Oakland County Adds $12M For Businesses Impacted By Coronavirus

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Oakland County has taken additional measures to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, adding millions of dollars to the county's stabilization fund while also expanding coronavirus testing.

Oakland County Executive David Coulter and the county's board of commissioners recently announced $12 million was added to the county's small business stabilization fund. The added funding was approved by commissioners Wednesday night after Coulter said the initial $3 million grant package of local and state funding was quickly exhausted by struggling small businesses.

“This allocation quadruples the first stage of our assistance package and provides an immediate infusion of working capital for our small businesses,” Coulter said. “I applaud the board of commissioners for moving so quickly and so aggressively to help stabilize a dire reality for our small businesses caused by this global health crisis.”

Nearly 7,400 small businesses – 17 percent of all businesses in Oakland County – applied for grants from the initial fund, which was created in late March with a $1.15 million award from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The county matched the award and added another $700,000 to create the “Saving Businesses, Saving Lives” grant program to provide incentive to manufacturers that could transition to making personal protective equipment. Two companies received those grants so far and more are expected to be announced soon.

Last week, about 800 small businesses were awarded grants averaging between $2,500-$5,359, depending on the business location within the county. The grants are to be used to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business. Small businesses pegged their need at nearly $80 million.

“This was not an issue of do we or don’t we help our small businesses but simply a matter of how much and how quickly,” Board Chairman David Woodward said. “These businesses don’t have time to wait. Their need is immediate and profound.”

As in the first round, applications will be evaluated by a team of local economic leaders from each of 12 geographic districts. Recommendations will be made in compliance with strict MEDC guidelines. The maximum award is $10,000.

“These small businesses critical to our economic recovery,” Coulter said. “They bring life to our downtowns; they hire our residents and support our communities. There is no economic engine in Oakland County without them. We must do all we can to help them survive.”

Officials also announced that the Oakland County Health Division has partnered with local fire departments and EMS on a large-scale coronavirus testing program within independent living facilities.

The program began Wednesday in West Bloomfield. Additional testing areas will be added each week. Drive-thru testing has been expanded to Pontiac, Southfield and, beginning next week, Novi, officials said.

“We have over 134 senior living facilities in Oakland County impacted by the coronavirus, which has resulted in more than 1,200 confirmed cases and 313 deaths,” Coulter said. “Our focus is on independent living facilities which often lack the medical staff to conduct large-scale testing. We have formed important partnerships with local fire departments to address this urgent need.”

The Oakland County Health Division is working with skilled care and nursing homes, assisting when needed.

“We will continue aggressive outreach to ensure senior communities, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, have the resources they need to protect residents and staff from the pandemic,” Coulter said. “Our health officer will continue to monitor these efforts and consider additional health orders that may be necessary.”