LEAP Announces Michigan Small Business Relief Program Grant Awardees

$600,000 Awarded to Help 60 Lansing Region Small Businesses Bridge the COVID-19 Crisis

LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 7, 2020) – Following a transparent, rigorous and equitable application and review process involving representatives from LEAP, Capital Region Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!) and other key community partners, LEAP has awarded 60 local small businesses with Michigan Small Business Relief Program (MSBRP) grants. Each business will receive a $10,000 grant to help them address a financial hardship for their businesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grant funds were generously allocated to the Lansing region by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

LEAP was selected by the MEDC to administer and award $600,000 in grant funds to the Lansing region over the course of two weeks. LEAP received 1,875 applications for the 60 grants available from small businesses across Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties.

Small businesses throughout the region communicated to LEAP through a small businesses emergency needs survey that grant funds were a top need and priority for LEAP to pursue.

LEAP responded by working quickly to gain access to state funds, developed an application portal and established a fair and objective application and regional review process with the intention of distributing grant funds to awardees by April 8, 2020.

“All of us at LEAP have been personally touched, both inspired and heartbroken, by the thousands of small business stories shared through these grant applications. Our small businesses are a cornerstone to our regional economy and the fabric of our regional community—their pain is felt by us all,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “But this economic development grant program brings good news to many. Small businesses are getting a bridge from these grants to bring in some cash flow, increasing the likelihood of a stronger re-opening in the late spring or early summer. LEAP is also working hard to connect those businesses that did not receive grants with additional state, federal and local opportunities.”

One such example available through LEAP is the MSBRP loan option. Small businesses wishing to apply for loan funds must be based and founded in the Lansing region with fewer than 100 employees (full or part time), and must meet additional criteria established by the MEDC and LEAP. Loans to selected eligible borrowers ranging from at least $50,000 to no more than $200,000 will be issued with a 0.25 percent interest rate, with no collateral required and flexible repayment terms. LEAP expects to issue 3-12 loans depending on the amount of funds allocated to our region by the MEDC. The application will be available until Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. and is available now, along with complete eligibility requirements, loan details, application scoring criteria, description of the review process and FAQ, on LEAP’s website at www.purelansing.com/businessrelief.

Lansing Region MSBRP Grant Awardees

100 Acre Wood Daycare

Aggie Mae’s Bakery LLC

Allen Neighborhood Center

Art Unlimited

B/A Florist

Batter Up LLC, dba Batter Up Bistro

BDKFOODS LLC DBA FLAPJACK RESTAURANT

Bellevue Hardware

Bestsellers Books & Coffee Co

Blue Owl Coffee, LLC

Builders’ Hardware Co.

Charlotte Plaza Floral LLC

City Pulse

Cugino’s, Inc.

Eagle Inn Bar & Grill

Eastminster Child Development Center

El Azteco East Mexican Restaurant (ELA Food Services, LLC)

E-Lanes Bowling Alley

Embassy Transportation, LLC

Evelyn Bay

Falsetta’s Casa Nova

Golden Harvest

Grace Boutique of Old Town

Groovy Donuts LLC

Insty Prints

J&K Catering DBA Michigan Princess

Joe’s Potterville Inn Inc. (Joe’s Gizzard City)

JPD co of Lansing dba franks press box

Mad Eagle

Maple Leaf Inn

Mark’s Place

Moneyball Sportswear LLC

Moriarty’s Pub

Naing Myanmar Family Restaurant LLC

October Moon

Oh Mi Organics LLC

Owen-Conley Entertainment LLC: DBA Eaton Theatre

PAPER IMAGE PRINTING

Piazzano’s (JJF Inc)

Pure F2T LLC DBA Red Haven

REACH Studio Art Center

Reno’s North

REO Town Gardener, Inc

Reputation Beverage Co

Ryans Roadhouse

Sanctuary Brewery LLC

Strange Matter Coffee LLC

Sultan’s Express

Sun Theatre Wiilliamston

Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe

Tannin Restaurant

The Green Door Blues Bar & Grill

The Peanut Barrel

The Vault Delicatessen

The Wooden Nickel II

Vinnies Llc DBA Dagwood’s Tavern and Grill

Weston’s Kewpee

Xtreme Mason Contractors

Zeus Coney Island

Zoobies Old Town Tavern

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