Indigenous Small Business Professional Service Provider Support

Northwest Michigan Indigenous entrepreneurs have access to new support and resources thanks to a partnership between ﬁve local organizations. We know that it’s tough to start and manage a business, and the business experts at 20Fathoms, Michigan SBDC, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Traverse Connect, and Venture North have teamed up to help you succeed. New services include grants, business consultations, educational programming, and professional service provider support.

This Indigenous Professional Service Provider Support opportunity is intended to support regional Indigenous small businesses by increasing access to professional service providers which help to strengthen or grow revenue, expand into new revenue streams, bring new products to market, or help support the growth and sustainability of the business.

Indigneious Professional Service Provider Support application requests have a cap of $4,000. Between 4 - 8 awards are estimated to be funded during the first round. Award monies are taxable.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria to apply for the Indigenous Professional Service Provider Support.

Business Registration:
The business must be registered in one of the following counties: Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Benzie, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix, or Emmet.

Owner Age:
The business owner must be 18 years of age or older.

Minority Ownership:
The business must be owned by an Indigenous citizen or member of any federal tribe within the United States or a State of Michigan recognized tribe.

Recipient Commitment:
Indigenious Professional Service Provider Support awardees agree to participate in a 30-minute coaching session with the 20Fathoms Startup Support Team.

Ineligible Businesses

Non-Indigenous owned business are not eligible to apply. For services that support any type of business please visit Getting Started with 20Fathoms.

Businesses that have already received similar support for a professional service provider from any HUB in the state of Michigan are ineligible to apply for the same service.

Timeline

Applications accepted: 03/1/2025 - 03/10/2025
Awards announced: 04/10/2025

General Information

Today's Date*

Month/Day/Year

First name*

Last name*

Email*

Phone number*

Business Information

Job title*

Company name*

Year business was founded*

Business Website

If you do not have a website, please leave empty. Please DO NOT include a LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook link

What stage best describes where you are in your business journey?*

Brief description of your business*

Tell us about your business, and what you do.

Street address*

City*

State/Region*

County*

How many full-time employees do you have? *

How did you hear about 20Fathoms?*

Would you like to sign up for 20Fathoms monthly newsletter to stay informed about our programming, events, and grant opportunities?*

Use of Awarded Funds

Eligible use of awarded funds for Professional Service Provider Services:

Applications seeking support for new unfunded professional service support.

Application may request support for an overall cost which exceeds $4,000, however any one award will not exceed $4,000. Any cost exceeding an award amount would be the responsibility of the awardee. In such cases, applicants should clearly identify the amount of support requested and the amount they will fund.

Examples of professional service support include but are not limited to:

Legal: Copyright, patents, contract design, governance documents

Human Resources: Recruitment and staffing, payroll management

Technological: Software development, cybersecurity

Marketing and Creative: Digital and social media marketing, graphic designing, video production, writing/editing, website design.

Product Development: Prototyping, design and development, research, packaging

Accounting: Accounting software setup and staff training, financial analysis

Project management: Resource management, risk management, quality management

Ineligible use of awarded funds for Professional Service Provider Services

Purchase of equipment, product, inventory, software, or hardware, ie. AutoCAD software upgrade or 3D printer head upgrade, etc.

Construction costs

Paying for loans or debts

Wages, salaries, operational costs

Pre-existing, historical costs, or costs already funded through other means

Professional service that can be provided through 20Fathoms programs and services at no cost. Examples of services provided through 20Fathoms include but not limited to business training, 1:1 business coaching, business plan, and direct business grant.

Total cost of Professional Service Provider needed to support your business*

Amount requesting to go towards Professional Service Provider support.*

In 50 words or less, describe the project or initiative you are seeking Professional Service Provider Support.*

In 50 words or less, describe the specific Professional Service Provider Support you are requesting and how it will help strengthen your business, grow revenue, expand into new markets, launch new products, or enhance the growth and sustainability of your operations.*

What's Next:

After you submit this application, you will receive an email with startup instructional documents for your own independent study. A Support Service Team representative may reach out to you to gather additional information or schedule a meeting to learn more about your business or venture. After reviewing and considering each applicant, the Support Service Leadership Team will meet and make the difficult decision on who receive the Professional Service Provider Support awards.