Update Center

Thank you for visiting the Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative (PMSBRI) Update Center that launched Dec. 15, 2020. The content on this page is designed to give applicants to the PMSBRI the latest updates available on the administration of the program. For additional information about the program’s creation and terms and eligibility, visit the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) page.

We know these are incredibly difficult times for Michigan’s residents and small businesses. We also know that there are not enough resources appropriated to meet the need of this current crisis. There are 8,020 grant applications. We expect the program’s funds to support approximately 650 grant awards.

As the grant administrator, the Michigan Municipal League Foundation (MMLF) is doing everything we can to quickly process the applications of the PMSBRI.

Based on the MEDC’s criteria, applications are reviewed on a first-in basis by region and then screened for eligibility until funds are exhausted for that region. The review process has three basic steps:

  1. Verify the application meets the initial screening criteria.
  2. Verified applications move to Step 2—where applicants provide documentation showing that they meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) National Objective requirements. Once HUD requirements are satisfied applications move to Step 3.
  3. Step 3 is an award phase where a sub-grant agreement is executed between the applicant and the MMLF followed by disbursement of funds.

Updates

Status update for this week (January 25-29, 2021):

  • All applicants have been notified about their individual status changes.
  • This will be the final weekly status update for this program.

The State of Michigan has recently announced some additional grant programs for which you may be eligible. Please go here to view those.


Status update for this week (January 18-22, 2021):

  • We notify applicants about individual status changes on a rolling basis. By early next week, all applicants should have received an email indicating their specific application status.
  • 672 applications have passed the initial eligibility review and are moving forward in the grant award process. These grants total the allocated $10 million in available funding for this program.
    • 510 of these applicants are in Step 2 of the process – the HUD National Objective Qualifications verification phase.
    • 162 applicants have moved on to Step 3 – the award phase.
  • 61 applicants have moved on to a wait list.
  • 6,588 applicants have been notified that their application is no longer being considered because it was not moved forward under the first-in process.
  • The next status update is scheduled for Friday, January 29.

Week of January 11, 2021 Status Update:

The MEDC received 8,020 grant applications for the PMSBRI. Applicants were able to apply for grants of up to $15,000. With an allocation of $10 million, funding is available for approximately 650 grants. All involved parties regret that the $10 million made available for this relief program is simply not enough to meet the tremendous need created by the COVID-19 crisis.

Based on the MEDC’s criteria, applications are reviewed on a first-in basis by region and then screened for eligibility until funds are exhausted for that region. The review process has three basic steps:

  1. Verify the application meets the initial screening criteria.
  2. Verified applications move to Step 2—where applicants provide documentation showing that they meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) National Objective requirements. Once HUD requirements are satisfied applications move to Step 3.
  3. Step 3 is an award phase where a sub-grant agreement is executed between the applicant and the MMLF followed by disbursement of funds.

Status update for this week (January 11-15, 2021):

  • We notify applicants about individual status changes on a rolling basis. Be on the lookout for emails from the MML Foundation for changes in your specific application status.
  • 502 applications have passed Step 1 in the review process and advanced to Step 2, HUD National Objective verification.
  • 21 applications have passed Step 2 and advanced to Step 3, the award phase
  • The next status update is scheduled for Friday, January 22.

 

In addition, a number of applications have been found ineligible for this grant program. The most frequent reason for ineligibility is that the applicant’s business is not one of the following eligible business types:

  • Restaurant, bars and other food and beverage service providers
  • Travel and tourism destinations, including lodging providers
  • Live event venues
  • Movie theatres
  • Ice skating rinks
  • Conference and meeting facilities
  • Indoor water parks
  • Bowling centers
  • Gyms and fitness centers

Week of January 4, 2021 Status Update:

  • All 8,020 applications are in phase one, the initial screening process.
  • By January 8, 2021, we expect 400 applicants to advance to phase two of the application process. This step is meant to verify the applicant’s statements regarding Housing and Urban Development (HUD) National Objective eligibility.
  • The next status update is scheduled for the week of January 11, 2021.

Week of December 21, 2020 Status Update:

  • Initial application screening is currently underway for submitted applications.
  • Next status update is scheduled for the week of January 4, 2020 and we expect it to include: 
    • Number of applications, to date, that have passed initial application screening