These grants will provide small businesses matching funds of up to $10,000 to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread through the purchase of safety and health-related equipment and training in response to COVID-19. Grant applications will be available until Friday, August 7, 2020.

Michigan’s small businesses can still apply for up to $20,000 in grant funds to support their reopening efforts after having experienced a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The State of Michigan has appropriated $100 million of federal CARES Act funding to implement the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. Funding will be administered by 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations covering all 83 counties in the state. The application period will run through August 5, 2020.

MEDC, on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund, is accepting proposals to support funding match requirements within the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) CARES Act Recovery Assistance program. MEDC will deploy funds through the state Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program to provide 50 percent of project match dollars, up to $250,000 per project, required for EDA Recovery Assistance applications. To be eligible for these match dollars, activities must fit within CDBG program funding guidelines. The opportunity will remain open until all available CDBG matching funds have been allocated.

As communities across Michigan face budget uncertainties due to unanticipated costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, MEDC has allocated $20 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funding to 77 non-entitlement counties to provide economic relief. These counties are also able to request reimbursement for eligible costs incurred by the county or eligible cities, villages and townships within their jurisdiction. The funding will allow non-entitlement counties to be reimbursed for unbudgeted expenditures used to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19. The remaining six entitlement counties in Michigan received CDBG CARES Act funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

From expanded carryout menus to carving out physical space to allow for additional patrons, Michigan restaurants and communities have pivoted and innovated in the wake of COVID-19. Join the MEDC and Crain’s Detroit Business on Wednesday, July 29 at 12 p.m. EDT to hear from restaurateurs and communities about how they created new sources of revenue while complying with safety and social distancing guidelines – and learn what’s on the horizon for the Michigan restaurant industry.

MEDC is looking for Michigan-based companies to appear in a special episode of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, the 60-second pitch competition for companies and startups that have scalable products or services that are ready for investment, and have a specific plan for how that investment can help them grow. The Top 5 companies will have a chance to pitch to the show’s investors during the virtual filming of Season 6 in August 2020. Applications are due by August 1, 2020.

Access additional COVID-19 resources for businesses and communities by visiting michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

Read more about programs supporting economic recovery for Michigan businesses by visiting michiganbusiness.org/covid19response.

Visit michigan.gov/coronavirus to find other valuable resources for employers, workers, residents and communities.