Funding Area:
Entrepreneurship & Workforce Development

The Pontiac Funders Collaborative supports organizations that provide services to entrepreneurs.

Our goal is to help formalize a local entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting a vibrant business community in Pontiac that includes diverse, long-standing residents as business owners.

Past Grantees

Pontiac Community Foundation

A grant supported the Pontiac Community Foundation’s effort to develop a Center for Pontiac Entrepreneurship to provide support services for Pontiac entrepreneurs. In addition, the grant supported a mini-grant relief program for entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19.

Small Business Relief Fund

In June, 2020 the Pontiac Funders Collaborative awarded grants to 56 small businesses in Pontiac through our Small Business Relief Fund.

The program focused on the smallest of business – those with 10 employees or less. Grants were awarded up to $2,500 for home-based businesses and up to $5,000 for brick and mortar businesses. Applicants and grantees were offered technical assistance to assist businesses in completing the application process and connecting them to other community supports. The grants were awarded by a community advisory council over two rounds of applications.

We thank our partner, the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, who helped to administer this program.

“The grant was a lifeline for me to transition my retail boutique to a short term home-based business and to restock needed supplies. It also gave me the time to work on my business plan and financials to reopen my brick and mortar store.

– Katherine Daniels, E & K Arts and More LLC

“Ginasis Construction is a small minority women owned business and we often lack equitable access to capital and business credit. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this lack of access to capital and caused disruptions in our cash flows. This grant was incremental to addressing Workers Compensation and General Liability Insurance premiums required to satisfy one of our contracts.”

– Regina Campbell, Ginasis Construction and Design Inc.

The following is the list of Small Business Relief Fund grantees:

  • Alley Cat Café
  • Business Solutions LLC
  • Lillie’s Beauty Salon, LLC
  • My Dream Tire And Auto Repair
  • New Clean Detail LLC
  • OC Tees, Inc
  • Too Talented Ladies
  • We’re All About U Salon & Spa LLC
  • All Eyez On You
  • Baobab Press, LLC
  • BJ’s Consulting And Mental Health Solutions
  • Blue Star Family Coney Island
  • Cartier Rose Designs
  • Crown And Glory Hair LLC
  • Da’jion’s Eatery & Catery
  • Divine Twenty-Six
  • E & K Arts And More LLC
  • Elam Barber Shop
  • Elite Cleaning Team LLC
  • Evolve Mobile Grooming Services
  • Face Construction LLC
  • Gentle Giant Hospitality LLC
  • Ginasis Construction And Design Inc
  • Harold’s Italian Ice LLC
  • Hispanic Autism Services Of Michigan
  • Innovative Case Management & Support Systems
  • J & P Painting And Drywall
  • Max Out Fitness
  • Nick’s Corner
  • P’s & Q’s Bakery & Cafe LLC
  • Premier Spa & Salon, LLC
  • Prestige Property Investment And Management
  • Quest Allstar Athletics-qcad
  • Smash Hit Kickboxing, Inc
  • The Henk Studio, Inc
  • The Highbrow Boutique
  • Pretty Ink Nail Polish
  • Boxx Boys Moving
  • Effigy Media Arts
  • Evan Fay Design
  • Plain and Fancy Food
  • Dream Physical Therapy
  • Seoul Rolls on the Go
  • Fight Club Fitness
  • Your World Electric
  • Markia Mabin Travel
  • Over the Top Towel and Linen
  • Missy’s Plave Child Care
  • Work Productions
  • City Clips Barbership
  • Ronnie Jones Home Improvement
  • Higher Learning Institutions
  • Classic Cuts
  • Loving My Life Fitness & Nutrition
  • Urban Metro Enterprises Services
  • VR Life

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

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