Entrepreneurs and small business owners across the Ann Arbor area can get free one-on-one time with lawyers, accountants and business advisers during Small Business Week at the SPARK East Innovation Center, Monday, Aug. 17, through Friday, Aug. 21.

The five-day event at 215 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti will feature business navigators on-site daily from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., offering guidance on growth strategies, local resources and technical assistance, according to Ann Arbor SPARK. Subject matter experts including lawyers, accountants and packaging specialists will hold dedicated office hours throughout the week, alongside interactive workshops.

The event is free and open to walk-ins. Networking opportunities, complimentary food and a chance at prizes are also available, according to SPARK.

"Entrepreneurs don't need to be told to work hard — they need tools, connections, and answers," said Kristine Nash-Wong, director of entrepreneurial services at SPARK East. "Small Business Week delivers all three, and it's free to everyone who walks in."

The programming is funded through a partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and a federal award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to the State of Michigan.

$1.25 million grant expands SPARK's regional role

The free event comes as Ann Arbor SPARK takes on a larger role in small business support across southeast Michigan. The organization was awarded $1.25 million from the MEDC to serve as the Small Business Support Hub for Region 9, a six-county area covering Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Monroe counties.

That grant, which runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, will fund what SPARK calls the Southeast Collaborative, a network of entrepreneurial support organizations providing advising, mentorship, training and help with access to capital. SPARK president and CEO Paul Krutko said in the July 31 announcement that the collaborative "builds on years of successful partnerships across Region 9."

Since 2024, partner organizations in the original Small Business Support Hub program have served more than 700 small businesses and supported the launch of more than 200 new ones across the region, according to SPARK.

The MEDC selected 11 organizations statewide from 115 applications. A 24-member evaluation committee reviewed 33 eligible proposals.

Additional details about Region 9 programming and partners will be announced ahead of the Oct. 1 launch.