Wayne County at the end of this month will unveil a new $50 million grant program to help small businesses that were forced to close during the state’s COVID-19 lockdown, with input from a Downriver businessman helping shape the program in a key area.
“A Wyandotte businessman made a suggestion that really helped sharpen the focus of this badly needed program,” Wayne County Commissioner Joseph Palamara (D-15th District) said of a suggestion made by businessman Peter Rose.
Speaking at the June 17 meeting of the commission’s Committee on Ways & Means, Rose suggested making the grants available to businesses with $1 million or less in annual sales rather than the proposed limit of $1 million or less in annual profits.
Palamara endorsed the idea of the suggested revision to the eligibility requirements and the county executive’s office embraced it as well.
“That truly makes it a program for small businesses,” Palamara said. He joined with his fellow commissioners in unanimously approving the revised program during the June 18 full commission meeting.
The grant application process will begin June 29 and run through July 10, said Assistant County Executive Khalil Rahal, who heads the county’s economic development department.
Applications will be available through the county website, www.waynecounty.com.
The program offers grants of up to $10,000 for such items as payroll, rent, utilities and equipment, especially personal protection equipment and plexiglass shields.
Eligible businesses are brick and mortar operations with less than 50 employees that have been in operation for at least one year and were profitable prior to implementation of the state’s lockdown order in March.
Businesses must also be independently owned or owned by a franchisee, not corporate-owned. They must in good standing with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Businesses must also be based in Wayne County.
While priority will be given to businesses who haven’t already received a county grant related to the COVID-19 pandemic, all businesses meeting the outlined criteria are encouraged to apply.
Because demand is expected to exceed the amount of available revenue, grant recipients will be selected in a random lottery of all qualified applicants.
Grants are being financed through the county’s share of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act revenue.
The county program will be rolled out with an information blitz over the next several days, including webinars and social media outreach.
Information will also be made available through Palamara’s office.
The grant program is separate from the low-cost loan program available through the county and TCF Bank. That program also remains available to small county businesses. Loan applications and a list of banking centers are available at at tcfbank.com/waynecounty and chemicalbank.com/waynecounty.