LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved the second amendment of the 2019 Program Year Action Plan for $41.9 million to be incorporated in Community Development Block Grant’s (CDBG) Coronavirus Response funds. Related: Macomb County offering $5,000 small business grants; applications due June 24MSF approved an amendment to the Program Year Action Plan in May, adding $20.5 million for COVID-19. With the funding, counties would be reimbursed for unbudgeted expenditures allocated for prevention and preparation in response to COVID-19. Small business restart programThe MSF also adopted amended guidelines to the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. With the amendment, small businesses that received grants through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program would be eligible for grants from the restart program.

Macomb County is awarding relief grants to 148 small businesses in the county to help mitigate any financial impact caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Related: Coronavirus in Michigan: Here’s where we stand todayMacomb County Planning & Economic Development earlier announced plans to assist 90 to 150 small businesses in the county. Macomb County was awarded $800,000 to distribute among small businesses from the Michigan Small Business Relief Program, officials said. Macomb County donated $30,000 to the cause for a total of $930,000 to aid small businesses. We organized an application process, fairly quickly, to disburse these relief funds to our businesses,” said Vicky Rad, director of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Small Business Relief Program, funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. was established in response to businesses experiencing COVID-related distress. Ann Arbor SPARK administered this funding for Washtenaw and Livingston counties. “This is an unprecedented time that we are all facing and navigating together,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. In Livingston County, the review panel was comprised of representatives from the Economic Development Council for Livingston County, Ann Arbor SPARK, and the Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ann Arbor SPARK has two upcoming virtual events next week to provide timely information and resources to businesses.