SBA Provides New Opportunities for Small Businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration is taking steps with the Paycheck Protection Program to further promote equitable relief for the smallest small businesses. Tuesday, the SBA announced a number of actions to increase equitable access to PPP loans including:

Establishing a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees, starting Wednesday, February 24.
Allowing sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants.

The 14-day exclusivity period will start on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9 a.m., while the other changes will be implemented by the first week of March.

Borrowers can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by downloading:

First Draw PPP loan application or,
Second Draw PPP loan application and working with a participating PPP lender through the
SBA Lender Match tool.

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR COVID-19 RECOVERY

The grant team has selected 48 awardees for the Michigan Small Business Restart Grant. $268,000 from the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act will be disbursed over the next two weeks. There were 96 grant request for a close to $1.6 million. The list of awards will be released by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) sometime in late September.

MECOSTA COUNTY STATISTICS

Amount of funding requested: $1,564,608
Amount to be awarded: $268,908
Number of grant applicants that applied: 96
Number of grants awarded: 48
Number of minority, women or veteran (MWV) owned companies awarded grants: 37
Amount of funding to go to MWV companies: $155,708 (58%)
Range of grant awards: $1,000 to $12,500 ($5,602 average)

Welcome to Mecosta County!

Mecosta County truly is the 'County for Every Season.' There is no better place to work, raise a family, or vacation. The county's prospering rural economy allows our residents to enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere and a high quality of life. The diversified economy of Mecosta County is centered on agriculture, higher education, and a broad range of manufactring specialties which combined produces unparalleled economic stability.
Mecosta County is Pure Michigan

Mecosta County is committed to working as a partner with Travel Michigan's award winning Pure Michigan advertising campaign. Support from a variety of local partners resulted in Mecosta County's participation in the marketing campaign. To learn more about the treasures awaiting to be discovered in Mecosta County, click on the link below to listen to the Mecosta County 'Best Kept Secret' Pure Michigan radio ad! Be sure to visit Michigan's official Travel and Tourism site to learn more about what our great state has to offer.

For local information contact the Mecosta County Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

GRAHAM ELECTED MCDC BOARD CHAIR FOR 2021

At the annual meeting on December 11, 2020, the Mecosta County Development Corporation Board of Directors elected Michele Graham, supervisor for Mecosta Township, to serve as chair for 2021. Board members also elected, Mark Gifford, city manager for Big Rapids as vice chair, Bill Stanek, supervisor of Big Rapids Township as treasurer and Eric Gustad, community affairs director for Consumers Energy will serve as secretary. The board also elected the following to the executive committee: Paul Bullock, Controller/Administrator for Mecosta County, Michelle Rasmussen, Office of the President, Ferris State University, and Bob Fisher, President of Lake Osceola State Bank.

Jim Sandy serves as the President and can be contacted by email at: jsandy@mecostacounty.org

SBA Provides New Opportunities for Small Businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program

Mecosta County is Pure Michigan

GRAHAM ELECTED MCDC BOARD CHAIR FOR 2021