Sen. Sarah Anthony has rolled out a two-bill package that aims to put small businesses closer to the center of Michigan’s economic strategy. The measures, Senate Bill 1009 and Senate Bill 1010, would expand how Michigan Strategic Fund dollars can be used and create an Office of Small Business Growth inside the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Anthony, a Lansing Democrat who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, is pitching the package as bipartisan and says it was shaped with input from small business advocates.
Sen. Anthony's pitch
In a press release from Sen. Sarah Anthony, the senator said she introduced the bills as Small Business Month wrapped up, stressing the need to give entrepreneurs easier access to state resources. “Small businesses make Michigan communities vibrant,” she wrote, and her office framed the package as an attempt to move from symbolic, once-a-year recognition to long-term infrastructure. The release also noted that the bills were developed with input from the Small Business Association of Michigan.
What the bills would do
Senate Bill 1009 would broaden the allowable use of Michigan Strategic Fund dollars so they can support small business programs, services, and initiatives across the state. Senate Bill 1010 would set up a permanent Office of Small Business Growth inside the MEDC to coordinate that work. The proposed office is intended to align programs across agencies, strengthen partnerships with local providers, and improve how businesses connect to capital and technical assistance. As outlined by LegiScan, both measures were introduced in late May and include statutory changes to the Michigan Strategic Fund law.
Advocates call it a structural shift
Business groups are treating the package as a move away from relying mostly on big attraction deals toward shoring up firms that are already rooted in local neighborhoods. Brian Calley, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, said the legislation would help place small businesses “at the center” of state strategy and create a long-term approach to growth. SBAM’s write-up describes the proposed office as a one-stop shop for grants, loans, and technical assistance, something the group argues has been missing for many microbusinesses across Michigan.
What it means for neighborhood businesses
Supporters say redirecting Strategic Fund tools could be especially important for Detroit and other cities where small operators keep commercial corridors running. Neighborhood businesses often work with thin margins and struggle to secure capital, workforce support, and technical help, and the office is meant to close some of those gaps by simplifying how owners find and use state programs. The Michigan Chronicle reported that the package was introduced during Small Business Month and highlighted the legislation’s focus on practical assistance for entrepreneurs statewide.
Next steps in Lansing
The bills, introduced in late May, have been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. According to MichiganVotes, SB 1010 was filed on May 21 and is awaiting committee action, with SB 1009 following the same route. Lawmakers will still have to decide how to fund the office and set program eligibility before any new grants or assistance can roll out.
Backers say the goal is to turn the usual Small Business Month plaudits into concrete state infrastructure. Whether that happens will come down to budgeting, staffing, and how quickly Lansing can convert strategy into user-friendly programs. For Main Street owners juggling payroll, rent, and hiring, the bottom line is simple: Will this lead to clearer, faster access to capital and hands-on help? Appropriations hearings in the coming weeks will be the first sign of whether the package is gaining the support it needs to move.
