December 2022
Detroit area businesses can apply for free $10,000 grants that are issued by the Detroit Pistons. The program is known as SHOP313. In addition to the grant money, some businesses will earn tickets to the Pistons, free publicity and other support. A major focus is on helping businesses owned by people of color in the community. Apply here. https://content.pistons.com/shop313/
October 2022
Woman-owned businesses, including those owned by Latinas or Black women, can get free $10,000 grants from the WomanUp & Pitch Business Plan and Pitch Competition. As noted, applicants need to pitch their business. Winners will be given anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 as well as free advice, coaching, and other assistance. Learn more or apply for the program here. https://miwf.org/wei/womanup/
$5,000 grants for safety improvements are provided by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The government funds need to be used for health and/or safety equipment, training, or supplies for businesses with less than 250 employees. The free grants will also focus on minority, women, veterans and disadvantaged businesses. Apply here https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/MIOSHA/
August and September 2022
DP Marketing Strategies, JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathway, and others are offering a 10 week long business training boot camp for Black owned businesses, and the attendees will also be provided a $5000 grant. There is branding, marketing help, publicity, internet advertising services and much more offered. It is a free grant and marketing services. There are programs for Black women and owned businesses in Detroit. Apply here. https://b3elevation.com/apply/
May, June 2022 and July 2022
Detroit area property developers of color can apply for grants, low cost loans, and other financial help from the Ebiara Fund. The goal is to help developers of color get access to the Capital they need to help revitalize the city of Detroit. Loans are provided as well as other resources around zoning, business plan development, real estate services and more. The program is run in partnership with URGE Imprint, Kresge Foundation and Invest Detroit. Apply here. https://www.ebiara.com/
Muskegon County women owned businesses can get financial help from the Rotarians. Tens of thousands of dollars (in the form of free grants) will be provided. Applications are being processed by the community Foundation for Muskegon County. The grant money can help women owned businesses pay the rent, help with operating costs, pay salaries and more. Each qualified businesses, including women of color, can be given anywhere from $1000 to $5000 dollar. Read more on the grants here. https://muskegonfoundation.org/grants/
BLD Fund of Detroit and Flagstar Bank provide no-interest loans and grants to Black women or male owned businesses in Detroit. BLD is a volunteer driven organization that helps people of African American descent. There is financial help given to “for-profit” as well as non-profit businesses. Additional services include advocacy, community fund raisers and more. Apply for BLD zero percent loans here. https://www.blackleadersdetroit.org/nointerestloan
Detroit area businesses that are owned by people of color and/or women can apply for grants from the Comcast Rise program. Up to $10,000 can be provided from the Free Comcast program. A main focus is on women, Black, Asian, Indigenous, or Hispanic owned small businesses that need capital to help them grow. There are other benefits provided, such as marketing, free internet and more. Apply for the Detroit Comcast program here. https://www.comcastrise.com/rise-apply/
Bay County Small Business Grant Program is for businesses that were hit by the COVID pandemic and that need financial help to recover. $1 million dollars (in total) is being provided across the county. Each qualified business, including minority or women owned, will be given up to $20,000, and the free grant money can pay for expenses such as utilities, rent on a facility, e-commerce operations, payroll and more. In fact, some of the funds (up to 30%) are required by law to go to MWBE companies. Find details on the Bay County Michigan grant program here. https://www.bayfuture.com/main/grants/
Black Caucus Foundation (in Detroit) is offering the Capital and Cash Flow Program, which is a low cost loan program (under 1% APR). The program is a form of financial assistance for Black and minority contractors in the city. In some cases, up to $100,000 can be borrowed for under 1% interest rate, and it is a form of financing that can help contractors with any receivables they may have outstanding. Learn more here. https://capitalandcashflow.com/
April 2022
Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) program is providing $5,000 of free money to each qualified applicant. The financial aid program is run in partnership with United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, the city government of Kalamazoo as well as the non-profit agency of Foundation For Excellence. A major focus is on BIPOC, small female owned companies, Black women, and low-income business owners that have under 10 employees. Apply here. https://changethestory.org/micro-enterprise-%20grants/
March 2022
Flint businesses can apply for free grants that are provided by General Motors and other companies. A major focus is on low income, underserved companies. The assistance program is known as Moving Flint Forward. Each grant will be up to $10,000, with funding set aside for minority, women, and veteran owned small businesses. The money will help a business grow and invest into inventory, rent, sales support and more. Continue reading. https://developflintandgenesee.org/moving-flint-forward/
Growing MI Business is issuing hundreds of millions a dollars to start ups and small businesses across the state. It is free grant money. The funds will help businesses impacted by the pandemic, and the company needs to have loss of revenue, income, and other challenges. A major focus is on serve or entertainment businesses, restaurants in Michigan, gyms, hairdressers and other “customer facing” small for profit businesses. Learn more. https://www.michigan.gov/abr
Lansing area, Black owned businesses can apply for the free Elevate program. The free service is funded by the PNC Foundation, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the Best Practice Consulting Solutions non-profit. Eligible businesses, that qualify, will be given mentoring, advise, and support on growing their revenue profitably. There may also be help in locating, and applying to, government grants, loans, and other financial help. It is in effect a free business accelerator program for Black owned companies. Learn more. https://www.purelansing.com/elevate
Grants and loans were also offered last year to minorities, women, and others in 2021. Locate 2021 business assistance programs in MI.
By Jon McNamara