PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
          Program                 Business 
          Overview               Selection &               Timeline               Resources
                                   Process
     OPTIMIZE MAIN STREET
     PROGRAM OVERVIEW
        •   Optimize Main Street is a pilot program pairing 
            technical assistance & grant dollars to advance 
            technology utilization for small businesses located                    Program Goals
            within Michigan Main Street communities.
        •   Eligible Business Support Organizations for the 
            PILOT include *only* Michigan Main Street (MMS) 
            Organizations                                                         Support place-
                                                                                 based business 
        •   MMS Organizations determine which businesses                           resiliency by 
                                                                                  providing 1:1                                 Assist businesses 
            within their district are selected for inclusion in                   coaching and           Build awareness 
            the PILOT program (maximum of 5).                                      educational              for Small               located in 
                                                                                   resources on         Business Services        geographically 
                                                                                 technology and          Initiate Platform       disadvantaged 
        •   Maximum award to any individual business will be                      digital tools, as                                   areas
            $2,500.                                                             well as funding to 
                                                                                     support 
                                                                                 implementation
      OPTIMIZE MAIN STREET
      PROGRAM OVERVIEW
                                                                                        Step 2: Business + 
                      • MMS Selects 5 Businesses to                                   Technical Assistance                        • NI will verify that the program 
                        Participate in PILOT Program                                                                                requirements are met & disburse 
                      • MMS complete a Main Street                                                                                  funds directly to the business
                        Application (Appendix A) & Sends to                 • Business begins working with NI to                  • Business will implement project 
                        the MEDC                                              complete the required technical                       within 45 days
                        • Application requires MMS to do an                   assistance including:                               • Business will also complete a post-
                         eligibility review of each business &                • Two 1:1 meetings with an NI                         program survey (January 2023)
                         for the business to do a technology                   business coach
                         assessment                                           • Complete online technology 
                                                                               technical assistance via Initiate
                                   Step 1: Business                                                                                               Step 3: Grant 
                                         Selection                                                                                             Disbursement to 
                                                                                                                                                     Business
                                   PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
          Program                 Business 
          Overview               Selection &               Timeline               Resources
                                   Process
  OPTIMIZE MAIN STREET
  Business Selection & Process
   All select or master level Michigan Main 
    Street programs in good standing as of 
    December 31, 2021 are eligible to submit an 
    application and identify up to five place-based 
    businesses to participate in this program. The 
    selection of participating businesses is a local 
    decision. Each Main Street Program may set 
    their own priorities for selection.
   Participating Main Street Organizations will 
    complete the required application (Appendix 
    A) prior to the deadline which will include 
    each selected small business owner. Prior to 
    the Optimize Main Street Application being 
    submitted, all participating businesses must 
    complete an online Business Technology 
    Assessment (Appendix B).