The Eastern Michigan Small Business Network (EM-SBN) is thrilled to announce that it will begin accepting applications next week for its 2024 Small Business Grant Award Program. Small businesses in the six-county region including Shiawassee, Lapeer, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, and St. Clair, will have the opportunity to apply for grants to help fuel their growth and development. The application deadline is Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
The 2024 Small Business Grant Award Program is designed to support small businesses by providing financial awards of up to $20,000. Most grants will range from $5,000 to $10,000. Applications will be evaluated and scored based on the responses provided, with the highest-scoring applications from each of the six participating counties being selected for funding.
The EM-SBN has been awarded a Small Business Support Hub grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help launch and grow small businesses across these counties. This initiative is part of the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding and expands on Michigan Small Business Development Center services by providing coaching, mentoring, access to capital, and intensive counseling for up to forty small businesses each year through the region’s Entrepreneurial Cohort Program.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Details
To be considered for the 2024 Small Business Grant Award Program, the applying business or its owner must be physically located in one of the six participating counties. Eligible uses of grant funds include purchasing equipment, furniture, fixtures, inventory, software, and hardware (up to $4,999 per unit), among other approved expenses. A detailed list of eligible and ineligible expenses can be found on the EM-SBN website.
Please note that certain expenses, such as payroll, building-based construction costs, and gifts or prize money, are not eligible for funding under this program.
The online application deadline is Tuesday, September 24, 2024. Following the application deadline, reviews and eligibility verification will take place from September 25 through October 9. Successful applicants will be announced on Tuesday, October 15.