The Eastern Michigan Small Business Network (EM-SBN) will begin accepting applications next week for consideration for its 2024 Small Business Grant Award Program.
Applications open next week on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 and close on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The 2024 Small Business Grant Award Program will provide awards of up to $20,000 to eligible small businesses in the six-county region to support their growth and development. Most grant awards will be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.
Applications will be scored based upon responses, with the highest scored applications in the six counties awarded funds.
The EM-SBN received a Small Business Support Hub grant award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help launch and grow small businesses in Shiawassee, Lapeer, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties. This program utilizes a portion of the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding. The program expands Michigan Small Business Development Center services, coaching, and mentoring, access to capital, and provides intense counseling and assistance for up to forty small business clients per year through the region’s Entrepreneurial Cohort Program.
A full list of details regarding the grant, including eligibility criteria and eligible/ineligible expenses can be found at: https://www.easternmichigansmallbusinessnetwork.com/funding.
A few of the key grant program details include that applying businesses, or its company’s owner, must be physically located in one of the six participating counties of Shiawassee, Lapeer, Tuscola, Huron, Sanilac and St. Clair. Eligible uses of grant funding include: equipment, furniture and fixtures, inventory, software and/or hardware, up to $4,999 per unit as well as other uses. A full list is available on the website and grant application.
The website and application also highlights ineligible expenses, such as payroll, building-based constructions costs, gifts or prize money. The online grant application opens Tuesday, August 27 and closes Tuesday, September 24, 2024, with grant application reviews and eligibility verification occurring from September 25 through October 9.
The grant award will be announced Tuesday, October 15. To apply, visit www.easternmichigansmallbusinessnetwork.com
