News Photo by Crystal Nelson Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe employee Lynn Altman stocks the refrigerator at the business’ Rogers City location. in this May 2020 News file photo.

ROGERS CITY — The Rogers City Downtown Development Authority has received $27,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Match on Main Program that will help businesses impacted by coronavirus.

Nine downtown businesses will each receive $3,000 to help with payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities, or any coronavirus-related improvements to keep the public safe. In the grant application, businesses were required to indicate how they had negatively been impacted by pandemic-related shutdowns, how much money they sought, and how that money would be spent.

Businesses who will receive money include Rogers City Home Furnishings, Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe, MI Northern Espresso, The Painted Lady, Domaci Gallery, Mr. Mustache and Co., Jean’s Gifts and Cards, Chee Peng Chinese and Thai Restaurant, and Kevin’s Discount Tobacco.

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority was not awarded the $50,000 Match on Main funding it requested, DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry said in an email today.

“We are sorry that limited resources and high demand did not allow us to approve your application,” the MEDC said in a letter to the Alpena DDA. “We will continue working closely with communities like yours to understand unique regional challenges and opportunities and ensure we meet our overall mission of achieving long-term economic opportunity for all Michiganders.”

The funding is provided by the MEDC’s COVID-19 Response program, where state economic development officials are providing support to businesses, entrepreneurs, workers, and communities throughout all 83 counties in the state.

Several businesses in Rogers City had previously received funds through the Michigan Small Business Relief program and were ineligible for this round of grant funding.