September 2025
Eastern Michigan Small Business Network is running a program that covers Shiawassee, Lapeer, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac and St. Clair counties. The organization is accepting applications for the 2026 Cohort, in which approved companies will be given a grant, coaching, and other support with details here https://www.easternmichigansmallbusinessnetwork.com/
Detroit Legacy Business Project (2nd round) is for businesses in the city that have operated more than 30 years, with priority to underserved small businesses. The program combines financial help in the form of free grants with technical support to as many as 30 small businesses and the website is here. https://detroitmi.gov/opportunities/apply-grant
August 2025
South Haven Regional Business Hub has an accelerator program that also offer grant money as part of a Leadership Accelerator. It is a multiple week-month program for local businesses with details here. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Q-Bf1FgIQkmSGAkluYXdNChd05zHcHpOpJ2TfeyVC2tUOVQ4Rk5JV0lLOTNZQlFaRjBSNDdFMVdESi4u
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is helping start ups and entrepreneurs as part of the Detroit Startup Fund. There will be multiple seed grants of $15,000 and several other grants of up to $50,000. All the money is to encourage start-ups in the city of Detroit MI with applications here https://detroitmi.gov/government/mayors-office/mayors-initiatives-and-programs/detroit-startup-fund
June and July 2025
Small Business Support Hub Grants of up to $5,000 are for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including the counties of Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac. There are also $5000 grants for Native American small businesses of the Sault Tribe and Bay Mills Indian Community with application information here. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-AFNaxpezc6fu5kNYsH8BXMwl4H8n6p97GEE2wZzf0lTCsA/viewform
April and May 2025
Rural Readiness Grant Program is available statewide for tax-free / non-profit organizations. A major focus of the government money is for non-profits that will help develop rural communities and take similar action. Learn more on the program as well as the MI Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity which process applications here https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/office-of-rural-development
West Michigan small businesses, including those in the Grand Rapids area, can apply for grants from the Comcast RISE program. The RISE program will provide financial help as well as free internet service, mentoring, small business training and other services. Details are here. https://www.comcastrise.com/
March 2025
Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation is providing up to $100,000 to women owned businesses in MI and the central US. Applicants need to have a business plan, be based in MI and of course women owned. More details are here. https://www.olgas.com/foundation/
Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce is providing young women/teenagers with money from the GO Grants Program. The money will help them start something new – such as a business, educational need or something else. Details are here. https://www.petoskeychamber.com/connecting-women-in-business
February 2025
Black Leaders Detroit is giving away $5,000 per day to approved Black-owned businesses. The money is offered through Black History Month, with the money aimed at helping Black owned businesses in Wayne County and the city get the capital they need. There are also no interest loans, grant programs and so much more – get details here. https://www.blackleadersdetroit.org/
January 2025 and February 2025
Chelsea Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is offering as much as 25,000 in a free grant from the Match on Main program. The applicant also need to raise some money (~10%) on their own to show commitment as well as make other criteria. The free money is for downtown businesses, and learn more on the grant https://www.miplace.org/small-business/match-on-main/
Benton Harbor CDC is offering help to restaurants, food oriented businesses and/or farmers from the Savor Collective. The program combines money with technical help, mentoring and other support, with a focus on disadvantaged businesses including MWBE and veterans. Apply here. https://bentonharborcdc.org/savor/
January 2025
Muskegon County Business Equity Initiative is a grant program for women owned small businesses and startups. Up to $5,000 can be provided to each qualified businesses. The money can help pay bills, rent, transportation as well as other costs that a woman owned business will be faced with. Get details here https://northerninitiatives.org/business-equity-initiative-fund/
Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development is providing grants to non-profits that focus on addressing racism, economic equality, and social issues. Non-profits that help minorities, women and the disadvantaged can apply, with the money focused on programs for helping the community. The grant info is here. https://www.washtenaw.org/3422/New-Human-Services-Partnership.
