press conference may 28 - traverse connect · press conference may 28. agenda •presentations from...
TRANSCRIPT
Press ConferenceMay 28
AGENDA• Presentations from Regional Resiliency Fund Partners• Laura Galbraith, Venture North• Carolyn Bloodworth, Consumers Energy & Consumers Energy Foundation• Brenda McLellan, Traverse Connect
• Regional Resiliency Fund Overview:• Eligibility• Priorities• Local Advisors• Timeline• Application and donations
VENTURE NORTHLaura Galbraith, Executive Director
• About Venture North• CDFI Focused on Making Capital Available to Small Business• Regional Administrative Agency for the Regional Resiliency Fund
• Press Conference Purpose• New Regional Resiliency Fund Purpose
CONSUMERS ENERGYCarolyn BloodworthDirector of Corporate Giving, Consumers EnergySecretary/Treasurer, Consumers Energy Foundation
Consumers Energy• Overview• Provided $200,000 grant to launch the Fund• Key indicators of success
TRAVERSE CONNECTBrenda McLellanDirector of Investor Relations
Traverse Connect• Lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse Region• Regional Resiliency Fund grant administration role• Importance of grants for small businesses in the region
REGIONAL RESILIENCY FUND: GRANT ELIGIBILITY
• Operate in Benzie, Grand Traverse or Leelanau counties ;• Small businesses that employ 9 or fewer full-time equivalents;• Exist as a for-profit entity;• Currently be open or have a plan to reopen when the Executive
Order is lifted
REGIONAL RESILIENCY FUND: GRANT PRIORITIES
• Businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and needs capital to open and or operate;• Business has made adjustments to operate safely and is or will
open when possible upon permission from the state;• Businesses that have not received COVID-19 related grants
from other sources
LOCAL ADVISORS
Grand Traverse County Representative:• Jean Derenzy, CEO of TC Downtown Development Authority
Benzie County Representative:• Betsy Evans, independent business consultant, Chair of Grow
Benzie, and Chair of the Joyfield Township Planning Commission
Leelanau County Representative:• Emily Heston, small business owner, Board member of Leelanau
Peninsula Economic Foundation
TIMELINEApplications will be available at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 29.
Applications will be accepted until 12 p.m. on Friday, June 5.
APPLICATIONS & DONORShttps://traverseconnect.com/our-region/regional-resiliency-fund/
QUESTIONS?