The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently announced that businesses located in a Select or Master Level Michigan Main Street community or an essential level or certified Redevelopment Ready Communities® across the state can receive up to $25,000 in reimbursable grant dollars through another round of the Match on Main program. In Middle Michigan, Clare, Evart, Harrison, Lake Isabella, and Mt. Pleasant are considered eligible communities. 

If you are a business located in one of the following downtown districts, we encourage you to apply for the Match on Main program by submitting your business worksheet through the link below when applications open.

Interested businesses in Clare, Evart, Harrison, Lake Isabella, or Mt. Pleasant, must submit their Business Worksheet/Application to Middle Michigan Development Corporation.

Applications are due on MARCH 20, 2026, to the MMDC. Please download (see "Match on Main 2026 Application" button) and complete the application form below for the upcoming 2026 application cycle. Once completed please upload your application to the button labeled "Submit 2026 Application". 

If you need a printed version, please stop by the MMDC office at 111 S. University Ave., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 or email  to coordinate. 

MATCH ON MAIN 2026 APPLICATION

Submit 2026 application

Eligible Businesses: 

• Those that sell products and/or services face to face AND have a physical location in one of the districts mentioned above.
• Those that have, or intend to have, control over the site for which they are applying prior to Match on Main application. Please note: changes in the proposed business location after grant selection may result in grant being forfeited.
• Those operating as a for profit or non-profit.
• Those headquartered in Michigan.
• Businesses/non-profits that have not previously received or been approved to receive support from the Match on Main program. Please note: this does not include the MEDC Match on Main COVID19 Response Program Grant.

Ineligible Businesses:

Businesses that are considered franchises (including independent contractor agreements), businesses located in strip malls (unless located in an area zoned and approved for future concentrated mixed-use development), “big box” retailers, businesses whose primary sales come from marijuana, CBD, or tobacco, and/or any other businesses deemed ineligible by the MEDC.

Eligible Fund Uses:

Funds may be used for expenses related to technical assistance, interior building renovation, permanent or semi-permanent activation of outdoor space, or for general marketing, technology, operational changes or inventory expenses related to retail goods. Examples of eligible expenses include: 

  • Expenses for technical assistance items for design and layout of interior or exterior space, such as conceptual renderings of the interior or exterior floor plan, merchandise layout, other interior or exterior design concepts, and construction drawings, plans or specifications for interior or exterior
     space activation.
  • Expenses for interior building renovation items, including rehabilitation of floors, walls, ceiling, rooms, electrical improvements, lighting and lighting fixtures, furniture and display renovations, installation of permanent kitchen or other equipment, and/or fire suppression or other code compliance items.
  • Expenses for permanent or semi-permanent activation of an outdoor space, including a dining area, beer garden, or other place-based outdoor activation. Exterior signage, doors and windows may be permitted as an eligible expense if part of a larger outdoor space activation project.
  • Expenses for general marketing, technology to assist in connecting with customers (example: website upgrades or e-Commerce integration), operational changes (example: shifting from dine in to carry out), the purchase of a point-of-sale system, or inventory expenses for retail goods.

Ineligible Fund Uses:

Expenses that are not eligible include: exterior improvements that could be considered as general maintenance, repairs, landscaping, or other non-place-based outdoor activation; employee wages, salaries or benefits; rent, mortgage, land contract or building or land lease payments, utilities; leases for equipment, vehicle leases, vehicle payments; taxes, interest or insurance; professional fees; federal, state, or local application, licensing, permit or similar fees; bank or other lender financing, interest; inspection fees or costs; credit card processing fees; property acquisition; projects on residential property.

Only eligible expenses incurred after the date the application is submitted to the MEDC (April 20, 2026) may be considered for reimbursement under the Match on Main program and up to 12 months after the grant agreement is executed. Any incurred expense prior to award announcement and executed grant agreement is entirely at the sole risk of the eligible business.

Applications will be scored based on a variety of criteria including: 

Clarity and completeness of project scope documentation, including cost estimates and budget, expected level of private investment made by the business, additional resources leveraged to support the business and/or proposed project, overall impact of funding on the business, number of jobs created or retained as a result of the project, availability of private sources of funding to implement project prior to Match on Main grant reimbursement and overall impact on community.

For full details on the MEDC Match on Main program, please visit the MEDC website.