Tribal Business Development Grant Program

This program is administered under the MEDC Executive Office as the Tribal Business Development program. The program was established to provide grant funds in support of the non-gaming economic development efforts of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. The main goal is to support efforts that lead to tribal investment and job creation.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan or their direct subsidiaries such as a tribal economic development corporation or a tribal-owned company. The program provides grant funds for economic development projects administered by the tribal governmental units or subsidiaries of the 12 tribes. The program does not fund projects for tribal member businesses or entities.

Proposal Structures and Funding

Eligible applicants must submit proposals by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026. Any proposal received after this deadline will not be considered. Proposals, which must be located in Michigan, may request funding between the range of $5,000 to $200,000.

The MEDC may deny the proposal if it is missing an applicable format section, not following proposal instructions, or there is insufficient funding available to fund the grant amount requested.

Proposals must be submitted to: [email protected], with the subject line of the email as “2026 Tribal Business Development Grant Proposal.” If a federally recognized tribe, or its direct subsidiary, is submitting more than one proposal in the email, please rank the submissions by priority order for each submission.

Questions about this grant proposal process should be directed to your designated regional development team member.

The proposals shall be submitted in the following format:

  • Proposed project address/location
  • Brief executive summary of the project
    • First page of the proposal: general one page overall summary that gives a general snapshot of the project.
  • History of the project
    • What has already transpired regarding the project, how has the project become a priority to act upon? (previous meetings and discussions, previous investments, anything related to how the project has evolved to present date, etc.)
    • History of the property/site/ building(s) if appropriate, including previous uses, current use and status.
    • List and describe any other partners or stakeholders in the project.
  • What is the need to move forward at this time – why is this a priority?
  • What is the desired outcome?
  • Description of the business operations that will be occurring at the site once project is completed.
  • Description and details of any property improvements, renovations, demolition or new construction.
  • What machinery and equipment will be needed and purchased to support the proposed project?
  • What are the workforce/employment considerations and workforce training considerations?
  • Number of new permanent full-time jobs created by the project (usually a 2-year projection.)
  • What types of jobs that will be created by this project?
    • Average wages – cumulative of all jobs.
    • Workforce training needs – if necessary.
  • Budget and financial information
    • The amount of the grant funding requested.
    • Budget outline that accounts for total cost of the project.
    • Sources and uses of funds (MEDC, tribe, private partners, public funding) – where are funds coming from and how will they be used?
  • Realistic timeline of the project
    • Timeline can include previous progress toward moving the project forward and should detail the timing from the date of the proposal to operations beginning and any future timing items.
    • If this is going to be a phased development, outline timing of all phases.

IMPORTANT: Include any graphics, photos, maps, aerials, site plans or any other visuals that are helpful in showing key aspects of the project.

Type of Projects Eligible for Funding

Typical costs and expenses that can be paid for by the MEDC Tribal Business Development Grant:

  1. Redevelopment costs for an existing property
  2. Demolition – both external (razing a building) and Internal (deconstructing an interior space)
  3. Site preparation – moving dirt, leveling a site, preparing a site for development
  4. Renovations of an internal or exterior space
  5. Rehabilitation – remediating a building exterior or internal space
  6. Built-out construction of internal space
  7. Construction of a structure (ie. construction of a building)
  8. Machinery and equipment purchases
  9. Furniture and fixtures for a redevelopment site
  10. Engineering of a property
  11. Architectural design work for a property
  12. Infrastructure installment or improvements – water and sewer lines, street work and improvements
  13. Workforce training
  14. Computer software related to a specific expansion project
  15. Studies – feasibility, land use, strategic planning, and others
  16. Technical assistance – consulting for SBA 8(a) certification, marketing, legal and accounting, others as identified

Typical costs not covered by MEDC Tribal Business Development Grant:

  1. Rent
  2. Building or property purchase
  3. Moving costs
  4. Decorating a space
  5. Agent or broker fees
  6. Permitting fees
  7. Hiring costs or fees
  8. Employee wages or insurance
  9. Anything that may be considered “soft costs” for a project

Matching funds and/or in-kind contributions are not required but encouraged.