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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 second 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 second quarter 2025 NASE Growth Grants are:
- Symphony Weddings & Events, located in Las Vagas, NV, owned by NASE member Brittany Griffor, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the second quarter of 2025. Symphony Weddings & Events is a full-service wedding planning company for couples looking for a beautiful day, seamless planning experience and genuinely just want to have a really great time at their wedding. Brittany intends to use the funds to expand capacity by hiring an additional employee, helping with salary support, payroll fees, and planning software and training time.
- From Paws to Wings, located in Owensville, MO, owned by NASE member Magan Scheel, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the second quarter of 2025. Paws to Wings was established to provide a peaceful passing for pets in the comfort of their own home and help ease one of the most difficult aspects of pet ownership and end of life care. Magan intends to use the funds to purchase additional equipment, including a new incinerator to increase cremation capacity.
- Back Creek Fabrication, LLC, located in Hayes, VA, owned by NASE member Kenneth Strader, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the second quarter of 2025. Back Creek Fabrication is a local, family-owned trailer repair and custom fabrication shop specializing in trailer repair and custom projects in steel, aluminum, and stainless. Kenneth intends to use the funds to grow the business, including for equipment upgrades to sustain and expand mobile services, and eventually transition to a brick-and-mortar location.
- Fresh & Clean, located in Redding, CA, owned by NASE member Doug Bryant, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the second quarter of 2025. Fresh & Clean specializes in solar panel cleaning, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and window cleaning services for residential and commercial properties. Doug intends to use the funds to expand the business, specifically to train a new full-time employee for solar panel cleaning, pressure washing, necessary personal protective equipment tools, and other exterior cleaning services.
The following Growth Grants are sponsored by AARP.
- 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 to grow and expand the business enhancing its capabilities.
- Nexus Firearms of America, located in Stafford, VA, owned by NASE member John Codd, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the first quarter of 2025. Nexus Firearms of America is a veteran-owned, federally licensed firearms dealership specializing in firearms transfers, training and specialty items likes suppressors and short-barreled rifles. John intends to use the funds for expansion, including digital and marketing capacity of the business.
- Culture Connects LLC, located in Tucson, AZ, owned by NASE member Bryan Castle, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the second quarter of 2025. Culture Connects promotes diversity and inclusivity by offering a variety of dance styles, classes, and community events to celebrate and honor the beautiful cultural backgrounds of Tucson and beyond. Bryan intends to use the funds to enhance its capabilities, including installation of new signage and installation of new front door coding system.
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