Wayne County Pulls Commitment Of $32M For New Small Business Fund

credit: Wikipedia

Michigan's Wayne County was supposed to pump $32 million into a fund that would help small businesses in areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, it has pulled the plug, the Detroit Free Press reports.

"I mean, this is a $32 million infusion to underserved small businesses throughout the county," saysafa Dinaro, executive director of the New Economy Initiative, a philanthropic group that partnered with the county to create the Wayne County Small Business Hub.

"I really want to see the county continue to be committed to small businesses, especially in those BIPOC communities and those underserved communities."

Wayne County says it pulled the plug on the fund because of a leadership change and other factors.

The county had promised to use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to help small businesses affected by the H1N1 virus, and Dinaro says she's "incredibly disappointed."

The $22 million fund, which was announced in June, was supposed to help small businesses in Inkster, River Rouge, Ecorse, and Romulus.

It still has support from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Ford Foundation, Hudson-Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, the Kresge Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., and William Davidson Foundation.

Read the Entire Article

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Glacier Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank Award $190K to Montana Nonprofits
Foundation: Whitefish Community Foundation

"Through our collective efforts, we're not just providing financial support, but we're investing in Montana's vitality and resilience." That from Mike Smith, president of Glacier Bank, which...more

Starting with Place

If you're looking for a way to boost your community's sense of place, researchers at Gustavson University in Sweden have just the thing. They've developed a set of five principles that community...more

Entrepreneur Seri Roth to Launch an Online Directory and Community for Lgbtq+ Businesses

Seri Roth is an entrepreneur "with a passion for empowering communities and fostering positive change," according to her website. She's just launched Boston Queers, an online directory and...more

International Storytelling Center Names New Executive Director

The new president of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tenn., says he'll bring a "keen appreciation for the arts and Appalachian history" to the job, the Knoxville News Sentinel...more

10+ Can'T-Miss Houston Business and Innovation Events for April

Google is teaming up with Rice University to create a Houston-area startup accelerator, the Houston Chronicle reports. The accelerator will focus on the "Internet of Things," with a particular...more

Climate Tech + Community = A Winning Housing Strategy for Nola?

"We want homes that last longer than eight to 10 years," says Avra van der Zee, COO of Hawaii-based nonprofit Elemental Excelerator, which has teamed up with New Orleans' Finance New Orleans to...more

Power of One Initiative Unveils Transformative Agenda in Enugu Conference

When Jude Chinedu heard Chisimdi Okoh talk about how he wanted to change the world, he thought it would be a good idea to do something about it. And so he founded the Power of One Initiative, a...more

Geeta Pradhan: Inspired by Everyday Struggling People, She Leads $60 Million Endowment ...
Foundation: Boston Foundation, Cambridge Community Foundation

Geeta Pradhan is the president of the Cambridge Community Foundation in Massachusetts, and in 2024 she'll become the state's outstanding woman of the year. That's thanks to her work to fight...more

Secu Foundation Welcomes 16 Non-Profits to Mission Development Grant Program With ...

"We are seeing positive, tangible outcomes for grant recipients working to boost their capacity and impact for programs and services that are vital to those in need." Those are the words of the...more

Regions Foundation Grants To Support Louisiana Small-Business Ecosystem

"Small businesses are the heart of our communities, and when we invest in their success, we're investing in a stronger economy and quality of life, benefiting people across the region." So says...more