Appropriations Requests for : Michigan Black Business Alliance

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

• Mary Cavanagh

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

Michigan Black Business Alliance

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

28 W. Adams Suite 800, Detroit MI 48226 is the HQ but funding would be used statewide

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

853465384

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$2,000,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

The $2 million state appropriation to the Michigan Black Business Alliance (MBBA) is a strategic investment in the foundation of Michigan’s economy. The purpose of this legislatively directed spending item is to directly support expanded program delivery, strengthen staffing capacity, enhance technical assistance offerings, and improve infrastructure that enables small business to start, stabilize, and scale the operations across Michigan. This investment will provide a clear public benefit by strengthening small businesses that are essential to job creation, local economic growth, and community stability-particularly in regions of Michigan that have historically faced barriers to capital, access, and business support Small businesses are the state’s primary engine for workforce development; they provide more than jobs, they cultivate the specialized talent and essential skills that drive Michigan’s industries. By funding the MBBA, the state directly invests in the human capital that ensures our economic resilience and national competitiveness. This investment acknowledges that small businesses are vital to the sustainability of our state’s infrastructure. Thriving local enterprises provide the economic density required to maintain and improve the commercial corridors, utilities, and public spaces that connect our communities. The benefits will extend beyond individual business owners to employeees, families, communities and statewide. MBBA will utilize these funds to deepen and expand our signature programming. This includes scaling Capital Connect and the Global Growth Accelerator to bridge the funding for small business and sustain legacy small businesses, and advancing the work of the in-development Center for New Innovation and continue providing needed support through our BizWiz program which provides cutting-edge technical resources. We are also committed to bolstering industry-specific success through Hardy Hospitality which provides support for small businesses in the hospitality industry in the area of procurement and training of staff as well as the UpNxt Internship Program, which serves as a critical pipeline connecting Michigan’s youth to real-world workforce experience. This legislative directed spending item will continue the work of MBBA in Southeastern Michigan in addition to allow MBBA to focus on high-impact growth in Grand Rapids and Flint, while simultaneously laying the foundation for essential outreach and support in Battle Creek and Benton Harbor. MBBA through this LDSI will empower responsible employers to create economic freedom, for Michigan to retain its talent, stabilize its workforce, and lead the nation in building thriving, self-sustaining communities.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

✓ Yes: State Funding

Amount received: $2,000,000.00

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

1 year

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

Yes

4. Officers and active members on the board of directors:

1. Kerry Buffington, Kapstone Employment Services 2. Kandiss Ecton, Kandiss Ecton Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. 3. Jermaine Ruffin, VP, Invest Detroit 4. Jay Williams , DTE Public Affairs 5. Donald Rencher, President and CEO, Hudson Webber Foundation 6. Megan Dunn. CEO Covenant House Michigan

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Mallory McMorrow