A $200,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation will be used to assist small businesses in Genesee County that have suffered economic distress because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement of the grant was made by Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce on May 6. The contribution will help establish ‘Restart Flint & Genesee,’ a special recovery program from which the Flint & Genesee Chamber will award grants up to $5,000 to business applicants that meet the established criteria. To jumpstart the process, two informational webinars for the Restart Flint & Genesee program will be held at 10 a.m. May 8 and at 10 a.m. May 15.
The kind of expenses directly associated with activities and purchases to reopen a business are considered acceptable include:
• Purchase of personal protection equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, etc.
• Cleaning supplies
• Cleaning services to sterilize and deep clean facilities
• New point of sale systems that allow for carryout/online purchases
• Physical improvements to facilities that create space for social distancing, i.e. creating wider aisles
Kristina Johnston, Flint & Genesee Chamber’s chief operating officer, said the donation is great news for the community and a welcomed addition to the financial resources available to small business owners to restart operations.
“We know from the business impact survey the chamber conducted in the early days of the outbreak that there would be tremendous need going forward,” Johnston said. “Unfortunately, many of those dire economic predictions are playing out.”
Johnston added the Chamber would work expeditiously to get the grant funds into circulation.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and have been significantly impacted during this unprecedented time,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation.
“Consumers Energy is committed to helping Michigan’s small business community succeed now, more than ever,” Hofmeister added.
Funding under the Restart Flint & Genesee program will support expenses directly associated with activities and purchases to reopen a business under guidelines and requirements for social distancing and safety of clients/customers.
The Chamber would work expeditiously to get the grant funds into circulation, according to Johnston.
The informational webinar sessions will cover program details, application criteria and deadlines and how the funds may be used, which will be for costs associated with restarting the business. The application will be available online following the webinar.
Eligibility Criteria:
• In addition to being owned and operated in Genesee County, businesses may have up to 50 employees and must have been impacted significantly by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order.
Industry sectors that are eligible:
• Barbershops/hair salons
• Tattoo parlors; bars/restaurants
• Retail; construction/landscaping
• Daycare
• Senior living/care facilities, and
• Non-critical manufacturing
Preference will be given to those businesses that are considered essential to their community or neighborhood, like a grocery store. Still, this will not be the sole determining factor. Business may not be a franchise and must provide evidence of economic distress or barriers to success. Besides franchises, the following types of businesses or industries are not eligible:
• Critical manufacturing/industrial base firms
• Transportation/logistics
• Financial services
• Legal services
• Real estate/landlord
• Farms
• “Sin Businesses” – cannabis, casinos, strip clubs, liquor stores, etc.
• Medical offices
• Nonprofit organizations are also ineligible.
• Funds will be distributed to the grantees by check or ACH debit.
• The small business grants may be taxable. However, depending on what the dollars are used for, it also may
be used as a write-off for businesses. Grant recipients are advised to contact their tax planner.
Applications must be received by May 24 to be considered for a grant in this first wave of funding. As the Chamber continues to pursue other funding sources to support the Restart Flint & Genesee program, additional grant opportunities will become available.
The Consumers Energy Foundation’s contribution is part of an effort to help small business customers in this time of need. The Flint & Genesee Chamber is one of nine organizations across Michigan to receive a portion of the $1.8 million the Foundation has allocated to help communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, the foundation has given more than $3 million to meet the needs of Michigan residents during the ongoing crisis. Consumers Energy is promoting a hotline, 800-805-0490, to provide meaningful and immediate help.
The Foundation’s support also reflects Consumers Energy’s commitment to the communities where it does business and the continuation of its partnership with the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.
Applications should be submitted online at flintandgenesee.org/restart. For questions about program, contact Tracy Joseph at tjoseph@flintandgenesee.org or 810.600.1406. For technical assistance from the Michigan Small Business Development Center, contact Janis Mueller at jmueller1@kettering.edu or 810.762.9660.
