Here’s the SBSH Scoop | SMART Session Recordings on line now!
Here’s your chance to get connected with the people you actually need to know. Most of us start a business because we love what we do—the product we make, the service we provide, the value we bring. What we don’t usually sign up for is being:
An attorney who knows contract law
A marketing strategist
An HR pro
A financial wizard who thrives on balance sheets and bookkeeping
That’s where experts come in. The right people can help make your business not just run, but run well—and last. Through this grant program, we’ve brought together a group of trusted professionals who can support you in the areas that matter most.
And here’s the bonus: this grant program also covers the cost of working with them directly. All you have to do is reach out to our SBSH liaison, Miche Rayment, and she’ll connect you.
Need a different kind of expert than the ones featured in these sessions? No problem. Miche can help you find the right fit for that too.
Bottom line: you don’t have to do it all alone. You can do it, we can help. What have you got to lose?
Business Spotlight | Sposito’s Pasties, a Yooper Staple
What this SBSH grant funding truly represents is an opportunity for a more sustainable business.
If you’ve ever found yourself just a couple miles past the Mighty Mac, stuck in a vacation traffic backup, you know how valuable a tasty detour can be. Luckily, Sposito’s Pastie Shop in St. Ignace has become exactly that—both a local favorite and a welcome surprise for travelers looking for authentic Upper Peninsula flavor.
In 2024, owner Tom Sposito used a Small Business Support Hub direct grant to purchase a new cooler, making it possible to expand their offerings to include smoked whitefish along with their pies. The addition has been a hit—business is up 50% from last year!
Customers are noticing. One traveler from Oklahoma wrote on Yelp:
“Pasties were amazing! On the way in we had beef with a side of gravy. A week later on the way out my husband had beef (and gravy) but I tried the veggie, OMG, it was just as good as the beef. We also had dessert pasties, cherry and strawberry rhubarb. Amazing!!! Stop in and see them, you will not be disappointed!”
Even with the challenge of finding enough staff (the shop is now open 5 days a week instead of 7), sales are climbing and reviews are glowing. Between the hearty beef, flavorful veggie, and sweet cherry and strawberry rhubarb dessert pasties, it’s easy to see why.
If you’re a Yooper, you already know how special Sposito’s is. And if you’re just visiting the UP? Consider it one of the best surprises your stomach will ever have.
1228 US Hwy 2 W, St. Ignace, MI 49781
Coming this Fall | SMART Workshops in the Soo
Running a business is a lot like riding a unicycle while juggling—keeping things balanced is tough, and dropping a ball now and then is inevitable. The Small Business Support Hub (SBSH) is here to make the ride smoother.
This fall, we’re offering hands-on, half-day SMART Workshops in Sault Ste. Marie. You’ll spend the morning diving into one key area of your business with guidance from seasoned Michigan business experts. By lunchtime, you won’t just have new ideas—you’ll leave with ready-to-use tools, personalized action steps, and a real expert in your corner when you need help down the road.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with in each workshop:
HR Employee Handbooks → draft handbook sections, compliance checklists, and an HR pro you can call on. (Coming October 29, 8:30-noon, SmartZone office)
Business Plans → a practical, working draft (not shelfware) plus a roadmap to keep refining it. (Coming October 1, 8:30-noon, SmartZone office)
Team Coordination → team alignment tools, meeting templates, and strategies to keep everyone rowing in the same direction.
Vendor & Contractor Templates → plug-and-play agreements and checklists that save you time and headaches.
Financial Statement Clarity → plain-English guides, worksheets tailored to your numbers, and confidence to actually use your statements.
Hiring Steps → job post templates, interview questions, onboarding checklists, and a repeatable system for finding the right people.
Succession Planning → draft outlines, decision-making frameworks, and personalized next steps for a stronger future.
And the best part? You won’t just connect with experts—you’ll also meet other small business owners from across the Eastern UP. That networking often turns into new partnerships, referrals, and the kind of “Oh, you too?” conversations that make running a business feel a whole lot less lonely.
Have another area you’d like to see covered? Let us know! These workshops are built for you, and your input shapes the lineup.
The SMART Workshops are part of the SBSH grant programming, designed to give small business owners in the Eastern UP the tools, knowledge, and connections to grow stronger and smarter.
People in the Know | Your Local Economic Development Peeps
These people you can connect with when you are looking for resources and connections.
Tammy Henry - Luce County - director@lucecoedc.com
Chris Olson - Chippewa County - admin@chippewacountyedc.com
Tara Parrish - Bay Mills Indian Community - tparrish@baymills.org
Dean Reid - Mackinac County - reiddi46@sault.com
Nikki Radke - City Sault Ste Marie - nradke@saultcity.com
Bob Sawruk - Sault Tribe - RSawruk@saulttribe.net
Miche Rayment - Eastern UP region at large - Miche@HeadwatersNorth.org
Expert Spotlight | Zach Meyer, Varnum
Zach is a seasoned business attorney with 14+ years of experience helping business owners grow, transition, and protect what they’ve built. Whether it’s guiding Zeigler Automotive Group through the purchase of three Chicago-area dealerships or advising hospitals and physician groups through mergers and partnerships, Zach knows how to steer complex deals so leaders can focus on running their organizations.
As Co-Chair of his firm’s Health Care Practice Team and a member of the Business and Corporate Services Team, Zach spends most of his time helping clients untangle tricky questions around governance, compliance, and growth. He’s also worked closely with startups, manufacturers, and forestry businesses—always bringing a problem-solving mindset and practical counsel.
Business owners trust Zach not just for his legal expertise, but for his ability to explain the fine print without overcomplicating it. His goal: make sure your business is built to thrive, no matter what the road ahead looks like.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-meyer-10134126/
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The HUBbub is published by Headwaters North (Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone) as part of the Eastern UP Small Business Support Hub, a program made possible in whole or in part by federal award number SLFRP0127, granted to the State of Michigan by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This hub’s operating partners include Bay Mills Indian Community, Sault Tribe, Chippewa County, Luce County, and Mackinac County EDCs. Both EUP Regional Planning and Development Commission and Headwaters North support the initiative as well.