More about the Pilot Program
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others selling their own goods and services play an essential role in supporting the local economy and strengthening our community. GIG A2 recognized and built on those strengths.
The City of Ann Arbor decided to dedicate $1.6 million of its ARPA money to a guaranteed income pilot in response to resident feedback about how the one-time funding should be spent. The City contracted Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan to design, operate, and evaluate the pilot program, which is unique among guaranteed income programs in its focus on gig workers and entrepreneurs.
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation also contributed funds to GIG A2. Steady administered the monthly payments. Numerous community organizations including Ann Arbor District Library, Entrepreneurship Center at Washtenaw Community College, Express Your Yes Foundation, Friends in Deed, and Groundcover News advised on the pilot program.
Learn more
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To be eligible to participate in GIG A2, people had to:
- be Ann Arbor residents,
- have a household income of 225% of the Federal Poverty Line or less, and
- be engaged in gig work or entrepreneural efforts – broadly defined.
From the eligible applicant pool, 200 people were randomly selected to participate in GIG A2; 100 people received the monthly guaranteed income payments, and 100 received modest stipends for participating in the research study without receiving the guaranteed income.
The study of GIG A2 uses a Randomized Control Trial (RCT), which is considered the gold standard in study design. In an RCT:
- Selection is random. No one person or group gets an advantage over another, ensuring fairness in who receives the guaranteed income.
- Because people are randomly assigned to receive guaranteed income or not, we can be certain that any differences we see between those who receive the payment and those who do not is due to the payment.
The study is based on a series of surveys and in-depth interviews; participants were paid $50 each time they completed a research activity. All GIG A2 participants were asked to complete a baseline survey when they joined the pilot program, a survey one year into the two-year pilot, and a survey at the end of the pilot. The surveys asked about a number of different topics, including how people used the guaranteed income money; their ability to afford food, housing, and child care; and their health and well-being.
A select group of participants were also invited to participate in interviews with the researchers in order to gain more nuanced insights into their experiences.
While the GIG A2 pilot program ended in December 2025, GIG A2 participants may still have questions related to their involvement in the program.
View a printable PDF with answers to common questions about the pilot program, for guaranteed income recipients, for research study participants, the research study in general, and community resources. Consulte las respuestas a las preguntas más frecuentes en español.
If you still have questions, contact [email protected].
Key Findings from the Research
Evaluation of GIG A2 is ongoing, and a final report will be published later in 2026.
Key findings from the Year 1 report, released in January 2026, include:
- Food, household supplies, and housing were the most common uses of the guaranteed income payments.
- There were no statistically significant differences in experiences of food, housing, and utility security between the groups who did and did not receive the extra $528 a month.
- GIG A2 participants receiving the monthly payments reported feeling a sense of relief and reduced stress thanks to the extra money. Some people said the guaranteed income said the financial cushion was beneficial to their entrepreneurial efforts. Some said the flexible cash allowed them to provide experiences and resources for their children that they otherwise would not have been able to afford.
Key findings from the baseline report, released in October 2024, include:
- Paying bills, saving money, and reducing stress were the top needs and priorities identified by GIG A2 participants.
- Research on entrepreneurial efforts in the U.S. by individuals with lower incomes finds that micro-businesses are more likely to be led by younger people, women, and people of color compared to the overall population of small business owners. The demographics of GIG A2 participants reflect the national trend.
