Two Kalamazoo Co. Small Businesses Get Covid-19 Retooling Grants

The public face of Pure Michigan may be on the state budget's chopping block, but its agency today doled out a million dollars in grant money, some of which will be headed to two Kalamazoo County small-businesses.

A total of 12 small businesses across the state will receive grant money from the "Pure Michigan Business Connect COVID-19 Emergency Access and Retooling Grants program",

Outerwears of Schoolcraft, which normally makes "road racing relating performance products", receives a grant for gowns and masks.

Genemarkers, whose website says they provide "collaborative services that enhance the utilization of genomics for improving health care, pharmaceutical research and consumer products", will be tasked with Covid-19 testing products.

“Today’s Emergency Access and Retooling grants are providing immediate capital to these small businesses and nonprofits stepping up to retool and support recovery efforts in this time of need,” said MEDC CEO Mark A. Burton. “Michigan’s Arsenal of Innovation is helping drive the fight against COVID-19, and these grants represent part of a larger coordinated effort among, local, state and national organizations to support recovery efforts.” - Michigan Economic Development Corp. release