gener8tor and the Michigan Founders Fund are accepting applications to a business accelerator program. The program is for under-represented and low-income start ups, with a focus on MWBE, vets and those of color. There are also grants of up to $15,000 provided too, and learn more here. https://www.gener8tor.com/mffpa
Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance is starting the Business Plan certification program on 1/1/2025, with information available now in December 2024. The program is combined with their other services for women entrepreneurs, including grants, coaching, certification programs and more. Find details here. https://wbccornerstonealliance.academy.growthwheel.com/
November 2024
Detroit Legacy Business Fund has multiple grants, with one up to 50K, that will help businesses that focus on certain needs. The money will help older, legacy businesses or those with a social cause. There are also local neighborhood grants including for MWBE companies as well as other forms of help. Learn more here. https://detroitmi.gov/opportunities/apply-grant
Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program is giving up to $10,000 of free grants to qualified small businesses. The funding is part of Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce as well as GM. The money must be used to help the small business, whether veteran or MWBE owned, expand and grow their business. Apply here. https://www.flintandgenesee.org/moving-flint-forward/moving-flint-forward-small-business-grant-program/
October 2024
MIWISH Grant is a statewide, “matching” grant program. The state will match funds raised by a small businesses and the money needs to be used to pay for health and safety equipment. The MIWISH (Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health) program is run by Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), and apply here. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/MIOSHA/Employer-Assistance/grants
Going PRO Talent Fund helps small businesses apply for grant money to train their employees and keep them employed. The funds need to be used for retention/employment/training, so personnel development type costs. Applications are at Michigan Works! Agencies, with small BIPOC and women businesses apply too. Get details here. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/programs-services/going-pro-talent-fund
September 2024
Startups – Entrepreneurs in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren Counties can apply for a free, $5000 grant from Cornerstone Alliance and their Women’s Business Center. The money can pay for costs involved to starting a business, such as Legal, company formation costs, website development, accounting costs and more. Women, businesses owned by people of color and those with limited credit can apply too. Apply here. https://cornerstonealliance.typeform.com/WBCGrantApply?typeform-source=www.moodyonthemarket.com
ProsperUs is providing low-cost, and possible interest free loans, to micro businesses in Wayne County MI. The CDFI focuses on owners in low-income parts of Detroit or the county, with much of the funds going to women and minorities in the region as well as owners with low-credit scores. https://prosperusdetroit.org/apply-lending/
The Eastern Michigan Small Business Network is accepting applications from the Small Business Grant Award Program. Some businesses will get up to $20,000 is free money. Others will benefit too from up to $7,000 in free services such as legal, technical IT advice, marketing and more. The program is for the regions of Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, and St. Clair. Apply here. https://www.easternmichigansmallbusinessnetwork.com/general-8
June 2024
Non-profits in SW Michigan can apply to the Heart of Cook Foundation grant program. Applications are being processed by the Berrien Community Foundation. A combination of micro-grants and larger allotments will be provided to qualified non-profits, as funds allow. Non-profits need to be focused on human services or educational needs, including income inequality. Apply here. https://www.berriencommunity.org/HoC
February and March 2024
Businesses in the city of Flint or Genesee County can get free money from the Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program. The funds are offered by GM in partnership with the local Economic Alliance. Some grant money will be dedicated to small women and MWBE owned businesses. Apply here. https://developflintandgenesee.org/moving-flint-forward/
Minority owned food companies (or those in the industry) can apply for grants from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The government money is to help the minority owned food business / producer expand and build out capacity. There is other support provided in addition to the financial help, and learn more here. https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/business-development/grantfund/minority-owned-food-and-agriculture-business-capacity-building-grants
April and May 2024
Going Pro Talent Fund will help businesses pay for job training for their employees. Michigan Works Agencies, the state, and non-profits are part of the program, which each qualified business giving up to $2,000 for job training. The money can help train for diversity or other reasons, with veterans in MI and others able to apply too. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/programs-services/going-pro-talent-fund
January 2024
Stevensville MI businesses’ can get small dollar grants from a program known as Match on Main. The funds are issued from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program. Two businesses can be given as much as $25,000 each, and learn more here. https://www.villageofstevensville.us/
Grants and loans were also offered last year to minorities, women, and others in 2023. Locate 2023 business assistance programs in MI.
By Jon McNamara