LaBelle director wins award

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The Labelle Entrepreneurial Center staff was honored by the State Department
of Career Development for their assistance in finding employment for the
disabled.

LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center Associate Director Michael Vuillemot was
awarded the Small Business External Resource Award Aug. 29 in Lansing for
his work with clients of the Michigan Rehabilitation Service.

“This is a great honor and a testament to the hard work of the faculty
and staff,” Vuillemot said. “I’m excited because this award will help us
succeed in our vision to ultimately serve all of the economically disadvantaged
in Michigan.”

The MRS helps clients with disabilities develop small business plans.
It also grants funds to new businesses. More than 100 clients and 20 different
businesses have been served since the program’s inception, Vuillemot said.

The program operates on a five-stage process, which includes: intake,
assessment, technical service, securing funds and follow up. Vuillemot said
MRS offers support throughout the entire development process.

“We’ve built this program into a model of cooperation between the state
and our agency,” Vuillemot said. “The faculty and staff need to be acknowledged,
though. … They are the ones who provide the counseling and technical services
to people.”

CMU’s College of Business Administration works closely with government
and business agencies to provide counseling and educational services.

Vuillemot has been the director of the center for three years.