Match on Main 2024

Program Description

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Match on Main is a reimbursement grant program, provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, that serves as a tool to support new or expanding place-based businesses by providing up to $25,000 in funding to support an eligible small business through an application submitted, administered, and managed by the local unit of government, downtown development authority, or other downtown management or community development organization where the business is located.

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The MEDC finds value in supporting place-based businesses located in Redevelopment Ready Communities® and Michigan Main Street districts, given the local capacity that has been built to support new and existing small businesses through the technical assistance, training, and education communities gain by participating in these programs. The grant applicant –which is the local entity applying on behalf of the small business seeking grant support – must represent a community that is a essentials or certified Redevelopment Ready Community® or is a select or master level Michigan Main Street Community.

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The focus of Match on Main is to support place-based businesses as they seek to launch and grow on main street. Small businesses are the cornerstone of what makes Michigan’s downtowns unique and authentic. This program aligns with the MEDC’s strategic focus areas, including the continued effort toward developing attractive places.

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How the Match on Main Program Works

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The Match on Main program provides grant funding to support an eligible small business desiring to launch or grow on main street by providing up to $25,000 in funding, reimbursed for eligible activities. The program is administered and managed by the local unit of government, downtown development authority, or other downtown management or community development organization who serves as the “eligible applicant”. The eligible applicant will select one eligible business, per application, located in their traditional downtown or other eligible business district to include for support – with a maximum of two applications submitted per funding round.

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Deadline and Qualifications

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Applications must be submitted to the Main Street Executive Director by 5 pm on Friday April 12, 2024. Please email the completed application to jmarks@adrianmi.gov.

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An Eligible Business must:

• Be located within the boundaries of the community the Eligible Applicant serves.

• Be located within a traditional downtown, historic neighborhood commercial corridor, or area planned and zoned for concentrated commercial development that contributes to a dense mixed-use area with multi-story elements

• Sell products and/or services face to face AND have a permanent physical location within a traditional downtown, historic neighborhood commercial corridor, or area planned and zoned for concentrated commercial development (Ex. The business has a storefront location downtown.)

• Have, or be in the process of obtaining, control over the site for which they are applying prior to Match on Main application.

• Be operating as a for profit or non-profit o Be headquartered in Michigan.

• Be able to meet the ten percent (10%) cash match required as part of this program.

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Program funds may be used for expenses related to technical assistance, interior building renovation, permanent or semi-permanent activation of outdoor space, or for general marketing, technology, operational changes, or inventory expenses related to retail goods.

• Examples of eligible expenses include:  

  • Expenses for technical assistance items for design and layout of interior or exterior space, such as conceptual renderings of the interior or exterior floor plan, merchandise layout, other interior or exterior design concepts, and construction drawings, plans or specifications for interior or exterior space activation.

  • Expenses for interior building renovation items, including rehabilitation of floors, walls, ceiling, rooms, electrical improvements, lighting and lighting fixtures, furniture and display renovations, installation of permanent kitchen or other equipment, and/or fire suppression or other code compliance items.

  • Expenses for permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, including a dining area, beer garden, or other place-based outdoor activation. Exterior signage, doors and windows may be permitted as an eligible expense if part of a larger outdoor space activation project.

  • Expenses for general marketing, technology to assist in connecting with customers (example: website upgrades or e-Commerce integration), operational changes (example: shifting from dine in to carry out), the purchase of a point-of-sale system, or inventory expenses for retail goods.

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Ineligible Expenses are exterior improvements that could be considered as general maintenance, repairs, landscaping; or other non-place-based outdoor activation; employee wages, salaries or benefits; rent, mortgage, land contract or building or land lease payments, utilities; leases for equipment, vehicle leases, vehicle payments; taxes, interest or insurance; professional fees; federal, state, or local application, licensing, permit or similar fees; bank or other lender financing, interest; inspection fees or costs; credit card processing fees; property acquisition; projects on residential property.

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