MUSKEGON, Mich. — A marijuana dispensary in Muskegon is giving out $10,000 in grant money to other local businesses that are struggling through the pandemic.
Agri-Med currently operates two marijuana dispenasaries in West Michigan— Park Place Provisionary in Muskegon and Exit 9 in Nunica. The company has plans to open a third location in Edmore (Montcalm County) in the next few weeks.
Greg Maki, owner of Agri-Med, says they have been able to maintain solid business throughout the state-mandated shutdown due to the coronavirus.
"It's been a lot better for us than it has, you know, almost any other business out there, I believe," Maki told FOX 17 Thursday.
Now he wants to pay things forward and help other businesses in Muskegon who haven't been able to do as much business.
Agri-Med is giving away a total of $10,000 in grant money to 10 different local small businesses. Each applicant can receive up to $1,000.
“They can use it any way they'd like, to maybe pay rent or utilities or, you know, buy some inventory or.... hire an employee,” Maki said.
The businesses will not have to pay any of the money back.
Both of the company's stores opened up within the last year. When COVID-19 hit, Agri-Med was able to adjust the way they operated, serving customers and patients from their vehicles.
"We still have some lulls during the day, but, you know, we just feel really blessed that the Governor deemed our business, less than a year old, essential," Maki said.
Businesses looking to apply for grant money can do so here.
Maki says the recipients will be chosen by Muskegon City and County Commissioners as well as employees of Agri-Med.
“It's never happened before. So we just wanted to help because we felt like we were blessed because the Governor made us essential,” he said.