Michigan Launches Program to Help Immigrant Entrepreneurs

In a difficult economic period, there is good news coming out of Detroit.

A Dearborn-based organization is now helping entrepreneurial newcomers through classes, business coaching, and access to business incubators and financial services.

The organization, called ACCESS, recently held a graduation ceremony for the first class of its Immigrant Entrepreneur Development Program, an effort to encourage immigrant- and refugee-based organizations in the metro-Detroit area.

One success story is Dijana Bucalo, a Bosnian refugee who settled in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck. She came to the United States with no English but with experience as a fashion designer.  The program’s classes and coaching helped her track her cash-flow and build her confidence.

Bucalo has goals to hire a couple of employees with sewing and fashion experience, which is precisely the purpose of the program: to foster entrepreneurs who will then create jobs and strengthen the region.  So, today’s salute goes to the people at ACCESS and the intrepid entrepreneurs they graduate!