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 not to exceed $20,000.

Apply now!

Click here to apply

Questions? Contact the Hub for assistance.

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 616-331-6901

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:

1. Minority-owned
2. SEDI-owned
3. Geographically located (either business or personal address) in the following areas:        
   1. 2015 CDFI Investment Tract
   2. 2020 Qualified Census Tract
   3. Rural Michigan Counties
4. 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

Allowed Expenses

• Marketing
• Hardware (up to $4,999 per unit)
• Software (up to $4,999 per unit)
• Equipment (up to $4,999 per unit)
• Inventory (up to $4,999 per unit)
• Highly specialized consulting services
• Certification & Licensing fees
• Costs approved by Hub related to business operation support or growth needs

Submission Deadlines                             Award Notification

July 12, 2024                                              August 5, 2024

January 17, 2025                                      February 3, 2025

July 18, 2025                                              August 4, 2025

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.