Small Business Support Direct Grant Application

This grant opportunity is intended to support small businesses in Northwest Michigan by increasing opportunities to strengthen revenue and add capacity. This funding and other startup support resources is made possible through a partnership between 20Fathoms, Michigan SBDC, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Traverse Connect, and Venture North.

16 grants of $4,500 will be made on a selective basis. Grant monies are taxable.

How to apply

Review and confirm you meet eligibility requirements listed below.
Fill out and submit the application below by May 25^th.
Interview calls with all eligible applicants will be scheduled and conducted in June. Please check your email and respond promptly to schedule. This call is an opportunity for us to learn more about you and your business and understand how the possible funds would be used.
Final grant awardees will be selected and notified in July. Our grant review committee includes leaders from 20Fathoms and our entrepreneurial community.
Awards will be distributed by the end of July, or upon completion of required compliance check.

Questions? Contact Stephanie Coate, Client Engagement Manager, at stephanie@20fathoms.org.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Small Business Support Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Apply by Application deadline:

11:59 pm, May 25, 2025

Business Registration:
The business must be registered in one of the following counties: Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Benzie, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix, or Emmet.

Owner Age:
The business owner must be 18 years of age or older.

Grant Recipient Commitment:

Awardees of the grant agree to participate in a 30-minute coaching session with the 20Fathoms Startup Support Team.
Awardees will be asked to periodically share updates about their business to support required reporting.

Ineligible Businesses:

Consultants and independent contractors.
Businesses that have already received a Small Business Support Grant from any Hub in the state of Michigan are ineligible to apply again (one grant per business).
Businesses not registered in the Michigan ten county region listed above.

Application

Today's Date*

Month/Day/Year

First name*

Last name*

Email*

Please use a personal or business email address. University email addresses should only be used by current college or university employees.

Phone number*

Please select the option that best describes your professional role in the startup community.*

Company name*

Job title*

Brief description of your business.

Website

Please do not use Instagram or LinkedIn. If you do not have a website please leave blank.

What stage best describes where you are in your business journey?*

Street address*

City*

State/Region*

Year business was founded*

Please select the county your business is registered*

Please enter your LARA ID *

This is your business identification number you receive when you register your business with the State of Michigan through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Go here to locate your LARA ID. If registered with your county clerk, please add the ID number issued on your Certificate of Assumed Name.

How many full-time employees do you have? *

Please select if your business is at least 51% owned by any of the following groups that have historically lower representation in entrepreneurship. Select all that apply. *

How did you hear about 20Fathoms?*

Would you like to sign up for 20Fathoms monthly newsletter to stay informed about our programming, events, and grant opportunities?

Self-Assessment

Complete each part of the assessment below. In the self-scoring portion, select the statement that best describes your business. If you don't understand the question (it's OK!) simply enter "0". Score the assessment honestly! Your objective is not to score high but to give our Grant Team an accurate understanding about your business.

Value Proposition*

How clearly can you explain how your product or service solves a problem, delivers benefits, or fulfills a need for the customer?

Market Size*

How well do you understand your total potential revenue or number of customers in the market you're targeting?

Customer Validation*

How well do you understand whether your target customers truly need and are willing to pay for your product or service?

Customer Segment*

How well do you know the specific customer segments that are most likely to benefit from and purchase your product or service?

Marketing / Sales Strategy*

How well do you understand the effectiveness of your marketing and sales strategy in reaching and converting your target customers?

Product or Service Strategy/Evolution*

Which option best describes your strategy for developing and evolving your product or service to meet customer needs and stay competitive?

Implementation Plan*

How well do you understand your implementation plan for executing your strategy and achieving your business goals?

Business Model Assessment*

How confident are you in your understanding of how your business generates revenue, delivers value, and maintains a competitive edge?

Revenue Model*

Which option best describes how your business makes money.

Cash Position*

Which option best describes the amount of liquid cash your business has on hand to cover expenses?

Use of Awarded Funds

Please express how a grant will have impact on your business' ability to grow.

Eligible uses of grant funds include:

Purchase of equipment, product, inventory, software, or hardware, ie. AutoCAD software upgrade or 3D printer head upgrade, etc.

Ineligible uses of grant funds include:

Mechanical or structural changes to your property (example: repairs to building, new electrical outlet, new carpet, etc)
Paying for loans or debts
Wages, salaries, operational costs

Briefly explain in less than 50 words how you will use the $4,500 (maximum amount) grant if awarded. *

Tip: Be clear and specific. Aim to keep your response under 50 words—there will be more time to share details during the 1:1 interview. Keep it focused, and to the point.