michigan spending by 20 percent over the next five years and participating in the Connection Point supplier summits.
• General Dynamics, American Axle, Borg Warner & Johnson Controls will partner with Pure Michigan Business Connect to expand procurement opportunities with Michigan suppliers and to host exclusive purchaser-supplier matchmaking engagements, called "Connection Points," which are face-to-face meetings that encourage new business discussions.

• Rehmann is a fully-integrated financial services firm of CPAs, wealth managers, and investigators dedicated to providing clients proactive ideas and solutions to help them prosper professionally and personally. Rehmann has committed to provide 250 hours of pro bono accounting services per year over the next five years.
• Kahn & Company, PLC, Certified Public Accountants will provide up to 10 hours of professional services to up to five small business clients on an annual basis.
• The Michigan Association of CPAs (MACPA) will provide key details of Pure Michigan Business Connect to its members as more CPAs becoming interested in assisting companies through this program.
• LMR; Lis, McCallion, Raymor & Co., are based in Livonia and specialize in providing business and personal tax services along with year round accounting services. They are offering pro bono services to business owners and help them determine what type of business they should be and guide them on the right path in the accounting area.
• Yeo & Yeo, P.C.; Over the next five years, Yeo & Yeo will donate up to a grand total of $250,000 in services to select PMBC program participants. Services offered through Yeo & Yeo’s eight offices across Michigan will include accounting structure and internal controls, business plans and initial financing applications, budgeting and cash flow management, accounting software and QuickBooks support, and tax planning.
• Clayton & McKervey, P.C. will donate up to 10 hours of consulting with international and tax and accounting specialists for up to 10 select PMBC participating companies in the next year. The services donated will be available for privately-held Michigan companies considering international business expansion. 

• Prima Civitas Foundation has committed 200 hours annually, assisting up to 4 hours per company over the next year; a total value in excess of $25,000. Prima Civitas specializes in Talent and Human Resources Consulting Services to help guide businesses and entrepreneurs within the State of Michigan. Their expertise in these areas make them an excellent choice to support Michigan businesses with growth and success.

• Varnum, LLP, a Michigan-based law firm, is donating $1 million in legal services to targeted state-based start-ups, early stage and growing businesses. Varnum joins Pure Michigan Business Connect to provide free-of-charge legal services associated with starting a business, capital formation, and other legal needs.
• Platcha, Murphy & Associates, a West Michigan-based full-service firm, is donating $125,000 per year for four years in legal services to Michigan businesses. 
• Brooks Kushman PC, intellectual property law attorneys in Michigan and California, will provide up to 250 pro bono service hours to Michigan companies with intellectual property needs. 
• Young Basile Hanlon & MacFarlane, an intellectual property law firm with offices in Michigan and California, will provide pro bono legal assistance to 50 companies in a calendar year. 
• Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, a full-service law firm based in Lansing, has pledged to provide pro bono legal service to up to 25 companies in a calendar year. 
• Ostrow Law Firm PLC is a law firm designed for startups and small businesses. Ostrow will support the PMBC initiative with 120 hours per year.
• Lewis & Munday is one of the oldest and largest firms founded by minorities and routinely represents Fortune 500 companies, public entities, universities, developers, investors, lenders, borrowers, health care organizations, employers, bond issuers, bond purchasers and pension funds in a wide range of legal matters. Lewis & Munday expect to discount services of $1,000 to $10,000 to selected PMBC companies.
• Mark H. Zietlow & Associates represent companies and organizations in corporate, financing, and intellectual property transactions. They will provide a $500 to $1,000 initial discount to Michigan small businesses.
• Toering Law Firm PLLC, providing legal advice on corporate services, commercial contracts, and real estate. Toering law firm will give pro bono legal advice for three startup companies per year, up to 8 hours of legal advice per client, totaling $7,200 per year.
• Vincent Law PLC has made a commitment of $20,000.00 worth of legal services; a total commitment of $100,000 over 5 years. Vincent Law focuses on practice areas such as personal injury, commercial, employment, criminal and business litigation, business law, estate planning and probate administration.
• Marsalese Law Group PLLC has committed to 40 hours of pro bono work in the next year. Marsalese Law Group, is uniquely qualified in corporate governance, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, Fair Funds for Investors, emerging business and technologies, securities law, capital formation commercial, corporate and business law, board of director personal and white-collar representation, patent litigation, estate and trust litigation. Marsalese Law Group represents high-tech and start-up enterprises privately held and publicly traded companies. 
• Pepper Hamilton LLP’s Detroit Office is committing to provide up to $100,000 of free and discounted legal services for the 2013 calendar year. Pepper will provide up to $40,000 of free legal and up to $60,000 of discounted legal services at 40% off Pepper's standard hourly rate for legal services. Pepper Hamilton LLP is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers nationally. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. 
• Olson, Bzdok & Howard, P.C., located in Traverse City has pledged up to 50 hours of services annually to PMBC, assisting 3-5 hours per company over the next one year. The value at our normal hourly rate is in excess of $12,000 per year.
• Bowman and Brooke LLP has pledged approximately 500 hours of services in 2013 to PMBC, assisting up to 100 hours per company. The overall value at our normal hourly rate is in excess of $240,000 for 2013 to provide legal service and help guide businesses and entrepreneurs within the state in their growth and success.
• Groban Olson & Associates provides non-litigation business law services for small businesses, with a specialty in employee ownership. This two attorney law firm also specializes in working with business owners, whose children are not interested in running their companies, who would like their companies to remain operating in Michigan after they retire; social entrepreneurs, employee owned companies & cooperatives; businesses interested in giving employees some percentage of ownership in exchange for tax savings; and businesses being developed or restructured as employee owned or co-operatives. Groban Olson & Associates is offering two free hours of service to up to 25 businesses annually, total annual value of these services is $20,000.
• Rhoades McKee PC has committed to provide pro bono legal services to up to 25 participating companies in a calendar year. The participating attorneys will prepare formation documents and governing documents for participating entrepreneurs.

• Geary Group P.C. specializes in providing services to the growing and successful entrepreneurs and offers a full range of services such as accounting, tax, management advisory, estate and trust, computer consulting, personnel all geared to the success of entrepreneurs. Geary expects to offer Michigan businesses a minimum 50 hours pro bono per year. 
• Hennessey Capital, a division of Hitachi Capital America Corp., provides factoring, asset-based lines of credit and equipment financing for business to business companies from initial invoicing to $5 million and beyond. Funding can be used for payroll, vendor payments, new sales growth and expansion. It can be used in conjunction with current bank debt or as a stand-alone financing solution. Client industries include manufacturing, staffing, distribution, wholesale and many more. Hennessey is significantly reducing their initial due diligence fees for new PMBC related clients to reduce out of pocket costs for new loans.
• Growth Management Group LLC (GMG), is one of the nation's leading specialized tax incentive providers for small to mid-sized businesses, procuring over $300 million to date. GMG has committed to waive their $1,500 "Total Incentive Review" fee for all Michigan businesses. Following the "Total Incentive Review," eligible firms will additionally receive a $1,000 discount on project fees associated with incentive procurement.

• Google, Inc. assisted over 600 Michigan companies this year with free websites and web development services. Similar web-oriented workshop and programs to help Michigan companies develop and improve their Internet presence are planned for 2013.