Midland County Businesses Awarded More than $500,000 in Michigan Small Business Survival Grants

More than 56 Midland County businesses were recently awarded a total of $570,000 in Michigan Small Business Survival grants. The Midland Business Alliance (MBA), in partnership with the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, reviewed and recommended Small Business Survival Grants on behalf of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and its Michigan Strategic Fund.

“Although some industries are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel from the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses need support more than ever,” said Tony Stamas, President and CEO of the MBA. “The Michigan Small Business Survival grants will help the businesses hit the hardest stay on their feet through this critical time.”

The Michigan Strategic Fund allocated $55 million in January to help meet the urgent need of Michigan small businesses that have experienced a significant financial hardship due to the recent COVID-19 emergency “gatherings and face mask orders.” Each grant was up to $20,000, with priority given to those businesses that demonstrated an income loss as a result of the “Gatherings and Mask Order.”

For this application process, priority industries were defined as:

Food service establishments (such as restaurants and bars, coffee, bakeries, catering, breweries, distilleries, wineries, tea shops, banquet facilities and other food and beverage service providers)
Retail (such as boutiques, bookstores, hardware, anything being sold that is not food)
Exercise facilities (such as gyms, studios, pool facilities, ice skating rinks, organized sports)
Entertainment venues or live event venues that are not eligible for the Michigan Stages Survival Grant as defined in SB748
Recreational Facilities and places of public amusement (such as bowling alleys, arcades, bingo halls)
Nonprofits (such as library, museum, churches, religious centers, advocacy organizations)
Personal care services (such as hair, nail, tanning, massage, spa)
Schools
Childcare and camps
Transportation (such as limo services)

Application scoring was based on the following criteria:

Number of employees as of November 17, 2020.
Is in an impacted industry
Demonstrated income loss
Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses.
Physical presence or storefront
Compliance with all State and local orders related to COVID-19, including, but not limited to those issued by MDHHS

Click here to see a list of all awarded businesses. https://www.michiganbusiness.org/4921fe/globalassets/documents/covid19/survival-grant-summary.pdf