DETROIT –

More than $200,000 has been pooled to provide micro grants through Eastern

Market to support food-based small businesses in metropolitan Detroit.

The money

comes from Citizens Bank, Eastern Market Corporation, and the Michigan Economic

Development Corporation. Citizens Bank donated $60,000 and the MEDC $150,000.

The

application deadline is August 21. Grants will be awarded by October 2015.

Funding from

Citizens Bank is coming through its Growing Communities program, an urban

economic development initiative that focuses on job creation and reinvigorating

neighborhoods by leveraging Michigan’s agricultural industry. This contribution

signifies Citizens Bank’s ongoing efforts and commitment to expand local food

production and processing to create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods and increase

the supply of healthy food to local areas.

Funding from

MEDC is part of its economic gardening strategy to connect businesses, state

and local government, and community partners to create a nurturing environment

for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“We’re

excited to be partnered with Citizens Bank for a new round of the Growing

Communities grant program and the strong support provided by MEDC,” said

Randall Fogelman, vice president, business development, Eastern Market

Corporation. “This effort has helped so many small Detroit-based businesses

that often don’t have access to capital, grow and prosper.”

Grants

awarded through the Citizens Bank Growing Communities program and MEDC funding

will assist in providing a variety of small food-based businesses the

opportunity to buy equipment, acquire land and hire staff.

“Our Growing

Communities initiative reflects Citizens’ belief that the strength of our

company is directly tied to the strength of communities we serve,” said Rick

Hampson, President, Citizens Bank, Michigan. “We have seen a great return on

our investment in Michigan’s growing local food industry. This money will help

contribute to a more successful economy by helping to create more local jobs

and supporting local small businesses.”

Growing

Communities is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities,

Citizens Bank’s program that contributes to the economic vitality of the

communities it serves. Citizens Bank was previously known as Charter One.

“MEDC is

proud to join Citizens Bank and Eastern Market to help foster entrepreneurship

and small business growth in metro Detroit,” MEDC CEO Steve Arwood said. “This

is the kind of high-impact public-private partnership that can serve as a model

in communities across the state.”

Last year,

32 food businesses, most of which sell products at Eastern Market, were awarded

funds from the Growing Communities grant program. Local jam producers Slow Jams

and Beau Bien, for example, were both able to use Growing Communities funds to purchase

piston-fillers (automatic jar-filling machines) for their growing jam

businesses.

“We were

grateful for the opportunity to apply for funding through the Growing

Communities program,” shared Shannon Byrne, owner of Slow Jams. “Purchase of

the piston-filler allowed our business to greatly increase productivity.”

Grant

applications can be found on www.easternmarket.com.