LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) is praising the Monday afternoon signing of bills meant to help with small business relief.
As of Monday, the MLBA says Governor Gretchen Whitmer has approved $409 million in funding for small businesses that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The qualifying hardship required to apply is based on a decline in overall sales compared to the business’ sales in 2019, officials said.
“The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) worked with many parties to get this funding secured,” MLBA Executive Director Scott Ellis Scott Ellis said in a statement. “All the items included in the supplemental were on our list of priorities – including getting liquor license fees, food license fees and property tax money back to businesses that were hindered by the pandemic.”
Applications for the grants will be available beginning March 1, 2022, and will be posted by the Department of Treasury.
Businesses interested in receiving some of that funding will have until April 1, 2022 to apply.
In a press release from the governor’s administration, Governor Whitmer praised the bipartisanship involved in getting the supplemental to her desk. The grant money will make use of federal dollars sent to Michigan by the American Rescue Plan.
“We hope the hard work done here by Governor Whitmer, the legislature and all the business groups involved can provide businesses some respite from their continued struggles,” Ellis said. “The goal was to provide some assistance to the businesses that faced the greatest financial hardships and I believe this funding successfully achieves that objective.”
