FAQs for Michigan Businesses and Communities

The state's COVID-19 order limiting the size of indoor gatherings at non-residential establishments to 50 percent of capacity and requiring the unvaccinated to wear a face mask when indoors will end June 22.

To read more about the rescission of Emergency Orders, visit here.

What resources are available to support my business during this time?

MEDC is working closely with the Small Business Development Center, the Executive Office and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to ensure vital economic support is available to Michigan businesses to overcome anticipated loss of revenue in the short term as every effort is made to slow the spread of COVID-19. In support of those efforts, we have launched a COVID-19 resource page at michiganbusiness.org/covid19 to provide key information on various resources businesses can take advantage of immediately.

These resources include:

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Support Available

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021.

EIDL loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021, pending the availability of funds. Loans are offered at very affordable terms, with a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% interest rate for nonprofit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. Every eligible small business and nonprofit are encouraged to apply to get the resources they need. For more information and to apply, visit here.

PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform

Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) is offering a free, online procurement platform to assist Michigan businesses needing to purchase non-medical grade Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) items to keep their employees safe and healthy. PMBC, a program provided by Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is collecting data to help businesses source these needs and services. Visit michiganbusiness.org/ppe to access the portal and learn more about the platform.

How does the platform work?

The PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform provides an online B2B portal specifically designed to support the PPE needs of Michigan businesses as they begin resuming normal operations and seek to keep their employees and customers safe and healthy. In addition to businesses seeking PPE, businesses that have the capability to supply these materials can submit their information through the portal. The PMBC team then provides that supplier information to businesses in need to help fulfill their orders. Visit michiganbusiness.org/ppe to access the portal and learn more about the platform.

How can businesses be sure that the suppliers are legitimate? Is PMBC vetting them at all?

The entities identified through this platform have submitted their information and indicated that they are engaged in their respective product or service area. The PMBC team and MEDC does not endorse any entity listed in the B2B platform and makes no representations about the quality of the goods or services of each entity, or the results that may be obtained as a result of doing business with any listed entity.

Upon receiving supplier submissions through the platform, the PMBC team is checking to determine whether these entities have reputable websites, email contacts and products that would support the demand for various forms of PPE throughout the state. Businesses using this list of suppliers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence as well, as the PMBC team and MEDC do not make any representations about the quality of the goods or services provided by each entity.

My company submitted information to be listed as a supplier through the platform, but why aren’t we included in the lists being provided?

Suppliers with incomplete submissions may be removed from the list until applications are completed or corrected to reflect product/service offerings in line with demand requested. Should you have further questions on your submission being included on the list, please reach out to pmbc@michigan.org.

Can PMBC help businesses in search of PPE get responses from suppliers identified through the platform?

Through this platform, the PMBC team is committed to providing businesses in need of PPE a list of relevant suppliers. From there, businesses will need to manage their relationship with those suppliers independently of the PMBC team.

The PMBC team and MEDC does not endorse any entity listed in the B2B platform and makes no representations about the quality of the goods or services of each entity, or the results that may be obtained as a result of doing business with any listed entity.

Why is the platform focusing on supporting businesses now, while the pandemic is still presenting a threat to public health?

As businesses begin going through the process of resuming normal operations, PMBC understands that many employers will need to purchase PPE items in order to keep their employees safe and healthy. To that end, PMBC is expanding its existing online platform to now support businesses in need of non-medical grade PPE as they begin transitioning their employees onsite. The online portal is available for all scales of PPE demand and is open to companies of all sizes and industries. Visit michiganbusiness.org/ppe to access the portal and learn more about the platform. The PMBC portal also continues to connect health and human services providers with providers of medical grade PPE.

Metro Community Development

The $2 million micro- and small business loan support through Metro Community Development will aim to assist businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 virus within the 13 counties it serves, with an emphasis on businesses located in economically disadvantaged areas. Applications and more information are now available at https://metrocommunitydevelopment.com/bizbox/bizthrive/.

For more information, please contact Marcus Rankins at 810-767-4622 ext. 460 or mrankins@metroflint.org.

What types of businesses are eligible for these funds?

The program is aimed at assisting those businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 virus, such as restaurants, coffee houses, retail stores, and service providers.

How can businesses use these funds?

Businesses can use these loans primarily for working capital, acquiring machinery and equipment, and inventory.

How much funding can be provided with these funds?

Businesses can receive micro and small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, with collateral being required in some form for all loans.

What counties are covered?

Metro Community Development will use the $2 million to support mirco- and small business loans for applicants in its 13-county service area, including:

Bay County
Genesee County
Huron County
Lapeer County
Livingston County
Macomb County
Midland County
Oakland County
Saginaw County
St. Clair County
Shiawassee County
Sanilac County
Tuscola County

In doing so, this provides statewide coverage in addition to the Northern Initiatives support, which only covered 77 counties in the state.

