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Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) is the most prestigious small business awards program in the state of Michigan. The mission of the program is to honor and recognize Michigan’s small business people as well as the champions and advocates that support them.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) remains on the forefront of championing small businesses and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in Michigan. The MCSB’s role is to serve as a catalyst for creating an entrepreneurial culture while inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. The mission of MCSB is to honor and recognize Michigan’s small business people and those champions and advocates that support them. MCSB brings together the resources of collaborative partners and supporters so that they may raise the profile of small businesses in Michigan, build a network of entrepreneurial companies, and tell the stories of successful, growing Michigan entrepreneurs.

How Michigan Celebrates Small Business Began

In 2004, Six statewide leaders (now identified as Founders) met to discuss how to recognize, celebrate and cultivate Michigan’s small businesses. The six organizations and their original respective leaders at that time period included:

Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – Carol Lopucki
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) – Penny Stump
Small Business Administration (SBA), Michigan District Office – Richard Temkin
Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) – Rob Fowler
Small Business Advocate – Chris Holman
Edward Lowe Foundation – Mark Lange

The leaders decided to bring together the individual small business awards program of their organizations under one robust statewide awards program, Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB). Since inception, the intent has been that this program belongs to the state of Michigan, no individual entity. The Founders of MCSB recognized a need for the program to place emphasis on the recognition of growth companies. After rigorous brainstorming they identified that an award would be initiated called the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, making the Edward Lowe Foundation the administrator of this component of the MCSB program, adding the foundation as an integral originator of MCSB.

Since the inception of Michigan Celebrates Small Business in 2004 the purpose, mission and vision have remained the same:

Our Purpose:
MCSB brings together the resources of collaborative partners and supporters so that they may raise the profile of small businesses in Michigan, build a network of entrepreneurial companies, and tell the stories of successful, growing Michigan entrepreneurs.

Our Vision Statement:
To make Michigan the State of Entrepreneurship.

Our Mission Statement:
Working together to celebrate Michigan small businesses and to connect and support MCSB alumni.