CenterState CEO Announces Recipients of COVID-19 Small Business Stabilization Grants

$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 Money Spends*

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

Miss Prissy's*

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

ehanna@centerstateceo.com 

JUMPSTART NEWS MEDIA CONTACT

Vicki McDonald

Media Relations

(216) 502-6395 (cell)

vicki.mcdonald@jumpstartinc.org 

KEYBANK NEWS MEDIA CONTACT

Matthew Pitts

Communications Manager – Northeast Ohio, Western & Central New York

(716) 270-4243 (work)

(716) 903-8468 (cell)

matthew_pitts@keybank.com 

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.

###