ROGERS CITY — The Rogers City Downtown Development Authority will pursue a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. that would provide financial relief to Main Street businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus.

City Manager Joe Hefele said the MEDC expanded its Match on Main Street grant funding to help businesses in a traditional or historic downtown setting.

The DDA plans to apply for funding to offer relief for restaurants or retail businesses located on 3rd Street from Ontario Street to Friedrich Street. For the application to be strongly considered, Hefele said the businesses must be “anchor businesses” that draw people into the city.

The grant funding can be used for payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities or any coronavirus related improvements that keep the public safe. Businesses can ask for a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $10,000.

“Any business that would be involved would have to request at least $2,000 and be able to clearly identify where that (money) would go,” he said.

Hefele said businesses who want to be considered for the grant funding will have to indicate how they have been impacted negatively by the coronavirus, how much money they would be seeking and how that money would be spent.

Because the grant is so competitive, and MEDC funds are limited, the DDA will have to be mindful of how much money they ask for. Hefele said the more a community asks for, the less likely they are to receive anything.

Businesses who received the first round of funding from the MEDC are ineligible for the Match on Main funding. Businesses who have already received stimulus funding include Shear Harbor Salon, Jack’s Barbershop, Scill’s Grill, Nautical Lanes and Up North 23.

May 29 is the deadline for the DDA to apply for the program.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.