INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN - It is no secret that small businesses across the country were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ingham County is no exception.

In April of 2021, Ingham County allotted $11 million from the county’s American Rescue Plan (ARP). This money is being used to create the Ingham County Sunrise Small Business Grant Program, which will be designed and conducted by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).

The program aims to focus on the short and long-term economic effects of COVID-19. Short-term grants will provide pandemic-related financial needs to small businesses and nonprofits, and additional grants will help create opportunities for sustainable small-business growth for entrepreneurial support agencies and childcare providers (non-in-home).

In the long-term, the Ingham County Sunrise Small Business Grant Program will include technical assistance for succession planning, reopening of businesses that permanently closed during the pandemic, and the creation of a new revolving loan fund under the Ingham County Economic Development Corporation.

“There is no question; small businesses are the backbone of our communities and economy in Ingham County. As we are emerging from more than a year of crisis, this support is critical to the recovery and sustainability of our businesses and the communities they support,” said Ingham County Board of Commissioners Chair Bryan Crenshaw.

The Sunrise Grant Program will target the businesses in the most profound need of support. LEAP, along with Ingham County and other community organizations, worked to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion when finalizing applications, scoring criteria, and the review process.

Grant amounts range from $5,000-$25,000 based on employment level. Qualifying business types include traditional retail/services (non-food), tourism and hospitality service providers (non-food), nonprofits (non-government, non-food), sole proprietors, new businesses opened during the pandemic, and restaurants.

Applications can be submitted until 11:59 pm on July 30, 2021. For more information on program details and applications click the link below.