360 Business Council Expands Access for Michigan Businesses Under New Brand
Organization formerly known as the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council details what its expanded structure means for entrepreneurs, corporations and partners
DETROIT, August 20, 2026 – Businesses across Michigan now have access to a broader set of growth resources through the 360 Business Council, the umbrella organization introduced on July 20 by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) after nearly five decades of connecting businesses to opportunity. In the weeks since the launch, the organization moved programs, partnerships and member services under one platform built to support businesses at every stage of growth.
The 360 Business Council is the umbrella organization for a growing family of initiatives operating under a single brand platform: Connect. Engage. Grow. That portfolio includes the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, Business Solutions Group lending, advisory and training services, the Global Initiative, Workforce Development, MatchMaker365, Plug and Play Detroit, Thrive, and the Supplier Prequalification Program by Supplier Gateway. The name reflects the organization’s approach: full circle support for businesses at every stage, from every angle.
“This isn’t a change in our values; it’s an expansion of our impact,” said Michelle Sourie Robinson, President and CEO of the 360 Business Council. “For the past decade, we’ve been testing and refining programs that serve a broader range of entrepreneurs. The evidence is clear: when small businesses have greater access to capital, customers, education, technology and strategic partnerships, everyone benefits.”
The decision follows years of intentional program development that began after the organization examined the effectiveness of traditional supplier diversity initiatives.
“It was our organization that commissioned research asking whether supplier diversity programs were achieving the outcomes they were designed to produce,” said Robinson. “Those findings challenged us to think differently. Since 2016, we have intentionally tested a more inclusive approach, and every major initiative reinforced the same conclusion: expanding opportunity strengthens the entire business ecosystem while continuing to create meaningful growth for minority-owned businesses.”
That evolution is reflected in the organization’s economic footprint. Its work today supports $56 billion in annual economic output across Michigan and the nation. An independent economic impact study now underway is expected to be released later this year.
Growing a business requires access to capital, customers, talent, technology, education, supply chains, trusted advisors and strategic partnerships. The 360 Business Council was built on the belief that supporting entrepreneurs means addressing every stage of the business journey while fostering collaboration across industries, communities and sectors.
Organization leaders emphasized that the new brand does not represent a departure from the Council’s historic mission. MMSDC continues to operate under the umbrella of the 360 Business Council as an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and certification, corporate services, and entrepreneurial services continue without interruption.
The organization is creating a stronger small business ecosystem that brings more resources, deeper partnerships and greater opportunities to the entrepreneurs it serves, including minority-owned businesses.
Recognizing that many entrepreneurs still face systemic challenges, 360 Business Council is committed to helping remove those barriers. Robinson states, “What has changed is our understanding of how to create the greatest long-term impact: by strengthening the entire small business ecosystem while ensuring every entrepreneur can succeed.”
The organization’s new name, logo, website and messaging are now live across digital platforms, marketing communications, signature events and stakeholder engagement. Existing programs in capital access, supply chain navigation, business growth, workforce development and corporate matchmaking continue and will expand to reach more entrepreneurs throughout Michigan and beyond.
“We’re taking everything we have learned over the past decade and scaling it to reach even more businesses,” added Robinson. “When small businesses grow, communities prosper. When entrepreneurs succeed, Michigan succeeds. That is the future we are building as the 360 Business Council.”
Businesses and partners can learn more at www.360businesscouncil.org.
Media Contact
Carolyn Mosby
Cole Brown Strategies
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About 360 Business Council
The 360 Business Council is the umbrella organization for a growing family of initiatives that help businesses connect, engage and grow. Building on the nearly 50-year legacy of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, the Council brings together a portfolio of programs and services, including Business Solutions Group lending, advisory and training services, the Global Initiative, Workforce Development, MatchMaker365, Plug and Play Detroit, Thrive, and the Supplier Prequalification Program by Supplier Gateway, to support businesses at every stage of growth. As the operator of these initiatives, the 360 Business Council serves businesses of all sizes, as well as corporations, government agencies and partners committed to their growth. MMSDC, which has connected businesses to opportunity for almost 50 years, remains an important part of the organization’s ecosystem, which now supports $56 billion in annual economic output and advances its mission to ensure everyone is included in economic opportunities.