Comcast today announced it will award $1 million in grants to 100 small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, bringing the Comcast RISE program’s total investment in South Florida to $2 million. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.”
From October 3 through October 16, eligible small businesses in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties can apply online for one of the $10,000 grants at www.ComcastRISE.com. Comcast is also awarding grants in Chicago, Oakland, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The Comcast RISE program previously awarded $1 million in $10,000 grants to 100 South Florida businesses in November 2021. In total, $21 million in Comcast RISE grants have been awarded to small businesses nationwide.
One of the South Florida recipients was Broski Ciderworks in Pompano Beach, founded and owned by brothers Daniel and David Verdugo. “Receiving the $10,000 Comcast RISE grant was a game changer for our business. We used the money to make significant upgrades to our operations, including establishing an online retail store so that our award-winning ciders can be available to not just our customers here in South Florida, but across the country,” said David Verdugo.
Comcast RISE was formed in late 2020 to give small businesses owned by people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, among others, the resources they need to not just survive, but thrive. In November 2021, Comcast RISE announced a major expansion to all women-owned businesses nationwide as a part of the program’s first anniversary.
“Many circumstances for small businesses are vastly improved since the height of the pandemic. However, for some businesses that had to close their doors for weeks or had to put production or their services on hold because of supply chain disruptions, recovery is ongoing,” said Beatrice Louissaint, President & CEO of the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council. “Support and resources from companies like Comcast are a lifeline for these small business owners and their neighborhoods.”
In addition, Comcast RISE invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers, and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy, and Operation Hope.
Comcast RISE Marketing and Technology Services
In addition to the Investment Fund, Comcast RISE provides the opportunity for small businesses owned by people of color and women nationwide to apply for grants for one or more of the following support focus areas with the opportunity to receive one.
Marketing Services Grant: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including:
- Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period.
- Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign.
- Consult: Digital audits by Ureeka in the form of Website Repair Reports and SEO Keyword reports to target website mechanics and effective organic marketing
Technology Makeover Grants: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice, and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.)
More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com.
MORE RESOURCES: Check out grant opportunities open to Miami-Dade small businesses here.