The City of Lansing today announced the businesses awarded a $10,000 COVID-19 Rescue Fund Grant during phase one of the City of Lansing’s Small Business Recovery Program. The City of Lansing and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) created the fund as an emergency resource to provide immediate help to City of Lansing small businesses in danger of going out of business as a result of the pandemic.  

Small businesses awarded include: 

“I am pleased with quick turnaround of awarding these important dollars to Lansing’s small businesses in need of our support,” said Mayor Schor. “While we are making a substantial investment in Lansing’s business community, we fully recognize it is not nearly enough to address the funding needs of our small businesses. I am committed to continuing to help our local businesses as they navigate the immediate and long-term challenges created by the Coronavirus crisis. The City of Lansing will announce details of additional phases of our Small Business Recovery Program soon.”  

The City of Lansing and the LEDC are working diligently to find creative ways to further support Lansing’s small businesses during this unprecedented time. There will be additional phases of the Lansing Small Business Recovery Program moving forward. Phase two will entail another round of grants using the balance of the remaining COVID-19 Rescue Fund dollars. Phase three will direct a portion of the City of Lansing’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allotment to further support eligible small businesses in the city to respond to economic disruption caused by the pandemic. Details about these phases will be provided as available in the coming weeks. 

"The LEDC is proud to play a part in supporting small businesses during this unprecedented time by offering some much-needed working capital,” said Calvin Jones, LEDC Board Chair. “Our small businesses are what make the city unique, and the LEDC will continue our economic development efforts in response to COVID-19, which have a focus on connecting small businesses with assistance as it becomes available." 

Small businesses are encouraged to return to www.lansingmi.gov/smallbusiness for updates regarding future phases of the Lansing Small Business Recovery Program, as well as links to other potential funding sources and support.