CMU Research Corp., Mt. Pleasant Chamber Launch Startup Support Program

MT. PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University Research Corp. and the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce announced a partnership called the Prelaunch Passport Program to provide local resources such as accounting services and marketing consulting to startup businesses.

Already, nearly 20 CMU-RC clients are enrolled in the program.

"The Prelaunch Passport Program is aimed at stimulating the local business community and fostering an environment to help new ventures plant roots in the community," said Erin Strang, president and CEO of CMU-RC.

Members of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce will serve as service providers to startup businesses in the Prelaunch Passport Program offering services at a discounted rate. The Chamber partnership also will offer networking and community involvement opportunities to Passport participants including marketing and media services, legal and accounting services, and benefit consulting.

Said Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Hadden: "This is a way for local businesses to reach out to new businesses, as well as learn about the new and innovative creative ventures here in our own backyard."

Added Strang: "We are working to cultivate an environment of business support in order to retain new ventures and growing companies. Programs like this and partners like the chamber will encourage business growth in our region."

The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce is the first chamber in the region to partner with CMU-RC in developing this program. To learn more about the Passport Program, call Ginny Haight, resource manager, at (989) 774-2424.

CMU-RC is a nonprofit business accelerator that provides guidance to entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to market. CMU-RC is designated a Michigan SmartZone -- one of 15 technology-oriented centers across the state -- established to offer tax incentives while supporting research, development and commercialization of new technology to promote economic growth.