The Main Street Approach™ is a unique, historic preservation based economic development strategy that focuses on leveraging existing social, economic, physical and cultural assets to energize community revitalization efforts and help manage success for the long term.

The approach leads to tangible outcomes that benefit the entire community through encouraging communities to enact long-term change while also implementing short-term, inexpensive and place-based activities that attract people to the commercial core and create a sense of enthusiasm about the community.

Through Michigan’s State Trade Expansion Program (MI-STEP), the International Trade team offers financial assistance for exporting activities to eligible Michigan small businesses, enabling access to global markets and buyers while increasing the dollar value of Michigan exports. Up to $15,000 in assistance is available to offset 75% of pre-approved expenses per fiscal year.

The MTRAC Program was created in 2012 to accelerate the transfer of new technologies from Michigan’s institutions of higher learning into the commercial market by way of licenses or startups. In 2016 the program expanded as a statewide program to support translational research throughout the state of Michigan.

The expansion reinforces the commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth by providing a pathway to accelerate the creation and transfer of new technologies into the commercial market.

The Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) helps businesses and organizations get connected to resources and partners across Michigan’s mobility and electrification ecosystem.

The Office supports the startup and scale up of emerging technologies and businesses through lead generation for economic developers and matchmaking services and events for mobility companies.

The Plant Rehabilitation and Industrial Development Districts Act, (known as the Industrial Facilities Exemption) PA 198 of 1974, as amended, provides a tax incentive to manufacturers to enable renovation and expansion of aging facilities, assist in the building of new facilities, and to promote the establishment of high tech facilities.

The Pre-Seed Fund III is administered by the Michigan State University Foundation through Michigan Rise which is a fully-owned subsidiary of the Foundation. Michigan Rise supports entrepreneurs and technology startups across Michigan through capital support, coaching, assistance with grant funding and more.

Funding amounts may be awarded for approved applicants through the fund in the range of $100K to $250K.

Private activity bonds are an attractive source of financial assistance to economic development projects in Michigan. They provide profitable firms with capital cost savings stemming from the difference between taxable and tax-exempt interest rates.

Public facilities, which generate a revenue stream, (parking structures for instance) have traditionally been financed by municipalities through tax-exempt “revenue bonds.” Private activity bonds apply this same tax-exempt finance mechanism to the “public purpose” of economic development.

The Michigan Defense Center offers this grant program to assist Michigan firms in writing a winning bid response. Grant funds subsidize up to 50% (max $10K) of the cost of proposal writing services contracted through one of the MEDC pre-qualified bid-writing firms.

Designed by MEDC in collaboration with the Michigan Municipal League, PSCP is a crowd-granting initiative that can provide matching grant funds for crowdfunded public space projects through Patronicity, an online, crowdfunding platform.

The Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC) program is available to communities across the state. It’s a voluntary, no-cost certification program designed to promote effective redevelopment strategies through a set of best practices.

The program measures and then certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into their daily development practices. The RRC certification is a formal recognition that your community has a vision for the future - and the fundamental practices in place to get there.

Redevelopment Ready Sites are located within Certified Redevelopment Ready Communities, a program designed to prepare communities to offer a transparent, predictable, and efficient development experience. Sites have been hand-picked as priority redevelopment opportunities to help you save time and money.

MEDC’s Redevelopment Services Team, in partnership with Certified Redevelopment Ready Communities across the state, will be releasing Request for Developer Qualifications (RFQs).

Each of these RFQs have been developed in concert with the community and incorporate concepts and visions developed by local stakeholders at workshops held surrounding the future redevelopment of each site.

SSGS provides second-stage companies with the technical research assistance and business expertise they need to continue to grow profitably and be prepared for the future. The information and connections gained through this program will give companies the insights and knowledge necessary to identify key opportunities for continued success.

To qualify, companies should have 10-99 employees with annual revenue between $1 million and $50 million and be on an upward growth trend. The MEDC covers all costs.

MMTC provides Michigan’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers with operational assessment, process improvement training, mentoring services, website technical assistance and market diversification tactics.

to grow talent or provide education or retraining opportunities to existing employees. Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays the costs of tuition or training for eligible adults who want to pursue an associate degree or skills certificate.

The Michigan Works! Association provides services and support to Michigan’s workforce development system. Through the Association, members can access timely, relevant professional development opportunities and ensure high-quality programs for all customers.

MISTEM Network unites education, business and community partners across the state to create pathways for all students to consider and pursue high-wage, high-demand careers.

Michigan offers a number of world-class, real-world connected and autonomous vehicle research and testing facilities and on-road-vehicle technology deployments through American Center for Mobility, Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Technological University, GM Mobility Research Center at Kettering University, Mcity at University of Michigan and Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium

Pure Michigan Talent Connect is a tool connecting Michigan job seekers and employers and serves as a central hub linking all public and private stakeholders who support Michigan's workforce.

The SBDC provides consulting to innovative tech companies through its “Tech Team” of business consultants who have many years of first-hand experience launching and growing high tech companies. Their background in tech sectors including life sciences, IT, advanced manufacturing, and mobility enables them to provide in-depth support that is essential to the inception and expansion of companies built on cutting-edge technologies.