BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – The Cornerstone Alliance started a new zero interest loan program on March 31 to help local stores and restaurants pay rent during the mandatory shutdown.

Businesses can instantly get loans of up to $2000 a month to pay rent, mortgages, or interest and don’t have to start paying it back for six months.

"If your business is closed, the last thing you should have to worry about is making a rent payment and so we can get those rent payments paid for a month or 2 months and then when everybody is ready in June, hopefully, we're being optimistic, the time the tourism season returns here to SW Michigan our businesses will be open, ready to go and make money before having to worry about paying rent," said Rob Cleveland, President of Cornerstone Alliance.

Cleveland said they received four applications for loans within the first hour the program was online, showing them the need is out there.