Southwest Michigan First, the regional economic development catalyst based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, today announced 1,434 small business recipients are receiving average grant awards of $5,000 each as part of the state’s Michigan Small Business Restart Program. Grants must be used for expenditures made between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020 for necessary disbursements incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 and/or working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, costs related to reopening a business or nonprofit, or other uses authorized under the CARES Act.
This funding is made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s release of $100 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF). Back in early July, the MSF authorized distribution of the funding across 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) covering all 83 counties in the state providing a base amount of $3.5 million per EDO to support certain small businesses that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus. At the time Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, ”We can further our economic recovery in Michigan by putting federal dollars through the CARES Act to work for the people and businesses across our state through efforts like these grants.”
How Applicants Were Selected
Locally, Southwest Michigan First was allocated more than $7 million to split among qualifying small businesses and nonprofits throughout the seven-county region it serves—Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. Additionally, this allocation required that 30 percent of the funds be awarded to minority-, woman- or veteran-owned eligible businesses. Applications totaling 2,258 were received and reviewed against scoring criteria including the business have 50 or less employees, can demonstrate it is affected by the COVID-19 emergency, needs working capital to support eligible expenses, and demonstrates an income loss as a result of the pandemic. After review, 60 percent of the funds were awarded to minority-, woman- or veteran-owned eligible businesses with the remaining amount split between area nonprofits and for-profit businesses. A full report on the process completed by Southwest Michigan First can be found here.
“This program puts federal funding to work for small businesses in Michigan hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19 helping to ensure they can keep their doors open and put critical protections in place for their workers and their customers,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Families across the state depend on small businesses for their livelihood, and the Michigan Small Business Restart Program will build on additional COVID-19 business relief efforts through the MEDC to create a strong foundation for Michigan’s long-term economic recovery.”
Southwest Michigan First CEO and Senior Partner Ron Kitchens cannot remember a time that funding was more critically needed in his career. “The pandemic has intensified the importance of jobs to local economies, peoples’ livelihoods and their sense of well-being. Only by protecting our small businesses can we ensure the ability of all to grow and prosper,” said Kitchens. “The State of Michigan and Michigan Economic Development Corporation have done an excellent job of developing a suite of financial assistance options, like the Michigan Small Business Restart Program, to keep the doors of small businesses open. We thank everyone who participated in this process. The impact we are having could not have been made without our partners at the MEDC and MSF, other Southwest Michigan EDOs, and in particular, Governor Whitmer.”
The Local Impact
The grant promises to make a lasting impact on local recipients. At Mamaleelu Cold Brew, a minority- and woman-owned producer of cold brew coffee based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, founder Maliesha Pullano said, “The impact that the Michigan Small Business Restart Grant will have on my business will be to act as a space holder in which creativity and innovation can lead the restart, instead of having to make decisions out of fear.”
At Crown Trophy #104 in Portage, Michigan, co-owners Marie and Dennis Marsh said jointly, “We are honored to be chosen for this grant. Receiving this grant will help us to continue to provide quality awards to Southwest Michigan, along with upgrading our equipment to provide custom designed face masks.” The local shop offering service and recognition awards and gifts was also honored recently by Congressman Fred Upton for its efforts in supplying masks and mask buckles for essential workers during the early critical stages of the pandemic and beyond.
Many of the businesses receiving awards were forced to change their business model to adapt to survive. Fresh Perspective Home Care in Portage, Michigan is known for providing its clients with honest and compassionate care in the comfort of their own home with a focus on privacy, dignity and well-being. “The COVID-19 epidemic has challenged us both financially and operationally. We have made core changes to our hiring, training and home care service practices in order to support social distancing. This grant will help support the additional costs associated with these improvements and ensure Fresh Perspective Home Care will continue to provide the highest level of compassionate care,” said Michael A. Beckett, CPA, president and chief financial officer.
“We congratulate the recipients receiving allocations from this program. At Southwest Michigan First, we believe that the greatest force for change is a job, and we thank today’s recipients for keeping as many people employed as possible during this unprecedented time. We truly wish we could have supported all requests, but demand outnumbered our available pool of money 6:1,” continued Kitchens. “But there’s more that can be done—that everyone can do. We all must shop and eat local during this time and support these small businesses that make our region a remarkable place in which to live and work.”
