Press ConferenceMay 28

AGENDA• Presentations from Regional Resiliency Fund Partners• Laura Galbraith, Venture North• Carolyn Bloodworth, Consumers Energy & Consumers Energy Foundation• Brenda McLellan, Traverse Connect

• Regional Resiliency Fund Overview:• Eligibility• Priorities• Local Advisors• Timeline• Application and donations

VENTURE NORTHLaura Galbraith, Executive Director

• About Venture North• CDFI Focused on Making Capital Available to Small Business• Regional Administrative Agency for the Regional Resiliency Fund

• Press Conference Purpose• New Regional Resiliency Fund Purpose

CONSUMERS ENERGYCarolyn BloodworthDirector of Corporate Giving, Consumers EnergySecretary/Treasurer, Consumers Energy Foundation

Consumers Energy• Overview• Provided $200,000 grant to launch the Fund• Key indicators of success

TRAVERSE CONNECTBrenda McLellanDirector of Investor Relations

Traverse Connect• Lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse Region• Regional Resiliency Fund grant administration role• Importance of grants for small businesses in the region

REGIONAL RESILIENCY FUND: GRANT ELIGIBILITY

• Operate in Benzie, Grand Traverse or Leelanau counties ;• Small businesses that employ 9 or fewer full-time equivalents;• Exist as a for-profit entity;• Currently be open or have a plan to reopen when the Executive

Order is lifted

REGIONAL RESILIENCY FUND: GRANT PRIORITIES

• Businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and needs capital to open and or operate;• Business has made adjustments to operate safely and is or will

open when possible upon permission from the state;• Businesses that have not received COVID-19 related grants

from other sources

LOCAL ADVISORS

Grand Traverse County Representative:• Jean Derenzy, CEO of TC Downtown Development Authority

Benzie County Representative:• Betsy Evans, independent business consultant, Chair of Grow

Benzie, and Chair of the Joyfield Township Planning Commission

Leelanau County Representative:• Emily Heston, small business owner, Board member of Leelanau

Peninsula Economic Foundation

TIMELINEApplications will be available at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 29.

Applications will be accepted until 12 p.m. on Friday, June 5.

APPLICATIONS & DONORShttps://traverseconnect.com/our-region/regional-resiliency-fund/

QUESTIONS?