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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*?

April 7, 2023?

Contact: [email protected] ?

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*Gov. Whitmer Announces Support for 28 Small Businesses on Main Streets, in Downtowns Across Michigan*?

"?Match on Main grants will create 70 full-time and 144 part-time jobs"?

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*LANSING, Mich. ?* Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that twenty-eight communities around Michigan have been awarded a total of $697,325 in grants aimed at supporting small local businesses to create resiliency and strengthen downtowns. The grants are expected to create 70 full-time jobs and 144 part-time jobs, and the projects are expected to generate a total private investment of more than $2.6 million.?

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?Michigan?s small businesses define our downtowns, and with today?s Match on Main grants, we are supporting small businesses in both peninsulas,? said *Governor Whitmer*. ?Together, we are going to make communities across Michigan more attractive places for families to live and work and for businesses to grow and invest. Let?s keep our foot on the accelerator as we grow our economy, support good-paying jobs, and build thriving towns across Michigan??

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The Match on Main program provides funding to communities that participate as a select and master level community in the Michigan Main Street program or are considered an Essentials or Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. The communities, who receive the grant funding from the MEDC, in turn award grants of up to $25,000 to eligible businesses seeking support. ?

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?Thriving small businesses are the cornerstone of what makes Michigan?s downtowns unique and authentic while helping to create economic opportunity across the state,? said MEDC Senior Vice President of Small Business Services *Amy Rencher*. ?These Match on Main grants will help local businesses find new paths to growth and create and retain jobs, while further developing vibrant, unique, and attractive places where people want to live, work, and play.??

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Grants may be used by the business for eligible expenses that support technical assistance, interior building renovations, permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, permanent or semi-permanent business infrastructure, and other working capital needs such as marketing needs and inventory expenses. Additional needs identified by the business and supported by the local community are also considered. ?

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In Rogers City, the city awarded a $25,000 grant to L Rose Studio of Dance, which will use the funds to create a new dance studio in downtown Rogers City. The owner is a Rogers City native and currently a student at Northwood University looking to give back to her hometown.?

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?I am so excited to share my passion for dance with our community through the launch of L Rose Studio of Dance in downtown Rogers City,? said *Linnea Hentkowski*, owner of L Rose Studio of Dance. ?The award of the Match on Main Grant will provide the funds needed to create a bright, newly constructed dance studio where dancers will explore their own talents and passion for dance in an energetic and loving environment.??

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Downtown Lansing Inc. awarded a $25,000 Match on Main grant to Mr. Leslie?s Cheesecakes, a dessert maker currently based in the Allen Neighborhood Center?s incubator kitchen. The funds will be used to purchase kitchen equipment and open a retail location for the expanding cheesecake business, which currently wholesales their products in grocery stores around Michigan.?

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?We are so happy that Mr. Leslie's Cheesecakes has been offered this opportunity,? said *Marcus Leslie,* owner of Mr. Leslie?s Cheesecakes. ?We look forward to spreading our happiness through cheesecakes within the Lansing Community. This grant will assist our company with growing to the next phase which includes purchasing much needed equipment and to assist other entrepreneurs and youth in their journey to build businesses.??

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April 2023 Match on Main grant winners:?

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*Applicant Entity?* *Community* *Legal Name of Business* *? Grant Request* *Project Scope/High Level Summary*

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*Prosperity Region 1* ? ? ? ? Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Authority? Sault Ste. Marie Main Street? Bird's Eye Outfitters, LLC? ?$25,000?

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Creation of a year-round outdoor dining area; grant funds will be used for construction and purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment?

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City of Houghton? City of Houghton? Cibo, Inc. ?$25,000?

Conversion of outdoor vacant space into a vibrant outdoor dining area in downtown Houghton?

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Marquette Downtown Development Authority? City of Marquette? Velodrome Coffee Company LLC? ?$25,000

Equipment and interior building improvements to support the business' move to another location; creation of a rain garden/composting area for customers?

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City of Hancock? City of Hancock Nisu Bakery & Cafe LLC ?$25,000? Conversion of outdoor vacant space into a vibrant outdoor dining area in downtown Houghton? ? ? ? ? ?

*Prosperity Region 2* ? ? ? ? City of Petoskey? City of Petoskey? Grandpa Shorter's Gifts, Inc ?$25,000

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Purchase of arcade games and candy inventory for a unique candy store opening in downtown Petoskey by an experienced entrepreneur?

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City of Cadillac? City of Cadillac? Lake Cadillac Party Store? ?$25,000

Ice cream store interior/exterior renovations and purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment?

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*Prosperity Region 3* ? ? ? ? City of Alpena Downtown Development Authority? City of Alpena Rusty Petunias, LLC? ?$25,000?

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Activation of a second story retail space?

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City of Rogers City? City of Rogers City? Linnea R. Hentkowski? ?$25,000

Interior building renovations necessary to open a new dance studio in downtown Rogers City?

