Pontiac Times

Oakland County awarded $3 million in grants in late April to small businesses that qualified, according to the Detroit Free Press. Eight hundred small businesses were granted relief money. Some of the businesses included were the Anytime Fitness Spa in Troy, A Good Day Cafe in South Lyon and Yogurt Treats of Novi.

Many more small stores, services and eateries were excluded, because $3 million can only be stretched so far. 

"We had over 7,000 applications," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter told the Detroit Free Press. According to Coulter, he asked the County Board of Commissioners to add more grant money.

The Detroit Free Press says the board members have quadrupled the original amount to $12 million. Coulter says this is the biggest effort by a Michigan county to keep small businesses going during the COVID-19 crisis.

"It's great to have your big companies like Fiat Chrysler and General Motors, but these small ones really are the foundation of Oakland County," Coulter told Detroit Free Press.

Coulter says the new round of grants will be anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 for many small businesses. There is a maximum amount of $10,000 that can be granted to any one business. Under state guidelines, only companies with 50 or fewer workers can qualify for the grant money.

Coulter says a few companies have started making medical-grade face masks and face guards that will help first responders and medical experts combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"We got a company in Pontiac to switch over to making medical-grade masks, and one in Oxford that made hockey helmets to switch over to face guards," Coulter told The Detroit Free Press.

Coulter says that most of the grant money was given to small businesses to help with their overhead expenses. Companies are using the grant money for the payrolls as well.