Grant Information

In an effort to continue to support small businesses, the Michigan Small Business Restart Program will provide funding to local economic development organizations (EDOs) who will provide grants to eligible small businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and need working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses. The partnering EDOs are listed below and cover all 83 counties in Michigan. 

Grant Applications closed as of August 5, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. For questions regarding your submitted application, please contact the local economic development organization that covers the county in which your business is located (see table below). 

• View the full list of EDO contacts 

Grant Eligibility

Businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer employees, worldwide, located in Michigan. Businesses must also demonstrate the following:

• Part of an industry or nonprofit that can demonstrate it has been impacted by the COVID-19 emergency
• Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses
• Demonstrates an income loss as result of the COVID-19 emergency as determined by the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF).

Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under this program will be provided to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned eligible businesses. The MEDC anticipates that more than 5,000 businesses across the state will benefit from this program.

UPDATE: Pending the effective date of Michigan legislation changing PA 123 of 2020, eligibility requirements for the Michigan Small Business Restart Program have been amended to allow for recipients of the Michigan Small Business Relief Program grants to be eligible for Restart grant dollars. The combined total of both grants may not be in excess of $20,000.

Application Process

Applications are now closed. For questions regarding your submitted application, please contact the local economic development organization that covers the county in which your business is located (see table above).

• View the full list of EDO contacts 

Eligible Expenditures

Grants must be used for expenditures made between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020 that meet the following criteria:

• Necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 (such as resulting from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19)
• Working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, costs related to reopening a business or nonprofit, or other use authorized under the CARES Act.

Frequently Asked Questions and Program Guidelines

Please review the following for more information:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Frequently Asked Questions - Spanish
• Michigan Small Business Restart Program Guidelines
• Application Questions
• Questions? Inquires regarding your submitted application should be directed to the local EDO that covers the county in which your business is located (see table above). Other inquires should be emailed to the MEDC Service Center. Office hours are 8-5 pm M-F and closed for lunch 12-1 pm. During lunch customers are prompted to leave a message.

Additional Information

The Michigan Small Business Restart Program is modeled after the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, approved on March 19 by the Michigan Strategic Fund to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the Michigan Small Business Relief grant program, local EDOs selected more than 2,700 businesses across the state covering all 83 counties that received grant support expected to retain approximately 11,000 jobs. To date, more than 130 small business loans totaling more than $8 million have also been approved.

Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program

The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved the $15 million Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program to support the needs of Michigan’s agricultural processors and farms. The program supports the implementation of COVID-19 monitoring and mitigation strategies to protect agricultural employees and the state’s overall food production industry. Applications for this grant will open on July 15, 2020. For more information, visit: http://www.sitgesbike.com/agsafety/.