Comerica gift facilitates
expansion of services to MRS agency

A College of Business Administration program that helps people with disabilities develop and launch businesses will be able to expand its service range to Michigan’s west side, thanks to a grant from Comerica.

The program, launched four years ago with a four-year innovation and expansion grant from the Michigan Rehabilitation Services agency (MRS), allowed CBA’s LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center to develop a highly successful model for providing consulting and business technical services to MRS customers. Their customers have included a range of business people, from architects to manufacturers, daycare providers, and even a magician.

“Comerica’s generous support has been absolutely critical in sustaining the program we’ve built over the past four years,” said LaBelle Center’s associate director Mike Vuillemot. “Their $25,000 grant this year was the only reason we were able to secure the $125,000 in federal and other dollars that allowed us to continue.”

Comerica’s funding gives the LaBelle Center the opportunity to expand services beyond the mid-Michigan district to include MRS’s Grand Rapids and West-Central districts – more than doubling the program’s range.

“Our partnership with CMU is a perfect fit for Comerica because the gift supports two areas we are deeply committed to – education and entrepreneurship,” said Caroline Chambers, Comerica vice president and contributions manager. “Entrepreneurship drives economic growth in our state and nation and, as Michigan’s oldest and largest bank, we are happy to do our part to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and small business owners.”