The state is reaching out to small businesses.

The Michigan Department of Career Development has developed the online training program BeeFreeway, under the partnership of Michigan Virtual University and Netg, a division of Thomson Publishing, an e-learning business.

Programs in business leadership and teamwork are offered for all businesses, but companies with 25 or fewer employees can use the program for free.

“If we help the small businesses who really are the backbone of our economy, why don’t we help them upgrade their skills?” said Tiffany Dowling, spokeswoman for the department.

The program gives small businesses a chance to give their employees training for promotions or new skills, a luxury usually not allowed in small business budgets, Dowling said.

“Some employees are doing three different jobs that can’t be covered so it’s real hard for small businesses to release those workers,” she said.

Small business owners partaking in the program register at the Web site, www.beefreeway.org.

Employees can then access programs ranging from business law to customer service.

Barbara Bolin, director of the Michigan Department of Career Development and creator of the program, said while many programs during the recession focus on the unemployed, this program is unique targeting the already employed.

“At the department we look at all facets of the workforce,” she said. “One facet of the workforce that gets very overlooked is the incumbent workforce, the people already working.”

Dave Baker, owner of Hobie’s Restaurants, 930 Trowbridge Road, said he prefers traditional methods.

“We kind of learn hands-on,” he said. “What I’ve kind of done is piggyback them with someone with experience and then have them do hands-on sometimes the same day.”

That doesn’t mean all businesses should rule it out.

Baker said the program could be a benefit, even to his - a shop with no apparent need for training.

“Who knows?” he said. “I guess nowadays you can learn anything on the Internet.”