This press release has been prepared by an outside organization.
UPPER PENINSULA – Western U.P. organizations and local governments are offering assistance for businesses to apply for new state and local grant and loan funding programs.
The federal relief act signed into law in December 2020 will provide another round of forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA), which are offered under similar terms as those in the original CARES Act. Business owners who have already received a loan may apply for a second loan under certain conditions, based on the number of employees, income loss, and prior use of their first PPP loan. Other provisions in the act include expanded PPP forgiveness, simplified application processes, and changes to tax deductions related to the loans. The program is now accepting applications..
In Michigan, the Small Business Survival Grant Program will support businesses and industries that have been affected by the “gatherings and face mask order” and currently need working capital to support operations after experiencing a decline in revenue. Businesses that have been partially or fully closed as a result of the order and have no more than 100 employees may apply. The grants may only be used to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, and costs related to reopening a business. Applications will open at 9 am Eastern Time, January 19, 2021.
In the U.P., this program will be administered by Invest UP in collaboration with Michigan Works!, the three planning and development regions, and local economic development organizations. A total of $631,750 is expected to be available to Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon county businesses.
Additionally, live music and entertainment venues that have experienced significant financial hardship may be eligible to apply for funding set aside through the Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program. Applications will open at 9 am Eastern Time, January 21, 2021.
Applications and additional details about these programs will be made available on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) COVID-19 Michigan Business Resources page at www.michiganbusiness.org/about-medc/covid19/
For local information and assistance with applications, business owners may contact the following people (during regular business hours) for additional information about eligibility and/or assistance in completing applications:
Baraga County
- Mary Meyers, Lake Superior Community Partnership, (906) 373-9787, mary@marquette.org
Gogebic County
- City of Ironwood and vicinity: Tom Bergman, 906-932-5050 ext. 126, bergmant@cityofironwood.org
- City of Bessemer and vicinity: Charly Loper, (906) 663-4311, charly.loper@bessemermi.org
- City of Wakefield and vicinity: Robert Brown, (906) 229-5131 ext. 1003, citymanager@cityofwakefield.org
- Marenisco and Watersmeet areas: Jerald Wuorenmaa, Western U.P. Planning & Development Region, (906) 482-7205 ext. 111, jwuorenmaa@wuppdr.org
Houghton and Keweenaw Counties
- Jeff Ratcliffe, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, 906-482-6817, jeff@kedabiz.com
Iron County
- Mark Bromley, Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance, (906) 284-3975, mark@iron.org
Ontonagon
- Richard Ernest, Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce, (906) 884-2823, hunter18228@yahoo.com
—
For more information about employer assistance and programs, visit our Employers page.