FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adrian, MI – July 8, 2020
Two new programs are available to assist Lenawee County businesses in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Michigan has appropriated federal CARES Act funding to implement the Michigan Small Business Restart Program which will provide $750,000 in grants to Lenawee County businesses. Another $15 million in economic assistance has been made available to Michigan farms and agricultural processors to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus through the Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program. Both programs begin accepting applications on July 15.
The Small Business Restart Program will provide grants up to $20,000 to support certain small businesses that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus. The application will be live starting Wednesday, July 15 at michiganbusiness.org/restart and run through Wednesday, August 5. Funds can be used as working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses.
To qualify for grant support, businesses must meet the following criteria, based on statutory requirements for the program:
- Is a business or nonprofit that can demonstrate it is affected by the COVID-19 emergency
- Needs working capital to support eligible expenses
- Demonstrates an income loss as a result of the COVID-19 emergency
- Has not received a grant through the Michigan Strategic Fund’s Michigan Small Business Relief Program. Businesses who have received support through other COVID-19 relief programs, including the Michigan Small Business Relief Program loans, are eligible to apply for Restart grants.
- You must be registered on Pure Michigan Business Connect to apply.
- This is not a first come, first serve grant process. You can submit and modify your application anytime before the August 5, 2020 deadline.
- You have to finish the application in one sitting – you cannot log out and log back in and continue it. However, once companies submit – they can edit their responses.
- More questions? MEDC has established a Help Center. You can reach them at 888-522-0103. Hours are 8am-5pm but you can leave a voicemail outside of those times.
- We are continually monitoring the application process and will provide updates by email and our social media accounts as they become available.
Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under the program must be provided to women-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned eligible businesses. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation anticipates that more than 5,000 businesses across the state will benefit from this program.
The $15 million Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program will support the needs of Michigan’s agricultural processors and farms. The program supports the implementation of COVID-19 monitoring and mitigation strategies to protect agricultural employees and the state’s overall food production industry. To learn more and see the grant application which goes live on July 15, visit here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2020/07/$15-million-in-agricultural-safety-grants-to-provide-critical-relief-to-michigans-farms-and-food-processors.
“Our small business community needs financial assistance to recover from the economic effects of this pandemic,” said Jim Van Doren, Executive Director for Lenawee Now. “Our team and partners will work with our local economic developers and chambers of commerce to offer assistance to local businesses who need help applying for either of these new programs.”
“There’s a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming and confusing. We can help you navigate the options and point you in the right direction,” said Tim Robinson, Director of Operations for Lenawee Now.
More information about the programs and funding can be found at LenaweeNow.org/Covid19 or call 517-265-5141.
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