NASE News

National Association for the Self-Employed, in Collaboration with AARP, Provides Financial Grants to Support Small Businesses in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia

National Association Awards $28K in Growth Grants Supporting America’s Record-Setting Growth in the Small Business Community

DALLAS, TX – As our nation’s small business community continues its record-breaking surge with over 20 million new business applications over the last four years, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, announced today $28,000 in Growth Grants to seven local small businesses for the first quarter of 2025, including three sponsored by AARP.

“Over the past four years, more than 20 million new small business applications have been filed—marking record-shattering growth and underscoring the explosive rise of self-employed individuals and micro-businesses nationwide. These entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of our economy, powering innovation, creating jobs, and embodying the resilience that defines the American spirit. We’re proud to stand with them—supporting their growth, fueling their momentum, and helping drive our communities forward,” said John Hearrell, NASE Vice President of Membership and Affiliate Programs. “From each side of Main Street to every corner of America, small businesses are delivering unique goods and services to their customers. Since 1989, our mission is built on the cornerstone of supporting these businesses to grow and succeed. With support from AARP, we are honored to make an investment of $4,000 to each of this quarter’s growth grant awardees, and we are grateful to both AARP and DELL Small Business for helping to support our grant program with over $1 million in grants awarded since the program’s inception.”

In 2024 with the support of AARP and DELL Small Business, NASE awarded $112,000 in total grants to 28 small businesses to support their efforts to improve, grow and expand business operations.  This year, NASE will continue to award grants throughout the year hoping to increase them even more.

The recipients of the first quarter 2025 NASE Growth Grants are:

• Lantana Farms, located in Bastrop, TX, owned by NASE member Jeff Kreider, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Lantana Farms does business as Local Honey Bee Company where they farm bees for honey and make other bee-related items following organic, sustainable and eco friendly practices. Jeff intends to use the funds to expand and improve business equipment to ensure the longevity of its usage.
• Arc Angel Communications, located in Melrose, MA, owned by NASE member David D’Arcangelo, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Arc Angel Communications is a certified Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) offering disability inclusion, consulting, and public relations services for corporations, government agencies, and institutional organizations that can enhance their inclusion and diversity goals. David intends to use the funds for a digital ad campaign, direct mail services and expanding employee hiring.
• Wings of Hope Recovery, located in Middletown, CT, owned by NASE member Robert Pace, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Wings of Hope’s mission is to empower individuals in their quest for recovery, offering a supportive and healing environment where residents can spread their wings and soar toward a life free from addiction. Robert intends to use the funds to renovate the facility to improve recovery for patients.
• Images by Design, located in Virginia Beach, VA, owned by NASE member James Setzer, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Images by Design is committed to delivering exceptional photography and videography services that meet the evolving needs of their clients. James intends to use the funds to upgrade and improve equipment for better videography and photography capabilities.

    

  The following Growth Grants are sponsored by AARP.

   

• Soto Electronic Repair, located in Kindred, FL, owned by NASE member Jesus Soto, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Soto Electronic Repair provides consultation, repair and reengineering services to small and medium sized companies. Jesus intends to use the funds to purchase new lab equipment for his business.
• A Special Place Pre K Academy, located in Belleville, IL, owned by NASE member Tanya Ferguson, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. ASP2 STEAM Academy is a private school that specializes in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math as a full-service educational and developmental facility that provides an educational programing for children aged PreK through 3rd grade. Tanya intends to use the funds for a fencing project; the plans are to construct a new fence around facility to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in their care while they engage in outdoor activities.
• BeeFavored, located in New York, NY, owned by NASE member Theresa Crichlow, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. BeeFavored offers quality specialty honey harvested on the rooftops in Harlem, NY. They have a vast variety of artisan honey blends, pure and raw honey, as well as other homemade products.

For the last 40 years, NASE’s focus has been on finding the most effective way to bolster success for small business and self-employed members in communities across the country.  NASE’s Growth Grant Program is intended for businesses planning to take the next step in their venture.  It provides available capital for small businesses and sole proprietors to be able to hire and train additional employees, market their business in new and existing ways or invest in new equipment or software. 

Applications are considered on a rolling basis throughout the year and winning small businesses will be awarded $4,000 grants each quarter throughout 2025.  Visit the Growth Grant page for more information.

NASE members also enjoy a comprehensive list of benefits designed to help small business owners and sole proprietors start and grow their business.  A complete listing of benefits available to NASE members is available, here.  NASE members are offered a host of resources designed to help support entrepreneurs and small employers including access to professional “Ask the Experts” services in tax, health care and marketing, a navigational assistant health care portal, scholarships and grants, discounts on shipping rates and office supplies, and affordable email marketing systems and webhosting services. NASE’s newest member benefits continue the tradition of providing real-world, bottom-line assistance to small business owners.  To help new and existing business owners with the estimating the costs of business ownership, the NASE also offers a series of financial calculators for budgeting and financial analysis.

To become a member of NASE, apply online here.

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The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, offering a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.

The NASE NextBizThing helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. Need small business help? Check out NASE’s Ask the Experts for advice or the NASE Minute for small business support. To help new and existing business owners with the costs of business ownership, the NASE also offers a series of financial calculators for budgeting and financial analysis.

The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org