Bay City, Mich. – The City of Bay City, in conjunction with Bay Future, Inc., is announcing a Small Business Relief Grant Program with $300,000 in funds available to eligible businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Bay
City has received Community Development Block Grant funding to provide grants to those businesses who have experienced significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Throughout this pandemic, the City of Bay City has worked closely with community partners like Bay Future, Inc. to provide conscientious support and to provide resources to businesses impacted by COVID-19 in an effort to foster their success,” said Bay City Manager Dana Muscott. “The Small Business Relief Grant Program will allow us to continue those efforts while providing relief to those who have been most impacted.”

The funds allow for the creation of two opportunities: Small Business Relief Grant Program and Microenterprise Grant Program. Both programs must serve for-profit businesses that fall within the City of Bay City limits and minimum grant awards will be $1,000. A summary of the program requirements can be found here https://www.bayfuture.com/clientuploads/Bay_City_Grant_Program_Overview.pdf 

Small Business Relief Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 per every 10 employees, with a maximum of $25,000 per business. Businesses must have fifty (50) or less employees at the time of application. 51% or more of the FTE (full-time equivalent) jobs retained or created must be held by Low/Moderate Income persons, additional information can befound here.
To apply for the Small Business Relief Grant Program visit: https://form.jotform.com/201255720753147 

Microenterprise Grant Program will provide up to $2,000 per every 1 employee, with a maximum of $10,000 per business. Businesses must have five (5) or less employees (including the business owner) at the time of application. Business owners must be considered Low-Moderate Income, additional information can be found here.
To apply for the Microenterprise Grant Program visit: https://form.jotform.com/201405088189154 

The application window will open today, July 6, 2020 at 12:00pm and close on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 4:00pm. Applications will be reviewed by the City of Bay City and Bay Future, Inc. The review process will begin July 20, 2020 and award announcements will be made no later than August 6, 2020. Additional Program Guidelines can be found here
https://www.baycitymi.org/717/CDBG-CV-2020-Small-Business-Relief-Grant 

https://www.bayfuture.com/clientuploads/Bay_City_Grant_Program_Overview.pdf

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Public Law 116-136) makes available $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus (CDBG-CV grants). The City of Bay City has received $734,522 in CDBG-CV funding and intends to use $334,522 to fund a Small Business Retention Program. At this time, $300,000 is being allocated to provide grants for the 2020 CDBG-CV Small Business Relief Grant Program.

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Established in 2004, Bay Future, Inc. is a public-private alliance of government, business and other organizations that support economic growth in Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region. Bay Future, Inc. is dedicated to facilitating economic development strategies that promote and secure opportunities for business retention, growth, and the attraction of new industries that create quality jobs for community residents.