African American Business Growth Grants

The African American Business Growth Grants are offered by the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan through its Entrepreneurship Reparations pillar. The program is designed to invest directly in Black-owned businesses in the Greater Lansing area and address historic and systemic barriers that can limit African American business owners' access to capital and sustainable growth opportunities. The Justice League describes African American-owned businesses as important contributors to the Greater Lansing economy through entrepreneurship, innovation, resilience, and community leadership. Through this grant program, the organization seeks to strengthen business sustainability, economic opportunity, job creation, community empowerment, and long-term economic equity. The program will provide two Business Growth Grants of $11,250 each, for total calculated grant funding of $22,500. Each selected business receives $11,250. Grant funding is intended to strengthen operations, expand capacity, reach new customers, and support sustainable business growth. Identified uses include business infrastructure, marketing and branding, innovation, equipment, technology, staffing, increased capacity, and expansion into new markets. The stated focus areas are Business Infrastructure, Marketing and Branding, and Innovation and Growth. The source does not identify a matching or cost-share requirement, indirect cost limitation, or separate funding tier. Applicants must identify as Black or a Descendant of enslaved African Americans consistent with the program's eligibility requirements. The applicant's business must have operated for at least three years and must have at least $20,000 in annual business revenue. The business must also be registered and in good standing with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Geographic eligibility is limited to businesses physically located in Ingham, Clinton, or Eaton County in Michigan. Applicants must provide complete 2024 and 2025 Profit and Loss statements. The supplied program information does not expressly characterize eligible businesses as small businesses or otherwise specify a predefined legal business type beyond the stated business, ownership, operating-history, revenue, registration, and location requirements. Applications are completed online through the application form linked by the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan. Applicants are instructed first to review the eligibility and documentation requirements and then complete the application. The application requests applicant information, a business narrative, financial information, a growth opportunity, proposed use of funds, expected impact, and a final statement. Applicants must upload complete 2024 and 2025 Profit and Loss statements and any required Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs documentation. Applicants should review their responses for accuracy and completeness before submitting. Application information and supporting documents will be used for grant evaluation purposes. Applications opened September 1, 2026 and must be submitted by September 30, 2026. All applications and required supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline for an application to proceed to review. Eligible applications will be reviewed by the grant committee from October 1 through October 31, 2026. The source does not identify a separate letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating deadline. It also does not provide detailed scoring criteria or weighted evaluation factors beyond indicating that eligible applications undergo competitive review and that applicants should provide information concerning financial performance, proposed use of funds, measurable growth goals, growth opportunity, and expected impact. Selected recipients are scheduled to be announced at the 2026 Fall Celebration. The exact calendar date of that event is not provided in the supplied program information. No grant performance period, award payment schedule, reporting schedule, or recurring annual application cycle is stated. Although the material labels the opportunity as the 2026 Program, it does not state that the Business Growth Grant will recur annually or on another regular schedule, so no future application cycle is inferred. The program information directs applicants who are uncertain about eligibility to review the full program FAQ before applying or contact info@justiceleagueglm.org with eligibility questions. No individual grant contact or telephone number is provided.

Confirm all eligibility requirements before applying; provide complete 2024 and 2025 Profit & Loss statements and required LARA documentation; clearly explain the growth opportunity, proposed use of funds, expected impact, and measurable growth goals; review all responses for accuracy and completeness before submission.