Whitmer Awards Funding to 35 Local Small Businesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2022

Governor Whitmer Awards Funding to Support 35 Local Small Businesses Around the State Through Match on Main Grant Program

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced thirty-five communities around Michigan have been awarded a total of $807,673 in grants aimed at supporting small local businesses to create resiliency and strengthen downtowns under the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Match on Main grant program.

“Michigan’s small businesses and traditional downtowns are the heart of our communities, and with today’s Match on Main grants, we are helping small businesses in both peninsulas grow while further developing unique and inviting places that attract talent and new investment,” said Governor Whitmer. “These grants will help our vibrant downtowns continue to thrive in all corners of the state.”

MEDC’s Match on Main program provides funding to communities that participate as a select and master level community in the Michigan Main Street program or are considered an Essentials or Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. The communities, who receive the grant funding from the MEDC, in turn award grants of up to $25,000 to eligible businesses seeking support.

The grants are expected to create or retain 296 full-time jobs, and the projects are expected to generate a total private investment of more than $2.7 million. Of the 35 grant recipients, 26 are existing and nine are new business. Eight of the 35 communities are first-time recipients of the Match on Main grants.

“Thriving small businesses are the cornerstone of what makes Michigan’s downtowns unique and authentic while helping to create economic opportunity across the state,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Small Business Services Amy Rencher. “With the support of the Match on Main program, we can help local businesses grow and create jobs, while further developing vibrant and attractive places where people want to live, work, visit and play.”

Grants may be used by the business for eligible expenses that support technical assistance, interior building renovations, permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, permanent or semi-permanent business infrastructure related to COVID-19 recovery efforts, and other working capital needs such as marketing needs and inventory expenses. Additional needs identified by the business and supported by the local community are also considered.

The Lapeer Downtown Development Authority awarded a $25,000 Match on Main grant to Hernandez Mexican Food, a food stand has been operating in the community since 1969. Hernandez Mexican Food is renovating a former office building in downtown Lapeer into a vibrant new food takeout experience. This includes updating the plumbing, electrical and all other utilities that are necessary to be compliant with current health and building regulations.

“Thanks to the Match on Main grant, we are able to create the family-owned, brick-and-mortar restaurant we’ve always dreamed of,” said Hernandez Mexican Food owner Deanna Hernandez-Schlaud. “The funds will give us the added flexibility to put more money back into the space and community. We would like to thank all of our loyal customers over the years who have supported us. Without their support and encouragement, we may never have taken this step.”

In Clare, the Middle Michigan Development Corporation is awarding a $25,000 grant to McEwan Street Fudge and Ice Cream Shop, who will use the funds to purchase display and fudge/gelato making equipment. Adding an iconic northern Michigan staple like freshly made fudge will be another welcome addition to travelers’ destination spots and will further strengthen the overall brand of downtown Clare, according to Middle Michigan Development Corporation Director of Business Services and Economic Development for Clare County Sarah Adkins.

“MMDC feels that McEwan Street Fudge and Ice Cream will exceptionally complement the offerings and atmosphere of downtown Clare,” Adkins said. “This business adds something novel to the downtown, caters to both locals and visitors, and expands on the ‘made-in-Clare’ entrepreneurialism represented by other downtown businesses like Four Leaf Brewing and Cops & Doughnuts.”

December 2022 Match on Main grant winners:

List of Awardees:

Applicant	Community* *new	Business	Funding amount
City of Hancock	City of Hancock*	Red Jacket Enterprises, LLC	$25,000
Marquette Downtown Development Authority	City of Marquette	Great Northern Title & Abstract, Incorporated	$25,000
Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority	Sault Ste Marie Main Street	Prim Aesthetics	$25,000
City of Cadillac	City of Cadillac	Charming North LLC	$25,000
Charlevoix DDA	City of Charlevoix	J. Bird Provisions, LLC	$25,000
City of Cheboygan Downtown Development Authority	Cheboygan	Melody’s Lane	$25,000
City of Alpena Downtown Development Authority	City of Alpena	My Glass Wings	$25,000
Rogers City Downtown Development Authority	City of Rogers City – Rogers City Main Street-DDA	Stitches, Etc.	$9,350
Downtown Development Authority/Grayling Main Street	Grayling Main Street	Hidden Nook Booksellers LLC	$25,000
Roscommon Downtown Development Authority	Village of Roscommon	Jac&Jill Investments, LLC	$25,000
City of Greenville	City of Greenville*	TWI Acquisition LLC	$25,000
Middle Michigan Development Corporation	Evart*	June-Marie Essner	$24,979
City of Allegan	The City of Allegan	Heronmark Farms, LLC	$25,000
Uptown Grand Rapids, Inc.	Uptown Grand Rapids	Amethyst Bee Cakery	$8,000
Wayland Main Street/DDA	Wayland Main Street	Big Dipper Ice Cream & Desserts LLC	$8,084
Middle Michigan Development Corporation	Clare*	McEwan Street Fudge & Ice Cream Shop, LLC	$25,000
Middle Michigan Development Corporation	Harrison	Hardy Insurance Agency, Inc.	$23,231
Middle Michigan Development Corporation	Mount Pleasant	Rock N Roll Dive Bar, Inc.	$25,000
City of Laingsburg	City of Laingsburg	Rose Villa Retreat	$25,000
Lapeer Downtown Development Authority	Lapeer	Hernandez Mexican Food LLC	$25,000
Owosso Downtown Development Authority	Owosso Main Street	Taphouse Specialty Meat Market	$25,000
Eaton Rapids DDA	Eaton Rapids DDA*	Robinson Cadenas LLC	$25,000
Downtown Development Authority of Meridian Charter Township	Meridian Charter Township –Downtown Development Authority*	Village Hair Shoppe, Inc.	$25,000
Old Town Commercial Association	Old Town Commercial Association	Preuss Animal House	$25,000
Albion Economic Development Corporation	Albion	Share, LLC	$25,000
Coldwater Downtown Development Authority	City of Coldwater, Michigan	Shemel’s Inc.	$9,029
City of Kalamazoo	City of Kalamazoo*	Haymarket Event Center LLC	$25,000
City of Niles dba Niles Downtown Development Authority	City of Niles dba Niles Downtown Development Authority Main Street	S & K CORNERSTONE, LLC	$25,000
Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance	Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance/Choose Marshall for City of Marshall, MI	Maria’s Uncorked LLC	$25,000
Downtown Development Authority of the City of South Haven	The City of South Haven Downtown Development Authority	Decadent Dogs LLC	$25,000
Village of Cassopolis	Village of Cassopolis	Curtis Place LLC	$25,000
City of Adrian Downtown Development Authority	City of Adrian	Adrian Armory community Center, Inc.	$25,000
Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority

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Whitmer Awards Funding to 35 Local Small Businesses

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