LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Grants totaling $58.5 million have been approved to help Michigan small businesses impacted by the pandemic, the state announced Thursday.
The Michigan Small Business Survival Grants and the Michigan Stages Survival Grants were approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund in an effort to meet the dire need of struggling businesses.
Michigan appropriated the funds through Senate Bill 748, which was recently signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer back in December.
“From the beginning, my administration has been deeply committed to providing some crucial support to Michigan’s small businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Whitmer said. “With these grant programs, we can provide immediate assistance to those businesses. As we work to distribute the safe and effective vaccine and end the pandemic once and for all, I will continue to partner with leaders across the state to provide relief for our small businesses and their employees.”
Here's a breakdown of the grant programs:
The Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program will provide $55 million in grants to 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.” Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to businesses that are fully closed, with grants of up to $15,000 awarded to businesses that have been partially closed, or otherwise are open and can demonstrate an impact.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Had 1 to 100 employees (including full-time, part-time and owner/employees) on a worldwide basis on November 17, 2020.
- Is in an industry that demonstrates it is affected by the DHHS 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 Order as determined by the EDO in which an eligible business is located.
- Is not a live music and entertainment venue that is eligible for the Michigan Stage Survival grant program.
A statewide application will go live at michiganbusiness.org/survival at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19 through noon on Friday, Jan. 22.
MSF also approved the $3.5 million Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program, which will provide 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.
Eligibility requirements for venues include:
- Be located in the state of Michigan.
- Produce and/or present live, disciplined-based performance experiences.
- Demonstrate at least 33 percent of 2019 gross revenues are from the sale of tickets for live music or entertainment events OR receive at least 70 percent 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 second-quarter revenues from April 1- June 30, 2020 were not greater than 10% of second-quarter revenue from April 1-June 30, 2019.
- Employ less than 30 full-time employees.
Live music and entertainment venues will be able to apply for grants beginning 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 through noon on Thursday, Jan. 28. The application will be available here: https://www.michiganbusiness.org/stages/.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.