December 2020
Small businesses in the city of Kalamazoo can get grants of up to $2500. There is the city Small Business Health Protection Grant which is being offered by the United Way of the Battle Creek as well as city of Kalamazoo Michigan. The business needs to have less than 50 employees and under $2.5 million in revenue. The funds can pay for expenses related to COVID, such as PPE, etc. Minority, women, and veteran owned businesses are being allocated some of the funds as well. Learn more or apply. https://changethestory.org/small-business-support/
November 2020
Small businesses, sole-proprietors and start up companies in Detroit can apply for grants from 2 local non-profits. The funds are for Asian owned, African/Black Americans, Latinos, and other businesses owned (or started) by people of color. Hundreds of grants, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Applications are accepted, reviewed, and processed by ProsperUS Detroit as well as Black Leaders Detroit. Funds are for English and Spanish speakers, businesses that have filed taxes, and others in the city of Detroit. Funds are for e-commerce as well as physical businesses. Apply here. https://blackleadersdetroit.org/bld-flagstar-bipoc-grant.html
Michigan businesses of people of color (black, Indigenous, Latino, etc.) can apply for grants of up to $5000 from Flagstar Bank. The funds are for businesses impacted by color – these are not loans from the lender but free grants. The business most be small, with revenue under 1 million dollars per year (pre-COVID). Wherever Flagstar operates this grant program is offered, including in Troy, Detroit, Fort Wayne, and others. Apply here. https://www.flagstar.com/
September 2020
Grand Rapids Opportunity for Women and the ReStart Kent loan program as well as the Muskegon County Recovery Loan, has a second application period for $10,000 loans. Some of the money is paid by the SBA, and the low cost loans have a low interest rate and no origination fees for women, veterans, and minority run small businesses. It is only for residents in those counties. Learn more. https://www.growbusiness.org/
August 2020
Kent County and Grand Rapids residents can get up to $25,000 in free small business grants. Not only may financial aid be offered to female, minority, and struggling businesses, but they are can get technical help, counseling, advice on growing (or saving) their business, and other support. Apply for funds here. https://calvin.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9vOEdNgz4hzfkuV
Michigan Women Forward’s Resilience Fund helps small businesses regain financial footing through free grants and free advice. The goal of this fund is to be able to service individuals who are low to moderate income and also who are minorities or women. https://miwf.org/
Grants available for local small businesses. At least 30 percent of the funds will go to businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. Up to $20,000 is provided per applicant. This is part of the restart program. Applicants need to have less than 50 employees, needs funds for working capital or bills (such as rent, utilities, inventory, etc.). A priority is for female led, veterans, minorities, and disadvantaged in Michigan. Read more michiganbusiness.org/restart/ or find additional details https://www.themorningsun.com/news/local/grants-available-for-local-small-businesses/article_6815d948-d35a-11ea-9f20-772f76925b53.html
By Jon McNamara