Match on Main | MiPlace

Match on Main Program Highlights

Match on Main is a reimbursement grant program that serves to support new or expanding place-based businesses by providing up to $25,000 in funding to support eligible activities.
Applicants are local units of government, DDA, or other management districts located in essentials or certified Redevelopment Ready Communities® or select or master Michigan Main Street Communities.
The applicant will determine which business within their district is selected for inclusion in the final application for support. Applicants are responsible for dispersing funds to businesses.
The maximum award to any individual applicant is $25,000 (enough to support only 1 eligible business). Applicants may submit no more than 2 applications per funding round.

Program Description

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.

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.

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.

Program Goals

Match on Main strives to:

Support the creation and growth of businesses located in select or master Michigan Main Street districts or essentials or certified Redevelopment Ready Communities® across the state
Provide access to capital for place-based businesses, create and retain jobs, leverage private investment, and activate vacant or underutilized space
Provide eligible communities with a business recruitment and retention tool as they work to grow and support their local entrepreneurial ecosystem

How the Match on Main Program Works

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.

Funding Rounds & Deadlines

The MEDC will accept applications from select and master level Michigan Main Street communities and/or communities that are essentials or certified in the Redevelopment Ready Communities® program in conjunction with an eligible business. Please review Appendix F: Timeline for the funding round deadlines and important dates.

For more information, applicants are encouraged to contact their Michigan Main Street Director or Community Development Manager.

Important Resources

Once the program is announced, this section will be updated with the following information:

Match on Main Informational Webinars

Need additional information? The MEDC's Small Business Services Team will be hosting webinars the following dates and times. To sign up, please click the date(s) below.

Previous Match on Main Grant Awardees

If you are looking for information regarding how to submit your Grant Disbursement Request for the FY '22 Spring Match on Main Funding Round, please reference the Grant Disbursement Request video below.

Watch this video to help you through the Match on Main grant disbursement request process.