News Release

Consumers Energy Foundation Provides $1.8 Million to Support Small Businesses in Communities Across Michigan

Jackson, Mich. Wednesday, May 06, 2020

The Consumers Energy Foundation is donating $1.8 million to nine organizations to provide a lifeline to small businesses across Michigan – focusing in particular on helping female- and minority-owned businesses. In all, the Foundation has given over $3 million to meet the needs of Michigan residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and have been significantly impacted during this unprecedented time,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “Consumers Energy is committed to helping Michigan’s small business community succeed now, more than ever. We are making an investment in our communities, business owners, workers and their families, and a commitment to help power through together.”

The Consumers Energy Foundation’s contribution is part of an effort to help small business customers in this time of need. Consumers Energy is promoting a hotline, 800-805-0490, and ConsumersEnergy.com/smallbusinessrelief to provide meaningful and immediate help.

Grant recipients will receive $200,000 each, and they will provide funding directly to small businesses in their communities. They are:

• The Greater Grand Rapids Chamber Foundation’s Rapid Response Economic Relief Fund
• Saginaw Future’s Small Business Fund
• Venture North’s COVID Emergency Grant Fund
• Battle Creek Unlimited’s COVID-19 Emergency Microgrant Fund
• United Way of Greater Battle Creek & Kalamazoo Region’s Kalamazoo Small Business Microgrant Fund
• Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Restart Flint & Genesee Fund
• Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)’s One & All Program
• The Jackson Community Foundation’s Small Business Fund
• Michigan Women Forward’s Resilience Microloan & Grant Fund Program

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest energy provider. The Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what's most important to Michigan — its people, our planet and Michigan's prosperity. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit our Consumers Energy Foundation page.

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

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Media Contacts: Brian Wheeler, 517-740-1545, or Terry DeDoes, 517-243-9908