Sault Tribe Thrive

07/24/2026

It takes a lot to run a small business. You don't have to do it alone! The SBSH grant program brings you SMART Sessions (virtual) and Workshops (in person) so you can get to know experts who can help AND get some practical work done at the same time.

Take the next step, whether it’s tackling bookkeeping or mapping out your business idea.

With SMART Programming, the Small Business Support Hub offers free and practical ways to run a better business.

Explore what’s available at headwatersnorth.org/smart-programming



City of Sault Ste. Marie, MI Michigan Economic Development Corporation Sault Area Chamber of Commerce Luce County Economic Development CorporationBay Mills Indian Community Sault Tribe Thrive Chippewa County EDC Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District

07/20/2026

One year into the program and already a lot of success stories across the country for the Sault Tribe Capital Fund. The future looks bright!

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has established the Sault Tribe Capital Fund, a new financing support program designed to help Tribal members and businesses gain access to the capital needed to grow and succeed.

07/14/2026

Check out the updates to the Headwaters North SmartZone web page! Lots of good resources on there from credit building tips, to their smartzone sessions. If you are an entrepreneur looking to start or expand your business, this site is a great place to check out!

Backing builders in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Get IP support, funding help, and tactical growth for startups and small businesses in the North.

07/07/2026

Please note the updated phone number in the flyer below for Northern Shores Community Development when offering this program.

07/01/2026

One of the biggest obstacles when building your business is a lack of access to capital due to credit. If you are looking to build or repair your credit, this program could be a great fit for you. Reach out to Northern Shores Community Development for more information on the program!

05/28/2026

This upcoming event is free to attend and is a great resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. Make sure to RSVP in advance!

03/02/2026

One of the most important aspects of gaining access to capital is maintaining a healthy credit score. Over the next few weeks we will be posting the different factors and how important they are to making up your credit score.

The next topic is revolving utilization ratio. Utilization ratio is the amount of debt you are carrying on a credit line vs what the maximum of the credit line is (So if you have a $1,000 credit line and had $300 charged, your ratio would be 30%). Credit cards and other lines of credit are considered a revolving debt, meaning there is no specific end date set for it. When it comes to revolving debt, ideally you want to keep the total amount charged to the credit line at 30% of their credit line maximum or less. The closer you get to your limits, the lower your credit score will be.

Your credit score is determined by roughly 30% based on what your utilization ratio is. So it's important to keep this number healthy as it plays a large determining factor as to what makes up your score. Make sure to check back in next week as we post more of the factors that make up your credit score.

02/16/2026

One of the most important aspects of gaining access to capital is maintaining a healthy credit score. Over the next few weeks we will be posting the different factors and how important they are to creating your credit score.

The first one is Missed Payments. Consistently paying your creditors on time is the single most important factor in determining your credit score, making up about 35% of what compromises your credit score. Even a single missed payment can have a significant impact on your credit score.

The scoring system factors in:

- Collections & negative public record information

- The number of accounts with missed payments over the past 7 years

- Amounts owed on delinquent accounts

By making sure your payments are made on time, it helps give you a leg up on establishing a healthy credit score. Make sure to check back in next week when we cover another factor!