Resolve to get business counseling in the New Year

Joanne Davidhizar, Michigan State University, MSU Product Center -

The MSU Product Center is the go-to place for food, agriculture, bio-economy, and natural resources-based business counseling.

If you are interested in starting a new food, agriculture, or natural business or enhancing an existing business, the Michigan State University Product Center is a good place to start. Through the Center’s statewide Innovation Counselor network, entrepreneurs can plan the development, finance alternatives and marketing strategies for their product or service.

Connection with the MSU Product Center starts with a simple online registration process. Simply go to the MSU Product Center website, and make a request for counseling. You will provide your contact information and briefly describe the assistance you seek. Subsequently, our coordinator will call you during business hours to confirm your request and to explain the confidentiality policy. Once a signed confidentiality agreement is in place, you will be assigned a counselor.

You will interact with your Innovation Counselor through methods and locations made through mutual agreement. This may include personal visits, telephone calls, email, or even webinars. Your counselor will help you build your team, access technical services, find Michigan State University Extension educational resources, develop plans, review grant applications, and act as your sounding board. Collaborations between producers may be aided through the MSU Product Center’s USDA Cooperative Development Center.

MSU Product Center counseling is free to Michigan residents. Fees apply to specialized services such as nutrition facts development and feasibility studies. In 2013, the MSU Product Center assisted 647 clients with business planning and 86 launches.

Start out 2015 by making your request for counseling at www.productcenter.msu.edu , or by phone by calling 517-432-8750.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • agriculture,
  • agrifood safety,
  • beef,
  • business,
  • business development,
  • dairy,
  • economic development,
  • entrepreneurship,
  • farm & farmers markets,
  • fisheries & wildlife,
  • food business & regulation,
  • forestry,
  • fruit & nuts,
  • msu extension,
  • nursery & christmas trees,
  • organic agriculture,
  • pork,
  • poultry,
  • product center,
  • sheep & goats,
  • tourism,
  • vegetables
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).