State approves $10 million in federal grants to support more than 670 small businesses

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved Monday a $10 million grant program to help support small businesses that continue to feel the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will utilize federal CARES Act dollars to award grants of up to $15,000 to more than 670 small businesses across Michigan. The grant program intends to meet the urgent need of businesses including restaurants and bars, lodging providers, live event venues and movie theaters, conference and meeting facilities, indoor recreation facilities, and gyms and fitness centers.

Through 1 p. m. on Wednesday, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) accepted applications from eligible nonprofit organizations interested in administering the grants at www.michiganbusiness. org/relief. Beginning Dec. 15, the application period for small businesses seeking grants will begin.

MEDC CEO Mark Burton said the organization’s priority continues to be focused on getting critically needed relief into the hands of those businesses that need it most.

The grants can be used to address drastic reductions in revenue as well as payroll, rent, mortgage payments, or utility expenses.

To qualify for grant support, businesses must meet a number of criteria, including but not limited to:

• Being a business in one of the targeted industries;

• Identifying a need for payroll, rent, or mortgage payments, and/or utility expenses necessary to continue or restart business operations;

• Having at least two employees (including the owner) but fewer than 50;

• Additional eligibility requirements can be found on Michiganbusiness.org/ relief.

In addition, applicants will be required to self-certify that they are following all state and local orders related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, those issued by DHHS and county health departments.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said many of Michigan’s small businesses are experiencing additional strain, particularly now during the holiday season and heading into winter.

“We are fully committed to supporting our small businesses and their employees across the state as they navigate and persevere through this pandemic,” she said. “By putting this federal funding to work, we can provide immediate assistance to those businesses hardesthit by the pandemic.”

In total, the MEDC has now launched 20 COVID-19 relief and recovery programs that have supported more than 18,500 businesses in the state and helped to retain nearly 147,000 jobs across all 83 counties.

Through the Oakland County Small Business Stabilization Grant program and the Oakland Together Small Business Recovery Grant program, around $44 million in grants was provided to hundreds of small businesses across the county impacted by the pandemic. They were two of several Oakland County grant programs that utilized CARES Act dollars to support small businesses.

In total, the county created 15 different grant programs utilizing CARES Act dollars to support residents, businesses, schools, cultural institutions, and local governments.