Grow Your Business.
Restore Our History.
Build Our Community.
Downtown Adrian’s prestigious Master Level Main Street designation—the absolute highest tier in the state program—and partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) unlock exclusive state funding, matching grants, and tax incentives.
Whether you are a small business looking to expand, a property owner planning a historic building restoration, or a community group activating a public space, there is a program designed to support your vision.
Grants for Small Businesses & Merchants
Match on Main
Overview: A reimbursement grant program that supports new or expanding place-based businesses by helping them cover crucial startup or growth costs. Grant Amount: Up to $25,000 per eligible business. Local Match: Requires a minimum 10% cash match from the business owner. Eligible Expenses: Launch inventory, point-of-sale (POS) systems, interior design and merchandising, specialized business equipment, or marketing campaigns. How to Apply: The Adrian DDA acts as the official applicant and can submit up to two local business applications per state funding round.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Overview: Administered jointly by the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), this program rewards developers who successfully rehabilitate certified historic buildings. What It Offers: Federal income tax credits calculated as a percentage of qualified rehabilitation expenditures, helping offset the premium cost of preserving historic brick, original glass, and masonry.
Adrian Small Business Resources
Launch Lenawee
What It Is: The ultimate launchpad for new and emerging businesses. This program takes you from a raw business concept to a sustainable, physical brick-and-mortar storefront. Launch Lenawee Mentorship Program What It Is: Running a business doesn't mean going it alone. This program pairs local entrepreneurs directly with seasoned business leaders, financial specialists, and operations experts who provide free, confidential counseling. Ongoing Guidance: Mentors work with you to solve real-time business challenges, audit your operations, optimize your inventory, and build sustainable pathways for long-term commercial growth. Access the Mentorship: Connect with a dedicated mentor to guide your startup or scale your existing business at Launch Lenawee Mentorship Program.
Lenawee Now
What They Do: As the county's premier public-private economic development partnership, Lenawee Now acts as a powerful accelerator for small businesses, coordinating site selection, multi-tier funding, workforce recruitment, and succession planning. The Small Business Support Hub (SBSH) & Direct Grants: Tap into resources funded by a major $1.4 million regional hub grant. This program offers eligible downtown small businesses access to direct technical assistance grants (drawing from a $400,000 funding pool) to cover professional services (like accounting, website design, and legal counseling) and provides dedicated business coaching through the SBDC Fellows Program to make your business completely "lending-ready." Lean Rocket Local: Participate in a high-impact startup training program powered by Lean Rocket Lab and American 1 Credit Union. This curriculum covers critical business processes, marketing strategies, and financial modeling. oom Prospector (Site Selection): Ready to expand or find a physical storefront downtown? Utilize the integrated Zoom Prospector tool (in partnership with Ann Arbor SPARK) to search a comprehensive, real-time GIS database of available commercial storefronts, offices, and development sites across the Adrian district. The RedTire succession Program: Planning to retire or transition out of your business? RedTire is a free business succession matchmaking program that connects retiring local business owners with qualified entrepreneurs, preserving local jobs and preventing vacant storefronts. Learn More & Get Started: Explore active grant applications, property databases, and consulting requests at Lenawee Now Small Business Services.
Greater Lenawee Chamber of Commerce
What It Is: The county-wide business advocacy, networking, and commercial support association designed to help businesses of all sizes connect, grow, and succeed. Leadership Lenawee: A premier professional development program designed to cultivate, connect, and prepare local professionals for civic, community, and business leadership roles. Participants build invaluable regional networks while studying local government, economic development, and community systems. Learn more and apply at Leadership Lenawee. The Breakfast Club: Join fellow business owners and professionals for the Chamber's signature morning networking event. Exchange referrals, hear from insightful guest speakers, and stay updated on local business trends over breakfast. Register for the next session at Breakfast Club. The Summit Series: Access high-impact, educational summits and workshop events designed to tackle pressing modern business challenges, from workforce retention strategies to technology integration. Learn more at Summit Series. Chamber Membership Plans & Pricing: Join a community of hundreds of local businesses. Access chamber benefits, member-to-member discounts, legislative advocacy, and custom marketing packages by exploring membership tiers at Chamber Plans & Pricing.
Align Workforce Development Center
What They Do: Align serves as the regional hub bridging the gap between educational programs, professional career training, and local commercial needs. Like Launch Lenawee, the Align Center also has space businesses can rent for a variety of uses. Key Services to Access: Connecting with skilled, local talent pipelines. Upskilling Courses that highlight the help local businesses keep up to date on the latest skills and area resources.
City of Adrian Resources
City of Adrian Building and Planning Department
What They Do: The regulatory office manages physical zoning codes, construction permits, sign licensing, and health ordinances.
Key Services to Access:
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Streamlined Permitting: Navigating local commercial building permits and occupancy licenses.
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Outdoor Dining & Sidewalk Sales: Accessing clear design guidelines for setting up seasonal outdoor seating barriers, parklets, and sidewalk displays.