$150K in grants awarded to 15 Flint small businesses by GM, Flint chamber

FLINT, MI – General Motors and the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce have awarded $150,000 to 15 small businesses in Flint as part of the Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program.

More than 80 local businesses applied for the grants that were announced back in Dec. of 2020. The applications were evaluated by a panel consisting of representatives from GM, the Flint & Genesee Chamber, the city of Flint, local grant-making organizations, community organizations, as well as a past recipient of the grant.

“We’re thrilled to extend our support of this innovative program into a second year,” said Terry Rhadigan, GM’s executive director of corporate giving. “The Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program is successful because it helps small businesses build resilience and create inclusive and sustainable solutions to common problems.”

Grants were awarded on a competitive basis and the program was open to any small business owner within the city of Flint.

The Moving Flint Forward grants must be used to support existing operations, such as financing expansion plans, repairs and improvements, purchasing inventory and equipment.

Assistance will be provided to assist with the implementation and tracking of grant activities to ensure requirements are met and businesses are using funds appropriately. Recipients will also be connected to resources to help aid the capacity of their businesses beyond the grant period.

Recipients will also have access to networking opportunities and workshops on numerous topics such as leadership, online digitization of services and goods, and workers’ compensation and labor laws.

The recipients consist of a range of businesses including a hardware store, fitness facility, computer repair shop, a custom jewelry boutique, a bookstore, an online retailer, childcare facilities, restaurants, and personal and professional services.

Twelve of the 15 grantees are minority-owned enterprises. To help address racial disparities in the community, GM had earmarked at least 10 of the grants for minority-owned businesses.

The grant recipients are:

It is the second time the GM-funded initiative has awarded these grants, which support revitalization efforts across the Flint’s neighborhoods by empowering local businesses. In 2019, 15 different small businesses in Flint were awarded $150,000 from the grant program.

“From the capital investments in its automotive operations here to its corporate philanthropy that greatly impacts the lives of our residents and institutions, GM continues to be an invaluable corporate citizen and partner in our region’s progress,” said Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Moving Flint Forward Small Business Grant Program, visit: FlintandGenesee.org/Moving-Flint-Forward.

Read more on MLive:

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Genesee chamber and GM partner to give additional $210,000 to Flint small businesses

Flint chamber hosting virtual diversity and inclusion workshop for business, organizational leaders

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