Progressive Insurance coverage® has introduced the 2024 recipients of the model’s Driving Small Enterprise Ahead grant program in collaboration with Howdy Alice. Every of the 20 recipients might be awarded a $50,000 grant to make use of towards the acquisition of a industrial automobile for his or her enterprise.
In keeping with the Small Enterprise Administration, over 33 million companies qualify as a small enterprise. They characterize 99.9% of all US companies. This quantity displays the numerous position small companies play in producing employment and contributing to financial stability. Progressive fosters progress in enterprise by persevering with its dedication to supporting house owners and serving to them transfer ahead and reside totally by providing improved entry to capital to fund a few of their transportation wants.
“At Progressive, we acknowledge the small enterprise house owners who work so laborious to make significant contributions to our society but face many challenges in terms of entry to capital,” mentioned Karen Bailo, Business Traces President at Progressive Insurance coverage. “For the final three years, the Driving Small Enterprise Ahead grant program is among the methods we’ve been supporting entrepreneurs on their small work trip, and we’re proud to proceed facilitating progress in enterprise as a part of our perception that insurance coverage ought to do extra.”
To manage the grant program, Progressive labored with Howdy Alice. The monetary know-how platform connects over 1.5 million small companies to capital, connections, and alternatives.
The complete record of recipients for the 2024 Driving Small Enterprise Ahead grant program are:
- James Dong, Proprietor of Final Minute Gear in San Francisco, CA
- Vernic Popat, Proprietor of PlantOGram Inc in Orlando, FL
- Dermot Jones, Proprietor of Jones Household Bee Removing in Antioch, CA
- Colin Wiseman, Proprietor of Chai For in Cincinnati, OH
- Ikei McCoy, Proprietor of McCoy Masonry LLC in Shaker Heights, OH
- Jarami Bond, Proprietor of Bond Studio in Charlotte, NC
- Charles Zhang, Proprietor of Blue Hawaii Life-style in Honolulu, HI
- Charmaine Gahan, Proprietor of Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms in Harmony, MA
- David & Mary Rodriguez, Homeowners of The Oven Pizzeria in Seaside, CA
- Shawn Jonutz, Proprietor of Wind & Brass in Berkeley, CA
- Holly Verbeck, Proprietor of HeyChef! LLC in Truckee, CA
- Xiaoyuan Su, Proprietor of Chinese language Radio Seattle in Bellevue, WA
- Adell Badgett, Proprietor of Dellstar VR L.L.C. in South Bend, IN
- Mariam Gogeliya, Proprietor of Surprise Room Espresso & Flowers in Brooklyn, NY
- Jose & Michelle O’Quinn, Proprietor of Road Sensible Driving Faculties in Grand Prairie, TX
- Sharie Renee, Proprietor of Cosmic Bobbins in Cleveland, OH
- Erica Cole, Proprietor of No Limbits in Richmond, VA
- Chevonne Woodard, Proprietor of Mr. Equipment of West Loop in Chicago, IL
- Frederique Mitchell, Proprietor of Cookies By Freddie in Baton Rouge, LA
- Stacey Cline, Proprietor of New Earth Farm / CompostSTL in St. Louis, MO
Chosen recipients submitted functions highlighting the impression their enterprise has on the area people. Erica Cole is the proprietor of No Limbits in Saint Louis, MO. She leads a group of individuals with disabilities creating merchandise to assist these with disabilities reside life with out limits.
“I’m so thrilled to have been chosen for this grant as it’s going to permit us to interact much more with the incapacity neighborhood,” mentioned Erica Cole, proprietor of No Limbits. “We plan to make use of this grant to buy a industrial automobile to host pop-up occasions at our retailers, scientific companions and adaptive neighborhood occasions to succeed in clients in a enjoyable and genuine method.”
One other applicant, Dermot Jones, Proprietor of Jones Household Bee Removing in Seaside, CA has devoted his firm to spreading consciousness concerning the significance of bees and their position in our ecosystem.
“Small companies are the guts of this nation, nevertheless it’s change into more and more tough for them to function and scale with the challenges immediately’s financial surroundings presents. Howdy Alice has helped many of those small enterprise house owners’ entry a lot wanted capital, credit score, and alternatives to thrive and help their communities,” mentioned Carolyn Rodz, CEO & Co-Founding father of Howdy Alice. “We’re proud to work with Progressive on this necessary grant program and proceed championing small companies.”
Along with receiving a industrial automobile grant, recipients can have the chance to take part in Enhance Camp. It’s is a enterprise teaching program from Howdy Alice that instills repeatable annual frameworks that concentrate on core ideas for enterprise progress. These ideas embody monetary budgeting and forecasting, funding and pitch methods, gross sales and buyer acquisition.
For extra grant recipient protection from Turf Journal, click on right here.
