January 15, 2021 – Advocacy News
Applications for Michigan Small Business Survival Grants and Michigan Stages Survival Grants will be made available starting next week.
Small Business Survival Grants
The Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program is intended to meet the urgent need of Michigan businesses that have experienced a significant financial hardship due to the COVID-19 emergency “gatherings and face mask order” issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in December 2020.
The Michigan Small Business Survival Grants will be administered by 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) covering all 83 counties across the state. A single, statewide application for the program will be live at michiganbusiness.org/survival on 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19 through 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, January 22. Grants will be reviewed and awarded by the EDOs based on eligibility requirements and local priorities and objectives, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Businesses must meet the following eligibility requirements:
· Had 1 to 100 employees (including full-time, part-time and owner/employees) on a world-wide basis on November 17, 2020.
· Is in an industry that demonstrates it is affected by the DHHS epidemic orders.
· Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses.
· Can demonstrate an income loss as a result of the Order as determined by the EDO in which an eligible business is located.
· Is not a live music and entertainment venue that is eligible for the Michigan Stage Survival grant program.
Individual EDOs may have additional eligibility requirements, which businesses will be able to access from the michiganbusiness.org/survival landing page. EDOs will also have discretion on grant awards up to the maximum of $20,000 for businesses that are fully closed and $15,000 to businesses that have been partially closed, or otherwise are open and can demonstrate an impact.
Michigan Stages Survival Grants
The Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program will provide a total of $3.5 million in one-time grants of up to $40,000 to eligible entertainment venues throughout Michigan. These funds are to be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or costs related to reopening a business. The application will be available at www.michiganbusiness.org/stages starting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21- 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, January 28, 2021. The Michigan Independent Venue and Promoter Association (MIVPA) will be responsible for accepting, reviewing and approving applications by February 28, 2021. The MEDC distributes the grant funds based on the recommendation of the MIVPA.
Venues must meet eligibility requirements that include:
· Be located in the state of Michigan.
· Produce and/or present live, disciplined-based performance experiences.
· Demonstrate at least 33 percent of 2019 gross revenues are from the sale of tickets for live music or entertainment events OR receive at least 70 percent of its earned revenue through cover charges or tickets sales, production fees or production reimbursements, nonprofit educational initiatives, or the sale of event beverages, food or merchandise.
· Demonstrate second-quarter revenues from April 1- June 30, 2020, were not greater than 10% of second-quarter revenue from April 1-June 30, 2019.
· Employ less than 30 full-time employees. A full list of application and eligibility requirements is available at michiganbusiness.org/stages.
For more information about these programs please contact Dan Papineau at dpapineau@michamber.com