Local businesses awarded grants

Pleasant City Coffee, Mountain Town get state development dollars

Two Mt. Pleasant businesses were awarded $25,000 each through a state program intended to help local downtowns throughout Michigan.

One was Pleasant City Coffee.

“We are incredibly thrilled and honored that Pleasant City Coffee was chosen for the Match on Main grant,” said owner Josh Agardy in a text message. “The MMDC worked tirelessly to inform and guide us in this process.

“We are excited to be one step closer to bringing a new and innovative expansion to the downtown business district. This grant approval comes at a difficult time for all businesses, we are grateful and focused on succeeding in these trying times.”

Agardy was tight lipped about his plans for the money, but said he’d have more to say sometime in the summer.

Pleasant Coffee just completed construction of an outdoor dining space.

The other recipient was Mountain Town Station, 506 W. Broadway.

The two were among 21 local governments and businesses to receive grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to help stabilize and develop downtown areas.

While there were two grants of $12,500 and $13,493, most of the awards were for $25,000.

Match on Main makes money available to certain communities participating in the Michigan Main Street program or are a Certified Redevelopment Ready community.

This round of grants is expected to generate nearly $2 million in private investment and create 69 full-time and 71 part-time jobs.

The money can be used to pay for technical assistance, interior building renovations, outdoor space, infrastructure related to COVID-19 recovery and other working capital needs, according to the press release.