Small businesses in Leelanau Township have until noon on Friday, August 21 to seek up to $5,000 in grant funding from Venture North Funding and Development.
The Leelanau Township Community Foundation awarded $25,000 to Venture North for its Regional Resiliency Fund, founded in June to make grants to small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. In awarding funding to Venture North, the Community Foundation stipulated that its gift would only be used for small businesses, with nine or fewer employees, within Leelanau Township. Leelanau Township includes the communities of Northport, Omena, and Gills Pier. Venture North continues to seek funding for future additional grant rounds.
Grant applications are available on the Traverse Connect website.
Business owners may also contact Laura Galbraith, Executive Director of Venture North at laura@venturenorthfunding.org.
“We know that this is the busiest season for our communities’ small businesses,” said Joan Moore, Executive Director of the Leelanau Township Community Foundation. “The grant application takes about 30 minutes to complete so we urge our local business leaders to take the time to apply. The Venture North team has made themselves available to our business owners who may have questions.’
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities,” said Galbraith. “We are fortunate that the Leelanau Township Community Foundation took the initiative to help their neighbors and businesses.”
Venture North, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides small business loans and resources in Northern Michigan for economic and community development. Venture North has financed nearly $7 million in small business loans; more information is available at www.venturenorthfunding.org
