$6 million in grants coming to support small businesses
State funds earmarked for those impacted by COVID-19
Oakland County will receive over $6 million in grant dollars from the state to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Thursday, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved two grant programs — the Michigan Small Business Survival Grants and the Michigan Stages Survival Grants — totaling $58.5 million in relief to help meet the urgent needs of small businesses and live event venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her administration has been deeply committed to providing crucial support to Michigan’s small businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new grant dollars were appropriated through Senate Bill 748, a $106 million COVID-19 relief package signed into law by Whitmer on Dec. 29.
The Michigan Small Business Survival Grants will be administered by 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations covering all 83 counties across the state. A single, statewide application for the program will be live at michiganbusiness.org/ survival on 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19 through noon on Friday, Jan. 22. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded.
Grants will be reviewed and awarded by the local economic development organizations based on eligibility requirements and local priorities and objectives, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Businesses must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Had 1 to 100 employees (including full-time, parttime and owner/employees) on a worldwide basis on Nov. 17, 2020.
• Is in an industry that demonstrates it is affected
by the MDHHS epidemic orders.
• Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses.
• Can demonstrate an income loss as a result of the MDHHS epidemic order
• Is not a live music and entertainment venue that is eligible for the Michigan Stage Survival grant program.
In-person dining at bars and restaurants remains banned through at least Feb. 1 as part of the state’s ongoing epidemic order, announced Whitmer earlier this week.
The Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program will provide $3.5 million in grants, including up to $40,000 in one-time grants, to eligible Michigan live music and entertainment venues that have experienced a significant financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The application will be available at www.michiganbusiness.org/stages starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 through noon on Thursday, Jan. 28. The Michigan Independent Venue and Promoter Association (MIVPA) will be responsible for accepting, reviewing and approving applications by February 28. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will then distribute grant dollars based on the recommendation of the MIVPA.
Venues must meet eligibility requirements that include:
• Be located in the state of Michigan.
• Produce and/or present live, disciplined-based performance experiences.
• Demonstrate at least 33% of 2019 gross revenues are from the sale of tickets for live music or entertainment events or receive at least 70% of its earned revenue through cover charges or tickets sales, production fees or production reimbursements, nonprofit educational initiatives, or the sale of event beverages, food or merchandise.
• Demonstrate secondquarter revenues from April 1 through June 30, 2020 were not greater than 10% of second-quarter revenue from April 1 through June 30, 2019.
• Employ less than 30 full-time employees.
All small business and venue applications received during the application period will be reviewed and considered, not on a first-come, firstserved basis. Businesses with questions about the application can contact the MEDC Service Center at (888)-522-0103. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In total, the MEDC has now launched 23 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.