When can businesses apply?

Applications are now available by selecting the “BizTHRIVE” program at https://www.metrocommunitydevelopment.com/business-lending.

What criteria will be used in determining whether to approve a loan for a business?

Metro Community Development is responsible for determining whether loans will be approved or denied based on its financial review and due diligence of the applicant. Go to https://www.metrocommunitydevelopment.com/business-lending for more information.

How quickly can businesses expect to receive the loan funds once approved?

The timing for receiving these funds will be based on the number of applications Metro Community Development processes, the completeness of the application and additional necessary documentation.

Detroit Development Fund

The $1 million micro- and small business loan support through the Detroit Development Fund will aim to assist businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 virus within Wayne County, with an emphasis on businesses located in economically disadvantaged areas. Businesses interested in applying should contact DDF by phone at (313) 784-9623, or by email at vholsey@detroitdevelopmentfund.com. Go to https://www.detroitdevelopmentfund.com/ for more information.

What types of businesses are eligible for these funds?

The program is aimed at assisting those businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 virus, such as restaurants, coffee houses, retail stores, and service providers.

How can businesses use these funds?

Businesses can use these loans primarily for working capital, acquiring machinery and equipment, and inventory.

How much funding can be provided with these funds?

Businesses can receive micro and small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, with collateral being required in some form for all loans.

What counties are covered?

Metro Community Development will use the $1 million to support mirco- and small business loans for applicants in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck.
In doing so, this provides statewide coverage in addition to the Northern Initiatives and Metro Community Development Fund support, which did not cover Wayne County.

When can businesses apply?

Businesses interested in applying should contact DDF by phone at (313) 784-9623, or by email at vholsey@detroitdevelopmentfund.com. Go to https://www.detroitdevelopmentfund.com/ for more information.

What criteria will be used in determining whether to approve a loan for a business?

The Detroit Development Fund is responsible for determining whether loans will be approved or denied based on its financial review and due diligence of the applicant. Go to https://www.detroitdevelopmentfund.com/ for more information.

How quickly can businesses expect to receive the loan funds once approved?

The timing for receiving these funds will be based on the number of applications the Detroit Development Fund processes, the completeness of the application and additional necessary documentation.

MSF Awardee Relief Initiative

The MSF Awardee Relief Initiative authorizes temporary emergency relief to businesses and community projects that have previously received grants, loans or other forms of economic assistance from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The program is available to support any MSF program awardee that is negatively financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and will sunset after a year. Go to https://www.michiganbusiness.org/about-medc/covid19/msf-awardee-relief-initiative to learn more.

What kind of relief does this program provide?

The program would temporarily allow measures such as extended milestone due dates for up to a year, providing up to a year of deferred payments on financing agreements with MSF, and eliminating or reducing job creation requirements with a proportional reduction of the grant award to re-size the project scope. The program does not include a direct disbursement of additional funds. Go to https://www.michiganbusiness.org/about-medc/covid19/msf-awardee-relief-initiative/ to learn more.

How can current MSF awardees apply for relief through this program?

Any current MSF awardees interested in receiving relief through this program can should reach out to their primary MEDC contact for their current MSF-supported project to learn more about how to apply.

What kind of eligibility requirements are associated with the program?

MSF awardees will need to apply for relief through this program and must meet a series of requirements in order to qualify for support through the program. These requirements include remaining current on their reporting requirements associated with their MSF agreement, and submitting additional reporting during the deferred payment period. Only those awardees that can demonstrate this ability will be considered for this support.

How quickly can MSF awardees receive relief through this program?

Current MSF awardees can begin applying for relief through this program immediately. The program will sunset in a year following approval and includes no direct disbursement of additional funds.

Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund

MEDC partnered with Michigan Women Forward to create the $1.5 million Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund to provide funds to help entrepreneurs and small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 recover from the outbreak, as well as assist them in meeting increased demands in support of COVID-19 response efforts. Go to http://miwf.org/mwf-entrepreneur-resilience-fund to learn more and apply.

When is the deadline?

Grant applications are now closed, however, microloan applications remain open.

How do I apply?

Small businesses, entrepreneurs and startups interested in applying can do so at http://miwf.org/mwf-entrepreneur-resilience-fund. Michigan Women Forward will consider applications until funds are exhausted.

What types of businesses are eligible for support?

