Virtual small business conference to offer expertise on COVID-19 recovery solutions

Small businesses in Detroit, if you're dealing with such issues as lack of access to capital, inflation costs, COVID-19 preparation and recruiting and retaining labor, take note.

Registration is now open for the next Small Business Workshop virtual series hosted by business consulting firm The LEE Group in partnership with presenting sponsor Fifth Third Bank.

The first of four sessions kicks off at 10 a.m. May 11. Weekly sessions continue May 18, May 25 and June 1.

The theme of this year's series, which is its eighth, is “The Future is Now: The Roadmap to Recovery.”

“We know that several businesses are still shutting down,” said Mark Lee, president and CEO of The LEE Group. “So recovery to me, quite candidly, is slowing down the closure rate and focusing on business stability and sustainability. Let’s flatten that curve, get businesses to remain open and then, ultimately, focus on business growth.” Other event partners whose leaders are expected to be featured during the series include Build Institute, Comcast Business, the Detroit Development Fund, Michigan Women Forward, Tanner Friedman, State Farm agent Cindy Fletcher, and more. They will take on such topics as how to open a business during this time, the challenges that female entrepreneurs face and how to create an efficient communications plan, among other

Regina Ann Campbell, president and CEO of Build Institute, said entrepreneurs were used to making a business plan with an outlook of five years, but now, they need to make plans in real time.

“We want to inspire them to turn their minds to an abundant mindset versus scarcity, and that has a lot to do with how they think about money and how money matters,” said Campbell. She said she wants people to leave her presentation knowing how to apply the financial solutions that she will present. “We definitely want them to take some time to review and reflect some of the information that we've given them.”