MARQUETTE — Some Marquette-area businesses will be able to fend for themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a little assistance from the state of Michigan could go a long way.

The goal of the $100 million Michigan Small Business Restart Program is to reduce the economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on Michigan small businesses and workers.

The Upper Peninsula will receive $4.5 million to be awarded to qualifying businesses in the region. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Aug. 5. Applicants can apply for up to $20,000 in grant funds.

Grants must be used for eligible expenditures incurred between March and Dec. 30 that meet the following criteria:

≤ Necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19, such as resulting from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19; and

≤ Working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, costs related to reopening a business or nonprofit, or other use authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

At least 30% of the funds awarded under this program will be provided to women-, minority- or veteran-owned eligible businesses. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. anticipates that more than 5,000 businesses across the state will benefit from the program.

Locally, InvestUP, a regional economic development organization, is responsible for selecting the area businesses to receive funding.

For details on the restart program, visit www.investupmi.com.

Another state fund deals with “microloans.”

With microloan funds still available, the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund has already processed 113 microloans and grants, assisting 94 small businesses with $565,750 in support, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Women Forward recently announced.

Launched by the MEDC with Michigan Women Forward in May in response to the economic impacts of the pandemic on underserved communities, the fund is intended to help entrepreneurs and small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 recover from the outbreak, as well as assist them in meeting increased demands in support of COVID-19 response efforts.

While grant funds will be exhausted by the end of July, there are still more than $500,000 in funds available for small microloans to reopen Michigan businesses. Small businesses interested in applying for microloan support through the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund should visit miwf.org/mwf-entrepreneur-resilience-fund.