The local Song Foundation donated $1 million to the Washtenaw County Small Business Emergency Relief Fund at the end of March. “Having worked in kitchens and restaurants in Ann Arbor over the years, my wife Linh and I know how critical these local businesses and jobs are in our community,” foundation cofounder Dug Song said in a statement.
While the $2 trillion U.S. CARES Act and the $10 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation programs will help in upcoming weeks, “these businesses have needs today and cannot afford to wait for help,” emails Peter Katz, the foundation’s secretary. “[M]any of these businesses will not exist tomorrow if they do not receive assistance today.” Depending on size, the fund is making grants of up to $5,000.
“We need small business employment to continue to be the backbone of economic opportunity,” Song writes. “Small businesses are critical to our region and provide meaningful jobs that support our local community.”
The Songs no longer have to work in restaurants themselves. Dug cofounded Duo Security–which Cisco bought in 2018 for $2.3 billion.
