The Muskegon Innovation Hub is awarding funds to support small businesses and entrepreneurs disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the funding received, the Hub will award one-time direct grants to eligible small businesses. For the next round of funding, there will be seven (7) awards of $5,000 and three (3) awards of $10,000. 

Small businesses served by our Program must meet specific eligibility requirements. Each business must qualify as Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19 and have received services or participated in programming at the Hub within the last 6 months. To qualify as Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19, a business must be at least one of the following:

• Minority-owned
• SEDI-owned
• Geographically located (either business or personal address) in the following areas:        
  • 2015 CDFI Investment Tract
  • 2020 Qualified Census Tract
  • Rural Michigan Counties
• Demonstrate a disproportionate negative impact because of COVID-19

An applicant must have also participated in an eligible program or service at the Hub within the previous six months. Eligible programs/ services include:

• Business Coaching/ Consulting
• Co-Launch Member
• Workshop/ Seminar attendance (ex. Social Marketing Mondays)     
• Initial Hub Intake/ Meeting
• Other (please specify)

You can check if your geographic location qualifies with this map tool provided by the State of Michigan (there is also a link in the application itself). Eligible locations are marked in violet.

Eligible Expenses (please note that the examples listed are eligible expenses and is not intended to be exhaustive):

• Costs approved by Hub related to business operations or growth needs.
• Purchase of equipment, inventory, software, and hardware.
• Marketing
• Highly specialized consulting services
• Certification or licensing fees

As a condition of awarded funds, recipients should expect the following:

• All approved recipients are expected to participate in a mandatory information session related to the terms of funding.

• Full participation in reporting requirements expected for compliance.