60 Dearborn Small Businesses Receive Coronavirus Relief Grants

DEARBORN, MI — Sixty small businesses in Dearborn have been selected to receive stimulus grants to help provide working capital during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Grants of up to $5,000 will be distributed this week by ACCESS and are aimed to support businesses left out of major city, state and federal relief efforts due to a lack of federal funding and eligibility restrictions on micro-businesses.

The Dearborn Small Business Relief Grant — funded by the New Economy Initiative (NEI) and coordinated through a partnership of local business groups — is focused on making available access to funds for locally owned businesses.

“The support for 60 small businesses in Dearborn by the partners of the Relief Fund is a testament to the cooperative spirit that the city has become known for,” said NEI Director Pamela Lewis. “There is more to be done to help small businesses in this time of crisis and the New Economy Initiative (NEI) looks forward to continuing its work with all members of the community.”

More than 675 grant applications were submitted earlier this month. Grants were awarded to both brick and mortar and home-based businesses.

Grant funds may be used for day-to-day operating expenses of the awarded business.

Eligible applicants included small businesses with 17 employees or less and sole proprietors, located in Dearborn, who were encouraged to apply in April.