Michigan’s small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 virus can now apply for $10 million in grants and $10 million in loans through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. The funding supports businesses facing drastic reductions in cash flow and the continued support of their workforce, and may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business.

Key information to know about the process includes:

• There is one application, regardless of whether a business is applying for a grant or a loan. A business may receive a grant or a loan, but not both.
• Businesses who do not receive grants may still be considered for loans.
• The grants will be administrated by 15 regional economic development organizations throughout the state, which combined cover all 83 counties in Michigan.
• All applications or recommendations for Michigan Small Business Relief Program loans will be referred from the partner EDOs to the MEDC for evaluation and disbursement.

On Wednesday, March 25 Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-23, which temporarily allows the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Unemployment Insurance Agency, and other administrative hearings to be held by video conference or phone in place of in-person hearings; temporarily allows e-signatures in place of written signatures on related documents; and, allows
administrative hearing notifications, normally made in person, to be made by mail or email temporarily.

The governor also signed Executive Order 2020-24 clarifying how the expansion of eligibility for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 will work.

New guidance has been provided for businesses with questions about Executive Order 2020-21 and whether they should remain open.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect program is expanding its free, online procurement platform by now including donations from suppliers capable of filling health and human service needs across a broad range of product and service categories.

The platform is also offering a place for companies with manufacturing capabilities for personal protection equipment to indicate which items (i.e. masks, gowns, ventilators) they are able to produce, along with quantity and timing detail.

Access additional resources by visiting michiganbusiness.org/covid19.

Visit michigan.gov/coronavirus to for valuable resources for Employers & Workers, to sign up for regular COVID-19 updates and to stay informed on the Governor’s latest efforts to mitigate the impact of the virus on our state’s residents and economy.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.