What’s happening: A new partnership between Main Street Oakland County and MSU Federal Credit Union is bearing fruit by way of a new grant opportunity for small businesses located in the downtowns of a select group of communities. Up to $2,500 in technology and digital support is available to eligible small businesses applying to the program.
What it is: The Main Street Connected Grant Program awards eligible businesses up to $2,500 in technology and digital support toward a list of projects that include the development or use of data analytics software; payment processing software or equipment purchases, including Point of Sale (POS); website creation and e-commerce support; social media or digital marketing costs; cybersecurity and data protection; customer relationship management (CRM) costs; project or inventory management software costs; or creation or implementation of pop-up operations or public markets. Applicants must provide one-for-one matching dollars to receive the grant.
Who’s eligible: “Qualifying businesses include startups and businesses that have been open less than a decade and are located within MSOC communities where MSUFCU operates. These are Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Clarkston, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Ortonville, Pontiac, Rochester, Royal Oak, Southfield and Wixom," reads a release from Oakland County. "Pop-up businesses that have operated consistently for at least six months within these districts are also eligible.”
Why it’s important: “Private sector partnerships such as this one with MSU Federal Credit Union are vital to Main Street Oakland County and the thousands of local entrepreneurs represented in Oakland County's designated Main Street Communities,” says John Bry, MSOC program coordinator. “Technology continues to shape how we buy and interact with local businesses, and we are thrilled this new grant program will assist local entrepreneurs and downtown management organizations to remain competitive in the ever-changing world of online shopping and digital marketing.”
When it is: The application window is officially open for the first round of the Main Street Connected Grant Program; the deadline to apply is Sunday, Aug. 4. A second application window is expected to open sometime later this fall.
Visit Main Street Oakland County online to learn more about the application process.
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