The OBPP was originally inspired by EMU’s acceptance as host for the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI-SBDC) Region 9. Through this partnership, our students gain broader access to the business community they will enter upon graduation and are given the opportunity to interact more closely with businesses throughout their studies here at the COB.

The Ypsilanti U.S. Export Assistance Center is another key component of the OBPP. The center assists regional businesses in investigating export options for their products to broaden their business reach throughout the world.

Another major feature of the OBPP is the Center for Entrepreneurship at Eastern Michigan University (CEEMU) focusing on business students who want to be in business for themselves. Sponsoring a student entrepreneurship club, this center also hosts an annual conference. The center is closely tied to the COB major in Entrepreneurship but works with all business students interested in starting or expanding their own company.

The fourth component of the OBPP is the MI-SBDC Business Resource Center (BRC) hosted by EMU’s COB and serving MI-SBDC Region 12. The BRC offers business startups help in researching business plans, information and counseling on starting or growing your small business as well as a complete library of business materials to assist.

Among the other areas associated with the OBPP are the Office of Academic Service Learning, which is a university program that integrates a students academic learning with service projects for the community or local businesses; Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti SmartZone Project, and the Community Outreach Partnership Center Program (COPC) which is a federal grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development