Michigan Resources
Need to find an accountant, attorney, or website developer to help grow your business? Look no further than our hand-picked list of industry professionals!
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Does your organization provide resources to underrepresented contractors? Contact us to inquire about being listed as a resource provider on our Resources page!
Find the resources you need to get started!
Construction Allies in Action hand-selects resource providers and vendors who share in our vision of generational wealth and are eager to help underrepresented contractors gain the tools and resources they need to be successful in the construction industry.
Looking for discounts on these services – and more – for your business? Join the Affiliate HUB to access exclusive benefits!
Financial Resources
Financial resources are incredibly necessary to creating a thriving business! Construction Allies in Action partners with vendors, like banks and accounting firms, and individuals looking to help construction companies get started.
Commercial Lending & Financial Planning
Marty Peltier is the Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President at Lake Michigan Credit Union where he has worked since 2016.
Leading sales teams in both Michigan and Florida, Marty focuses on business opportunities and executes the strategic planning and implementation of relationship building for Lake Michigan Credit Union.
Prior to LMCU, Marty worked at Bank of America for 11 years managing the Mortgage Sales and Operations in their Michigan market. He has also worked at General Motors Corporation for 8 years as a Regional District Manager and at GMAC Mortgage as a Vice President for 11 years.
Contact Marty Peltier for help with or questions about:
- Commercial Lending
- Bonding Capacity
- Financial Planning
- Business Banking
Accounting, Payroll, & Business Taxes
5 Accounting Questions Contractors Should Ask When Starting a New Construction Company
Contact Andy Rose for help with or questions about:
- Accounting Services
- Payroll Best Practices
- Understanding Business Taxes
Going Pro Talent Fund
The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund) makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by the industry. To apply, visit the website here.
Opportunity Empowered
Opportunity Empowered is a pilot program being launched by the Urban League of West Michigan in partnership with Heart of West Michigan United Way.
This is for residents with grassroots ideas for an opportunity to empower community voices by ideating, identifying, and prioritizing solutions to issues identified.
This is an opportunity for those who may already be operating small-scale out of homes and churches, etc., and are looking to elevate their idea.
View more details on the Urban League website.
The 100 - Start Garden
Start Garden created The 100 as a no-strings-attached way to fund people to take a shot at new endeavors each year. It’s a community-wide investment in the businesses and organizations of tomorrow.
The 100 exists to open the gate for the whole community to try out new ideas each year, knowing that some can be life-changing.
Submissions for The 100 are open now through July 8!
View more details and Submit Your Idea.
Legal Resources
Having a great legal team available to you will ensure that you’re working with the proper contracts, filing the right paperwork, and getting paid on time. These guides and providers can help you acquire designations and can consult with you on construction law.
Legal Paperwork & Attorney Assistance
Bruce Courtade is past board member for Builders Exchange of Michigan, and hosts or presents a series of construction-related seminars throughout the winter months of each year for Builders Exchange members. He has practiced construction law throughout Michigan for more than 30 years and is a past president of the 45,000+ member State Bar of Michigan. Read Bruce’s full bio.
Tony Pearson currently serves as Rhoades McKee’s firm president. He is a member of the firm’s corporate practice group, specializing in helping businesses of all sizes, from single-person companies through publicly traded corporations, in every aspect of their life cycle, from startup to mergers and acquisitions to business succession planning. Among other things, Tony will be talking about how to make sure that your company is best set up to address your needs and limit ownership disputes, shield your personal assets from liability, and planning ahead for when you may want or need to transition ownership of the business to someone else. Read Tony’s full bio.
Patrick Sweeney is no stranger to the Builders Exchange, having helped teach seminars on bonding, lien law, and other construction-related topics. A member of the firm’s Construction Practice Group and trial attorney, Patrick will offer insight into proper documentation (contracts, purchase orders, change orders, etc.), specific contractual provisions to understand and use, and other topics. Read Patrick’s full bio.
Other members of the Rhoades McKee Construction Industry Service Team include: Meghan Clayton, Patrick Drueke, Mark Greidanus, Todd Hendricks, Nathan Russell, Tom Saxe, Jon Siebers, Mark Smith, and Peter Veldkamp.
Contact the Rhoades McKee team if you need help with or have questions about:
- Choosing the right corporate entity when forming your company
- Filing legal paperwork for your company
- Legal consultations with a specialization in construction law.
