Announced in March, the $10 million Michigan Small Business Relief Program loans are intended to support small businesses facing drastic reductions in cash flow and the continued support of their workforce and may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses.

More than 100 small businesses around Michigan are utilizing the MEDC’s MI Local Biz crowdfunding program this month to support reopening efforts across the state. MEDC will provide a total of $500,000 in matching grants to help businesses as they work to recover from the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Launched in May, the MI Local Biz program allows small businesses to utilize donation-based crowdfunding through Michigan-based Patronicity’s platform and to receive a 1:1 matching grant from MEDC of up to $5,000. Funds provide businesses with working capital in order to maintain operations through the COVID-19 crisis. Individuals interested in supporting businesses in their communities can visit https://www.patronicity.com/milocalbiz.

Coming off a year of record-breaking investments, including Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s historic $4.5 million investment in Detroit and nearby Macomb County, Chief Executive magazine has ranked Michigan the 13th best state in the country for business, up 19 spots from last year in the biggest single year move in the ranking’s history. This week, Michigan was also recognized with Area Development’s Silver Shovel award, based in part on the thousands of good-paying automotive and manufacturing jobs created in the last year.

With efforts to re-engage Michigan’s economy underway through recent executive orders signed by Governor Whitmer, the Pure Michigan Business Connect program has developed the COVID-19 Procurement Platform, in an effort to help connect those businesses in need of non-medical grade PPE – including face masks, face shields, gloves, goggles and other materials as necessary to ensure the health and safety of their employees and customers – with Michigan businesses that have supplier capacity to meet that demand. The portal is open to companies of all sizes and industries and is available for all scales of PPE demand.

Access additional resources by visiting michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

Visit michigan.gov/coronavirus to find valuable resources for employers, workers, residents and communities and stay informed on Michigan’s latest efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus on our state’s residents and economy.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.