BLOOM Business Empowerment Center awards over $26K to York small businesses

The BLOOM Business Empowerment Center awarded more than $26,000 to small businesses in the City of York, supporting job creation and business growth across multiple industries.

An initiative of the York County Economic Alliance, the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center partnered with the City of York and the York County Community Foundation to announce the BLOOM Grant Program for Small Businesses in the City of York awards. A total of $26,100 was awarded to 18 established small businesses.

According to a release, the awarded business owners represent a collective of 68 employees throughout industries including the arts, health and wellness, youth sports and development, and restaurant and food service. Funding through this grant program will lead to the creation of 16 new jobs, per the release.

These grant awards range up to $1,500 and will be used by recipients for proposed projects including marketing campaigns, website development, new or upgraded equipment, curb appeal enhancements, and furnishings and fixtures updates.

“Upgraded equipment will allow me to work more efficiently, produce more sophisticated digital illustrations and visual materials, develop new tour and event concepts, and better share York’s architectural history through accessible digital media and educational content,” York Illustrated Owner Blake Gifford said in a statement.

Aida Manzo-Garcia, owner of Sincerely2youu and recipient of funding from this BLOOM Grant Program, said funding will be used “to purchase a commercial floral refrigerator and essential supplies to expand bouquet production and improve overall flower quality.”

Along with Gifford and Manzo-Garcia, the following businesses have also been awarded funding from this program: Eduardo Paschoa, AE Marketing Solutions; Sam Sutton, All Sports Youth Association; Georgina Molina, Andromeda Nails; Carmen Arias, Before and After Beauty Parlor; Lennia Vega, Cakes by Lee; Jen Heasley, Cooking with the Pros LLC dba Sweet Mama’s; Myles Gutirrez, Dexterity Auto Detailing; Sarah Cahill, Gather 256; Dylan Bauer, Granfalloons Tavern; Brenda Wintermyer, Just Brenda; Kara Anstine, KaraBoo Studio; Matt DePrato, Liquid Hero Brewery; Errol Katindig, Nama Sushi; Megan Grandinetti, Sattva Center for Meditation & Yoga; Miranda Markowski, Skincare by Miranda; and Celia Rojas-Beard, Urs Truly Photography.

The BLOOM Grant Program has awarded $698,600 to 314 small businesses across York County since its inception. There will be two more BLOOM Grant Programs for Small Businesses in 2026.

The BLOOM Business Empowerment Center provides resources and opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses with a focus on increasing equity and advancement for women and minority-owned businesses for the purposes of community development.