Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative to provide $10 million in grants for COVID-19 recovery efforts

On Monday, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $10 million grant program to help meet the needs of small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will utilize federal CARES Act funding to award grants of up to $15,000 to more than 650 small businesses across Michigan.

Please note the application period opens on Tuesday, December 15th so t be prepared. The process is first come, first served.

Visit michiganbusiness.org/relief for complete details.

DOES MY BUSINESS QUALIFY?

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 including restaurants and bars, lodging providers, live event venues and movie theaters, conference and meeting facilities, indoor recreation facilities, and gyms and fitness centers.
• 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. For the full list of requirements, visit here.

WHAT IS THE GRANT INTENDED TO BE USED FOR?

The grants under the program will support those businesses facing drastic reductions in cash flow and the continued support of their workforce and may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, or utility expenses.

WHAT'S THE CHANCE I WILL BE AWARDED?

Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis for those that qualify and the application window for small businesses will close once the targeted allocations within each of the state’s 10 prosperity regions are reasonably expected to be met.

These federal CARES Act dollars were distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Michigan Community Development Block Grant program. A complete list of Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative grant recipients will be posted to michiganbusiness.org/relief. MSF today also approved up to $1 million to be used for administrative costs.