KENT COUNTY, Mich — Kent County has approved an additional $5 million in grants to help businesses that were shut down due to Executive Orders.
The money is meant for any business that was still closed under Governor Whitmer’s orders as of August 1st.
Those businesses include includes movie theaters, concert/event venues, wedding venues, bowling alleys, gyms, even suppliers who work directly in those industries.The Kent County Small Business Recovery Program announced that this latest round of grants is on top of the $25 million already being allocated to small businesses as part of the CARES Act.
Applicants will also have access to business consultants for free, to help them navigate their reopening.
Dante Villarreal, the Vice President of Business Services and Talent Development for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce said that businesses could get anywhere from $10,000 – $40,000 if their application is approved.
Villarreal added that unlike small business loans, this money will not need to be paid back.
“We at the chamber and at the county understand that businesses will be reluctant to be in more debt, because that doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be sustainable. Whereas this grant is specific for them to make the accommodations they need to make within their business to respond to COVID, to respond to a marketplace that requires social distancing and so forth. It helps them pay the bills that they haven't had funding to pay for; their rent, their insurance, their salaries and so forth," he said.
The county also set aside another $750,000 for daycare providers.
You can visit to fill out the application at grandrapids.org.
Villarreal suggests businesses apply as soon as possible.
The chamber also has bilingual staff members to assist with the application process.
