Small Business Support Hubs

Small Business Support Hubs — Funding

Funds Michigan organizations operating regional support hubs delivering services to small businesses.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation Small Business Support Hubs FY2026 program is a state-funded competition awarding nearly $11.3 million to Michigan organizations that operate regional support hubs serving small businesses. The funding is sourced from the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) using state-appropriated, non-federal dollars and announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on February 24, 2026. Of the total, $8 million is allocated for hub operations, programming, services, and regional coordination, while $3.3 million is designated for direct business assistance awards that hubs distribute to eligible small businesses in their service areas. The application window ran from April 1 through June 1, 2026. Since the program's inception in 2023, prior hub cohorts have served more than 8,800 businesses, created or retained over 5,000 jobs, and leveraged more than $158 million in follow-on funding.

Eligible applicants are organizations — not individual small businesses — that will serve as the hub entity delivering services to Michigan small businesses. For-profit companies cannot apply; the program targets nonprofit organizations structured to deliver small business assistance at a regional scale. Award terms begin with an initial one-year period, with optional yearly extensions up to two additional years subject to performance review and MSF approval, creating a potential three-year engagement. Individual per-business award caps for the direct assistance sub-grants are not disclosed in published materials.

Hub operators are expected to provide services, programming, and regional coordination that address the needs of Michigan entrepreneurs. Teams applying should document existing small business service capacity, regional reach, and a clear structure for distributing the direct business assistance awards to eligible businesses. MEDC serves as the program administrator while MSF is the funding authority; applicants should direct questions through MEDC's official channels at michiganbusiness.org.