The Best Business Grants in Michigan

FHLBank Indianapolis

Small businesses are the foundations of our communities, and together with our members, we want to help them thrive with the FHLBank Indianapolis Elevate grant.

We believe that strong small businesses generate more economic opportunities for everyone. With an Elevate grant, our members can help their small business customers expand or train new or retain existing workers.

Small businesses throughout Indiana and Michigan have used Elevate to help fund training and professional development opportunities, technological enhancements, new or upgraded equipment and more.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$20,000

Hatch Detroit

The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown awards a $100,000 grand prize cash grant plus a package of in-kind services to one independent retail entrepreneur to help open a brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park. Administered by TechTown Detroit and sponsored by Comerica Bank, the contest is built around the concept of "crowd entrepreneurship," giving Detroit residents an active role in the city's redevelopment by voting for their favorite finalists in successive elimination rounds. The application process narrows applicants down from the full pool to a Top 25, Top 10, and Top 4, with public voting playing a major role in determining the eventual winner during a live "Hatch Off" event. The contest is focused exclusively on independent brick-and-mortar retail concepts, including stores, bars, restaurants, studios, gyms, and other retail-driven businesses, and is intended to revitalize commercial corridors, activate vacant spaces, and spur further community investment. Food trucks and franchise stores are not eligible, though social enterprises and L3Cs may apply if they have a strong retail component. Beyond the grand prize, finalists gain significant visibility with thousands of potential customers and funders, plus access to the Hatch Detroit alumni network, which provides ongoing technical support and additional spot grant funding opportunities.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

Motor City Match

The Motor City Match Cash Track provides Detroit-based businesses with gap funding grants of up to $100,000 to help close a project's financing gap and open a new brick-and-mortar location to the public. Administered by Motor City Match, the Cash Track is open to both new businesses opening their first Detroit location and existing businesses opening an additional Detroit location, with the average grant award totaling $50,000. Grants are need-based and are designed to fill the funding gap remaining after applicants have secured other capital, with the award typically not exceeding 50% of total project costs and requiring at least 10% owner equity. In addition to grant funding, the program supports applicants with financial planning and project management assistance, lender networking events that connect businesses to community lending partners, and facilitated introductions to help applicants close any remaining loan financing they may need. Awardees that open are also promoted through Motor City Match, DEGC, and Detroit Means Business channels, providing additional publicity for the business. Businesses already open and expanding within their current space are not eligible to apply.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

Olga Loizon Foundation

A pioneer for women in business, Olga Loizon persevered through every obstacle to create one of metro Detroit’s most iconic restaurant concepts, Olga’s Kitchen. In honor of Olga Loizon and her legacy, TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants and Olga’s Kitchen have founded the Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation. The foundation focuses on entrepreneurial women who would be unable to attain the resources necessary to start a business or otherwise continue with their business development.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to women-owned businesses in Michigan.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

MI Economic Development Corporation

The Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) is available to eligible businesses that create qualified new jobs and/or make qualified new investment in Michigan. “Qualified new job” means a new, full-time job performed by an individual who is either: a resident of this state whose Michigan income taxes are withheld by an employer; or an employee leasing company or professional employer organization on behalf of the employer or an individual who is not a resident of Michigan and is employed by a business at a project location that is located in this state, provided that the business certifies in writing at the time of the MSF disbursement that not less than 75 percent of the employees of that business are residents of Michigan. In both cases, the qualified new job must be in excess of the number of jobs maintained by the qualified business prior to the expansion or location as determined by the MSF.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$2,000,000

MI Economic Development Corporation

Match on Main is a reimbursement grant program provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). It supports new or expanding place-based businesses by offering up to $25,000 in funding through an application submitted, administered, and managed by the local unit of government, downtown development authority, or other downtown management or community development organization where the business is located.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$25,000

MI Economic Development Corporation

MEDC’s Industry 4.0 Technology Implementation Grant program will provide 50% reimbursement for qualifying I4.0 technology costs up to $25,000 for eligible Michigan manufacturers.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$25,000

Michigan OSHA

The MIOSHA Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) Grant awards Michigan employers a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000 to purchase safety and health-related equipment and equipment-related training. Administered by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) under the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the program is designed to create safer, healthier workplaces and reduce the risk of injury and illness to Michigan workers. Eligible expenses include equipment such as eyewash stations, fall protection systems, machine guarding, lockout/tagout systems, noise monitoring equipment, and lifting equipment for small nursing care facilities, along with related training on the use of that equipment. To qualify, employers must have 250 or fewer employees company-wide, fall under MIOSHA jurisdiction, complete a site-specific evaluation justifying the equipment purchase, and demonstrate the knowledge and commitment to fully implement the project. The grant period begins annually on October 1, with awards made on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. The program operates on a reimbursement basis, and grants are limited to one award per company. Preference is given to employers in high-hazard industries identified in the current MIOSHA Strategic Plan and to applications aligned with current MIOSHA emphasis programs.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$5,000

Northern Initiatives

The Business Equity Initiative Fund assists women business owners, particularly low- to moderate-income people, with access to capital and funding support not available through traditional loans.

We seek to develop and support entrepreneurship and expand the capacity of these businesses in Muskegon County and in alignment with the Community Foundation of Muskegon County’s strategic objective of fostering a dynamic local economy.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$5,000

Detroit Regional Chamber

The NeighborHUB Grant Program supports small business expansion in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. Businesses can get up to $15,000 to put toward a business project that improves their neighborhood or community. To qualify, businesses need to have been in operation for at least one year, have fewer than 25 employees, and have less than $500,000 gross revenue in the past year.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$15,000

City of Detroit

The Detroit Legacy Business Project provides financial and technical assistance to small businesses that have operated continuously in Detroit for 30 or more years and have meaningfully contributed to the city's cultural identity through their products, services, and community engagement. Administered by the City of Detroit in partnership with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the program offers tiered grant funding designed to help longstanding businesses make capital improvements, modernize operations, and remain rooted in their neighborhoods. Awards include $50,000 citywide grants, $15,000 district grants (with two awarded in each of Detroit's seven City Council districts per round), and microgrants of $2,500 and $5,000 disbursed at staff discretion to cover smaller projects with a streamlined application process. Grant funds may be used for product inventory, equipment and machinery, furniture and fixtures, software subscriptions, building repairs and renovations, façade and exterior beautification, and professional services such as branding, marketing, financial, legal, and architectural support. Eligible applicants must be independently owned and operated, headquartered in Detroit, open to the public, and able to document at least 30 years of continuous operation in the city.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$50,000

Michigan LEO

The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund) makes awards to Michigan employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

Midland Business Alliance

The Midland Business Alliance has launched a new grant program to help small businesses in Midland County. Eligible businesses can receive $2,000 to $10,000 which can be spent on technology transformation, business process optimization, and upgrades to financial and marketing systems. To qualify, businesses must be headquartered in Midland County, employ 25 or fewer employees, demonstrate a need for capacity-building assistance and commit to the required cost share.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000