CenterState CEO Announces Recipients of COVID-19 Small Business Stabilization Grants
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$150,000 awarded to small businesses throughout Onondaga County
SYRACUSE, NY - CenterState CEO recently awarded $150,000 in stabilization grants to 31 small businesses in Onondaga County that were negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Grants of up to $5,000 were distributed to businesses in health and wellness, service, hospitality and lifestyle industries, prioritizing businesses that were ineligible for emergency relief funding through the Small Business Administration. In addition to the grant, businesses also receive technical assistance and one-on-one consultation.
Technical assistance is being made available to all grant applicants, provided by KeyBank Business Boost & Build C.U.S.E. Collaborative partners, including CenterState CEO’s Up Start program, the South Side Innovation Center, WiSE Women’s Business Center and the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.
“This fund was intended to fill identified gaps in available emergency relief funding. Many of these businesses were unable to access the Paycheck Protection Program and other federal relief funding sources,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “These grants provide businesses disproportionally hit by the public health and economic crisis with needed capital. We are also working with partners to secure funding for a second round of grants.”
Of the businesses receiving grants, 74% are women-owned. 64% are minority-owned. The grants helped mitigate loss caused by the crisis by providing immediate cash to cover payroll and other expenses incurred during the pandemic.
“I was really excited when I found out I was awarded a grant. So many small businesses are struggling right now. This grant will help cover bills so that I can stay afloat, and I may actually be able to get ahead of the game,” said Wayne Wright, The Wright Cut Barbershop.
Administered by CenterState CEO’s Up Start program with funding provided by the KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program powered by JumpStart, the fund was part of a plan to deploy $500,000 in relief funds to small business communities throughout Upstate New York in response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we reopen our economy, this crucial funding will help businesses challenged by COVID-19 rebound and sustain,” said Stephen Fournier, KeyBank Central New York Market President. “We thank JumpStart, CenterState CEO and all of our partners for their willingness to join with us to provide this assistance and guidance to small businesses in Central New York.”
Grant Recipients Include:
(* Includes a hyperlink to video (Waliek Betts, owner of All Money Spends and Dreamer Glenn, co-owner of Miss Prissy’s). Media may include these videos in reporting.)
A Taste of Philadelphia
African & Caribbean Central Market
All Times Promotional Products, dba Spinnaker Custom Products
BulBul, LLC
Cathy's Cookie Kitchen
CLLTVE
CNY Latino
Divine Destiny
Guleyso Learning Childcare
Half Moon Bakery & Bistro, LLC
It Takes a Village Daycare
Kin Architecture Studio, PLLC
L Stacks Construction Co. LLC
Mindbody Connection Massage and Fitness
Mixed Methods
Mr. Biggs Restaurant LLC
Mystic Side Gift and Book
Pb&j's Lunchbox, LLC
Pearfect Productions
R.H.Fire, LLC
RAZZLE DAZZLE ITALIAN ICES
Red Racer Auto Finishers, Inc., dba Grace Auto Body and Paint
Plus Sign & Graphics
Southside Fitness
The Creators Lounge
The Floral Gardens
UniqueImpact, Inc.
Volpe Nails of Cicero, LLC
The Wright Cut Barbershop
CENTERSTATE CEO NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
Elle Hanna
Director of Communications & Media Relations
JUMPSTART NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
Vicki McDonald
Media Relations
(216) 502-6395 (cell)
KEYBANK NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
Matthew Pitts
Communications Manager – Northeast Ohio, Western & Central New York
(716) 270-4243 (work)
(716) 903-8468 (cell)
ABOUT CENTERSTATE CEO
CenterState CEO is an independent and forward thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. We serve as an advocate and resource for smart business, catalyze and facilitate regional growth, and promote community prosperity through results-driven partnerships, planning and problem-solving. www.centerstateceo.com
ABOUT JUMPSTART INC.
JumpStart unlocks the full potential of diverse and ambitious entrepreneurs to economically transform entire communities. For more information, visit www.jumpstartinc.org and follow @JumpStartInc on Twitter.
ABOUT KEYBANK
KeyBank's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $156.2 billion at March 31, 2020. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.
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