Ypsi-based Small Business Support Hub offers many free services for entrepreneurs

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

Ypsilanti entrepreneur Nashia Frye says the SPARK East Innovation Center provided game-changing support at a pivotal moment for her juice bar and cafe, No Label Juice. She discovered SPARK’s free mentorship program through the Small Business Support Hub (SBSH) when she had just signed a lease for her business’ first brick-and-mortar location at 2878 Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti Township.

“It all happened really fast for me,” Frye says.

Without taking out loans, funding was one of Frye’s biggest challenges. Through SPARK East, she was paired with a business mentor who helped guide her through the opening process and connect her to grant opportunities, one of which helped cover key buildout costs. Beyond funding, Frye says the program provided ongoing education and accountability. From pitch workshops to marketing sessions, she was introduced to tools she hadn’t previously encountered.

“If you don’t know anything about running a business, SPARK and their resources give you a pathway on how to do things the right way,” she says.

SPARK East, Ann Arbor SPARK‘s Ypsi office, focuses specifically on serving entrepreneurs in Ypsilanti and eastern Washtenaw County through hands-on coaching, networking opportunities, and access to resources. The free SBSH program at SPARK East leverages in-house entrepreneurial resources, such as weekly in-person consulting sessions and networking opportunities, alongside numerous partnerships with local entrepreneurial resource providers to ensure that local business owners can find resources tailored to their needs. The program is available to entrepreneurs in Washtenaw, Livingston, and Monroe counties.

“Since the launch of the Small Business Support Hub in April 2024, we’ve had the privilege of coaching more than 500 small business owners,” says SPARK East Entrepreneurial Services Director Kristine Nash-Wong. “From early-stage ideas to established companies ready to grow and scale, SBSH has met entrepreneurs where they are and helped turn vision into sustainable action.”

Even after stepping back from the SBSH program for a period, Frye returned to continue building her skills, particularly as she explores future growth options like franchising. She credits SPARK East with helping her regain focus and structure in managing her business. She feels that the long-term relationship she developed with SPARK East reflects the program’s broader combined goal of both launching businesses and helping them adapt and grow over time.

Washtenaw Community College instructor and mental health counselor Christina Herbin’s experience with the SBSH program began after her business – Harmony Counseling Center, located at 321 S. Main St., Suite 215, in Ann Arbor – had been established. But Herbin was wondering how to balance client care and the demands of running a business after nearly 10 years of work in her field.

“My connection to SPARK East’s Small Business Support Program came at a really pivotal moment,” Herbin says. “I found myself reflecting on whether I could sustain another decade doing the work I love while managing the growing demands behind the scenes.”

Herbin’s work is rooted in youth mental health, shaped by personal experience and a commitment to creating accessible spaces for young people. But like many service-based business owners, growth brought new pressures, particularly after she returned from maternity leave. Through SPARK East, she began meeting regularly with a business coach to rebuild her foundation.

“Our biweekly meetings felt like going back to ‘Business 101’ in the best way,” she says.

With that support, Herbin developed a comprehensive business plan, clarified her marketing and financial strategies, and refined her niche. The result wasn’t just operational improvement, but a renewed sense of purpose.

“I now feel more confident not only as a clinician, but as a business owner,” she says.

For some, those connections are just as valuable as the technical support. Duane Pittman, who operates Vector Business Consulting at 1658 W. Ellsworth Rd. in Ann Arbor, first connected with SPARK East while navigating a major pivot in his business following the COVID-19 pandemic. After decades working as a government contractor, Pittman began shifting toward helping other companies enter that same space. The transition required a new way of thinking about marketing, audience, and strategy.

“The conversations I had with the counselor opened my mind to things I never had to do before,” Pittman says, noting that his earlier work relied less on traditional marketing.

Through SPARK East, he accessed counseling, business planning support, and networking events that helped him refine his approach. Over time, those resources evolved from structured guidance to ongoing collaboration.

“It’s more of an interaction where I’m bouncing ideas off of my counselor,” he says, pointing to the value of SPARK East’s events in fostering meaningful connections among local entrepreneurs. “You feel like you’re part of a community and not a meat grinder.”

That sense of community is especially pronounced in Ypsilanti, where SPARK East maintains a visible, accessible presence. Entrepreneurs can attend workshops, drop into office hours, or connect with advisors without leaving the city, which Pittman says sets the program apart from more national, less localized resources.

“I can go to downtown Ypsi and sit down and talk to those I need to talk to,” he says.

For entrepreneurs across Washtenaw County, the SBSH program offers a combination of accessibility, expertise, and community connection that can be difficult to find elsewhere. The program provides tools that can shape the trajectory of a business in myriad ways. For Herbin, that meant rediscovering her purpose. For Pittman, it meant redefining his market. And for Frye, it meant turning a fast-moving opportunity into a sustainable path forward.

“Small businesses are the backbone of a thriving community. They create jobs, build local connections, and shape the character of our neighborhoods,” Nash-Wong says. “Through the SBSH program, we’re not just supporting individual entrepreneurs; we’re investing in the long-term strength and resilience of the communities they serve.”

Frye encourages entrepreneurs to “reach out to SPARK because it’s much easier to get the information that you need versus trying and failing.”

“You’re going to save more money and time and kickstart things the right way instead of going in blindly,” she says. “SPARK gives you that business 101 that you need.”