Great Lakes Women’s Business Council

Great Lakes Women's Business Council is a nonprofit organization based in Livonia, MI, dedicated to providing comprehensive support services for women and minority-owned businesses. The organization offers a full spectrum of business development resources including Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) certification, access to capital through CEED Lending programs, and strategic business training initiatives. Entrepreneurs and business owners in the Livonia area and surrounding regions benefit from specialized loan products such as Small Business LIFT Loans and microloans designed to support startup and expansion financing. The Women's Business Center provides strategic programs including training, counseling, group mentoring, and business development opportunities to help entrepreneurs grow their enterprises. Great Lakes WBC also facilitates corporate contracting opportunities, connecting certified women-owned businesses with over 70 regional corporate members and 300+ national corporate partners. The organization has provided $13 million in loans to small business owners, resulting in the creation of 2,261 jobs. Members gain access to the Michigan Women's Marketplace business directory, online training resources through the WBC platform, and specialized programs like execWE and LaunchU. With over 15,000 small businesses trained and 1,500 WBEs certified in the region, Great Lakes Women's Business Council represents a significant economic force generating approximately $21.2 billion in annual revenue. The organization serves nine counties of southeastern Michigan and maintains membership options for small businesses, corporate entities, nonprofits, government agencies, and public institutions seeking to support women and minority entrepreneurship.