Mt. Pleasant bookstore earns national recognition, $20K grant

What’s Happening: Local independent bookstore Sleepy Dog Books has been announced as one of 10 Michigan businesses to receive national recognition via Main Street America and American Express. With the awarded $20,000 Amex Shop Small® Grant, Sleepy Dog Books plans to expand bookstore operations and amplify the impact of the Sleepy Dog Books Foundation. Their mission: To get books in the homes of children, and bring literacy access to communities across the region. 

What Sleepy Dog Books is Saying: “Through this opportunity, we will be able to expand our ability to serve the mid-Michigan region in our retail location and through our literacy Foundation. With access comes opportunity and by focusing on literacy, the possibilities become endless,” says Jenny Justis, owner of Sleepy Dog Books.  

More About the Grant Program: 505 grant recipients, spanning industries from retail and food service to healthcare and professional services, reflect a variety of U.S. small businesses. Each will be awarded $20,000 to expand their operations. 

The program was initially launched with a $5 million contribution to support 250 small businesses in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Through a Small Business Saturday giving pledge, an additional $1 was given to the grant program for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday, and American Express contributed an additional $5.1 million.

Why It’s Economically Important: According to the 2025 Small Business Economic Impact Study, 68 cents of every dollar spent at a U.S. small business stays in the local community, underscoring the importance of supporting small businesses year-round.

What American Express & Main Street America are Saying: “Small businesses play a vital role in our communities,” says Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at American Express. “The Shop Small Grants Program builds on our longstanding commitment to small businesses, which began with Small Business Saturday, by putting meaningful investment behind the people and places that drive local impact.”  

“At Main Street America, we believe that supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses builds  community wealth and a culture of innovation—yet, far too often, this vision isn’t realized due to a variety of factors, including lack of access to resources and funding,” says Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “This is why we are so proud to partner with American Express on a program that provides meaningful support to small business owners working to strengthen their  livelihoods and their communities.”