Businesses eligible for support through this fund must meet the following criteria:

Be registered to conduct business in the state through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Provide proof of status as a business in good standing
Meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s small business guidelines
Demonstrate an adverse impact based on COVID-19 or a business that can meet a new demand presented by COVID-19 and can demonstrate that the funds will be instrumental in the recovery of the business

This fund is not exclusive to high-tech companies or startups, but rather will support all small businesses eligible for support based on the criteria above.

What size are awards?

Grants awarded through the fund range from $1,000 to $5,000 per case and microloans will be available between $5,000 and $10,000 based on the indicated need. Eligible businesses may apply for both grant and microloan funds.

How will awards be prioritized?

Eligible candidates will be assessed based on demonstrated need, including, but not limited to:

Being located in a disadvantaged area within a U.S. Small Business Administration designated HubZone or Opportunity Zone
Demonstrating status as a low- to moderate-income borrower
Qualifying as a diverse business that can demonstrate ownership by underrepresented groups including, but not limited to, veterans, minorities and low-income men and women.
Business income of less than $500,000 in the previous year and fewer than 50 employees
Michigan-registered with priority given to disadvantaged areas and the following counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Shiawassee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Tuscola, Sanilac, Huron, Kent and Ingham
For microloan only: Demonstrating an inability to obtain credit by traditional means

Who should I contact with questions?

Please contact Michigan Women Forward by phone at (313) 962-1920 or by email at info@miwf.org.

Business Accelerator Fund (BAF)

The BAF has now been expanded to allow SmartZone business accelerators to provide services for tech startups with technologies that can support COVID-19 response efforts and non-tech companies that can manufacture or distribute critical medical supplies and personal protection equipment. It will also allow business accelerators to use the BAF to provide services for current SmartZone clients only that are not typically covered under the program, like rent and utilities.

How can startups or businesses access these services?

The MEDC provides funds to the Michigan Small Business Development Center, which then administers the funds to the 19 participating business accelerators in Michigan’s statewide SmartZone network. SmartZones use these funds to provide services to startups and businesses. Go to sbdcmichigan.org/business-accelerator-fund to find the SmartZone closest to you.

How much could a startup or business receive as a grant through the BAF?

Businesses do not receive funding through the BAF program. The business accelerators in the statewide SmartZone network receive the funds and use them to provide services to businesses and startups. To learn more, find a SmartZone near you.

Can a startup or business receive services through this program if they are not currently a client of a SmartZone?

The BAF is only administered through the local SmartZone, so any business or startup interested in the program should contact their local SmartZone to learn more. Only current SmartZone clients may qualify for additional support with expenses due to COVID-19. Go to sbdcmichigan.org/business-accelerator-fund to find the SmartZone closest to you.

Michigan State Trade Expansion Program (MI-STEP) and Michigan Project Exception Program (MI-PEP)

The MI-STEP program is designed to spur job creation by empowering Michigan small businesses to export their products. The MI-STEP program will now provide increased reimbursement caps for certain activities, in addition to an increased reimbursement ceiling from 50% to 75% for international website development for companies impacted by COVID-19. Learn more at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/international-trade/mistep/.

The MI-PEP program mirrors the MI-STEP program, but offers export assistance to companies that do not meet the U.S. Small Business Administration guidelines and size standards.

What kind of activities will receive increased support through the program as a result?

As a result of these updates, eligible businesses may receive reimbursements for the following activities:

Fees for shipping sample products (reimbursed up to $4,000)
International website development including website translation, search engine optimization and localization services (reimbursement up to $6,000)
Design of marketing media (reimbursement up to $6,000)

Learn more about these adjustments at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/international-trade/mistep/.

How much support can businesses receive through the program?

Eligible businesses are provided a direct reimbursement of a specific percentage of their costs from allowable export-related activities up to $15,000 per fiscal year through the MI-STEP and MI-PEP programs. Learn more at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/international-trade/mistep/ and https://www.michiganbusiness.org/499c5c/globalassets/documents/international-trade-services/mi-pep-eligibility-guidelines.pdf.

Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED

The State of Michigan allocated $3.5 million to create the Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program to provide grants to entertainment venues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency declarations.

Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED

The State of Michigan has allocated $55 million to implement the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program to support the needs of Michigan businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus and the Gatherings and Face Mask Order. The application to apply closed at 12:00 p.m. EST on January 22, 2021.

Match on Main COVID-19 Response Program

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED

A temporarily expanded version of the traditional Match on Main program, the Match on Main COVID-19 Response Program increased access to the program for more communities.

MI Local Biz Program

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED

The MI Local Biz Program allows for a small business to utilize donation-based crowdfunding through Michigan-based Patronicity’s existing platform and to receive a 1:1 matching grant from MEDC of up to $5,000. To learn more and participate in the program, go to https://www.patronicity.com/milocalbiz.