DOWAGIAC — A way for the business community to reach out and network with one another will be coming this week to Dowagiac.

The Business Center of Southwest Michigan, 415 E. Prairie Ronde St., Dowagiac, will host a business partner showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. The event will also serve as the next Business After Hours event for the Greater Dowagiac Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is free and open to members of the Dowagiac business community.

The event is meant to serve as a networking event between business leaders, city and state officials and local economic development leaders, said Brian DeLong, vice president and manager of the Business Center of Southwest Michigan.

“It should be a fun event that brings together businesses in the area and allows them to get to know each other,” DeLong said. “We felt like there were a lot of businesses here that people didn’t even know were here, so we wanted to kind of expose them to our region a little bit better.”

The Business Center of Southwest Michigan was founded in 2009 to provide spaces, incubation services and networking services for businesses in southwest Michigan.

“We are here for businesses that want to expand or are just starting out or need some warehouse space,” DeLong said. “We have services that we customize for each person’s needs. … We help people in any way they need help.”

DeLong said the business partner showcase will be similar to a trade show, but on a smaller scale. Twenty or so businesses are expected to show at the event.

“We will have lots of tables set up just to showcase the businesses are here and give them a chance to show what they do and what we have to offer,” he said. “It will be like a little, mini trade show. There will also be refreshments and the chamber of commerce will also make some announcements, as well.”

Hoping the event will also bring attention to the business center itself, DeLong said he plans to promote the fact that the business center has space available for new or growing businesses within the center during the showcase.

“We want to provide resources for local businesses and help them thrive. That’s what we are all about,” DeLong said. “We have a lot of diverse businesses here and we hope this event will let them shine and give them some exposure. We also want to let people know that we are here.”

DeLong added that he hopes the event is successful and boosts local business.

“Small business is the backbone of American business,” he said. “I really do think [the Businesses Center of Southwest Michigan] can provide unique services that are not available locally. … So, I think what we do is beneficial to the community and I would like to raise awareness about what we do.”