Match on Main

Match on Main

Supports place-based growth projects on Michigan main streets with matched reimbursement for business expansion.

Match on Main is an annual reimbursement grant program administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) through its placemaking affiliate site miplace.org, providing up to $25,000 per project to support new or expanding place-based small businesses located on Michigan main street corridors and downtown commercial districts. Since its launch in 2019, the program has contributed a total of $5.9 million in award funding. The 2026 cycle ran March 1 through April 24, 2026, with a one-lump-sum reimbursement payment issued after project completion, and required all funded projects to be completed within 12 months of grant agreement execution.

Eligible uses of funds include interior renovations, outdoor space activation, technical assistance, marketing, technology upgrades, point-of-sale systems, and inventory purchases. On the recipient side, grants flow to place-based small businesses that are either opening new locations or physically expanding existing ones. However, businesses do not apply directly to MEDC; applications must be submitted through an eligible community organization — specifically a local unit of government, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Michigan Main Street organization at the Select or Master level, or other certified downtown management entity. The sponsoring community must hold Essentials or Certified Redevelopment Ready Communities status or equivalent Main Street designation.

Because the award is a reimbursement instrument, businesses must front the eligible costs and submit receipts after project completion to receive payment. Small businesses targeting the 2027 cycle should begin outreach to their local DDA or Main Street organization well before the application window opens, as the community organization acts as the formal applicant and must endorse the project before submission to MEDC. Companies without a physical downtown storefront — including remote-first or online-only businesses — are not eligible for this program.