Cornerstone Alliance
38 W. Wall Steet, P.O. Box 428
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428
269.925.6100
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Cornerstone Alliance Services

Business Attraction and Retention Activities. One of the main goals for Cornerstone Alliance each year is Shovelsto create jobs that will benefit the residents of the community. This is done through business attraction and retention activities. Cornerstone Alliance is committed to encouraging businesses throughout Michigan's Great Southwest to maximize their potential.  That's why we work closely with the State of Michigan and local units of government to create the best incentive packages we can for individual companies in our area.

Small Business Services. Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services (CASBS) provides business counseling, training, technical, and financial resource assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on low-income, women, and minority entrepreneurs. Additional services provided include:

  • Business Assistance & Financing. Provided to meet the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs: business plan development, counseling and technical assistance, site location, accessing capitol and/or incentives needed to operate and grow, and help in identifying and developing financial opportunities by exploring and packaging conventional, Micro-Loan, SBA, State, and national financial resources.
  • Business Resource Center (BRC). Located on the first floor of the Cornerstone Alliance office building, the BRC provides CASBS clients with a resource of counselors, business reference material, computers, and computer software to help with all aspects of starting or expanding a business.
  • CORE FOUR Business Planning Course. Offered quarterly, these sessions present entrepreneurs with information on how to plan a business-including marketing, cash-flow, and operations planning. "Success Planning" is also a component, which focuses on the personal goals of the business owner, business ethics, and other personal development topics.
  • Technical Assistance (TA) Program. Provides business and technical assistance to low-income individuals seeking to obtain private-sector financing for their businesses. Designed to address the specific needs of the low-income small business owner, the program assembles every possible resource into one strong support system dedicated to the success of your business.

Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance. Women's Business Centers provide assistance and/or training in finance, management, marketing, procurement, and the Internet, as well as addressing specialized topics such as home-based businesses. WBCs provide individual business counseling and access to SBA programs and services. The mission is to provide women and others from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are facing social or economic barriers, with opportunities to develop the skills and acquire the knowledge needed to achieve financial independence.

Service Area: The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women Business Ownership (OWBO) designated Cornerstone Alliance as a Women's Business Center (WBC) to serve Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. The Women's Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance is not a place... it's a program.

Physical Development Activities. Pride and esteem play a major part in growing a community. While parts of Cornerstone's service area are pleasing, other parts need attention. Therefore, one of Cornerstone Alliance's focuses is on improving the community's physical appearance, including a strategic focus on affordable housing. 

First Choice Program addresses recruitment issues prior to candidate making a decision, and assimilation issues once the candidate has chosen to locate in the community.

Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven organization encouraging the growth of business through networking, advocacy, visibility and benefits for all of our members.