Following the long awaited, much anticipated green light given by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this afternoon to thousands of business owners across the state to re-open after being mandated closed since late winter, the team at Cornerstone Alliance is renewing their pledge to help much the way they did with their Rent and Mortgage Payment Program — or simply RAMPP — in a bid to expedite the return to work.
Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland has been watching closely, and in anticipation of Governor Whitmer’s new Executive Order to allow additional businesses to reopen, his crew at Berrien County’s lead economic development agency will immediately shift their focus to assist the business owners who have had to keep their doors closed since the beginning of the pandemic.
Cleveland says, “It’s difficult to believe but these businesses have been forcibly closed for 169 days – nearly fifty-percent of the calendar year. Gyms, fitness clubs, and pools — these are all places where we spend time getting exercise, relaxing and recharging our individual batteries. These establishments are incredibly important to our way of life. Many of these places around the country have already folded. Thankfully, many of our local establishments have been able to hold on, and have been anxiously awaiting the news that they’re allowed to reopen.”
Cleveland says, as you may recall, “The Berrien Community Foundation, Southwest Michigan Tourist Council and Cornerstone Alliance were able to help 61 businesses with our Rent and Mortgage Payment Program in the beginning stages of the pandemic. Now it is important to shift and help other businesses in need, which is why we are focused on helping get these critical businesses open as safely and quickly as possible.”
In order to expedite those plans, Cleveland says, “We are offering a $5,000 no-interest loan program to those businesses that have been forced to close since March 16th. Fitness Clubs, and other businesses that are ready to open will have the ability to tap into a loan program that will help them with expenses to reopen.” He cautions, however, that, “There are limited loan funds and the application is only available until Wednesday, September 9th. Recipients will have two years to repay the loan.”
Cleveland concludes today, “We should all be proud of the way this community has rallied to support local business. Hopefully these loan funds will provide a boost to those businesses that need it most right now.”
You can find the application process at this link:
https://cstonealliance.org/index.php/covid-19-task-force/rampp-rent-and-mortgage-help
