Sleepy Dog Books Awarded $20,000 Amex Shop Small® Grant from American Express and Main Street America

Mt. Pleasant, MI — 05/20/2026 — Sleepy Dog Books, a local independent bookstore in Mt. Pleasant, has been selected as a recipient of a Amex Shop Small® Grant from American Express® and Main Street America. The grant will provide Sleepy Dog Books with $20,000 in funding to expand bookstore operations and amplify the impact of the Sleepy Dog Books Foundation, bringing literacy access to communities across the region.

“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.” Jenny Justis, Owner Sleepy Dog Books.

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—expanding the program’s reach and impact to small businesses and the communities they serve.

The 505 recipients reflect the vitality of U.S. small businesses, spanning industries from retail and food service to healthcare and professional services. Grant funding will enable recipients to grow and innovate by expanding operations, investing in critical upgrades, and introducing new offerings.

“Small businesses play a vital role in our communities,” said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, 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,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, 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.”

For more information about the grant program, visit https://mainstreet.org/about/partnercollaborations/amex-shop-small-grant-program

A full list of this year’s recipients is available at https:/mainstreet.org/the-latest/news/morethan-500-small-business-owners-awarded-20-000-amex-shop-small-grants.

About Sleepy Dog Books and Sleepy Dog Books Foundation

Sleepy Dog Books and the Sleepy Dog Books Foundation have become deeply significant anchors in the Mt. Pleasant community by weaving together commerce, literacy, and service in a way that directly meets local needs. As an independent bookstore, Sleepy Dog Books provides more than a place to buy books—it offers a welcoming community hub where families, educators, students, and neighbors gather for author events, children’s programming, book clubs, and meaningful conversations. We intentionally create a space that fosters belonging, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Together, the store and the foundation form a unique ecosystem of community impact: the bookstore fuels local culture and connection, while the foundation drives equitable access to literacy resources. Our presence strengthens downtown vitality, supports local educators, and helps build a more literate, empowered, and engaged community. Sleepy Dog Books is more than a business—it is a catalyst for joy, learning, and opportunity across Mt. Pleasant and the broader Mid-Michigan region. Learn more at www.sleepydogbooks.com

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express’ brand is built on trust, security, service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. We seek to provide the world’s best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations, and we build and manage relationships with millions of merchants across our global network.

For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country.

For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $115.27 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 345,801 buildings, create 815,894 new jobs, and start 181,647 new businesses in over 2,000 communities.

For more information about Main Street America, visit mainstreet.org.