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Tag: bloom

Bloom grants awarded to 29 York County entrepreneurs

The Bloom Business Empowerment Center, under the York County Economic Alliance, announced Wednesday that $36,000 was awarded to 29 entrepreneurs in the final two Bloom grant rounds of 2022.

The Women’s Business Center Organization, a program of the alliance, earmarked $22,500 in Bloom grants to 20 small-business owners after a pitch competition held at the WBCO’s December Luncheon.

Also, graduates with perfect attendance during this year’s Bloom Small Business Development Program were invited to apply for a grant to support start-up costs or improve established business services. Finalists pitched their business or business idea during a virtual competition, and the judges awarded $13,500 to nine business owners or rising business owners.

Overall, 66% of the grants went to individuals of color and 93% were awarded to women.

Receiving Women’s Business Center Organization grants were:

· Belle4All Beauty Supply, $1,500

· Dons Divas Salon De Beaute, $1,500

· Essentials Salon & Day Spa LLC, $500

· Goals Salon and Boutique, $500

· Holley Group LLC, $500

· Indigo Bleu, $1,000

· Innovations Hair Studio, $500

· Insatiable Melanin, $1,500

· Little Blessings Children’s Day Care, $1,500

· Locally Seasoned, $1,500

· Meraki IV LLC, $500

· Scholar Styles Beauty Bar & Day Spa, $1,000

· Tetra Design Co., $1,500

· The HRart Center, $1,500

· The Party Palooza LLC, $1,500

· This is a Farmhouse, $1,000

· Triple T’s Catering and Decorating LLC, $1,000

· Tucker & Co. Bakery Café, $1,500

· Verdure Day Spa & Wellness Center, $1,000

· Yoga Steph LLC, $1,500.

And the nine businesses or future businesses awarded grants in the Small Business Development Program perfect attendance round were:

· Creations by Chevonne T LLC, $1,500

· V Pretty, business to be created by Vilma Baez, $1,500

· Eden Sweets and Acai, business to be created by Jailyn Marquez, $1,500

· Soepro Productions and DJ Services, $1,500

· Old McDonald had a Farm Stand, $1,500

· Art is in Rugs, business to be created by Thatiana Baez, $1,500

· C&L Glamour Events & Rentals, $1,500

· Curb Media Group, $1,500

· Fire Life Yoga and Wellness LLC, $1,500.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Women business owners invited to seek Bloom Grants

The Bloom Business Empowerment Center, through the York County Economic Alliance, is partnering with the Women’s Business Center Organization on the latest Bloom Grants.

The program invites small businesses with majority women ownership (51% or more) to apply for grants from $500 to $1,500 for projects that improve productivity, expand business services, or help the business grow to the next level. Examples of projects funded through other Bloom grants have included upgraded signage, physical improvements to business location and purchase of new equipment.

Priority consideration will be given to:

· Businesses that have not received funding from previous Bloom grant programs

· Black, Indigenous and people of color-owned businesses

· Veteran-owned businesses The application process is open through 8 p.m. Nov. 30.

The Bloom Grant Program was created in 2018. Since its launch, 141 grants totaling $351,978 have been distributed to small businesses/organizations throughout York County, with 50% going to businesses owned by persons of color and 65% going to women-owned businesses. Applicant finalists will be required to participate in a pitch competition during the Women’s Business Center Organization luncheon Dec. 13.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer