The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is encouraging area businesses who continue to experience financial hardship as a result from the pandemic to pursue relief funding recently made available through the State of Michigan’s new, Growing MI Business Grants Program.
Formerly known as the Afflicted Business Relief Program, the Growing MI Business Grants Program seeks to distribute $409 million of Michigan’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to eligible businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health emergencies.
“While much of Southwest Michigan has been fortunate enough to recover, there remain many small businesses within the region who continue to combat the cumulative effects of nearly two years of pandemic-related hardships,” said Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “We cannot afford to leave these businesses behind and thus want to ensure all who are eligible are aware of this new grant opportunity.”
The grant program creates a process for eligible businesses to receive a percentage of financial losses incurred calculated based upon the entity’s timeline of operation. The nine eligible business categories include:
1. Entertainment Venues
2. Recreational Facilities and Public Places of Amusement
3. Barbers and Cosmetologists
4. Exercise Facilities
5. Food Establishments
6. Nursery Dealers and Growers
7. Athletic Trainers
8. Body Art Facilities
9. Hotels and Bed & Breakfast Establishments
The application period will open online at www.michigan.gov/abr on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. and must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on March 31, 2022. Grant recipients will be notified of their award by the spring and can expect to receive funds no later than July 1, 2022.
Havlicek said interested businesses can reach out to his organization with questions, or attend an informational webinar hosted by the state Treasury Department on Monday, March 7 at 1-2 p.m. EST. Details for signing up for a webinar can be found on the grant program’s website.
For more information about the Afflicted Business Relief Grant Program, including more details on eligible businesses, criteria and grant award amounts, or to read frequently asked questions, go to www.michigan.gov/abr.
