Macomb County Announces 3 Grant Programs For Small Businesses

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Macomb County Planning and Economic Development on Tuesday opened three new grant opportunities to help small businesses dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are committed to our business community and want them to succeed,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said. “This next round of grants provides unique opportunities for dealing with the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Whether this means helping businesses get online and improve their digital footprint or reimbursing them for the costs of PPE, our team at Planning and Economic Development is being creative and finding new ways to boost local organizations.”

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The three new grant opportunities are listed below:

The Microenterprise Assistance Grant Program

The grant is up to $2 million, funded by the Community Development Block Grant Program. The program will provide grant funding to qualified businesses of five employees or fewer, including the owner, that have lost revenue due to the pandemic. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30 at 11:59 a.m. Eligibility may vary depending on individual communities and income level restrictions are applicable.

The Workplace Safety Grant

This grant is up to $10 million, funded through Macomb County's federal CARES Act allocation. The grant will help reimburse small businesses for personal protective equipment and technology. Businesses with 500 or fewer employees may submit up to $20,000 in PPE and technology receipts dated March 16 through Sept. 30 for reimbursement. Submissions will close on September 30 or when funds are exhausted.

The Online Business Connect Program

A grant of up to $5 million, funded through Macomb County's federal CARES Act allocation. The grant aims at helping businesses jump start their online presence. This program will issue vouchers up to $10,000 to customer-facing businesses that need online functionality due to social distancing restrictions. This includes creating or improving websites, social media or e-commerce stores. Submissions will be accepted through Sept. 30 or when funds are exhausted.

“Our department is working around the clock to ensure our local businesses receive the support they need,” said Vicky Rad, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Director. “We’ve distributed millions of dollars in grants over the last few months and we will continue our efforts for as long as necessary.”

Businesses that previously received grant funding through the Macomb County Sustainability Program are eligible to apply for all three new grant programs, as long as the previous grant money was not used for these expenses, the county said.

Businesses can apply for the loans here.