Six local businesses in Richmond’s East End received Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) grant awards, totaling more than $129,000. Grant recipients from the class of 2021 were honored during a ceremony as well. Celebrating its 10th year, the SEED program has distributed a total of more than $903,000 benefiting entrepreneurs and small businesses in the East End and Manchester communities.
Bon Secours and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Virginia created the SEED program in 2011 as an economic development and job creation initiative for Richmond’s East End neighborhood and brought on Capital One and InUnison (formerly RMA) as partners over the last several years serving in a variety of functions.
To catalyze thriving commercial corridors, SEED provides new or existing small businesses with grants up to $25,000, which include business coaching services on marketing, financing, and other business needs. The grant funding and coaching together help businesses expand and become more resilient, bringing greater commercial activity and job opportunities to the community.
The 2022 grant awards, the ninth in the program’s history due to a postponement during COVID-19, consisted of three first-time award recipients: Second Bottle Wine and Snack Shop, Wheel Simple Bicycle Repair and 8 ½ Church Hill. They join three other businesses that have received SEED awards in prior years: Spotty Dog, Glean and Urban Set Bride. Recipients from 2021 that were recognized include LaFox Hair Design, Manchester Groom Saloon, Bare Soul Yoga, Alexander’s Cleaners, Inner City Blues, Glean and Jade Salon.
“As a faith-based, mission-driven health care ministry, Bon Secours’ seeks to improve the overall health of our communities by addressing the social determinants of health including health promotion, job creation, food access, education and affordable housing,” said Mike Lutes, market president, Bon Secours Richmond. “The SEED program is an important community initiative for Bon Secours. Our commitment to
the East End community is unwavering and we are proud to be here today celebrating the distribution of more than $900,000 to small businesses in this area with our program partners over the past 10 years.”
LISC Virginia, in collaboration with InUnison, provides SEED recipients with business planning and coaching to teach each business owner key strategies for how to run a successful business.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone with our partners as well as our SEED recipients,” said Jane Ferrara, executive director, LISC Virginia. “So much has changed in the last decade, and we are proud to continue providing sustained investment and support to small businesses in these communities, and hope to continue for years to come.”
InUnison joined the initiative as fund administrator in partnership with LISC Virginia in 2019 and plays an integral role in providing these small businesses with access to a network of peer business owners in addition to no-cost resources including advocacy and information.
“The last few years have been challenging for small businesses across the nation, let alone here in our backyard,” said Nancy Thomas, president/CEO of InUnison. “These businesses are the fabric of our community and connecting these entrepreneurs in the East End and Manchester communities with the essential resources and support they need to survive and sustain their businesses during these trying times has been the most rewarding.”
Capital One joined Bon Secours as a program partner participating on the business review panel beginning in 2011 and has also been a grant funder since 2014. In addition to grant funding, both Bon Secours and Capital One have provided funding to support technical assistance and business development pro bono assistance.
After more than a decade of success in supporting growth and cultivating commercial corridor revitalization among East End business along the 25th Street and Nine Mile Road corridor, the SEED program was expanded in 2021 to serve small businesses located in the Manchester community between Route 1 and Commerce Road along the Hull Street corridor.
The SEED Business Review Panel, which selected both the 2021 and 2022 SEED recipients, includes; Brian Guthrie, vice president of card partnerships, Capital One Financial, and board member, LISC Virginia; Lester Johnson, owner, Mama J’s and Vagabond; Duncan Thomas, president/CEO, Ameriprise, Inc.; Lisa McSherry, owner, Lex’s of Carytown and Mamie’s Apothecary; Becky Clay Christensen, executive director of community health, Bon Secours; and Sean O’Brien, director of community health, Bon Secours.
Bon Secours and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Virginia created the SEED program in 2011 as an economic development and job creation initiative for Richmond’s East End neighborhood and brought on Capital One and InUnison (formerly RMA) as partners over the last several years serving in a variety of functions.
To catalyze thriving commercial corridors, SEED provides new or existing small businesses with grants up to $25,000, which include business coaching services on marketing, financing, and other business needs. The grant funding and coaching together help businesses expand and become more resilient, bringing greater commercial activity and job opportunities to the community.
The 2022 grant awards, the ninth in the program’s history due to a postponement during COVID-19, consisted of three first-time award recipients: Second Bottle Wine and Snack Shop, Wheel Simple Bicycle Repair and 8 ½ Church Hill. They join three other businesses that have received SEED awards in prior years: Spotty Dog, Glean and Urban Set Bride. Recipients from 2021 that were recognized include LaFox Hair Design, Manchester Groom Saloon, Bare Soul Yoga, Alexander’s Cleaners, Inner City Blues, Glean and Jade Salon.
“As a faith-based, mission-driven health care ministry, Bon Secours’ seeks to improve the overall health of our communities by addressing the social determinants of health including health promotion, job creation, food access, education and affordable housing,” said Mike Lutes, market president, Bon Secours Richmond. “The SEED program is an important community initiative for Bon Secours. Our commitment to
the East End community is unwavering and we are proud to be here today celebrating the distribution of more than $900,000 to small businesses in this area with our program partners over the past 10 years.”
LISC Virginia, in collaboration with InUnison, provides SEED recipients with business planning and coaching to teach each business owner key strategies for how to run a successful business.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone with our partners as well as our SEED recipients,” said Jane Ferrara, executive director, LISC Virginia. “So much has changed in the last decade, and we are proud to continue providing sustained investment and support to small businesses in these communities, and hope to continue for years to come.”
InUnison joined the initiative as fund administrator in partnership with LISC Virginia in 2019 and plays an integral role in providing these small businesses with access to a network of peer business owners in addition to no-cost resources including advocacy and information.
“The last few years have been challenging for small businesses across the nation, let alone here in our backyard,” said Nancy Thomas, president/CEO of InUnison. “These businesses are the fabric of our community and connecting these entrepreneurs in the East End and Manchester communities with the essential resources and support they need to survive and sustain their businesses during these trying times has been the most rewarding.”
Capital One joined Bon Secours as a program partner participating on the business review panel beginning in 2011 and has also been a grant funder since 2014. In addition to grant funding, both Bon Secours and Capital One have provided funding to support technical assistance and business development pro bono assistance.
After more than a decade of success in supporting growth and cultivating commercial corridor revitalization among East End business along the 25th Street and Nine Mile Road corridor, the SEED program was expanded in 2021 to serve small businesses located in the Manchester community between Route 1 and Commerce Road along the Hull Street corridor.
The SEED Business Review Panel, which selected both the 2021 and 2022 SEED recipients, includes; Brian Guthrie, vice president of card partnerships, Capital One Financial, and board member, LISC Virginia; Lester Johnson, owner, Mama J’s and Vagabond; Duncan Thomas, president/CEO, Ameriprise, Inc.; Lisa McSherry, owner, Lex’s of Carytown and Mamie’s Apothecary; Becky Clay Christensen, executive director of community health, Bon Secours; and Sean O’Brien, director of community health, Bon Secours.