“Michigan is home to thousands of small businesses that are the backbone of our communities,” said Whitmer. “Small businesses support the economy, add vibrancy to our communities, and provide hundreds of thousands of jobs across Michigan. They have been so resilient through the pandemic and I am committed to getting them the support they need as we build our economy back better.”       

“Small businesses, and the people with the ideas and tenacity to start them, are the lifeblood of communities here in Michigan,” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist. “I’m incredibly thankful and inspired by the contributions of small businesses to Michigan’s culture and economic recovery. During these unprecedented times, as we continue to protect public health, small business owners and employees continue to show resolve and ingenuity. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to supporting small businesses to help them launch and stay afloat to help rebuild our economy.”   

“Michigan small businesses are anything but small when we consider their critical impact on our state economy,” said Lorri Rishar, a small business owner and chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan Board of Directors. “Every day, workers and communities across our state appreciate the sweat and tears that go into being a small business owner. Even in the midst of the pandemic, we showed up, worked tirelessly and got the job done.”  

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Small Business Administration, small business made up more than 99.6% of Michigan’s businesses employing approximately 1.9 million individuals, or 49 percent of the private workforce. In 2019, 92% of net new jobs in the state were created by businesses with fewer than 20 employees, while businesses with 20-99 employees had the largest share of small business employment in the state.   

In the past year, more than $240 million in direct relief has gone to 25,000 small businesses across all 83 counties in Michigan through the efforts of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. That relief helped to retain 200,000 jobs for Michiganders while also supporting retooling efforts to produce 2.5 million units of PPE and generate $27 million in new revenue for small and mid-size manufacturers and non-profits.   

Support for small businesses continues to be a priority of Governor Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan and funding coming to Michigan through the American Rescue Plan. The Administration continues to encourage small businesses in Michigan to access additional federal relief programs, including the Restaurant Relief Initiative. Applications for the relief through the U.S. Small Business Administration opened today.  For more information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.   

View the full proclamation here.     

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