The Flint & Genesee Small Business Hub Grant Program is an effort of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance to provide grants to small businesses across Genesee County. The program is supported by federal award number SLFRP0127, awarded to the State of Michigan by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

The program will award $210,000 in grants to eligible businesses. Grant recipients will receive $5,000 to $15,000, depending on their size and stage. Grant categories include:

• Start-up – $5,000 – A business that has been in business less than one year
• Micro – $10,000 – A business that has been in business more than a year with fewer than 10 full-time employees
• Small – $15,000 – A business that has been in business more than a year and has 10 or more full-time employees

The grant is open to for-profit businesses owned and operated in Genesee County, Michigan. Click here for a full list of eligibility requirements.

Businesses can use the funds to purchase equipment, inventory, software/hardware, furniture (cost cannot exceed $4,999/unit), specialized consulting services, marketing, and certifications or licensing. Please note that payment of certification or licensing fees must result in the receipt of the corresponding certification or license by Sept. 30, 2025.

All expenses must be new. Expenses made prior to the grant reward are ineligible. Additionally, purchases may not alter the structure of a building.

Click here to create a business profile, select the Flint & Genesee Small Business Hub Grant application, and complete the Letter of Intent (LOI) section to determine initial eligibility. If you meet the criteria, you will receive an invite by email to complete the full application.

You will need to submit the following:

• Detailed of use of funds or proposed budget showing amount requested
• A business plan
• Proof that business is properly registered and in good standing (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, annual report/statement, tax returns, etc.)
• Up to two professional or industry references
• Proof of a business bank account statement will be required by end of program

Online. All applications must be submitted through the online portal, which you can access here. No handwritten applications will be accepted.

Please note that the application process is FREE. Program staff does NOT recommend using a third-party, paid service for assistance to prepare an application. If you have difficulties or have questions about the application, please contact Terance Green at tgreen@flintandgenesee.org or (810) 600-1407.

Applications must be completed by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2024 to be considered.

An external committee of community members and local stakeholders will review your application. Each application will be scored based on established criteria. Grants will be awarded to the applicants with the highest scores.

Grantees will be required to attend four training sessions – two virtual and two in-person –over the course of four weeks. Additionally, they are required to open a business bank account, if they don’t already have one, by the time they complete the trainings. Upon successfully meeting these requirements, grantees will receive their funding via a check issued in the business’s name.

Grant recipients are required to upload all receipts to Grant Lifecycle Manager, the software used to manage this grant program. All funds should be fully spent, and corresponding receipts uploaded, by Sept. 12, 2025. Small Business Support Hub staff will conduct a check-in every two months to maintain compliance and timeline.