The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced last Friday that it has awarded an additional $4.7 million in low-interest loans to 71 small businesses in 15 counties across Michigan through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. Last Friday’s support builds on $4.35 million in loans awarded to 74 businesses through the program in June. To date, a total of 2,879 small businesses around Michigan have been awarded nearly $20 million in relief grants and loans through the program to assist with COVID-19 recovery efforts.
“As we continue to focus on restoring economic prosperity for all Michiganders, these loans provide critical support the small businesses throughout the state that are working to recover from the short and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said MEDC CEO Mark A. Burton. “By collaborating with our local economic development partners, we can deliver vital financial resources to small businesses across Michigan to create a path for economic recovery here in our state.”
The Michigan Small Business Relief Program was authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund in March of this year to provide relief for small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Loans through the program 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 that occur in the ordinary course of business.
Dome Sports Center in Schoolcraft was awarded a $50,000 MSBRP loan through Southwest Michigan First and the funds have helped put the company in a much more stable position to take care of its mortgage, payroll obligations, and other expenses, according to Co-Owner and Director Judd Hoff.
“Closing our indoor operations put us in an unprecedented economic situation. With cash flow essentially gone, paying our mortgage, employees, and other contractors was at risk. The MEDC loan couldn’t have come at a better time,” Hoff said. “We were able to bridge the months it took to reorganize our business to meet the demands of our customers in a COVID environment. We successfully responded and our business continues to thrive. The MEDC loan coupled with the PPP loan made this possible.”
Last Friday’s loans were referred by the remaining six of the 15 local economic development organization partners selected to administer the Michigan Small Business Relief Program; the loans referred through the other eight EDOs were announced in June. EDO partners have referred eligible loan applicants to MEDC, where they are reviewed by a loan review committee including the chief business development officer, senior vice president of growth and development, and senior vice president of business development projects. All loans made through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program are also approved through Michigan Strategic Fund delegated authority.
“This year the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus celebrated 50 years in business and just last fall, opened a beautiful new facility. The COVID-related shutdown was a difficult blow and even after reopening we are at a limited capacity,” said Judy Zehnder Keller, owner of the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. “We greatly appreciate the MEDC and the relief programs that have supported our business and employees. By working together, we will get through this and the Cheese Haus looks forward to another 50 years.”
In addition to the $10 million in loan funds, the Michigan Strategic Fund also approved $10 million in Michigan Small Business Relief Program grants which were administered by 15 local and nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) around Michigan. The EDOs were selected through a competitive process based on capacity to administer the program and ensure coverage to small businesses in all 83 counties in Michigan. To see the full list of businesses that received MSBRP grants, visit www.michiganbusiness.org/msbrp.
These relief programs also served as the model for the Michigan Small Business Restart Grant program, authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund in July. That program, also administered by these 15 local EDO partners, utilized $100 million in federal CARES Act funding to support the needs of Michigan businesses and nonprofits of 50 employees or less directly impacted by COVID-19. The first round of recipients through that program will be announced in the next few weeks.
To date, the MEDC has launched 19 COVID-19 relief and recovery programs expected to support up to 10,000 businesses in the state and helping to retain more than 15,400 jobs across all 83 counties. To learn more about MEDC’s COVID-19 response programs and the impact they are having on economic recovery efforts, visit michiganbusiness.org/covid19response. Other resources for economic reopening efforts as well as businesses across Michigan struggling with economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 virus can be found online at michiganbusiness.org/covid19.
