Economic Development

Mission-driven Organizations Join Forces to Advance Affordable Homeownership Opportunities

Cinnaire is one of 21 founding members of the Homeownership Alliance, a new initiative that will advocate for more resources and better policies to increase affordable homeownership opportunities for American families. The initiative is led by the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), a non-profit organization that works to restore vacant and abandoned properties to productive use and to protect neighborhoods from blight.

Initial and continuing claims for unemployment insurance both fell slightly in the latest data. Both claims measures have been falling for the past couple of months, after spiking in the spring as the coronavirus pandemic struck the U.S. However, the rates of decline for both initial and continuing claims are slowing, suggesting that the pace of labor market improvement is softening. In addition, claims can be volatile around holidays.

$100 Million in Small Business Grants Available for COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

The State of Michigan has appropriated $100 million of federal CARES Act funding through PA 123, signed into law by Governor Whitmer last week, to implement the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. Grants of up to $20,000 will support Michigan’s small businesses that are reopening and have experienced a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

LEAP Partnering with Local Organizations to Equitably Distribute Grants Across Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties

LANSING, Mich. (July 7, 2020) – Following months of economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis, more small-business support funds are once again on the way to the Lansing region by order of the federal government, Michigan legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) has created a small-business restart program with $100 million received from the Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund.

Been a while since you've been to Cahoots? We have plenty of updates to share about how we are proceeding safely with a positive outlook. Take a look at some of our newly designed spaces and watch the video above to get an inside look at our tech hub!

During Governor Whitmer’s, Stay Home-Stay Safe Initiative, BFI's staff has had the opportunity to survey and interact with over 350 Bay County businesses while offering direct financial support to 59 of them. We have made it our goal to connect with every manufacturer in Bay County and have worked with 75 manufacturers in direct support of them through best practices and introductions to COVID-19 awareness and prevention programs and resources through our partners.

The foeder-aged ale utilizes a technique that blends old and young into an ever-evolving beer 

Holland, Mich. (July 7, 2020) -- New Holland Brewing Company has announced the next member of the Dragon's Milk family, Dragon’s Milk Solera, a 10% ABV foeder-aged ale that emphasizes the passage of time. By implementing a method where a flow of fresh beer influences the base solera, Dragon’s Milk Solera achieves a drinking experience that’s simultaneously consistent and ever-changing.

Weeks Named Development Manager; Hodges Named Vice President, Business Funding

Cinnaire announced two key appointments in the organization’s MidAtlantic office this week. Azeez Weeks has joined the organization as Development Manager for Cinnaire Solutions, a newly created position to advance Cinnaire’s Wilmington Priority City initiatives. Matt Hodges has joined Cinnaire as Vice President, Business Funding, leading the development of equity funds in the MidAtlantic to support Cinnaire’s affordable housing and community redevelopment efforts.

$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – The Ann Arbor Art Center (A2AC) is working to create a series of murals in downtown Ann Arbor through a new crowdfunding campaign , the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Ann Arbor Art Center announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

Bay City, Mich. – The City of Bay City, in conjunction with Bay Future, Inc., is announcing a Small Business Relief Grant Program with $300,000 in funds available to eligible businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Bay
City has received Community Development Block Grant funding to provide grants to those businesses who have experienced significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.