With the Michigan State Health Department ordered 3-week partial shutdown beginning Wednesday, a number of new grants are available to small business owners hurt by th epandemic. The City of Grand Rapids' Economic Development Office announced on Tuesday that it has launched a Small Business Grant Program to provide grants of up to $5,000 to eligible small businesses that have experienced a loss of revenue.
The program is funded with Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Some qualifications are put in place, mainly that the business by for profit, operate with 25 or fewer employees, be an actual brick and mortar business, meaning, no home-based businesses, and the hope is that the grants will benefit low- or moderate-income persons: mainly the owner and the employees.
Priority however, will be given to businesses that have not received any other grant assistance. The grants are through local organizations Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses, Local First, the West Michigan Asian American Association and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
