Eight local businesses in Richmond’s East End received Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) grant awards, totaling $100,000. The SEED program, which has been held annually for more than a decade, has distributed more than $1 million benefiting more than 50 businesses in the Church Hill and Fulton corridors of the East End, as well as the Commerce Road and Hull Street corridor in Manchester, to-date.
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. This year the program worked with the Richmond Night Market to complete an impact study collecting community feedback to strengthen the program to evolve to better serve the shifting needs of local entrepreneurs.
The 2024 grant awards consisted of five first-time recipients: Great Work RVA, The Hilltop, Lovell’s 31, Top Stitch Mending, and Tonya’s Kitchen. They join three other businesses that have received SEED awards in prior years: Bono’s Caribbean Cuisine, Ms. Girlee’s Kitchen, and Sweet Temptations.
“Helping communities thrive is at the heart of Bon Secours’ vision and we believe supporting small business contributes to a vibrant commercial corridor and the economic health of our community,” said Mike Lutes, market president, Bon Secours Richmond. “The SEED program is part of Bon Secours’ legacy of investment in positive change in the East End and we are thrilled to join with our partner InUnison, and the 2024 cohort of recipients to celebrate another round of SEED.”
Bon Secours was a founding partner in the creation of the SEED program in 2011, which was initiative as an economic development and job creation initiative for Richmond’s East End neighborhood. InUnison joined the initiative as fund administrator 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.
“We are deeply grateful to Bon Secours for their partnership and collaboration on the SEED program," said Nancy Thomas, President, and CEO of InUnison. "Their support of entrepreneurship empowers business owners with vital tools and resources, enabling the SEED program to not only foster individual success but also strengthen the resilience and vitality of underserved areas in our community.”
The 2024 SEED Business Review Panel includes Scott Aronson, co-owner, Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods; Lester Johnson, president, Mama J’s; Duncan Thomas, president, Carsource, Inc.; Lisa McSherry, owner, Lex’s of Carytown and Mamie’s Apothecary; Michelle Parish, Owner and Operator of Soul N’ Vinegar; and Shekinah Mitchell, director of neighborhood engagement, Bon Secours.