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LIVONIA — Small businesses looking to offer apprenticeships or stay competitive in the post-pandemic economy could benefit from grants being offered in Livonia.
As part of its new Pure Potential platform, the city is giving away $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds and $25,000 in training funds to businesses in the city with 100 or fewer employees.
“We really want to help these businesses be able to get on their feet for the future,” said Jacob Uhazie, Livonia’s planning and economic development director.
$300K for continued pandemic recovery
Small businesses that have been open since before pandemic-related shutdowns began in March 2020 can apply for the city’s remaining CARES Act funding for small businesses. Uhazie said these grants will be distributed until the $300,000 runs out. People can apply for up to $15,000.
Business owners will be able to use these grants to pay for things such as the inflated cost of some goods, higher wages, staff recruitment or signing bonuses. Uhazie said staffing and hiring concerns still plague local small businesses.
“We’ve continued to experience the fallout from COVID, and small businesses have continued to be impacted,” he said said. “First it was the work force, and now it’s inflation.”
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Resource hub, $25,000 for apprenticeships available
Livonia has also budgeted $25,000 for training and staff development grants. These grants can pay up to $5,000 for programs such as apprenticeships, internships or job training.
“This is to meet the needs of the workforce that we continue to see shortages in,” Uhazie said. “What we really want to do is focus on workforce development and retention.”
The workforce development grants are being offered as a pilot program the city hopes to continue in future years.
Business owners and job seekers can also visit Pure Potential at livonia.gov/1912/Pure-Potential to find state and local resources for job opportunities and developing staff. Uhazie said the page is meant to make resources easier to find.
“The tight employment market has challenged many Livonia small businesses,” Mayor Maureen Miller Brosnan said in a release. “This platform connects our small business owners to the available supports from across our community and state, while also making a significant investment in our workers and small businesses.”
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Contact reporter Shelby Tankersley at stankersle@hometownlife.com or 248-305-0448. Follow her on Twitter @shelby_tankk.
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