Bay City now accepting applications for small business pandemic relief grant program

BAY CITY, MI – A new grant program aimed at giving Bay City’s small businesses a boost with American Rescue Plan Act funding is now accepting applications.

The commission approved a resolution on Dec. 20, 2021 that put aside $300,000 out of Bay City’s total $31,076,578 ARPA funding pool to create a grant program to provide for small businesses that are struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program will be administered by the city’s economic development staff with assistance from the city’s fiscal services director, Bay Future, Inc., and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

The city opened up the application process for interested business owners on Monday, Jan 10. Applications can either be submitted online or in-person at Bay City Hall at 301 Washington Avenue. Paper copies of the application are available at city hall and a printable version can be found here. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21.

This program is geared towards helping businesses with less than 20 employees with COVID-19 related expenses, according to the city. The city released guidelines for the program on Jan. 10 stating that the program will allow for grants up to $5,000 for businesses with 1-10 employees and up to $10,000 for businesses with 11-20 employees.

Another grant program is currently in the works for Bay City. The Bay City Commission also unanimously approved a resolution that allowed for the creation of a mortgage, rent and utility grant program during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan 4. The grant program allocates a $1 million portion of the city’s ARPA funding to assist residents that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines and the application process for this program have not currently been released by the city at this time.

More from MLive:

‘If they’re not getting help, they’re closing’: Bay City approves small business pandemic support program

Bay City approves $1 million grant program to support residents using ARPA funds

Bay City Commission breaking into subcommittees to discuss how to spend $31M in COVID-19 relief funding

Bay City approves funding ‘immediate needs’ with portion of American Rescue Plan Act dollars