Chamber Hosts Conference To Help Small Business Thrive In Tough Economy

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit Regional Chamber is bringing together hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs on Wednesday, May 11,  for a daylong conference on thriving during Michigan's tough economic climate.

They're hoping to help give small business struggling in Michigan's economy a much-needed spark. Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah says raising money will be a key topic.

Baruah  says this is an exciting time for Michigan business like the last recession was in the 1980's.

"That was kind of the incubator, if you will,  for a lot of great companies, so I anticipate that when we come out of this recession, when we finally come out of it, we're going to realize that we're created a lot of interesting and successful companies through this experience," says Baruah.

Baruah says there will be panels of people in the business of loaning money, as well as with business owners who've found creative ways to get the financing they need.

The conference gets underway at May 11th, at  7:30am at the Michigan State University Management Education Center in Troy.