DETROIT - ColoradoDesk -- The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have created an economic crisis for the small businesses that are the heart and soul of Michigan's downtowns and Main Streets. Now, more than ever, those small businesses, their owners, and their workers are in need of support to survive this crisis. While Federal and State relief efforts and small business loan programs can help, they are also over-stretched and slow to disburse, if at all. Because of this, groups across the state have launched crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds to cover immediate needs of their small business communities.

Brighton's Small Town, Big Hearts and Give Back to Pontiac are among the Michigan groups who have partnered with the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity to allow area residents and organizations to directly support the small business community through these incredibly difficult times.

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"It's remarkable the way organizations across Michigan are coming together to meet the needs of their businesses as quickly and efficiently as possible, right now crowdfunding is a great fit for that," said Mahala Clayton, Patronicity program Director for Michigan. "Considering that everyone is putting aside the natural discomfort of asking for money and realizing the greater impact this immediate action can have, that is what is keeping our hustle moving even internally."

The Patronicity Small Business Support program runs through the end of May and offers one-on-one project coaching and is waiving most platform fees normally charged to project teams.  Funds can be distributed on a rolling basis during the duration of campaigns as groups identify qualified business. Learn more at www.patronicity.com/small-biz.

Patronicity is a civic & community-based crowdfunding platform aimed at building more vibrant communities by creating engagement with the public to support projects meaningful to sponsors and area residents. Patronicity's award-winning crowdgranting model – an easy application process & cost-effective administration – brings deeper engagement and broader press & public recognition which is aimed directly at a sponsor's mission for creating better communities.