First Path Program
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Overview
A nine-week business consulting program offered by Southwest Michigan First in partnership with Plywood People to assist budding entrepreneurs in developing and validating their business ideas.
Focus Areas:
- Business planning and idea validation
- Answering foundational business questions ("who, why, and how")
- Business development and growth strategies
- Community support and networking
- Resource identification and connection
Geographic Scope: Southwest Michigan region
What It Provides:
- Professional business consulting
- Community of support for entrepreneurs
- Resource connections
- Guidance on business development and expansion
Eligibility: Individuals with business ideas considering starting a business
Contact Information:
- Southwest Michigan First
- 180 East Water Street Suite 2690
- Kalamazoo, MI 49007
- Phone: 269.553.9588
What Southwest Michigan First Corp actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 14
- Total given
- $3.98M
- Median grant
- $80K
- Range
- $8,765–$1.39M
- By dollars: Michigan >99%. Top recipient cities: Kalamazoo, MI; Benton Harbor, MI; Lawton, MI.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 43% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
City of Kalamazoo · Kalamazoo, MI
Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC)
$1.39M
Village of Lawton · Lawton, MI
Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC)
$811K
City of Sturgis · Sturgis, MI
Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC)
$769K
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts · Kalamazoo, MI
Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (MEDC)
$331K
Battle Creek Unlimited Inc · Battle Creek, MI
Strategic Site Readiness Program (MEDC)
$249K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Workforce development
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
MiLEAP Grant
Southwest Michigan First Corp
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
MI New Favorite Snack Contest
Southwest Michigan First Corp
Amount
$50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
SME Additive Manufacturing Awards
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~February
Based on past cycles
Mobility Accelerator Innovation Network (MAIN)
Wayne State University Research and Technology Park in the City of Detroit
Amount
$3.5 million over 3-4 years (TechTown portion); $12.4 million total MAIN budget
Deadline
Deadline not published
BasBlue Foundation - Founders + Fund(Her)s
Basblue Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bridge Builders Main Street Microgrants
Michigan Municipal League Foundation
Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Ready to apply for First Path Program?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found First Path Program. Now let's win it.