LANSING – Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on Tuesday that thirty-five communities around Michigan have been awarded a total of $807,673 in grants as part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Match on Main grant program. Three of these communities and supported businesses are located in the Upper Peninsula; three grants worth $25,000 each were awarded to Great Northern Title & Abstract of Marquette, Red Jacket Enterprises of Hancock, and Prim Aesthetics of Sault Ste. Marie.
Whitmer said in a statement that “Michigan’s small businesses and traditional downtowns are the heart of our communities, and with today’s Match on Main grants, we are helping small businesses in both peninsulas grow while further developing unique and inviting places that attract talent and new investment.”
MEDC’s Match on Main program provides funding to communities that participate as a select and master level community in the Michigan Main Street program or are considered an Essentials or Certified Redevelopment Ready Community. The communities, who receive the grant funding from the MEDC, in turn award grants of up to $25,000 to eligible businesses seeking support. The Downtown Development Authorities of Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie, as well as the City of Hancock, were responsible for the grants in the Upper Peninsula. The grants are expected to create or retain 296 full-time jobs around the state.
Jill Schwenke, one of the Great Northern Title & Abstract’s co-owners, told WZMQ 19 “We just purchased the building we’re in back in November. We were planning on doing renovation of our main floor…it was perfect timing.” Schwenke went on to say “We’re extremely grateful to be awarded this grant because it will allow us to be able to complete our project as we envision it.”
