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National Association for the Self-Employed, in Collaboration with AARP and DELL Small Business, Provides Financial Grants to Support Small Businesses in California, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, and Virginia
DALLAS, TX – As our nation’s small business community continues its record-breaking surge with over 19 million new business applications for a third-consecutive year, 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 third quarter of 2024. Today’s announcement also includes three Growth Grant awards sponsored by AARP and one by DELL Small Business.
“Our nation’s small business community, including self-employed and micro-businesses, are the essential fuel for America’s economic engine. Over the course of the last few years, the American small business community has experienced a surge of new small businesses opening and expanding. These new entrepreneurs represent the true spirit of America’s resilience and determination. We are proud to do our part in supporting our community’s expansion and growth,” 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 and DELL Small Business, it’s an honor to make an investment of $4,000 in each of these Growth Grant recipients, bringing our total grant awards to over $1 million since the program’s inception.”
In 2023 with the support of AARP, DELL Small Business and Payanywhere, 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 third quarter 2024 NASE Growth Grants are:
- Netty’s Juicery, located in High Ridge, MO, owned by NASE member Ginette Rhodes, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. Netty’s Juicery focuses on offering nutritious, sustainably sourced juices to their community. Ginette plans to use the funds to invest in operations expenses, supplies, and its marketing capabilities.
- Vault Athletics & Fitness, located in Virginia Beach, VA, owned by NASE member Dena Reardon, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. Vault Athletics & Fitness is a fitness facility comprised of experts in their field collaborating for the sole purpose of building better athletes. Dena plans to use the funds to invest in necessary safety improvements, such as fencing, around the turf facility.
- Smile Solution, located in Portland, OR, owned by NASE member Stefano Iaboni, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. Smile Solution provides experiential training, team building workshops, group activities and innovation sessions. Stefano plans to use the funds to purchase new equipment, including a computer for video editing, and outreach to expand its customer base.
The following Growth Grants are sponsored by AARP.
- Digital Diva Defense, LLC, located in Detroit, MI, owned by NASE member Kimley Armour, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. Digital Diva Defense is a leading cybersecurity consulting firm providing comprehensive solutions, market trend analysis, and competitive analysis services to empower our clients in navigating the digital world securely. Kimley plans to use the funds to invest in advanced security tools, employee training, marketing outreach, and operational enhancements.
- The Arts Hub, located in San Rafael, CA, owned by NASE member Ann Dickson, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. The Arts Hub provides a suite of services to small and mid-size art organizations, cities, municipal agencies, and businesses, bringing them together to harness the power of arts and culture for the betterment of the local community. Ann plans to use the fund to build and design a robust website for The Arts Hub as well as digital marketing materials that can be used for business development purposes.
- MG Accounting & Tax Services, located in Kennesaw, GA, owned by NASE member Mary Miles, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. MG Accounting & Tax Services provides professional and quality accounting and tax services with a unique understanding of the financial record keeping and tax challenges that small businesses face. Mary plans to use the funds to invest in updating its software equipment, while also enhancing its marketing and advertising capabilities.
The following Growth Grant is sponsored by DELL Small Business.
- Emily Enchanted, located in Albuquerque, NM, owned by NASE member Emily Pecoraro, was awarded a NASE Growth Grant in the third quarter of 2024. Emily Enchanted is a popular food blog all about comfort food and cocktails whose mantra is “Food is celebratory. Food is comforting. Food brings people together.” Emily plans to use the funds to increase it social media presence by investing in tools that will help better reach its customers.
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 2024. 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 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.
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