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Downtown Development Authority/Grayling Main Street? Grayling Main Street? Spike's Keg O'Nails? ?$25,000

Installation of a concrete slab to allow the restaurant to create a new outdoor patio?

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City of Cheboygan Downtown Development Authority? Cheboygan Salon Beau Est Beau, LLC? ?$25,000

Interior building improvements and purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the salon?

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*Prosperity Region 4* ? ? ? ? City of Allegan? City of Allegan? A-Tech Complete Computer Solutions? ?$25,000

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Interior building improvements to allow the computer repair and sales business to expand into an adjacent storefront?

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Uptown Grand Rapids, Inc.? Uptown Grand Rapids Riverside Guitar School LLC? ?$25,000

Interior building improvements that will allow for additional classroom space for the growing guitar school?

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City of Newaygo? City of Newaygo? River Stop L.L.C.? ?$22,325

Activation of the lower level of the restaurant space to create a unique dining experience in downtown Newaygo?

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City of Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority? Downtown Grand Rapids? ?Fashion Has Heart? ?$25,000

Purchase of coffee equipment for a veteran-managed coffee shop in downtown Grand Rapids?

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Hart Economic and Redevelopment Team City of Hart? Pink Elephant Diner Inc. ?$25,000

Interior and exterior building improvements to allow the diner to expand into an adjoining space?

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Grand Haven Main Street? - Downtown Development Authority?

City of Grand Haven/Grand Haven Main Street DDA? Papa Zeke?s LLC (dba as Lucky Bucket)? ?$25,000?

Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the new restaurant opening in downtown Grand Haven?

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*Prosperity**?Region 5?* ? ? ? ? Saginaw Downtown Development Authority? Saginaw Downtown Development Authority? State Street Grill LTD? ?$25,000?

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Cream and Sugar's second location (first in downtown Saginaw); grant funds will support interior building renovations?

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Middle Michigan Development Corporation ?City of Harrison? Longer Table, LLC? ?$25,000?

Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment for interior restaurant space and outdoor dining equipment?

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*Prosperity Region 6* ? ? ? ? City of Laingsburg The City of Laingsburg and the Downtown Development Authority Cinders Grill LLC Event? ?& Banquet Center? ?$25,000

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Purchase of restaurant fire suppression system as well as furniture, fixtures and equipment?

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Lapeer Downtown Development Authority? Lapeer? JD Kin Thai LLC ?$25,000

Support kitchen and interior restaurant build out for the Thai restaurant opening a second location (first in Lapeer)?

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*Prosperity Region 7* ? ? ? ? Downtown Lansing Inc.? Downtown Lansing Inc.? Mr. Leslie's Cheesecakes ?$25,000

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Purchase of cheesecake equipment for this downtown business that expanded in 2020 from direct sell-to-customer to wholesale for area grocers?

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*Prosperity Region 8* ? ? ? ? Albion Economic? Development? Corporation Albion Economic? Development? Corporation Kids -N- Stuff: An Interactive Experience? ?$25,000

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Support interior building improvements to enhance entryway and visitor experience (guest service area)? for this children's museum?

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Downtown Development Authority of the City of South Haven? The City of South Haven Downtown Development Authority? Oh My Darlings ?$25,000

Support interior building improvements to enhance entryway and visitor experience (guest service area)? for this children's museum?

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City of Niles dba Niles Downtown Development Authority? City of Niles dba Niles DDA Main Street? Goodship Inc.? ?$25,000

Interior building improvements that will allow this guitar strap manufacturer to create a "flagship" location in downtown Niles?

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Village of Cassopolis Village of Cassopolis Ploughman's Market and Deli, LLC ?$25,000

Outdoor dining area and interior building renovations to enable the new restaurant to open its doors?

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*Prosperity Region 9* ? ? ? ? Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority? City of Ypsilanti? Bird Dog Baking Co LLC ?$25,000

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Interior building improvements that will allow the new bakery/coffee shop in downtown Ypsilanti to open (currently only offering wholesale products)?

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City of Tecumseh? City of Tecumseh Sunset Ridge BBQ, LLC ?$25,000

Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the new BBQ restaurant in downtown Tecumseh?

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*Prosperity Region 10* ? ? ? ? City of Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority? City of Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority? Magri LLC ?$25,000

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Interior building improvements to enhance customer experience at the salon?

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*TOTAL* *28* ? *$697,325* ?

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The focus of Match on Main is to support place-based businesses as they seek to launch and grow on main street. For more information about the program, visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ].?

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In December 2022, MEDC announced that 35 communities around Michigan were awarded a total of $807,673 in grants aimed at supporting small local businesses to create resiliency and strengthen downtowns around Michigan. A total of 20 small businesses around Michigan received assistance through the program.?

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Michigan?s small businesses are a vital part of the state?s economy, employing more than 1.8 million people. Helping businesses to open and grow is a key focus of MEDC, and the Match on Main Street program is one of MEDC?s tools that provides opportunities for new and expanding businesses located in Main Street districts to grow and succeed. For more information on the program, visit here. To learn more about MEDC?s services for Michigan businesses, visit here.?

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