Training Resources
Continuously developing your and your team’s skills will allow you to take on more specialized jobs and increase your company’s overall wealth. These providers and programs can help you maintain your edge in the industry!
West Michigan Construction Institute
The West Michigan Construction Institute provides the training, knowledge, and national certification for students to have a well-paid, high-demand, and meaningful career in commercial construction.
See upcoming classes on the WMCI website, or join the Affiliate HUB to get discounts on select WMCI classes!
GRCC M-TEC
USGBC West Michigan Energy Assistance Program
The U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan presents a unique opportunity for minority-owned contractors who wish to expand their skill set of energy efficiency and carbon analysis of buildings. This includes a potential for a professional certification and youth volunteer opportunity. Read more here.
Scaffold Safety Awareness Online Course
It is estimated that 65% of the construction industry works on scaffolds, which is approximately 2.3 million workers. Our 1-hour OSHA Scaffold Safety Awareness Certificate Course details OSHA standards as they apply to scaffolding and gives you specific details about individual types of scaffolds and what safety measures are needed to protect yourself and others from hazards.
Marketing Resources
How your company is perceived can make or break your business. These resource providers can help you create a logo, design a capabilities statement, develop your website, and consult with you about your business development strategies.
Capabilities Statements
Want to share your capabilities statement in our Contractor Directory? Submit it here.
Don’t have a capabilities statement? Let us know and we can help!
Digital Marketing
Courtney Howe started The Yellow Umbrella Creative, a digital marketing and website development agency, with the goal of building up small businesses through simple, but effective, marketing strategies.
Contact Courtney Howe for help with or questions about:
- Building a Marketing Plan
- Email Marketing
- Social Media Branding
- Website Design and Development
- Logo and Marketing Material Design
Additionally, join the Affiliate HUB to get discounts on select marketing services from multiple providers!
Memberships & Certifications
Joining an association or participating in a business development program can help you make new connections and gain knowledge on topics you might not otherwise seek out. These organizations offer memberships and enrollment to underrepresented contractors that can help them build their businesses.
Builders Exchange of Michigan
The Builders Exchange of Michigan is a construction association that provides statewide coverage of projects in the planning and bidding phase, with full accessibility in a virtual plan room.
Acquiring Your MBE or WBE Designation
To fill out the MBE/WBE Application Form through MSHDA, use this link.
For questions about this form or process, contact Haywood Edwards at 517.241.0541.
Acquiring Your MLBE Certification (Kent County)
Certified Micro Local Business Enterprises (Micro-LBEs) are prioritized businesses that the City of Grand Rapids looks to for all spending needs. Micro-LBEs range from Construction, Goods & Services, and Professional Services to cover a variety of spending needs across the organization.
To apply for Micro-Local Business Enterprise (MLBE) Certification, use this link.
For questions about this process, contact Amaad Hardy at 616.456.3096.
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is a non-profit organization promoting the economic growth of our corporate members and the minority-owned businesses that serve them. Learn more here.
Better Business Bureau of West Michigan
Your Better Business Bureau serving Western Michigan is a non-profit organization that offers you an opportunity to showcase your business’s credibility and integrity, gaining the trust of potential customers. BBB provides resources and support to help you navigate challenges and grow your business successfully. By becoming BBB Accredited, you demonstrate your commitment to excellence, which can open doors to new opportunities and partnerships.
Questions? Contact Wendell Gafford, Director of Business Relations.
Prequalification Forms
Get prequalified to work on construction projects in Michigan! Construction Allies in Action has gathered the prequalification forms and links from prime contractors, corporations, and developers to assist underrepresented contractors.
Pioneer Construction
We welcome subcontractor and supplier submission of our general pre-qualification forms. Pre-qualification forms must be 100% completed and properly submitted as directed on the forms to be considered.
Please feel free to contact us with bidding questions. Thank you for your interest in working with Pioneer Construction.
First Companies
At First Companies, we view all trade contractors as an extension of our team. This means the expectations for skill, quality, ethics, and integrity are the same as for our employees. We take pride in selecting the right team for each project to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers.
If you would like to be considered for future projects, please fill out our Prequalification Form linked below. Once complete, your information will be assessed by the project management team for a potential fit with upcoming projects. Should you meet all criteria, and we determine you have the skills and experience for a specific client, you will be invited to submit a bid for that project.
Are you looking for a resource that isn’t listed? Contact us to inquire about what resources might be added next or request a resource!