Grant funding awarded for Michigan Small Business Relief Program in West Michigan

195 small businesses in West Michigan negatively impacted by Executive Orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be receiving grant support from the Michigan Small Business Relief Program.

This program was made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) releasing $20 million in grants and loans through the Michigan Strategic Fund. MEDC allocated the 11-county West Michigan region $1,000,000 in grant funding to be administered by The Right Place, Inc. This region included Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola counties.

The demand for funding throughout the region was staggering with over 3,300 applications received, requesting over $71 million in both grant and loan funding. Each county formed committees to accept and review applications for the extremely limited grant funding. Grant applications were evaluated based on the criteria set forth by MEDC.

The following is a county by county breakdown of funding awarded:

• Barry County: $32,800 in funding, 5 companies awarded
• Ionia County: $40,715 in funding, 7 companies awarded
• Kent County: $615,000 in funding, 62 companies awarded
• Lake County: $6,044 in funding, 3 companies awarded
• Mason County: $26,948 in funding, 10 companies awarded
• Mecosta County: $31,342 in funding, 25 companies awarded
• Montcalm County: $44,230 in funding, 11 companies awarded
• Muskegon County: $140,000 in funding, 30 companies awarded
• Newaygo County: $25,482 in funding, 13 companies awarded
• Oceana County: $21,090 in funding, 24 companies awarded
• Osceola County: 15,231 in funding, 5 companies awarded

These grants 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. To respect the privacy of our region’s small business owners during this challenging time, The Right Place, Inc. will not be releasing the list of individual grant recipients.

The Right Place, Inc. received and forwarded 33 loan applications to MEDC for evaluation under the loan portion of the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. MEDC will make final determinations for loan applications.