TECUMSEH, Mich. — The owner of a BBQ restaurant in Tecumseh says he has greatly benefited from a grant program in Michigan that aims to support small businesses and grow downtown areas.
Sunset Ridge BBQ received a $25,000 grant through the Match on Main program, which helped it expand into a larger brick-and-mortar location and pay for equipment.
"Having that grant money to help overcome the initial debt of equipment and advertising and furniture and uniforms and such was extremely valuable for us,” said Michael Caudill, owner and pitmaster.
The business started out in 2018 as a food truck and since 2023 has expanded to a physical location in Tecumseh.
"We poured a very nice patio in the back of our takeout and we bought lots of furniture for that spot and bought refrigeration units and some uniforms,” Caudill said.
The Match on Main program, run by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, awards grants to small businesses looking to launch or grow on a main street.
Catherine Abad, the corporation's program manager, says it's important to invest in Michigan's small towns and that the grants make the economy resilient and strong.
"We have awarded 196 businesses, we've received well over 500 applications, we've awarded $4.5 million since 2019," Abad said.
Sunset Ridge BBQ offers a variety of handmade barbecue food and everything is made from scratch, including side dishes and desserts.
Caudill says this grant was a big boost for his business and he looks forward to the future.
"So having that to overcome the initial debt of buying everything and starting rehabbing this building from a bakery to what it needed to meet our needs was huge,” he says.
Abad says another round of grant applications opens on Jan. 20 and will close in April. There are about $1.5 million in this allocation.